Weekend Match Ups (by Sioux 7)

I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas break and took in some holiday games and/or tournaments. (I took in some local action and caught a Fargo Force USHL game, and a couple of local High School games, one game was the Fargo South High and Moorhead High Minnesota tilt.) We now start the year 2010 and the second half of the WCHA season. So with out any more babbling on, here we go.

Current WCHA standings

TEAM.......................GP....W-L-T...PTS
1 Denver.................14....9-3-2...20
2 Colorado College..14....8-3-3...19
3 Wisconsin.............14....8-4-2...18
4 Minnesota-Duluth..14....8-5-1...17
5 St. Cloud State.......14....7-5-2...16
6 North Dakota........14....6-6-2...14
7 Minnesota............14....6-7-1...13
8 Minnesota State.....14....5-8-1...11
9 Alaska-Anchorage..14....4-10-0...8
10 Michigan Tech......14....2-12-0...4

WCHA

Alaska-Anchorage at #2 Denver
Holiday break, UAA was enjoying the Christmas season and DU beat Nebraska-Omaha (7-0) and Boston College (4-3) to win the Denver Cup.

Earlier this season these teams split in Anchorage, and it’s now time for the rematch.
UAA has only 1 win on the road this year and that came in the state of Colorado, against the CC Tigers. DU is the better team, their record shows that, but UAA has got some quality wins, in my opinion, this season. I’m sure everyone in the middle of the league would like to see the Seawolves take some points from the Pioneers. Interesting tidbit is that all of UAA‘s WCHA wins have come on Saturday nights. DU should beat UAA handily on Friday, since UAA hasn’t played a game since December 5th. I’m going to go with a split DU Friday, UAA Saturday.

#3 Colorado College at #13 Minnesota-Duluth
Holiday break, CC was at the Florida College Classic where they beat Cornell (4-2) and lost to Maine (3-2). UMD was participating in the Catamount Cup in Vermont, they beat Mercyhurst (6-0) and lost to host Vermont (5-2).

Early in November these teams split in the Springs with UMD winning 4-3 in the opener and CC winning 6-2 the following night. CC has brutal schedule in 2010 with the only, shall I say lax games against UAA in conference, after going to UMD they host UW. The Tiger have not lost on the road this season, posting a 4-0-3 record to date, and the Bulldogs are 8-4-0 in this, the last year at the DECC. I’m going to go the safe bet and call this a SPLIT.

Minnesota State at #5 North Dakota
Holiday break, MSU-M swept RIT (6-1, 3-0) and UND played in the Shillelagh Tournament beating Niagara (3-1) and tying Notre Dame (3-3).

This will be the only meeting between these teams this season, barring a match up in the playoffs. The Sioux split in Mankato and then swept the Mavericks in Grand Forks in the ’08-’09 season. It looks like UND will still be without the services of D-man Chay Genoway, and possibly without forward Brett Hextall (lower body injury). The Mavericks are 4-5-1 on the road and the Sioux are 5-2-3 at The Ralph this season. Since Coach Hakstol has had the reigns he has gotten the Sioux going after Christmas break, so why change now? SIOUX SWEEP.

Michigan Tech at #15 St. Cloud State
Holiday break, MTU was swept at the Great Lakes Invitational they got hammered by Michigan St. (10-1) and lost to Michigan (5-3). SCSU hosted Brown and swept them last weekend (5-1, 5-3).

To say that MTU has struggled this season is a nice way to put it. They have given up 8 or more goals in 4 games this season already. They have been outscored 85-38 on the season in 19 total games, that’s 2 goals for a game and 4.5 goals against per game. The other Huskies from SCSU have quietly put together a good record in and out of the league, having a 10-7-3 overall record and are 5-2-3 at the National Hockey Center. This should be all Huskies (SCSU that is) in this series, SCSU SWEEP.

Non-Conference

Harvard at Minnesota
Holiday Break, the Gophers hosted the Dodge Holiday Classic (here is my cheap shot to start 2010 – maybe it is sponsored by Dodge because that is what you should do with this tournament, dodge it!) where they beat Bowling Green(3-1) and lost to Northern Michigan (4-2) in the title game.

Harvard are the owners of a 2-8-2 overall record and currently sit in 10th place in the ECAC. The Gopher own a 9-10-1 overall record this year and are looking to improve on that. The Gophers will need to get a pair of wins this weekend if they hope to make a run at the NCAA tournament in March. The rest of the WCHA needs UM to win these non-conference games to help everyone in the league with the PWR system. It kills me to say we need to cheer for the Gophers, but here it is, GOPHERS SWEEP.

Exhibition

US Under-18 Team at #4 Wisconsin (Saturday)
Holiday break, the Badgers hosted the Badger Showdown, where they proceeded to beat Merrimack (5-4) and tie Yale (2-2).

Since this is an exhibition game, it doesn't officially exist. But I have to go with our cheesy friends, BADGERS WIN.

Tuesday January 12th

Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech

The Huskies lost to the Wildcats 2-1 on Dec. 18th at Marquette. This time it is in Houghton, and the Huskies don't want to drop another to their Yopper competition. I will go with the Huskies to upset the Wildcats in this match up. HUSKIES WIN.