Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 12/04/2011

Each week Zach Friedli and I do the WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY.

1.  Minnesota Duluth – (9-2-1 WCHA, 11-3-2) The Bulldogs swept the Michigan Tech Huskies (5-3, 5-3).  The Bulldogs sit one point out of first in the WCHA standings. The Bulldogs have played 10 games (7-3-0) at home and are undefeated in six road games (4-0-2) on the road. The Bulldogs are 10-0-2 in the last twelve games and have not lost a game since they were swept by the Gophers 10-15-2011. The Bulldogs travel to Madison, Wisconsin to play the Badgers who were idle this past weekend.

2. Minnesota – (10-2-0 WCHA, 13-4-1) The Gophers swept the Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks in two hard fought wins (3-2, 4-2). Up next for the Golden Gophers a home series against the upstart Michigan Tech Huskies who were swept by the UMD Bulldogs (5-3, 5-3).  

3.  Colorado College – (6-4-0 WCHA, 8-4-0) The Tigers beat the Denver Pioneers 4-3 O.T. in a single game on Friday night.  Friday’s game was an entertaining affair and with the game tied 3-3, the Tigers got the break that they needed. At the 3:46 mark of overtime Tiger forward Alexander Krushelnyski was hauled down by the Pioneers David Makowski; the on ice official awarded a penalty shot to Krushelnyski and the sophomore forward made the Pioneers pay by scoring the game winning/ending goal on the ensuing penalty shot.  This week Tigers entertain the struggling UAA Seawovles.

4.  Denver – (4-3-3 WCHA, 6-5-3) The Denver Pioneers lost a single game to Colorado College Tigers in Colorado Springs, CO on Friday night 4-3 in overtime. With the game tied 3-3 Pioneer Defenseman David Makowski pulled down Alexander Krushelnyski; the on ice officials awarded Krushelnyski a penalty shot which he scored on to win the game 4-3 for the Tigers. The Pioneers travel to Bemidji, MN to play the BSU Beavers.


5. North Dakota – (6-6-0, 8-7-1) The Fighting Sioux swept the UAA Seawolves (5-2, 4-1) in Anchorage, Alaska this past weekend.  With the sweep, the Fighting Sioux improved their all-time record of 17-14-1 against the Seawolves in Anchorage. Sweeps of the Seawolves in Anchorage have been hard to come by for the Fighting Sioux and that was the first sweep of the Seawolves in Anchorage since the 2008-09 season. The Fighting Sioux will entertain the UNO Mavericks this weekend.  The Fighting Sioux appear to have righted the ship as they have won four out of the last five games and five of the last six games.  In two short weeks the Sioux have gone from 11^th place to tied for fourth place in the WCHA standings. The Tigers have two games in hand on the Sioux.

6.  Nebraska-Omaha – (6-3-3 WCHA, 8-7-2) The Mavericks split with the University of Alabama Huntsville (1-3 L, 6-2 W) this past weekend in Nashville, TN. Following the Mavericks 3-1 loss to the Chargers, UNO head coach Dean Blais said, “I am embarrassed.” The Mavericks have had a tough time against the former CHA teams; the Mavericks own a 1-5-2 record against the BSU Beavers; and also have a 2-2 record against the UAH Chargers. The Red Mavericks travel to Grand Forks, ND to play the Fighting Sioux.

7. Wisconsin – (4-7-1 WCHA, 7-8-1) The Badgers were idle this past weekend. The Badgers are the WCHA’s version of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this season; the Badgers are (7-3-0) at the Kohl Center and (0-5-1) on the road this season.  This weekend the Badgers will entertain the high flying UMD Bulldogs who are 10-0-2 in the last twelve games and have not lost a game since they were swept by the Minnesota Golden Gophers 10-15-2011.

8.  Michigan Tech – (5-6-1 WCHA, 8-7-1) The Tech Huskies were swept by the UMD Bulldogs this past weekend (5-3, 5-3). Up next, the Huskies travel to Minnesota to play the Minnesota Golden Gophers.  The Huskies are (6-3-1) at home and (2-4-0) away from the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena

9. St. Cloud State – (4-5-3 WCHA, 6-8-4) The Huskies took one point (6-6 T, 3-1 L) from the BSU Beavers this past weekend in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.  The Huskies are idle this weekend. The Huskies were 1-for-8 on the power play in the series against the Beavers. The Huskies since beating the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the first game of a home and home series are on a five game winless streak (0-3-2).

10. Bemidji State – (4-6-2 WCHA, 6-8-2) The Beavers took 3-of-4 points from the SCSU Huskies in Saint Cloud this past weekend. The Beavers penalty kill was 7–for-8 during the series against the Huskies.  Beaver senior defenseman Brad Hunt recorded his 100^th point of his career with a goal against the Huskies.

11. Alaska-Anchorage – (2-9-1 WCHA, 5-9-2) The UAA Seawolves were swept by UND Fighting Sioux in Anchorage, Alaska (5-2, 4-1). The Seawolves travel to Colorado Springs to play the C.C. Tigers.  

12.  Minnesota State – (2-9-1 WCHA, 3-12-0) The Minnesota State Mavericks played the Minnesota Gophers tough all weekend yet came up emply (2-3 L, 4-2 L). This weekend the Mavericks entertain the UAH Chargers in a non-conference match-up. 

