Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane
SCSU's Janine Alder honored as WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
1/23/2018 1:00:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Sophomore goaltender lifted the Huskies to an unbeaten weekend against UMD
ST. CLOUD—Leading the St. Cloud State women's hockey team (6-15-3, 4-11-2-0 WCHA) to an unbeaten weekend against in-state rival Minnesota Duluth, including a thrilling outdoor tie and shootout win on Hockey Day Minnesota, garnered sophomore goaltender Janine Alder WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors for games played January 19-20, the conference announced Tuesday.
Alder led all WCHA netminders with a sterling .966 save percentage on a league-high 59 shots against the Bulldogs. After making 36 saves on Friday—her eighth 30-plus save outing of the season—she stopped all 21 shots she saw in relief and was unbeaten on six shootout attempts in Saturday's outdoor game to preserve the Huskies' memorable shootout victory.
"Janine really closed the door when she got in there," head coach Eric Rud said. "She is so skilled with her footwork and that allows her to stay on top of things. She has great hockey sense."
After an All-WCHA Rookie Team-worthy campaign last year, Alder is putting together another standout season in 2017-18. Her .935 save percentage in 13 games ranks third in the WCHA and sixth in the country. She has been especially stellar over the last two-plus months. Since her start on November 10 against Bemidji State, Alder boasts a .943 save percentage, which puts her at No. 2 in the league and No. 6 in the NCAA.
This is Alder's fourth career conference weekly award. She was twice named Rookie of the Week and once Defensive Player of the Week during her 2016-17 freshman season. With the win, Huskies goaltenders have now won two out of the last three WCHA Defensive Player of the Week awards. Freshman Emma Polusny earned the honor for games played January 2-6 after SCSU's home sweep of Minnesota State.
The award continues an exciting week for the Zurich, Switzerland native. Not only did she get the decision on Hockey Day Minnesota, but Alder was also named to Switzerland's women's hockey roster for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games on Monday. It will be her second career Olympic appearance and the first by a Huskies women's hockey player in the program's 20-year history.
St. Cloud State takes to the road this weekend for a two-game set against league-leading Wisconsin. The Huskies and Badgers will face off on Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28 at 2:07 p.m. at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wis. Saturday's series opener will be broadcast live by Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin.
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Alder led all WCHA netminders with a sterling .966 save percentage on a league-high 59 shots against the Bulldogs. After making 36 saves on Friday—her eighth 30-plus save outing of the season—she stopped all 21 shots she saw in relief and was unbeaten on six shootout attempts in Saturday's outdoor game to preserve the Huskies' memorable shootout victory.
"Janine really closed the door when she got in there," head coach Eric Rud said. "She is so skilled with her footwork and that allows her to stay on top of things. She has great hockey sense."
After an All-WCHA Rookie Team-worthy campaign last year, Alder is putting together another standout season in 2017-18. Her .935 save percentage in 13 games ranks third in the WCHA and sixth in the country. She has been especially stellar over the last two-plus months. Since her start on November 10 against Bemidji State, Alder boasts a .943 save percentage, which puts her at No. 2 in the league and No. 6 in the NCAA.
This is Alder's fourth career conference weekly award. She was twice named Rookie of the Week and once Defensive Player of the Week during her 2016-17 freshman season. With the win, Huskies goaltenders have now won two out of the last three WCHA Defensive Player of the Week awards. Freshman Emma Polusny earned the honor for games played January 2-6 after SCSU's home sweep of Minnesota State.
The award continues an exciting week for the Zurich, Switzerland native. Not only did she get the decision on Hockey Day Minnesota, but Alder was also named to Switzerland's women's hockey roster for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games on Monday. It will be her second career Olympic appearance and the first by a Huskies women's hockey player in the program's 20-year history.
St. Cloud State takes to the road this weekend for a two-game set against league-leading Wisconsin. The Huskies and Badgers will face off on Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28 at 2:07 p.m. at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wis. Saturday's series opener will be broadcast live by Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin.
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