WCHA Midseason Report.

For the people that don’t read INCH or that haven’t seen the latest from Jess Meyers I thought I would include it so you can peruse it for your viewing pleasure. This is Jess Meyer's midseason report for the WCHA.

BEST NEW FACE

Notching 16 points in his first 18 collegiate games really shouldn’t be that surprising of a feat for North Dakota rookie forward Danny Kristo. The USA Hockey NTDP product has had a habit of creating offense for years both in Ann Arbor and with Omaha of the USHL (57 points in 50 games last season), which is likely why the Canadiens used a second-round pick on him in 2008. Over the holidays he’s likely to be in a different version of bleu, blanc et rouge, playing for Team USA at the World Juniors in Saskatchewan.
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TOUGHEST ROAD IN

Known recently for brutal first halves and all-but-unbeatable second halves, there may be a flip-flop of fortune in the works for North Dakota this season. The Fighting Sioux are a respectable 9-6-3 at the break but a daunting second half looms. After a January weekend in suburban Chicago for the Shillelagh Tournament, NoDak has second-half trips to Minnesota, Cornell, St. Cloud State and Colorado College, along with home dates with league-leading Denver (there’s no truth to the rumor that the Pioneers’ coach will be tethered to the bench this time) and high-scoring Minnesota Duluth. That’s not a great road map for keeping the MacNaughton Cup in Grand Forks, with the Sioux currently sitting in sixth place.
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MUST-SEE SERIES

Denver coach George Gwozdecky inflamed the passions between DU and North Dakota last January, taking a stroll across the Ralph’s ice sheet en route to an ejection. The Sioux scored 10 goals that weekend, got three points and eventually got the league title. So when the 2009-10 WCHA schedule was released showing a Grand Forks visit by the Pioneers on January 29-30, don’t think those dates weren’t circled in red on the calendars of many, many NoDak fans.
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INCH’Ss FIRST HALF ALL-WCHA TEAM

G-Marc Cheverie, Denver: By averaging a shutout roughly every third game he starts, Chevy has Denver fans thinking about another Hobey coming to town.

D-Brendan Smith, Wisconsin: Even on a team with two Smiths and two Johnsons, it’s hard for this Badger’s league-leading 18 assists to remain anonymous.

D-Chay Genoway, North Dakota: The Fighting Sioux were 7-1-1 when Genoway got hurt, on Friday the 13th (of November). They’re 2-5-2 since then. Get well soon Chay.

F-Bill Sweatt, Colorado College: Blackhawk fans must drool when they dream of what this speedy kid from the last stop on Metra’s UP West Line may do in black and red.

F-Jack Connolly, Minnesota Duluth: Perhaps inspired by his brother’s NCAA title at BU last season, the townie Duluthians call “J-Con” has put up a dozen Bulldog goals so far.

F-Rhett Rakhshani, Denver: With 11 goals in a hot first half, Rakhshani is on pace for a career best year and has keyed the Pioneers’ run to the top of the WCHA heap.
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On the latest INCH chat I hope Glady didn't jinx the Fighting Sioux with this prediction. It’s no mystery that the Fighting Sioux are different team when they don’t have Chay Genoway in the lineup. We will have to see what happens to the Fighting Sioux during the second half of the season. It's kinda like ground hog day and we have seen this all before. I like many Sioux fans are hoping Genoway comes back soon. No offense to Corey Finehage but Genoway is a potential All-American and Hobey Baker candidate.

Dustin (Grand Forks)


As a Sioux fan, what concerns me most is their lack of ability to put teams away on Saturday night. They've coughed up 2 goal leads 3 times, and lost other leads, too. Is this their youthfulness showing through? The emotional effect of Genoway out of the lineup? Their goaltending seems weak at times, too. Thoughts?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:41 PM)


Missing Genoway has been a definite issue for the Sioux. I think Eidsness has been a little shaky for the last few weeks as well. In the past few years, they've played better in the second half. With Genoway coming back from his injury they might have the best depth in their lineup in the country. I expect to see them in the Frozen Four. Whenever I watch them I see a very good team.
[INCH Chat]