INCH Chat.

Here is the latest from the boy from INCH in this weeks Chat with Inside College Hockey. I found it the INCH chat to be interesting as usual, and there was some really good questions, it is just too bad that the chat is only a half hour long. I was also kind of shocked by Mike Eidelbe's answer to the fan from Fargo, ND. Lots of calls from Fargo, ND today.

Steiny (NYC): What are the chances Minnesota-Duluth upsets Colorado College?

Jess Myers: The Bulldogs won and tied in Colorado Springs earlier this season, so it's not like there's no chance, but Minnesota Duluth heads into the playoffs with zero momentum, having gone 0-3-2 in their last five games, and letting leads slip away in all of them. With CC playing much better in the past few weeks, I'm not expecting an upset.
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Drew (Lakewood CO): What do you think is going to happen with the first round with the WCHA. Do you think all the tops seeds will make it to St. Paul or not, which ones and why? And what are the chances or the Gophers making the NCAA tournament?

Jess Myers: If the Gophers get to the Final Five, their chances are pretty good. But that's still a big if, with a dangerous St. Cloud State team visiting this weekend. As for round one, I'm picking two upsets -- Minnesota State over Wisconsin (the Badgers haven't played well for a month, and the Mavs are the hotter team) and Alaska Anchorage over Denver (the Seawolves are the hottest team in the league heading into the postseason). Still, look for Denver to make the NCAA tournament and even make some noise there (2004, anyone?).
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Eric (Fargo, ND): What are the chances that Lucia gets fired as the coach of Minnesota if his team don't produce next season? Seems like the people in Mpls are getting antsy.

Jess Myers: There was a piece in the Minneapolis paper speculating about that very idea today. Men's hockey is generally the one island of stability in the Minnesota athletic department, so I think it would take more than mediocre play to force Lucia onto the unemployment line. But if his health continues to be an issue, all bets are off.
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Derrick, Fargo, ND: What kind of blueprint is needed to take down both Boston U and Notre Dame? Obviously no team possesses what takes to beat them now, or both respective clubs would have more losses, but what clubs possess the necessary ingredients to cause an upset? Thanks

Mike Eidelbes: The easiest way is to have your goaltender steal a game. A team like Michigan is dangerous because they can score in bunches and are solid defensively, and I think North Dakota matches up well with both because they're tough, experienced, play well as a team, and always find a way to win.

Up next WCHA playoffs.

The Brackets are now set for the first round of the WCHA playoffs.

(1) North Dakota (22-12-4)
(10) Michigan Tech (6-23-7)

(3) Wisconsin (17-15-4)
(8) Minnesota State (15-15-6)

(4) Colorado College (16-10-10)
(7) Minnesota-Duluth (16-12-8)

(5) Minnesota (15-12-7)
(6) St. Cloud State (18-5-3)

(9) Alaska-Anchorage (14-15-5)
(2) Denver (20-10-5)

Final Week of the Season.

Check out this press release from the WCHA. I like the sounds of sentence that is bolded. The league leading and number 6 ranked North Dakota (should say Fighting Sioux).

MADISON, Wis. - The final weekend of the 2008-09 regular season will bring about some of the most intriguing scenarios in the long and storied history of the 57-year-old Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The battle for the league championship and MacNaughton Cup is on the line as well as the final three first round home WCHA Playoff berths. And with all 10 member teams engaged in conference play this Friday and Saturday, March 6-7, fans everyone can be assured of a playoff atmosphere in the five arenas that will host games.

At the Kohl Center (15,237) in Madison, league-leading and No. 6-ranked North Dakota (21-11-4, 16-6-4 WCHA) will take on host and No. 19-ranked Wisconsin (16-14-4, 13-10-3 WCHA) in a pair of 7:07 pm CT face-offs that, for the Fighting Sioux, offer them the chance to add to their league record 13 regular season titles and that, for the Badgers, can elevate them as high as a third place finish and secure a home playoff berth. North Dakota enters the series on a seven-game unbeaten streak at 6-0-1 and sporting a 12-1-3 mark over their last 16 WCHA games. The two teams split their first series of the season in Grand Forks back on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, with UND winning 3-2 on that Friday and the UW taking a 5-2 decision on that Saturday.
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Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, North Dakota (26 WCHA gp, 35 points) holds a one-point lead - and one game in hand - over second place Denver (27 WCHA gp, 34 points). One, or both, of those teams will emerge as WCHA champions this weekend. Colorado College (27 WCHA gp) is third with 30 points, Wisconsin (26 WCHA gp) is fourth with 29 points, and Minnesota (26 WCHA gp), Minnesota Duluth (26 WCHA gp) and St. Cloud State (26 WCHA gp) are intwined in the fifth spot with 27 points each. Minnesota State (26 WCHA gp) stands eighth with 23 points, Alaska Anchorage (26 WCHA gp) is ninth with 19 points, and Michigan Tech (26 WCHA gp) is 10th with nine points.

A season ago (2007-08), it took 28 points to earn a top five finish and the home-ice advantage for the first round of WCHA playoffs, and only three teams - league champion Colorado College, second place North Dakota, and third place Denver - finished their 28-game league slates with winning records. So far this season, seven teams - UND, DU, CC, UW, UM, UMD and SCSU - all have winning records in conference competition. Also through games of March 1, there have been 22 ties in league competition, 37 games have been decided by just one goal, 27 have been decided by two goals, and 43 have been decided by three goals or more.

The Hockey Show.

Listen to the latest episode of hockey show. I would have gotten this up earlier but I have been busy this past weekend watching high school and college hockey.

(Click here) to listen to the Hockey Show. If you have an iPod you can listen to the hockey show here->(click here) Listen to Channing Boe's account of the Brian Schack attack/incident; that is at about 41:55 minutes in. Interesting! Brian Schack was actually hitting Boe while his leg had already been broken. That is a class act.

Mullen suspended.

It is official that Denvers Patrick Mullen has been suspended by the league office for his slash on Mike Connolly.

DENVER – The University of Denver has suspended senior defenseman Patrick Mullen (Pittsburgh, Pa.) one game for his slashing incident that occurred at the end of the Pioneers’ 4-2 loss at Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 7.

Mullen was assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing and a 10-minute game misconduct penalty at the 20:00 mark of the third period at Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 7.

In addition to the suspension, Mullen has met with DU Senior Associate Director of Athletics Ron Grahame and head coach George Gwozdecky to explain his actions and discuss the seriousness of the circumstances.

“A hockey player is responsible for his stick,” Gwozdecky said. “Patrick’s reckless action with his stick at the end of the Duluth game warrants a one-game suspension.”

Mullen, who will serve his one-game suspension at Colorado College on Friday, Feb. 13, will also be required to meet with WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod to discuss the incident.

Here is what Denver coach George Gwozdecky had to say about the incident. Interesting selection of words.

"It was a pretty hard swing with the stick," Gwozdecky said. "The action and the intent are two things you have to look at. If you look at what Patrick did immediately after contact was made -- if he was looking at injuring (Connelly) he would've stood there or went after him. But immediately he sprinted down the ice, knowing only a second or two was left in the game. ... No question his intent, as he said, was to deny Connellyl from getting the puck. He went about it the wrong way, but the one thing that was probably in my mind, (the intent was) not worth any further suspsension."