Sunday, October 10, 2010

Conference Action starts this week - Review of the WCHA.

Here is my prediction on how the season will shake out.

1.) UND Fighting Sioux
Returning players – UND
Last Season’s Record - 25-13-5
Forwards: Jason Gregoire (20g-17a—37pts) Jr, Danny Kristo (15g-21a—36pts) So, Evan Trupp (8g-26a—34pts) Sr, Brett Hextall (14g-12a—26pts) Jr, Brad Malone (11g-14a—25pts)Sr. Matt Frattin (11g-8a—pts) Sr.
Defense: Chay Genoway (4g-6a—10pts) Sr, Derrick LaPoint (2g-20a—22pts) Sr, Jake Marto (5-13—18) Sr, Ben Blood (5g-9a—14pts) Jr.
Goalie: Brad Eidsness (24-10-4, 2.11, .914).
Key Loss(es): Darcy Zajac, Chris VandeVelde.
Fan Blog: Goon's World, Sioux Yeah Yeah!, Dirty's Diatribe.
Message Board/Blog: Sioux Sports
Media Blog: University of North Dakota Hockey.

2.) SCSU Huskies
Returning players – SCSU
Last season’s Record - 20-11-5
Forwards: Garrett Roe (20g-29a—49pts) Sr, Tony Mosey (14g-26a—40pts)Sr, Drew LeBlanc (6g-25a—31pts)Jr, Ben Hanowski (9g-10a—19pts) So, Aaron Marvin (5g-11a—16pts) Sr.
Defense: Oliver Lauridsen (6g-6a—12pts) Jr, Chris Hepp (0g-2a—2pts) Sr.
Goalies: Mike Lee (12-9-3, 2.80 GAA, .917 SV%) So. Dann Dunn (12-5-2, 2.80 GAA, .917 SV%) Sr.
Key Loss(es): Ryan Lasch, Garrett Raboin.
Message Board: Da Huskies.
Fan Blog: Husky Hockey Time.
Media Blog: Husky Hockey.

3.) UMD Bulldogs
Returning players – UMD
Last Season’s Record - 22-17-1
Forwards: Jack Connolly (18g-31a—49pts) Jr, Mike Connolly (14g-26a—40pts) Jr, Justin Fontaine (21g-25a—46pts) Sr, Travis Oleksuk (10g-14a—24pts) Jr.
Defense: Brady Lamb (11g-13a—24pts) Jr, Mike Montgomery (2g-15a—17pts) Sr, Dylan Olson (1g-11a—12pts) So.
Goalie: G Kenny Reiter (13-10-0, 2.36 GAA, .912 SV%) Jr.
Key Loss(es): Jordan Fulton, Brady Hjelle, Rob Bordson.
Message Board: The Penalty Box.
Fan Blog: Runninwiththedogs.
Media Blog: Ciskie Blog, Rink and Run.

4.) DU Pioneers
Returning players – DU
Last Season’s Record - 27-10-4
Forwards: Anthony Maiani (8g-26pts--34) Sr, Sr. F Kyle Ostrow (16gt-10a—26pts) Sr, Jesse Martin (14g-8a—22pts) Sr, Drew Shore (5g-14a—19pts) So.
Defense: Matt Donovan (7g-14a—21pts) So, John Lee (2g-10a—12pts) Jr, William Wrenn (0g-7a—7pts) So.
Goalie: Adam Murray (3-4-1, 3.79 GAA, .874 SV%) So.
Key Loss(es): Joe Colborne, Patrick Wiercioch, Marc Cheverie, Rhett Rakhshani, Tyler Ruegsegger.
Fan Blog: Let's Go DU.
Media Blog: Mike Chambers.

5.)UW Badgers
Returning players – UW
Last Season’s Record - 28-11-4 overall,
Forwards: Craig Smith (8g-25a—33pts) So, Jordy Murray (12g-9a—21pts) Jr, Derek Lee (1g-8a—9pts) So.
Defense: Jake Gardiner (6g-7a—13pts), John Ramage (2g-10a—12pts), D Justin Schultz (6g16a—22pts),
Goalie: Scott Gudmandson (20-5-4, 2.34, .913) Sr., Brett Bennett (8-6-0, 2.82 GAA, .885 SV%) Sr.
Key Loss(es): Cody Goloubef, Brendan Smith, Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Davies, Blake Geoffrion.
Fan Blog: 60 Minutes, No Alibis, No Regrets.
Media Blog: Badgers Hockey.

6.) UMN Golden Gophers
Returning players – UMN
Last season’s Record - 18-19-2
Forwards: Mike Hoeffel (14g-10a—24pts), Jacob Cepis (7g-12a—19pts) F Zach Budish (7-10--17),
Defense: Cade Fairchild (4-17--21), Sr. F), Aaron Ness (2-10--12) So, Seth Helgeson
Goalie(s): Alex Kangas (16-15-1, 2.60 GAA, .911 SV%) Sr., Kent Patterson (2-4-1, 3.10 GAA, .901 SV%) Jr.
Key Loss(es): Jordan Schroeder, Josh Birkholz, Nick Leddy.
Message Board/Blog: Gopher Puck Live.
Media Blog: Goal Gophers.

