MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – Justin Kloos and Hudson Fasching have been named Big Ten First Star of the Week and Big Ten Second Star of the Week, respectively, after helping the Gopher Hockey program sweep Ohio State in Columbus over the weekend.

The junior duo combined for eight points (four goals, four assists) in the sweep – each contributing four points (two goals, two assists) – as Minnesota claimed sole possession of first place in the Big Ten Conference with three series remaining in regular-season play.

The pair is tied for Minnesota’s scoring lead through 29 games this season with 33 points each – career highs for both.

A native of Lakeville, Minn., Kloos notched three points (two goals, one assist) in Friday’s 5-4 overtime win over the Buckeyes, scoring the Maroon & Gold’s opening goal and later capping the whirlwind contest with the overtime winner. The forward, who also picked up an assist in the opener, then picked up an assist on Fasching’s shorthanded goal to open Saturday’s 4-3 win. The performance bumped Kloos’ point streak to 11 games – a career long for the junior captain. Since starting the streak on Jan. 9, Kloos leads the nation in scoring with 23 points. The forward needs just three points to join Minnesota’s 100-point club. This week’s Big Ten honors marks Kloos’ first of the season and fourth in his career at Minnesota.

A native of Burnsville, Minn., Fasching put up an assist in Friday’s overtime win and then contributed his own three-point night to wrap up the sweep on Saturday. The junior forward factored into Minnesota’s first three goals on Saturday, opening the contest with his third shorthanded goal of the year (set up by Kloos) before adding an assist and an additional goal to make it 3-0 Gophers. This week’s Big Ten honor marks Fasching’s third of the season and seventh in his career at Minnesota.

The Gophers have now closed out a seven-week, 14-game stretch to open the second half, going 9-5-0 in that span. The Maroon & Gold enter a bye weekend before returning to action, Feb. 25-26, against Michigan at Mariucci Arena.

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