Emma Laaksonen Named WCHA Rookie Of The Week – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
March 6, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio–The Western Collegiate Hockey Association-Women’s League announced it has named Ohio State defenseman Emma Laaksonen (Fr, Espoo, Finland/Makelanrinteen) rookie of the week for the week ending March 4.
It is the first time Laaksonen has earned rookie of the week honors and the fifth time the Buckeyes have claimed a league honor this season.
Laaksonen helped lead the Buckeyes to a sweep over Wayne State March 2-3 with three goals and three assists. She scored the first hat trick in Ohio State women’s hockey history Friday and added two assists in the Buckeyes’ 8-0 win. Her first goal was the gamewinner and all three came on the power play. She finished the game +3, having been on the ice for all but one of Ohio State’s eight goals. Saturday, Laaksonen assisted in the gamewinner with eight seconds remaining in the first period in Ohio State’s 7-1 victory.
Also an integral part of the OSU special teams, Laaksonen helped the Buckeyes convert on 7-of-13 power-play opportunities in the series. She played a pivotal role in the Buckeye penalty-kill unit, which held the Warriors scoreless through nine chances.
Laaksonen ranks second on the team in points with 36, on 17 goals and 19 assists. She leads the WCHA and the nation in power-play goals with 15 and is second in the league in power-play points (27).
Ohio State ended its regular season 16-15-3 overall and 11-10-3 in league play. The Buckeyes head to Rochester, Minn. March 8-10 for the 2001 WCHA Tournament, held this year at the Rochester Recreation Center. The No. 5 seed Buckeyes will take on the No. 4 seed, St. Cloud State, in game three of the first round at 8 p.m. EST March 8. The winner will face Minnesota in the second round, at 8 p.m. EST March 9.
