Gardiner earns WCHA honor
December 02, 2008 | Men's Hockey
Freshman defenseman Jake Gardiner (Minnetonka, Minn.) was named WCHA Co-Rookie of the Week, the WCHA announced on Tuesday.
Gardiner, a 6-2, 181-pound freshman, helped Wisconsin to a pair of victories over visiting Michigan State (3-1) and Michigan (3-0) last weekend in the annual College Hockey Showcase. A first-round draft choice of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, Gardiner had assists in both games as the Badgers held their two opponents to a combined 31 shots on goal and to just one power-play goal. In addition to his points, Gardiner also fired four shots on goal and earned a +4 plus/minus rating in the two victories.
On Friday against Michigan State with the game scoreless with less than four minutes remaining in the second period, Gardiner took the puck behind his own net and with an end-to-end rush, fired a shot that was stopped, but one the Badgers converted on the rebound to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead. He took two shots and was plus-3 in the . Saturday, Gardiner drew a penalty for the Badgers after a spin-o-rama in the Michigan end that the Badgers converted on for the game's first goal in the third period. He then added the primary assist on the UW's empty-net goal with a nifty pass. He took two shots and was plus-1 in the contest.
Gardiner shares the honor with Denver rookie Joe Colborne.
