MADISON - After playing what he called a 'dream weekend' playing arch-rival Minnesota, freshman forward Patrick Johnson has a memento to remember it by.
Helping his team to three of four points in a conference series against two-time defending WCHA champion Minnesota last weekend, Johnson was named Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week for Jan. 29-Feb. 4 by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Tuesday.
A 5-9, 155-pound freshman from Madison, Wis., Johnson produced four scoring points, fired four shots on goal and earned a +3 plus-minus rating in the two-game series against the Golden Gophers.
Johnson single handedly guided the Badgers in Saturday's 2-2 overtime tie, helping UW battle back from a 2-0 second-period deficit. First scoring a power-play second-period goal at 11:32, Johnson corralled a puck in the final period heading for the neutral zone, spun and fired a quick wrister on net.
The puck hit an unsuspecting Blake Geoffrion, who redirected it past dumbfounded Minnesota goalie Alex Kangas for the game-tying tally.
"I touched it just a little bit," Bendickson said afterward. "But, I mean, it was just a great play by Patty to get that puck to the net so quick. I was in the right place at the right time."
In a 3-1 Wisconsin victory last Friday, Johnson drew an assist on teammate Ben Street’s third period goal, beginning a very memorable weekend for him.
"Growing up in Madison, it's any kid's dream to play for the Badgers," he said. "Throwing on the jersey's unbelievable."
The son of former NHL, U.S. Olympic and University of Wisconsin great and current women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson, Patrick is fourth among his teammates and fourth among all WCHA rookies in scoring overall this season with 17 points (6g, 11a) while playing in all 26 games to date.