The Bulldogs are still on top of this week’s league standings followed by the Sioux, UNO and DU. It’s hard to believe we have already completed a quarter of the league games. Looking at the standings and you’ll notice that only 5 points separate 5th place from 12th. Right now it looks to be four team (UMD, UND, UNO, DU) race for the McNaughton Cup, with two teams looking for a top half finish (SCSU & UW). We have the usual suspects in the basement, MTU and UAA, ugh. Yet again, we only have 5 series on the schedule this weekend.
WCHA standings
TEAM……………...W-L-T...Pts
1. Minnesota-Duluth....6-1-1…13
2. North Dakota………6-2-0…12
3. Nebraska-Omaha…5-0-1…11
3. Denver……………...5-2-1…11
5. Wisconsin…………..3-3-2…8
6. Minnesota…………..3-4-1…7
7. Minnesota State…...2-6-2…6
8. St. Cloud State….....2-3-1…5
8. Bemidji State……….2-5-1…5
10. Colorado College…..2-4-0…4
11. Alaska-Anchorage...1-4-1…3
12. Michigan Tech……..1-4-1…3
Here’s the penalty minutes (WCHA games only) teams have acquired this season.
TEAM………………PEN-for-MIN….MIN/GAME
1 Michigan Tech……….41-for-128….21.33
2 Denver………………..52-for-118….16.86
3 Minnesota State……..65-for-149….16.56
4 Nebraska-Omaha……42-for-95….15.83
5 North Dakota…………39-for-122….15.25
6 Colorado College…….36-for-91….15.17
7 Bemidji State………….51-for-121….15.12
8 Minnesota-Duluth……42-for-103….12.88
9 St. Cloud State……….36-for-72…..12.00
9 Wisconsin…………….48-for-96…..12.00
11 Minnesota……………44-for-88….11.00
12 Alaska-Anchorage…..25-for-61….10.17
If you look at the overall penalty minutes, all games, the Sioux are tied for 1st with 220 minutes (with Northern Michigan). Wisconsin would be 6th with 199 minutes, and Nebraska-Omaha would be 7th with 195 minutes, and it drops off from there.
WCHA
#19 Minnesota @ Michigan Tech
Last weekend the Gophers had a free weekend (maybe they had a snowball fight or built snowmen with all the snow that feel there) and the Huskies were swept by the Bulldogs in Duluth.
The Gophers are off to another ho-hum start at about a five hundred record. Looking at the attendance numbers, it shows that they are not putting as many butts in the seats as usual. The Huskies have but their own butts in seats, the penalty box seats, that is. MTU is averaging the most penalty minutes per game in the league. The Gophers need to get off their butts this weekend and capitalize on their power play. In order to get the power play, the Gophers will need to move their feet and crash net, forcing the Huskies to take some penalties. GOPHERS 3-pts
#8 North Dakota @ #4 Nebraska-Omaha
Last weekend the Sioux swept the Badgers in Madison and the UNO Mavericks took 3-pts from the SCSU Huskies in St. Cloud.
This is the marquee matchup of the weekend. Not just because both teams are ranked, but because the Sioux will be playing against their old coach, Dean Blais. I liked Blais when he coached at UND, he did well and got the Sioux back up to a national powerhouse again. Now he has got his new team, the UNO Mavericks, doing well in their first year in the WCHA. With both teams liking to hit and skate, this should be a humdinger of a weekend in Omaha. UNO is the only WCHA team yet to lose a league game, while the Sioux have dropped two, one to DU and one to UMD. I just hope I can find the games on TV somewhere this weekend, ‘cause I really want to watch these tilts. I’m going to take the easy pick here, SPLIT.
#1 Minnesota-Duluth @ #15 Wisconsin
Last weekend the Bulldogs swept the MTU Huskies in Duluth and the Badgers were swept by the Sioux in Madison.
The Bulldogs have had an easy schedule to this point, excluding UND, and haven’t left many points on the table. It could be a little harder for them this weekend as they visit the Badgers. This will be the first games on the big sheet (Olympic size) of ice for the Bulldogs this year. The Badgers will be looking to avenge last weekend’s lack luster performances. The Badgers will need to pick up the offense this series and put more shots on net, if they want to get some points. The Bulldogs will need to find a way to get quality shots on the Badger net. Wisconsin has a real good set of d-men and could cause problems for the Bulldogs. SPLIT.
Bemidji State @ #13 Denver
Last weekend the Beavers split with the Seawolves in Bemidji and the Pioneers swept the MSUM Mavericks in Denver.
The Beavers will be making their first WCHA appearance in Denver for a pair of games. BSU is off to a rough start in their first WCHA season, of course they have played the top two teams in the league (UMD and UND). The Pioneers got some need points last weekend to keep up with the other league leaders. DU bounced back nicely last weekend after getting drubbed by rival CC the previous Saturday. The Beavers put up 8 goals and the Pioneers put up 9 goals last weekend. If both offenses can put those numbers up this weekend, this could be a fun series. SPLIT.
St. Cloud State @ Alaska Anchorage
Last weekend the Huskies got 1-pt at home against the UNO Mavericks in St. Cloud and the Seawolves split with the Beavers in Bemidji.
The Huskies have yet to live up to the preseason predictions. And if they don’t get their dogsled moving this weekend, they will have a steep trail to mush-up. This really is a must sweep series for SCSU, in my opinon. The Seawolves play hard, but just don’t have the high end talent of other WCHA schools. If SCSU wants to be a top tier team this year, you need to take points from the bottom teams, and I mean at least 3 points. (UMD has got their points from the bottom teams.) SPLIT.
BYE WEEK
Minnesota State University – Mankato – Mavericks
Colorado College – Tigers
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