Dec. 1, 2009

MADISON, Wis. -- The Western Collegiate Hockey Association today announced it's players of the week for the period Dec. 1-7, 2009. Forward Derek Stepan and blueliner Brendan Smith were named WCHA Co-Offensive Player of the Week and WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for their efforts during the College Hockey Showcase.

Stepan, a 6-0, 180-pound sophomore and draftee of the NHL's New York Rangers, shares the weekly offensive honor with Minnesota State's Zach Harrison. Stepan posted a six-point weekend (2g, 4a) for Wisconsin, including a career-high five-point game in a 7-3 victory at No. 7/8-ranked Michigan State last Friday. Stepan, who had a hand in five of the Badgers' seven goals with a goal and four assists, was the Second Star of the Game. One of his assists came on the game-winning goal in the second period.   

Then last Saturday at Michigan, Stepan scored the UW's second goal, at 14:23 of the third period to bring the Badgers to within one in a 3-2 final score. Stepan's five-point game was a career high and the most points for a Badger in a game since Blake Geoffrion had 1-4=5 vs Robert Morris on Oct. 20, 2007. Stepan now ranks second on the Badgers with five goals, 10 assists and 15 points in 14 games played.

Smith, who made his presence felt at both ends of the ice in the Badgers' Thanksgiving weekend road games at Michigan and Michigan State, is the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Dec. 1, 2009. He also earned the weekly honor on Nov. 3.

A 6-2, 190-pound junior from Mimico, Ontario and a draftee of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, Smith totaled four points in games at Michigan State and Michigan on Nov. 27-28 during the 17th annual College Hockey Showcase and helped the Badgers limit their opponents defensively to just two even-strength goals in the two games. He opened the weekend last Friday by  scoring the first two goals at Michigan State in a 7-3 Wisconsin victory and was named the First Star of the Game. He gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead at 9:23 of the first period, before making it 2-0 with a power-play tally at 12:25. The game's first star added the lone assist on Wisconsin's sixth goal that halted an MSU comeback bid. Smith also led all shooters in the game with seven shots, finished +1, and blocked three shots.

Then last Saturday at Michigan, Smith collected an assist on Wisconsin's first goal of the game by Blake Geoffrion, which made it 1-1 at the time in the second period. He took two shots, blocked one shot and was even for the contest in the 3-2 loss to Michigan.

Smith, Wisconsin's leading scorer this season, also leads the nation's defenseman with 17 points (5-12=17) and a 1.31 points-per-game scoring average.