Gustavus Adolphus College sophomore forward Joe Welch (Hastings, Minn.) has been named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Hockey Player of the Week for the week ending January 14, 2008. Welch scored four goals in two games last weekend as the Gusties defeated St. Scholastica 8-3 on Friday night and tied UW-Superior 3-3 on Saturday night.
On Friday night, Welch registered his first career hat trick scoring one goal in each period as the Gusties claimed the 8-3 win in Duluth. On Saturday, Welch scored only one goal, but it turned out to be a very important one, as he lit the lamp with just two minutes remaining in the third period to tie the score at 3-3 and force the overtime. Welch, the Gusties third leading scorer, has compiled six goals with four assists for 10 points in 11 games this season.
Welch, an undecided major, is the son of Russ and Lisa Welch of Hastings, MN and a 2005 graduate of Hastings High School.
Gustavus, which is now 7-7-1 overall and 4-2-0 in the MIAC, will begin a weekend series with Bethel on Friday, January 18 in St. Peter at 7:05 p.m.