Michigan schools sweep WCHA weekly awards

By @MichaelCaples –

The WCHA announced its weekly awards today, and all of them are going to players at Michigan schools.

Ferris State forward Gerald Mayhew was named the league’s offensive player of the week, while Lake Superior State goaltender Gordon Defiel was named top defensive player. Rookie of the week honors went to Ferris State goaltender Darren Smith.

Mayhew, a Wyandotte native, posted four points during the Bulldogs’ quarterfinal match-up with Northern Michigan – helping FSU to a weekend sweep and a spot in this week’s WCHA Final Five. After posting one assist on Friday, Mayhew scored two power-play goals in 37 seconds late in the third period to lead a comeback charge for FSU and a 3-2 lead. He picked up an assist on the empty-netter that made the game 4-2, as well.

Defiel, a Stillwater, Minn., native, nearly led LSSU to a series upset over favored Minnesota State this past weekend. The LSSU goaltender led the NCAA with 122 saves during the three-game series, and he set a WCHA playoff record with 57 saves in regulation in LSSU’s Game 2 victory – a 2-0 shutout. Defiel stopped 25 and 29 shots in Games 1 and 3, respectively, in a valiant effort to try to keep the Lakers’ season alive.

While Mayhew led the way up front for the Bulldogs last weekend, it was Smith taking care of business between the pipes. The rookie netminder played all 120 minutes for FSU as they swept NMU, stopped 48 of the 52 shots sent his way.