Senior goaltender Cole Huggins backstopped then-No. 19 Minnesota State to a season-opening sweep of then-No. 17 Michigan Tech, stopping 45 of 46 shots in the two wins.

For his efforts, he was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10.

His .978 save percentage and 0.50 goals-against average both led the WCHA and ranked fourth nationally, while he was one of seven NCAA goaltenders – and the only WCHA netminder – to post a shutout last weekend. The native of Centennial and Colorado Thunderbirds graduate turned aside 20 of 21 shots in Friday’s 3-1 win before posting a 25-save blanking in Saturday’s 4-0 triumph.

Saturday’s shutout was the school-record 11th of Huggins’ career (most among active NCAA goaltenders), while he now ranks sixth in Minnesota State history with 40 collegiate victories.