For the third time this season Kent Patterson has been named WCHA defensive player of the week. The senior Gophers' goalie allowed one goal in a weekend sweep of Bemidji State. The WCHA rookie of the week award was given to Gophers' forward Kyle Rau. It's the second time he's won the award.

For the second consecutive week, two Golden Gophers have earned WCHA awards. The conference named Kyle Rau its rookie of the week -- the third time he's won the award. Nate Schmidt was named co-defensive player of the week.

Freshman Kyle Rau was named WCHA rookie of the week. The announcement came Tuesday after Rau tallied three goals for the Gophers as they swept Minnesota-Duluth last weekend. All three of Rau's goals came on the power play.

Minnesota Golden Gophers goaltender Kent Patterson has been named the WCHA's co-defensive player of the week. Patterson, a senior, earned his first two career shutouts in successive nights last weekend against Sacred Heart.

The Gophers men's hockey team is No. 1in the nation in more than the polls. Nick Bjugstad leads the WCHA with 21 goals -- good for second best in the country. Meanwhile, Kyle Rau leads all freshman in scoring, and goaltender Kent Patterson leads the nation in minutes.

If Gophers hockey isn’t broke, Don Lucia won’t fix it. The coach says goalie Kent Patterson will start both games this weekend against Vermont, and will keep playing the senior until he needs a break.

Kent Patterson is the 2011-12 WCHA goalie champion. The award goes to the goalie with the lowest in-conference goals against average, and Patterson led the WCHA with a 2.06 GAA. Patterson was also the Gophers' nomination for WCHA Player of the Year, which will be announced next week.