Ferris State's Joe Rutkowski Garners WCHA Defensive Honor For The Week

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University senior defenseman Joe Rutkowski (Crystal Lake, Ill.) has been chosen as this week's Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Defensive Player of the Week.

Rutkowski had a pair of assists in the Bulldogs' home split with Bemidji State on the weekend.

The Crystal Lake, Ill., native finished with a league-high nine total blocks, including a WCHA single-game season-high of seven on Friday, at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Rutkowski finished the weekend with two assists, three shots on goal and an even plus-minus rating. This is Rutkowski's first career WCHA weekly honor.

The Bulldogs head for a 12-day excursion to Alaska where they'll play both Alaska schools back-to-back, leading off with the University of Alaska Nanooks in Fairbanks at the Carlson Center. Puck drop is set for 11:07 pm ET on Friday (Nov. 22) in Fairbanks.