IT was an impressive weekend on the ice for Travis Oleksuk.
The junior forward at the University of Minnesota-Duluth had five points helping the Bulldogs to a two-game sweep over visiting Providence.
In the opener Oleksuk had two assists and also fired the game-winner, on a penalty shot, in a 5-3 UMD victory.
Game two saw the former Thunder Bay Kings standout pot the winner for a second straight night and also set-up another as the Bulldogs rolled to a 7-1 triumph.
Meanwhile earlier Saturday at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Western Collegiate Hockey Association women’s action another Thunder Bay native in Haley Irwin tallied twice, dished out an assist and was a plus-4 helping UMD rally for a 5-2 win over Minnesota State in their WCHA home opener.
NCAA UPDATE: Other local players competing in NCAA hockey also made their mark over the weekend.
Friday saw Thunder Bay’s Paul Karpowich post his first collegiate shutout stopping all 31 shots he faced backstopping his Clarkson Golden Knights to a 4-0 blanking over Bowling Green.
Saturday saw the Falcons gain a measure of revenge reversing the tables as they shutout Clarkson 3-0.
One of the players on Bowling Green’s roster is Lakehead product Andrew Krelove. The defenceman had an assist and posted a plus-2 rating helping his team earn a split of the two-game set.
WEEKLY HONOUR: Two impressive victories helped Ryan Faragher earn recognition from the North American Hockey League.
The Fort Frances product was named the most recent NAHL goaltender of the week award recipient backstopping his Bismarck Bobcats to a two-game sweep over the Austin Bruins.
Game one saw the Dartmouth College recruit posted a 25-save shutout in a 2-0 win. He then followed that up in game two making 26 stops in a 3-1 victory.
TEAM RECORD: Just over a week into the National Hockey League season and Patrick Sharp and has already etched his name into the Chicago Blackhawks record book.
In Friday’s 5-2 victory at Columbus Sharp set a Blackhawks franchise record for shots on goal in a game with 13. Among his attempts on net two of them went in including the game-winner via a shorthanded effort.
He also tallied twice Saturday in a come from behind 4-3 victory at home vs. Buffalo notching the game-winner for a second straight night.
Since the start of the 2007-08 season Sharp has more multi-goal games for Chicago that any other player with 13.
The talented 28-year old forward is currently tied for fourth in overall NHL scoring early in the season. He is also knotted for the league lead in goals with five and game-winners with two while topping all NHL skaters in shots on goal with 28.
AROUND THE CHL: The Central Hockey League kicked off their 2010-11 season over the weekend with a number of area products making impressions.
Bruce Ramsay, head coach of the Tulsa Oilers, is 2-0 as the Dryden native is unbeaten early on.
Bill McDonald, associate coach of the Allen Americans, also saw his side win their first two games sweeping a pair vs. rival Texas.
Among those sharing the Americans team scoring lead early on are defenceman Erik Adams and former Lakehead Thunderwolves forward Tobias Whelan who picked up two points apiece.
Meanwhile the defending CHL champion Rapid City Rush began defence of their title blanking Fort Wayne 4-0 in their opener with Thunder Bay’s Colt King registering two assists including setting up the game-winner.