Men's Hockey | 1/25/2016 2:15:00 PM

   Mankato, Minn. --- A pair of Minnesota State players have been recognized by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for their performances in a home league sweep over Lake Superior State this past weekend.

Sophomore forward C.J. Franklin has been named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week and junior goaltender Cole Huggins has been selected as WCHA Defensive Player of the Week.

Franklin, a Forest Lake, Minn., native, registered three goals and two assists for five points in the two victories over the visiting Lakers.  He also contributed six shots on goal, won 12 face-offs and was +3 for the weekend. The Winnipeg Jets draftee had a goal and two assists in Friday's 8-0 win. He then scored twice and had the game-winner in Saturday's 5-1 victory.  For the season, the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) product has totaled a team-high nine goals with five assists for 14 points.

Huggins, a Centennial, Colo., native, went 2-0-0 with a 0.50 goals against average and a .975 save percentage vs. Lake Superior State this past Friday and Saturday.  The Coquitlam Express (BCHL) product stopped all 17 shots in the first game for his second shut-out of the year as the Mavericks rolled to an 8-0 victory.  He then had 22 saves as the Mavericks closed out the conference sweep with a 5-1 win the next night.  His eight career shut-outs ranks second all-time at Minnesota State and his 30 career wins stands ninth all-time.

Rated #19 this week, Minnesota State (13-8-5 overall, 12-3-5 WCHA) participates in the North Star College Cup this weekend at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.  The Mavericks square-off against #3 St. Cloud State Saturday and will play the winner/loser between Bemidji State and the 20th-rated University of Minnesota Sunday.