Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

Western Collegiate Hockey Association logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I think we can safely say that the WCHA season is officially under way.  Interesting that the there was not on split on the weekend, either sweeps or three points.  Another note, is that it appears the BSU still has UNO’s number, perhaps the Mavericks should ask the Beavers to give it back J

WCHA STANDINGS 2012-2013

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

1. Denver…………..………2-0-0………...4
1. St. Cloud St………….…2-0-0…………4
2. Bemidji State……..…….1-0-1.……......3
2. North Dakota.………..…1-0-1….……...3
2. Wisconsin…....…………1-0-1...……....3
6. Michigan Tech………….1-3-0…………2
6. Minnesota………………1-1-0…..……..2
8. Alaska-Anchorage…......0-1-1………...1
8. Minnesota-Duluth….…..0-1-1….……..1
10. Nebraska-Omaha…….0-1-1…….......1
11. Colorado College ……0-0-0..……….0
12. Minnesota State………0-2-0….……..0

WCHA Games

#18 St. Could St. @ #3 Denver

Last weekend the Huskies swept the MSUM Mavericks, by identical 5-1 scores in St. Cloud and the Pioneers swept the MTU Huskies, 5-1 and 5-2 in Denver.

Even though it is just the second conference series, this is the battle for top billing in the WCHA.  The Pioneers and Huskies sit atop the standings with four points each.  A sweep by either team would keep them on top for at least another week.  It would also give them an excellent start to the season.  I’m going to hope for a couple of wild shoot out games.  These games could be electrifying, since both teams put up 10 goals last weekend.  SPLIT

Nebraska-Omaha @ Michigan Tech

Last weekend the Mavericks got one point (3-3, 2-3) from the BSU Beavers in Omaha and the Huskies were swept by the Pioneers (5-1, 5-2) in Denver.

This series could already be the old cliché, “You can’t win the title in the first half, but you can lose it.”  MTU can’t afford to get swept in back to back weekends, especially when they are at home this weekend.  The Mavericks also need to get some points this weekend, if they want to stay out of the bottom spots.  If the Huskies play like they did against the Gophers a couple of weeks ago, they should get a win or two this weekend.  SPLIT

Minnesota State vs #2 Minnesota (home and home series)

Last weekend the Mavericks were swept by the SCSU Huskies (5-1, 5-1) in St. Cloud and the Gophers tied the US U-18 team and beat Canisius 1-0 in Minneapolis.

The Mavericks got pounded by the Huskies last weekend, which was MSUM Mike Hastings first series as a head coach in the WCHA.  I bet he was hoping for a little more love from his alum mater (SCSU in 1993).  With the #2 ranked Gophers playing them this weekend, it doesn’t get any easier for him.  The Gophers need to forget about Sunday’s game (after scoring 12 seconds into the game they went scoreless on their next 41 shots).  I’m not sure either, how much that Sunday matinee game might throw off their schedule… thus I’m going with the home teams to win.  SPLIT

Colorado College @ Wisconsin
Last weekend the Tigers were swept by the Big Red of Cornell (2-0, 3-2) at Cornell and the Badgers took three points from the Bulldogs (2-0, 2-2) in Duluth.

The Badgers are playing their first home games of the year this weekend at the Kohl center in Madison.  The Tigers are on a three game losing skid, after winning their first three games to open the season.  This series will like be the last between the two in Madison for some time with the two teams going to different conferences next year.  It appears the Badgers are gaining momentum after last weekend while the Tigers are losing it.  With that on my mind, I’m going to call the series for the Badgers, 3-pts.

Non Conference Games

#12 Boston U. @ #5 North Dakota
Last weekend the Terriers swept Massachusetts (5-2, 3-2) in a home-and-home series and NoDak took three points from the Seawolves (4-1, 3-3) in Grand Forks.

This will be the Terriers first visit to the new Engelstad Arena.  The Terriers last visit to Grand Forks was in December 1996.  NoDak leads the all-time series 11-7-1, and BU is winless in their last 6 games in GF, going 0-5-1.  The last time BU and UND played was Oct. 2008 in the IceBreaker in which BU won 5-1.  The BU coach Jack Parker is now in his 40 year with the Terriers, that is quite a accomplishment in this day and age.  Last year BU had the nation’s best road record, 11-4-1.  Looking at all the numbers this should be a pretty even series, but having the home ice advantage, I have to give the nod to Nodak.  UND wins and ties.

BYE WEEK

Alaska-Anchorage
Bemidji St.
#17 Minnesota-Duluth