Lucia named WCHA's Offensive Player of Week

Left wing Tony Lucia scored three goals, two shorthanded, and has two assists as the Gophers swept Alaska Anchorage.

For his efforts, he was named the WCHA's Offensive Player of the Week. Lucia is a 6-0, 195-pound senior who is a sixth round pick of the San Jose Sharks.

His two shorties both came on Friday in a a 5-1 win. It was the first college game he had ever scored two goals in. He had a team-high nine shots on goal and was a plus-four.

* There might be another Lucia on the way to play for his father. Mario played on Wayzata's Bantam A state championship team last season. After that Mario attended his father's summer camp at the U -- he was listed at 6-1, 156 -- and worked out with the Gophers players at 7:30 a.m. each morning.

BADGERS NOTICED TOO

The other two weekly WCHA awards went to Wisconsin defensemen.

Junior Brendan Smith was named the Defensive Player of the Week. He had four assists and four blocks as Wisconsin swept New Hampshire 4-1, 6-1. He was a plus-3.

Smith, 6-2, 190, is from Mimico, Ontario and a Detroit Red Wings draftee.

Gophers goalie Alex Kangas, who gave up two goals in two games, was another of the nominees.

Freshman John Ramage was the Rookie of the Week. He had two goals, one assist and was a plus-six. He is 6-0, 195 from St. Louis, Mo.