Weekend Match-ups (Sioux 7)

Before I get into this weeks games, lets take a quick look at the WCHA's meetings at the NCAA convention. It looks like the league will vote on whether or not to lift the moratorium on expansion. Of course, if they vote to lift it, the Beavers of Bemidji State will be extremely happy. Since lifting the moratorium would give them a chance at getting into the WCHA. Just something to keep in the back of your heads, now onto this weekends games.


WCHA Standings
1 Denver...................11-4-1...23
2 Wisconsin............... 9-5-2...20
3 Colorado College...... 8-6-2...18
4 North Dakota.......... 8-5-1...17
4 Minnesota.............. 7-4-3...17
6 Minnesota-Duluth..... 5-6-5...15
7 St. Cloud State........ 7-7-0...14
7 Minnesota State...... 6-8-2...14
9 Alaska-Anchorage..... 4-8-2...10
10 Michigan Tech....... 1-13-2...4


#11 Colorado College at #16 Wisconsin
Can CC win another Friday night game? Can UW hold onto 2nd place in the league, just ahead of CC? These questions will be answered this weekend :) UW sweep UAA last weekend at Anchorage (7-9-2 overall), but got sweep the week before by ex-WCHA member Northern Michigan (6-13-3 overall). UW has only 2 wins over teams, that currently have winning records (UND and UMich). CC wants to prove this weekend that they fully intend to win for the McNaughton Cup, for a second year in a row. I think the Badgers have been beating the "lesser" teams and struggling with good teams. I think everyone could agree that CC is a good team. The Tigers sweep.


St. Cloud State at/home #7 Minnesota
SCSU is coming off a sweep of the UMD, and UM is coming home being swept by UND. With this cold weather, I would bet Huskies wouldn't mind it at all, with their big fur coats, they would be just fine. I think the same goes for their team, some more points this weekend and they will be eyeing a top half finish. For the Gophers, losing a pair this weekend, could sent them into the bottom half. If the Gophers don't get some points, I think the team might feel as ill as their coach :( Get will soon Coach Lucia! I'm going to call it a split.


Alaska-Anchorage at Minnesota State
UAA trails MSUM by 4pts in the standing, but has 2 games in hand on them, can the Seawolves move into a tie with the Mavericks, and pass them up. Or will the Mavericks get some more wins and distance themselves from the 9th place Seawolves?
The Purple Pucksters entered the Christmas break on a 6 game losing skid, but since the New Year are 2-1. UAA has lost it's last 4 games, all to UW, but a month apart between the series. MSUM took 3pts from the Seawolves in Anchorage earlier this season, and no doubt the Seawolves would like to return the favor. I think UAA grabs some points, SPLIT.


#17 North Dakota at Michigan Tech
The Sioux appear to have started their now customary second half run, going 8-2 in their last 10. However, both losses where at the GLI and one was to MTU. MTU on the other hand has only 3 wins since the 1st of November, 2 versus Northern Michigan and 1 versus UND. I see the win over UND as a blip in the Sioux system. The Sioux where firing on all cylinders last weekend, and the Gophers were not helping themselves, which makes them look even worse. The Sioux are healthy going into the 2nd half, Trupp is back, as well as Finley. I see more points in the Sioux future, put those shovels away and break out the brooms, again, Sioux Sweep.



NON-CONFERENCE

Bemidji State at Minnesota-Duluth
Both the Bulldogs and the Beavers enter this weekend on 3 game losing skids, so both want to get back into the win column. BSU is wanting to have a strong showing against, which could be a conference foe in a couple of years, the Bulldogs. The Beavers own a 6-4 record agains the Bulldogs in their last 10 games. I'm going the safe way call on the series, SPLIT.


#4 Denver is on a bye week