Badgers, and the W.C.H.A., Assert Themselves

Check out this article in the New York Times hockey blog. Seems like North Dakota keeps popping up in the New Yorks Times a lot lately.

After a few dormant years, the Western College Hockey Association appears to be back on track as a dominant force in college hockey. The conference entered this past weekend’s action with six of the top 17 teams in the national polls, led by the mainstays Denver, North Dakota and Colorado College all hovering around the top five in the polls.

Add another team to the mix, as 11th-ranked Wisconsin went on the road for a pair of games in Grand Forks, N.D., and came away with an impressive 3-point weekend and a revelation in net. Backed by the junior goalie Scott Gudmandson, making back-to-back starts for the first time in his career, the Badgers made a statement in a tough road environment at Engelstad Arena: the W.C.H.A. isn’t as top-heavy as it might appear.


Wisconsin’s big weekend is a testament to the depth of the W.C.H.A., and an indication that the Badgers are ready to compete with the heavyweights in the conference and around college hockey. Earlier this season the Badgers picked up a pair of blowout victories against Hockey East-leading New Hampshire, but earning a tie Friday and a win Saturday against the Fighting Sioux was a new high.

Gudmandson stopped 27 shots in a 3-3 draw Friday, a game in which the Badgers twice gave up two-goal leads to a resilient Sioux club that pulled even on a late power-play goal from Danny Kristo. The first night’s effort from Gudmandson was strong and his play the next night earned him more rave reviews. The goalie turned away 31 shots to help his team come away with a 4-3 win and take three huge points from North Dakota.

The senior center Ben Street appreciated his goalie’s performance, telling The Capital Times: “He’s not going to crack under pressure, that’s for sure. These last two nights have been some pretty high-pressure games and he’s come up big and that’s huge to show your teammates that.”

Gudmandson typically splits time in net with Brett Bennett, who is nursing a dislocated left shoulder. The junior took advantage of the situation, propelling his team toward victory with a great showing Saturday, including seven saves on an extended first-period 5-on-3 for the Sioux.
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