Related articles

• WCHA Power Rankings - December 5 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 28 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 21 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 13 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings: November 1st (insidehockey.com)

Goon's WCHA Power Rankings for 11/26

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Each week Zach Friedli and I do the WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY.

1.  Minnesota Duluth – (7-2-1 WCHA, 9-3-2) The Bulldogs were idle this past weekend, Travel Houghton, MI to play the Michigan Tech Huskies.  The Bulldogs sit one point out of first in the WCHA standings. The Bulldogs have played 10 games 7-3-0 at home and four games 2-0-2 on the road.

2. Minnesota – (8-2-0 WCHA, 11-4-1) The Gophers experienced some rough sledding this past weekend, (3-4 L, 4-4 T) and only came away with a tie in their non-conference series with the Michigan State Spartans, in East Lansing, Michigan. The Mighty Golden Gophers entertain the Minnesota State Mavericks this weekend. The Gophers have split their last two WCHA series and have 2-3-1 record in their last six games.

3.  Denver – (4-2-3 WCHA, 6-4-3) The Pioneers beat Princeton 3-0 and lost to Miami University 4-2 in the Denver Cup this past weekend. The Pioneers play a single game in Colorado Springs, CO, on Friday night against their cross-state rivals the Colorado College Tigers. The game will be on CBS College Sports @09:07 p.m. central standard time.

4.  Colorado College – (5-4-0 WCHA, 7-4-0) The Tigers were swept the Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks, ND. Entertain their cross-state rivals the Denver Pioneers in a single game on Saturday night.  The game will be on CBS College Sports @09:07 p.m. central standard time.  Rylan Schwartz had 6g-0a—6 points on the weekend, yet his team was swept by the Fighting Sioux. According to Joe Paisley of the Colorado Spring Gazette, Tiger forward Jaden Schwartz now has a career-best 17-game point streak 9g-22a—31pts during that streak.

5.  Nebraska-Omaha – (6-3-3 WCHA, 7-6-2) The Mavericks won 4-3 and tied 2-2, in their series against the SCSU Huskies 4-3. The Red Mavericks travel to Nashville, TN to play University of Alabama Huntsville. The Mavericks hold a 3-1 all-time record against the Chargers and split their season series last season in Omaha.

6.  North Dakota – (4-6-0, 6-7-1) The Fighting Sioux swept the 4th ranked Colorado College Tigers 7-6 and 4-3 at home this past weekend.  This weekend, the Fighting Sioux head to the last frontier to play the UAA Seawolves, who took three of four points from Minnesota State in Mankato this past weekend. The Sioux have a 9-4-2 record the last 15 games against the Seawolves. With the sweep of the Tigers, the Fighting Sioux now have a 10-4-3 record against C.C. in the last 17 games at home against the Tigers. The Fighting Sioux also have an all-time record of 82-19-6 against the Tigers in Grand Forks, ND.  

7.  St. Cloud State – (4-4-2 WCHA, 6-7-3) The Huskies took one point 4-3 L, 2-2 T, from the UNO Mavericks this past weekend against the Red Mavericks in Omaha, Nebraska this weekend.  This weekend the Huskies entertain the Bemidji State Beavers at the National Hockey Center. The Huskies have an 8-2-0 record against the Beavers in the last 10 games between the two teams.

8.  Wisconsin – (4-7-1 WCHA, 7-8-1) The Badgers swept the Mercyhurst Lakers 7-2, 5-2 in Madison, this past weekend. The Badgers are the WCHA’s version of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Badgers are 7-3-0 at home and 0-5-1 on the road this season. After scoring three goals last weekend the Badgers scored 12 against their AHA opponent. The Badgers are idle this weekend.

9.  Michigan Tech – (5-4-1 WCHA, 8-5-1) The Tech Huskies split a non-conference series 3-2, 1-3 with the St. Lawrence University this past weekend in Canton, New York. The Huskies entertain the defending NCAA Champion the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at MacInnes Student Ice Arena this weekend. The Huskies are 6-1-1 at home and 2-4-0 away from the

10. Bemidji State – (3-6-1 WCHA, 5-8-1) The Beavers were idle this past weekend. The Beavers travel to Saint Cloud State to play the Huskies. Since 2002-03 the Beavers have won two games in the last 10 games against the Huskies 2-8-0.

11. Alaska-Anchorage – (2-7-1 WCHA, 5-7-1) The UAA Seawolves who took three points from Minnesota State in Mankato this past weekend. The Seawolves entertain the Fighting Sioux this weekend in Anchorage, Alaska. The Seawolves have a 4-9-2 record the last 15 games against the Fighting Sioux. The Seawovles have had better luck against the Fighting Sioux at home where they are 3-3-1 in the last seven games at home against the Sioux. The Seawolves are 2-3-1 at home and 1-4-1 on the road this season.

12.  Minnesota State – (2-7-1 WCHA, 3-10-0) The Minnesota State Mavericks took one point this past weekend against the UAA Seawolves. The Mavericks goaltenders Phil Cook and Evan Karambelas, gave up five goals on 13 shots, that an unimpressive .615 save percentage. The Mavericks travel to Minnesota to play the Minnesota Gophers in Mariucci Arena. In the last eight game against the Gophers the Mavericks have a 5-2-1 record.

Related articles

• WCHA Power Rankings - November 21 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - November 13 (insidehockey.com)
• Series Preview: Sioux vs. Tigers (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings: November 1st (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux-Beavers Series Preview (insidehockey.com)