Vipers Grad Christianson Gets WCHA Defensive Nod:

Vipers grad Christianson gets WCHA Defensive nod

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - Submitted by UAA Athletics

After posting back-to-back shutouts in the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup this past weekend, sophomore goaltender and Vernon Vipers grad Bryce Christianson received the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for March 3-9, 2009, the conference announced on Tuesday.

A local of Anchorage, Christianson posted his first collegiate shutout against Alaska Fairbanks on Feb. 27 at the Carlson Center. In his seventh straight start, Christianson’s 31 saves paved the way for a 1-0 defeat over the host Nanooks for the one-game advantage going into the final game in Anchorage.

On Saturday night in front of a season-high 5,350 fans at the Sully, Christianson once again was flawless in goal with 15 saves. Christianson fought off five UAF power players and a game-high 9 shots in the second frame.

The back-to-back shutouts on Feb. 27-28 posted by Christianson and the Seawolves were the first for a UAA team since the 1992-93 season.

On the season, Christianson ranks third in goals-against average among WCHA players overall at 2.45 and owns a .898 saves percentage and 7-7-4 record.

Christianson is the first UAA goalie to garner the weekly honor since Nathan Lawson during the 2006-07 season. Christianson joins three other Seawolves that have received a conference accolade—Kevin Clark, Tommy Grant (twice) and Curtis Leinweber.

Christianson joins the rest of the Seawolves this weekend when they travel to Minnesota-Duluth for their last regular season series on March 6-7