Wisconsin Badger Junior defenseman Justin Schultz became the third player
Justin Schultz
in WCHA history to win two WCHA Defensive Player of the Year awards.
This is only the third time in the history of the award that started in 1991 that a player has won it twice. Colorado College defenseman Eric Rud won the award in both 1995-96 and 1996-97 while Minnesota defenseman Jordan Leopold earned the honor in both 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Schultz also earned All-WCHA First Team honors for the second straight season.
The nation’s, and the WCHA’s, top point-producing defenseman, Schultz is averaging 1.24 points per game through 34 games this season. Schultz has tallied 15 goals and 27 assists for a total of 42-points.
Wisconsin sophomore forward Mark Zengerle, who ranks fourth in the nation with 49 points and shares the national lead with 37 assists, earned his first year-end league honor. The reigning WCHA Offensive Player of the Week finished in a tie for fifth in the league scoring race in WCHA games with 36 points, one point shy of second.
Zengerle was one of eight Badgers named to the 2012 Academic All-WCHA team.
The Badgers open the WCHA playoffs this weekend with a best 2 of 3 series at Denver starting tonight.