Three Up, Two Down, WCHA: Nov. 6
Posted by: Zack FriedliUp
Zach Raubenheimer, Forward, Nebraska-Omaha
Raubenheimer was the difference on both nights – he had a pair of goals in both Friday and Saturday night’s games – for the Mavericks in their weekend sweep against Michigan Tech. With that weekend outburst, he exceeded his goal total from both is freshman and sophomore years, and he’s now matched his career output (five goals coming into the season) in just eight contests so far.
Connor Gaarder, Forward, North Dakota
The sophomore forward went off on Friday night against Boston University, sparking North Dakota to a 4-2 nonconference triumph with his first career hat trick. Gaarder now has five points in five outings this year, and it looks like he’s well on his way to a breakout campaign.
Joe Howe, Goalie, Colorado College
Howe has had a rough go of it over the past year, battling competition and other factors to find consistent playing time. His first start of the year wasn’t great, but he looked like the Joe Howe of old in a 33-save shutout on Saturday night – the most saves he’s made in a shutout since a 35-save effort in a 1-0 win in Mankato on Oct. 23, 2010.
Down
Andrew MacWilliam, Defenseman, North Dakota
MacWilliam is a hard-hitting, rock-solid blue-liner, but he didn’t have the best weekend against Boston University. MacWilliam was booted after a “hit to the head” midway through Friday’s game, then was on the ice for two of BU’s three third-period goals – and was a minus-3 total – in Saturday’s loss.
Seth Helgeson, Defenseman, Minnesota
If the Gophers want to live up to expectations, Helgeson has to be the shutdown guy at the blue line. This weekend, he wasn’t. Although he had an assist, he was on the ice for five Minnesota State goals (two power-play markers, three even strength goal), which simply isn’t good enough.
