Mack and Bench earn weekly accolades from WCHA

A pair of Bemidji State University women’s hockey members earned Western Collegiate Hockey Association accolades Tuesday afternoon as senior Haley Mack and redshirt junior Lauren Bench were tabbed the WCHA Offensive and Goaltender of the Week, respectively.

Mack earns her third career WCHA weekly accolade and first of the season after tying for the WCHA lead with four goals to lead the Beavers to a series sweep over then No. 8 University of Minnesota Duluth. A native of East Grand Forks, Minn., Mack began the week with two goals in Friday’s 4-2win and continued by scoring both goals in Saturday’s 2-1 victory. She finished the weekend with four points, 11 shots on goal, two power-play goals, one game-winning goal and was even on the ice.

Bench also earns her third career WCHA weekly nod and her first of the season as well after backstopping the Beavers to two wins by posting a 1.50 goals against average and .940 save percentage to rank fourth in the league. Bench stopped a total of 47-of-50 shots on the weekend including 19 saves on Friday night and a season-high 28 saves on 29 shots in game two.

Joining Mack and Bench were University of Minnesota’s Emily Brown who was named the WCHA Defenseman of the Week and Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Calla Frank who was tabbed as the WCHA Rookie of the Week.

Mack, Bench and the rest of the Beaver women’s hockey squad take their first road trip of the season and travel to No. 1 University of Wisconsin for a league-series, Saturday-Sunday.