Kepler Named WCHA Rookie of the Week – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Jan. 29, 2014
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Claudia Kepler, a freshman forward on the Ohio State women’s hockey team,has been named WCHA Rookie of the Week the league announced Wednesday.
The Verona, Wis. product paced the Buckeyes offensively in a series sweep of WCHA foe Minnesota State this past weekend at the OSU Ice Rink, racking up five points on three goals and a pair of assists.
On Friday Kepler got the scoring started with a goal off a deflection late in the second period. She would also later set up the game-winner in overtime for OSU as she put the shot on net that was cleaned up by Julia McKinnon for the winning score.
Kepler continued to be productive Saturday as she once again tallied the first score of the game, this one coming only 2:54 into the opening period. Kepler later set up Kendall Curtis for an OSU score in period two. Then, with the Buckeyes holding onto a one-goal lead, Kepler gave them some breathing room with an unassisted short-handed goal early in the third.
Following her five-point weekend, Kepler now has 14 points this season on a team-leading 10 goals and four assists. Saturday marked her second multi-goal game of the season.
It marks the second time for Kepler picking up the honor this season. She was also WCHA Rookie of the Week back on Nov. 6, 2013 following a two-goal performance on the road against Wisconsin.
Ohio State is on the road this weekend for a WCHA series with St. Cloud State. Games will take place Friday and Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
