The honors keep rolling in for Nashville Predators prospects, as Blake Geoffrion (senior at the University of Wisconsin in the WCHA) and Michael Latta (of the OHL's Guelph Storm) were both named Player of the Week in their respective leagues. Latta's teammate Taylor Beck won this same award just last month.
Following after the jump are the press releases for each award...
Michael Latta wins OHL Player of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Michael Latta of the Guelph Storm is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 14 after scoring five goals and four assists for nine points in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.
Latta opened the week with two straight four-point games including the first four-goal game of his career Wednesday night against the Plymouth Whalers. The game’s first star netted his hat-trick goal on the power play at 18:03 of the second period which held as the game-winner, with his fourth goal of the night providing the insurance for the Storm at 8:58 of the third period in the 6-3 win. On Friday night Latta helped supply all of the offense for the Storm playing a part in all four goals by scoring one and assisting on three in the 4-3 win over the Sarnia Sting as third star of the game. His week finished Saturday with an assist despite a 6-2 loss to the Owen Sound Attack.
Latta, an 18-year-old from St. Clements, ON, is playing in his third OHL season and first full year with the Storm after beginning his career with the Ottawa 67’s. A third round choice of the Nashville Predators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Latta has 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points in 46 games played this season.
Also considered for the award this week was Nazem Kadri who was named first star in all three London Knights’ wins this week scoring two goals and seven assists for nine points in three games. Bryan Cameron of the Barrie Colts led the OHL with six goals in three games and added an assist for seven points. In goal, Edward Pasquale stole the show for the Saginaw Spirit making 103 saves in two games notching a pair of victories with a goals-against-average of 2.00 and save percentage of .963.
Blake Geoffrion wins WCHA Player of the Week
MADISON, Wis. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association today announced the players of the week for February 16, 2010. They are forwards Blake Geoffrion of the University of Wisconsin and Chris VandeVelde of the University of North Dakota on offense, University of Denver goaltender Marc Cheverie on defense, and North Dakota forward Corban Knight as rookie.
Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Players of the Week
Blake Geoffrion - Sr., F, Wisconsin
Chris VandeVelde - Sr., F, North Dakota
A pair of senior forwards who combined for 13 scoring points over the weekend - Blake Geoffrion of the University of Wisconsin and Chris VandeVelde of the University of North Dakota - have been named the Red Baron® WCHA co-Offensive Players of the Week for Feb. 16.
Geoffrion, a 6-2, 188-pound center from Brentwood, Tenn., and a draftee of the NHL's Nashville Predators, posted a career-high seven points to lead the Badgers to a home sweep over WCHA-rival Minnesota State.
Geoffrion scored a goal and three assists for his season-high four point game, collecting a point on all four Badger goals in last Friday's (Feb. 12) 4-3 victory. One of his assists came on a shorthanded game-winning goal in the third period.
Last Saturday (Feb. 13), Geoffrion then added two goals and an assist to finish off his seven-point weekend in a 8-4 win over MSU. His first goal of the game was his 20th of the season to give the UW its first lead at 2-1. He later secured his second shorthanded primary assist of the weekend on what again proved to be the game-winning goal at 14:43 of the second period. He finished the series with five shots and a +2 rating.
Geoffrion leads the WCHA with 21 goals overall and 19 goals in league play. His 32 league points pace all scorers, as does his 1.52 points-per-game in conference action and his 11 PPGs. Overall, his 35 points are tied for fifth in the league. His next point will mark the 100th of his UW career.
VandeVelde, a 6-2, 207-pound center from Moorhead, Minn., and draftee of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers, enjoyed a six-point weekend, including the first four-point game of his career, while leading the Sioux to a WCHA split at No. 4 St. Cloud State.
In last Saturday's 8-1 Sioux win over the host Huskies - UND's biggest offensive output of the season - VandeVelde registered a goal and three assists, all on the power-play and all in the second period. It was UND's first six-goal period in nearly a decade. He also helped the Sioux kill all seven SCSU power-play chances. During Saturday's game, he also reached the 100-point milestone for his career.
In last Friday's 4-3 loss, VandeVelde had a goal and assist and was a +1.
Over his last three games now, VandeVelde has eight points (4g, 4a) and he is averaging nearly a point per game this season with 27 points (11g, 16a) in 29 games.
Also nominated: Joe Colborne, F, DU.