Per WCHA release:
A milestone achievement, shutout goaltending and a collegiate first highlight the women’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Players of the Week for games of Jan. 16-18, 2015. The honorees are: Minnesota junior forward Maryanne Menefee (Offensive Player of the Week), North Dakota junior goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Defensive Player of the Week), and Bemidji State freshman defenseman Emma Terres (Rookie of the Week).
WCHA Offensive Player of the Week
Maryanne Menefee, Jr., Minnesota (Lansing, Mich.) Menefee led Minnesota with seven points (4g, 3a) as the Gophers swept Minnesota State in a home-and-home series last weekend. The junior from Lansing, Mich. recorded her second career hat trick in a 7-3 win Friday at Ridder Arena, while also adding an assist to tie a career high with four points. Menefee followed up Saturday with a goal and two assists in a 7-1 triumph, while her assist on Hannah Brandt’s goal 1:26 into the game marked her 100th career point. Menefee was on the ice for eight of Minnesota’s 14 goals and finished the weekend with a +6 rating. She is third in the WCHA this season with a 0.57 goals per game and ranks sixth with 1.17 points per contest.
Also nominated: Stephanie Anderson, Jr., F, Bemidji State; Lara Stalder, So., F, Minnesota Duluth
WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Jr., G, North Dakota (Warroad, Minn.)
Amsley-Benzie, a junior from Warroad, Minn., posted consecutive shutouts to help North Dakota to a road sweep at No. 10/9 Ohio State. She recorded a total of 57 saves on the weekend in a pair of 1-0 victories, stopping 26 shots in the first game and turning back 31 attempts in the series finale. Amsley-Benzie also recorded her first career point, assisting on the game-winning goal Saturday. Her efforts between the pipes led UND to its first consecutive shutouts since Jan. 20-21, 2012.
Also nominated: Kayla Black, Jr., G, Minnesota Duluth; Erin Deters, Fr., G, Bemidji State; Rachel Ramsey, Sr., D, Minnesota
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Emma Terres, D, Bemidji State (New Hope, Minn.)
Terres was instrumental on both ends of the ice as Bemidji State split a road series at No. 3 Wisconsin. The freshman from New Hope, Minn. scored her first collegiate goal in dramatic fashion Friday, netting the game-winner at the 9:23 mark of the third period to lift the Beavers to a 2-1 victory. Terres also blocked six shots on the weekend, helping BSU hold the Badgers to three goals in two games.
Also nominated: Cara Piazza, F, Minnesota
