The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced its weekly awards yesterday, and for the first time this season that list included a Gophers player.

Freshman forward Mike Hoeffel earned the conference’s Rookie of the Week award after a performance to remember last weekend at North Dakota.

Hoeffel picked up a pair of goals in Minnesota’s 4-3 win over the Sioux on Saturday night.

A night after his team was held scoreless in the first two periods, Hoeffel got Minnesota off on the right foot Saturday – picking up his first goal just 2:37 into the contest.

The North Oaks, Minn. native added another goal in the second period, which tripled his yearly total – he came into the weekend with just one goal.

Going into the break, Hoeffel leads Minnesota freshman with three goals but ranks second in total points among freshmen behind defenseman Cade Fairchild.