North Dakota goalie picks up WCHA award

The Gophers will have to face a hot goalie this weekend at the Ralph.

Sophomore Aaron Dell of the Fighting Sioux has been named the WCHA defensive player of the week after coming ever so close to back-to-back shutouts in a sweep of Robert Morris.

With Dell stopped 63 of 64 shots as the Sioux beat Robert Morris 8-0 and 2-1. The visitors scored their only goal with 20 seconds left in the second game, ending Dell's shutout streak at 224 minutes, 31 seconds -- the second longest in school history.

Gerald (Spike) Schultz had four shutouts in a row in January 1954 and a scoreless streak of 249:41.

The Colonials were 0 for 9 on powers against the 6-0, 190-pound Dell, who is from Airdrie, Alberta.

Dell's statistics are impressive. He is:

* first in the WCHA in winning percentage at .775 (15-4-1)

* second in goals-against average at 1.92

* fourth in save percentage at .922

North Dakota is on a nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1)

OFFENSIVE PLAYER: BADGERS' SMITH

Sophomore Craig Smith of Wisconsin was named the WCHA's offensive player of the week. He had three goals and three assists as the Badgers swept Canisius 3-0 and 6-5 in overtime. Smith scored the tying goal in the second game with four minutes left in the third period, then had an assist on the game-winner in the extra period.

Wisconsin has won seven games in a row.

ROOKIE: SCSU'S DOWD

Nic Dowd of St. Cloud State is the conference's rookie of the week for the second week in a row. He had one goal and three assists as the Huskies swept Michigan Tech 3-0 and 5-1. Dowd is a 6-2, 196-pound freshman from Huntsville, Alabama.