Schmidbauer Earns SBK Hockey/West Player of the Week
January 3, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - WenatcheeWild forward Evan Schmidbauer (Surrey,BC) was named the SBK Hockey/West Player of the Week on Monday. Schmidbauerreceived the honor after he scored three goals and an assist in the Wild's2-game sweep over the Fresno Monsters last week.
Schmidbauer was making his return to the lineup againstFresno after he was forced to miss six games with an injury. His return couldnot have been scripted better.
During the first game of the series, Schmidbauer scored agoal on Geoff Ferguson's (Hanwell,NB) shot from the blue line late in the first period. In the second game, hefigured in on three of the Wild's five first-period goals. He assisted on thefirst goal of the game and then went on to record two goals himself on backhandshots. Schmidbauer was also plus-4 on the weekend.
"He's a big, strong body and he plays a big-man's game,"Wenatchee Wild head coach John Becanicsaid of Schmidbauer. "He really uses [his size] effectively, and he has a lotof enthusiasm and wants to play up to his potential."
Schmidbauer centered a line with Matt Cope (Lakewood, Colo.) and John Mejia (Chicago, Ill.) against Fresno, the first time that thetrio has been grouped together. The line combined for four goals and four assistsin the series. In addition to Schmidbauer's four points, Cope scored a goal andan assist and was plus-3 while Mejia recorded two assists and was also plus-3.
"They were by far our best line over the weekend," Becanicsaid of the Cope-Schmidbauer-Mejia grouping. "They were really good Fridaynight, and they were very good Saturday night."
The Wild (20-11-2) will travel to Dawson Creek, BritishColumbia, for a 2-game series against the Rage this weekendan. 7-8). Bothgames will begin at 6 p.m. (PST).
North American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2011
- Schmidbauer Earns SBK Hockey/West Player of the Week - Wenatchee Wild
- NAHL Announces Players of the Week - NAHL
- Monsters Weekly - Fresno Monsters
- 'Cats lose last two of 2010 - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Bulls Back in First Place - Amarillo Bulls
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