7.) UNO Mavericks
Returning players – UNO
Last Season’s Record - 20-16-6 (First Year WCHA)
Forwards: Rich Purslow (14g-13a—27pts) Sr, Joey Martin (10g-16a—26pts) Sr, Alex Hudson (14g-11a—25pts) Jr, Terry Broadhurst (13g-11a—24pts) So, Matt Ambroz (10g-14a—24pts) Sr.
Defense: Eric Olimb (2g-18a—20pts), Jr, ( Kyle Ensign (0g-8a—8pts) Jr.
Goalie: John Faulker (13-10-4, 2.60 GAA, .905 SV%).
Key Loss(es): Eddie Del Grosso, Nick Fanto, Mark Bernier, Jeremie Dupont, Jeric Agosta
Fan Blog: Husker Mike Blasphemy.
Media Blog: Mavericks Today.

8.) BSU Beavers
Returning players – BSU
Last season’s Record - 23-10-4 (First Year WCHA)
Forwards: Matt Read (19-22—41) Sr, Jordan George (13-21—34) So, Ian Lowe (21-10—31) Sr.
Defense: D Brad Hunt (7-26—33) Jr, Brady Wacker (1g-10a—11) So.
Goalie(s): Dan Bakala (19-8-3, 2.32, .917) Jr, Mathieu Dugas (4-2-1, 1.93 GAA, .918 SV%) So.
Key Loss(es): Tyler Lehrke, Chris McKelvie.
Message Board: The Beaver Pond.
Media Blog: Up North Sports Report, College Hockey Tonight, Brian's Corner Of Cyberspace.

9.) CC Tigers
Returning players – CC
Last season’s Record – 19-17-3
Forwards: Rylan Schwartz (6-22--28), Tyler Johnson (14-9--23), Stephen Schultz (5-15--20),
Defense: Gabe Guentzel (3-20--23), Sr. D Ryan Lowery (4-14--18),
Goalie: Joe Howe (17-15-3, 2.80, .907).
Key Loss(es): Bill Sweatt, Mike Testwuide, Nate Prosser.
Fan Blog: (?)
Media Blog: Eye of the Tigers.

10.) MSUM Mavericks
Returning players – MSUM
Last Season’s Record - 16-20-3
Forwards: Rylan Galiardi (11g-14a—25pts) Sr, Michael Dorr (5g-11a—16pts) Jr, Eriah Hayes (8g-6a—14pts) So, Mike Louwerse (7g-6a—13pts) Jr.
Defense: Ben Youds (3g-23a—26pts) Sr, Kurt Davis (5g-18a—23pts) Sr, Channing Boe (2g-5a—7 pts) Sr, Ben Youds (3g-23a—26pts) Sr.
Goalie(s): Phil Cook (8-6-2, 2.59 GAA, .908 SV%) So, Austin Lee (7-11-0, 2.85 GAA, .907 SV%) Jr.
Key Loss(es): Zach Harrison, Geoff Irwin, Kael Mouillierat, Tyler Pitlick, Jared Steward, Kevin Murdock.
Media Blog: Puckato, MavBlog.

11.) UAA Seawolves
Returning players – UAA
Last Season’s Record - 11-23-2
Forwards: Tommy Grant (9g-17a—26pts, Sr. F Sean Wiles (9-8--17), So. F Daniel Naslund (3-10--13), Jr. Jade Portwood (3g-2a—5pts)
Defense: Curtis Leinweber (4g-8a—12pts), Kane Lafranchise (3g-12a—15pts), Luka Vidmar (2g-10a—12pts).
Goalie: Dusan Sidor (0-0-0 6.00 GAA .846 SV%) So.
Key Loss(es): Lee Baldwin, Bryce Christianson, Kevin Clark, Josh Lunden.
Fan Blog: Delusions of Grandeur.
Media Blog: Woody on Hockey.

12.)MTU Huskies
Returning players – MTU
Last Season’s Record - 5-30-1
Forwards: Brett Olson (18g-12a—30pts), So. F Jordan Baker (9g-9a—18pts), Eric Kattelus (2g-8a—10pts), Bennett Royer (4g-6a—10pts),
Defense: Steven Seigo (4g-15a—19pts), Deron Cousens (1g-7a—8pts),
Goalies: Kevin Genoe (4-18-1, 3.54 GAA, .904 SV%) So, Josh Robinson (1-12-0, 4.68 GAA, .876 SV%) Jr.
Key Loss(es): Malcolm Gwilliam, Drew Dobson, John Kivisto.
Fan Blog: MTU Hockey Blog,
Media Blog(?): Mining Gazette.