Vandercook Named SBK Hockey/West Player of the Week
December 20, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - Wenatchee Wild captain D.J. Vandercook (Farmington Hills,Mich.) was named the SBK Hockey/West Player of the Week on Monday. Vandercook,20, was selected for the award after contributing 6 points (4G, 2A) in theWild's 3-game road sweep over the Dawson Creek Rage last week.
Vandercook scored a third-period goal during the first gameof last week's series when he completed a tic-tac-toe play from the back door.He also assisted on Max McHugh's (Edgewood,Wash.) second goal of the first period. Vandercook set up the game-winning goalin the second game of the series when he sent a deft pass to the point for defensemanPatrick Kinkopf (Seattle, Wash.) frominside the near faceoff circle.
Vandercook recorded his first hat trick of the season in thethird game of last week's series against the Rage by scoring a goal in eachperiod. In the first, he tied the contest up, 1-1, when he put back a reboundduring a power play. In the second frame, Vandercook scored a power-play markerfrom the slot on a pass from Carl-JohanSjogren (Sodertalje, Sweden) from behind the net. Vandercook tacked on anempty-netter with 65 seconds remaining in regulation to complete the hat trick.
Vandercook was a 50-point scorer (30G, 20A) for the Wild in2008-09 before playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United StatesHockey League (USHL) last season. Vandercook was re-acquired by the Wild inlate September, and his 27 points currently tie him for the most on the teamalong with Eliot Grauer (Mukioteo,Wash.).
"D.J. has been a leader since he walked back into our lockerroom," said Wild assistant coach ChrisClark. "He's done a great job of not only putting up points, but helpingdevelop some of our younger players. He'll be an excellent Division I playernext year."
Grauer and McHugh were honorable mention selections for the WestPlayer of the Week. Like Vandercook, Grauer also recorded four goals with twoassists last week while McHugh scored three goals with three assists.
The Wild (18-11-2) will ring in 2011 at the Town Toyota Centerwith a pair of games against the Fresno Monsters on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. The NewYear's Eve game will begin at 6:35 p.m., and the New Year's Day game will startat 7:05 p.m.
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