Junior goalie Kent Patterson of the Gophers break a long drought.

He is the first U of M goalie to be named to an all-WCHA team since Adam Hauser was named to the third team in 2000-01. Patterson was named to the second team on Thursday.

Last season the Gophers did not have any players on the all-WCHA teams. But they had two in 2008-09. Forwards Ryan Stoa and Jordan Schroeder were on the first and second teams that year, respectively.

Patty, one nickname for Patterson, is the fourth Gophers goalie to be named to the second team. The others:

* Jeff Stolp (1991-92)

* Robb Stauber (1988-89)

* John Blue (1984-85)

* John Lothrop (1965-66)

Patterson, 13-5-5 in league play, had WCHA wins against Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Colorado College, Denver, Michigan Tech, Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Wisconsin. The only WCHA team that he played against and did not beat was Minnesota State (2-1 loss on Dec. 4). The Plymouth, Minn., native, gave up 54 goals in 23 WCHA games, but only 30 goals at even strength. He is 5-0-2 in his last seven games and has a .926 save percentage and a 2.37 goals-against average during his unbeaten streak. It is the second seven-game unbeaten streak for Patterson this season, as he began the year with a 6-0-1 mark. Patterson, 14-7-6 overall, split time at the beginning of the year with senior Alex Kangas. But Kangas needed season ending hip surgery. He has started 19 consecutive games and has a .928 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average during that time. In those 19 games. He has stopped 30 or more shots in 12 games this year and the Gophers are 6-2-4 in those games (3-0-1 at home and 3-2-3 on the road). In those 12 games, Patterson has a .930 save percentage and a 2.52 goals-against average. Minnesota is 3-1-2 this year when he made 35 or more saves. Patterson, 21, has one more year of eligibility left. He has said he will return. The Colorado Avalanche drafted him in the fourth round in 2007.