FOX Sports North Midweek Stock Report for March 23
Every Wednesday, FOX Sports North takes a look at which athletes' stock is trending up and whose is trending down.
In other words, who is making a meteoric rise, and who is quickly plummeting.
With that in mind, let's "take stock" of the current sports scene in Minnesota, shall we?
UP
Sarah Potomek and Amanda Kessel, Gophers forwards
The 18-year-old Potomek and 24-year-old Kessel helped the Gophers women's hockey team to a second straight national title and its fourth in five years. Potomek scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Wisconsin in the Frozen Four semifinals and added a goal 13 seconds into the national championship game against Boston College. Kessel added third-period goals in both games, including the game-tying goal against the Badgers and what proved to be the game-winner against Boston College.
Runar Arnorsson , Gophers golfer
The sophomore from Iceland broke a 17-year-old school record Monday with a 10-under-par 62 in the first round of the Barona Collegiate Cup in Lakeside, Calif. Arnorsson won the tournament with a 54-hole score of 9-under, as Minnesota finished second out of 11 teams.
Devan Dubnyk, Wild goaltender
Dubnyk stopped 60 of 64 shots in shootout wins by the Wild on Saturday and Sunday. The All-Star goalie made a season-high 38 saves on Tuesday night as the Wild defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. The strong performance came after Dubnyk struggled during last Thursday's 7-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
Ricky Rubio, Wolves point guard
Rubio averaged 16.3 points per game in three games this past week and dished out 28 assists. His shooting has been noticeably better since his game-winning 3-pointer against Oklahoma City. Rubio shot 58.3 percent this past week including 42.9 percent (6-for-14) from 3-point range.
DOWN
Kennys Vargas, Twins first baseman
Vargas was cut from major-league camp this past week, after collecting just two hits in 24 Grapefruit League at-bats. The 25-year-old has played 111 games for the Twins the past two seasons, hitting 14 home runs in 390 at bats. He may struggle to find a place with the organization going forward, however, with Joe Mauer and Byung Ho Park in front of him in the pecking order.
Adriean Payne, Wolves forward
The second-year big man did not play in two of the Wolves' three games this past week, after appearing in 11 straight. In just six minutes and 23 seconds of court time against the Houston Rockets, Payne was 0-for-2 from the floor, though he picked up a pair of rebounds. It continues a trend of interim head coach Sam Mitchell using D-League signee Greg Smith ahead of Payne as a backup big man.
Thomas Vanek, Wild left wing
Interim head coach John Torchetti has benched the veteran forward each of the past three games, citing a lack of defense. The 32-year-old Vanek hasn't scored in his past 10 games and has expressed his frustration with his recent demotion. The team could turn to him down the stretch, however, if it needs some more scoring.
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