Oct. 3, 2012

On Wednesday afternoon, the WCHA released that two University of Minnesota women’s hockey players received weekly honors. Junior Amanda Kessel was named Offensive Player of the Week while freshman Hannah Brandt was tagged Rookie of the Week for their performances in the University of Minnesota’s shutout wins over Colgate on Sept. 28-09.

Kessel, who was an All-American last season, produced six points on the weekend. In the first game, the Madison, Wis. native tallied a goal in the third period. She would counter her one-goal match on Saturday with a pair of power play scores and three assists. She was second on the team in scoring behind only Brandt.

This is the fifth time that Kessel has been named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week.

Brandt burst onto the scene in her first career games as a Gopher and tallied a team-high nine points. In her first collegiate game, the Vadnais Heights, Minn. native was able to notch a natural hat trick with her first two scores coming on power plays. She followed her three goal game up with two-goal and four-assist night on Saturday.

The Golden Gophers look to carry their offensive power over to this weekend as they take open up WCHA play at home on Friday and Saturday against St. Cloud State. Puck drop is slated for 7:07 p.m. on Friday night at Ridder Arena.