How good a is a rested and healthy Kim Martin? Just ask the University of Wisconsin.
The University of Minnesota Duluth goaltender was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Defensive Player of the Week Wednesday after shutting down the NCAA's leading offense and helping the Bulldogs knock the Badgers out of the No. 1 ranking last weekend by sweeping their league rivals.
The junior from Stockholm, Sweden, shut out Wisconsin for the second time in two years last Saturday, anchoring UMD to a 4-0 triumph Saturday over the visiting Badgers. Martin, a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award last season and an assistant team captain, made a season-high 31 saves in the game on Jan. 10 and withstood seven Wisconsin power-play attempts to earn Toyota Player of the Game honors.
Martin then collected 34 saves in last Sunday's (Jan. 11) 3-3 overtime tie against the Badgers, and then dismissed both Wisconsin skaters she faced in the first WCHA shootout to be held at the DECC in history, a 2-0 UMD effort.
In all, Martin turned away 65 of 68 shots on goal in the series for a .956 saves percentage and posted five shutout periods, including a 5 minute overtime period. The shutout on Jan. 10 was Martin's second in as many games and No. 11 at UMD, and the victory leaves her just 12 shy of tying the Bulldog record for wins in a career (65).
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On the 2008-09 season, Martin owns a 11-6-3 overall record, a 1.74 goals-against average and a .932 saves percentage in over 1172:56 of action.
Martin and the rest of the No. 3 Bulldogs will head to Mankato this weekend to face Minnesota State University.
Game-time for Friday contest will begin at 7:07 p.m., while Saturday's matinée will start at 3:07 p.m.
-- UMD press release
