Posted-February 28th, 2012 3:44 pm

MADISON, Wis. – Sophomore defenseman Frankie Simonelli (Bensenville, Ill.) was honored for the first time in his career by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as WCHA Co-Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Badgers to a two-game conference road sweeps last weekend.

Simonelli, a 5-10, 195-pound sophomore was a key player in Wisconsin’s first road sweep of the season, collecting a goal and two assists for three points while going +4 as the Badgers won twice over WCHA rival Bemidji State by 4-2 scores. Last Friday, Simonelli scored his fifth goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1 early in the second period, and took three shots in the game. On Saturday, Simonelli was again +2, collecting two assists with the primary helper on UW’s second goal, which tied the game at 2-2. He also helped set up UW’s fourth goal, an empty-net tally, and took two shots in the game.

Simonelli shared this week’s honor with Minnesota defenseman Nate Schmidt. Also nominated was defenseman Joey LaLeggia of Denver.