Goon's World: Michigan Tech Huskies

Showing posts with label Michigan Tech Huskies. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 2/19/2012

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This is my weekly WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY, Zack Friedli from Hockey State of Mind and I do a weekly WCHA Power Rankings.

1. Minnesota Duluth – (14-6-4 WCHA, 20-7-5) The Bulldogs took three of four points (4-2 W, 4-4 T) from the Minnesota State Mavericks this past weekend in Mankato. This weekend the Bulldogs entertain the Colorado College Tigers.

2. Minnesota – (17-7-0 WCHA, 21-11-1) The Gophers swept (3-0 W, 4-1 W) the Bemidji State Beavers this past weekend in Minneapolis. This weekend the Gophers travel to Omaha Nebraska to play the UNO Mavericks.

3. Denver – (13-7-4 WCHA, 18-10-4) The Pioneers Split (3-0 W, 2-5 L) their weekend series with the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison. This weekend the Pioneers return home to play the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

3. North Dakota – (13-10-1, 17-11-3) The Fighting Sioux took three of four points (4-2 W, 1-1 T) from the Michigan Tech Huskies this weekend in Grand Forks. This weekend the Fighting Sioux travel to Denver to play the Pioneers. With a sweep of the Pioneers and UND would pass the Pioneers in the standings.

5. Colorado College – (13-10-1 WCHA, 16-12-2) This Tigers split (4-3 W, 3-5 L) their weekend series with the Mavericks in Colorado Springs. This weekend the Tigers travel to Duluth to play the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

6. Nebraska-Omaha – (11-5-5 WCHA, 14-12-6) The Mavericks split (3-4 L, 5-3 W) their weekend series with the C.C. Tigers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This weekend the Mavericks entertain the Gophers in Omaha.

7. Michigan Tech – (10-10-4 WCHA, 13-15-1) The Tech Huskies took one point (2-4 L, 1-1 T) in their weekend series with the Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks. The Tech Huskies entertain the Saint Cloud State Huskies in Houghton.

8. St. Cloud State – (10-11-3 WCHA, 13-15-4) The Huskies split (2-3 L O.T., 8-3 W) their weekend series with the Anchorage Alaska Seawolves in Saint Cloud. This weekend the Saint Cloud State Huskies make the trek to Houghton Michigan to play the Huskies.

9. Bemidji State – (9-12-3 WCHA, 15-14-3) The Beavers were swept (0-3 L, 1-4 L) in Minneapolis by the Minnesota Gophers. The Beavers look to get back on track when they entertain the Wisconsin Badgers in Bemidji. The Badgers are 1-8-1 on the road in ten games this season.

10. Wisconsin – (8-14-2 WCHA, 13-15-2) the Wisconsin Badgers split their weekend series (0-3 L, 5-2 W) with the Denver Pioneers in Madison and broke a five game losing streak with a victory over the Pioneers on Saturday night. This week the Badgers take their unimpressive 1-8-1 road record to Bemidji where they will play the Bemidji State Beavers.

11. Minnesota State – (8-16-2 WCHA, 12-20-2) The Mavericks took one point (2-4 L, 4-4 T) in their weekend series with Minnesota Duluth. This weekend the Mavericks are idle.

12. Alaska-Anchorage – (5-20-1 WCHA, 8-20-2) The Seawolves split (3-2 W O.T., 3-8 L) their weekend series with the Saint Cloud State Huskies in Saint Cloud. This weekend the Seawolves have a home and home series with their cross-state rival the University of Alaska Nanooks in the Governor’s Cup.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Tech and Sioux skate to a 1-1 Tie.

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athl...

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Grand Forks, ND – They say that a goalies best friend is the goal post.

Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness had to like his goal post tonight after the Michigan Tech Huskies hit the iron three times (2 posts and a cross bar) during the first period.

When the puck didn’t hit the iron Eidsness was there to make the save for the Fighting Sioux.

In explaining the lucky bounces in the first period Eidsness kind of brushed it off.

“Sometimes the game just goes that way and maybe I had a horse shoe stuck on my rear end, but I want to think that I just didn’t give them anything else to shoot at,” Eidsness said.

Goal post aside, the Fighting Sioux outshot the Huskies 9-8 in the first period and neither team was able to put a puck in the twine as both goalies played exceptional and they gave neither team’s fans anything to cheer about for most of the game.

Tonight, Fighting Sioux senior goalie Brad Eidsness was playing in his 100 game of his college hockey career.

At the beginning of the weekend, Eidsness was inserted into the starting lineup after starting goalie Aaron Dell sustained an undisclosed injury. Dell is listed as day-to-day.

Eidsness made the most of his opportunity and didn’t disappoint as he stopped 42 of 45 shots on the weekend. Eidsness’ strong play helped his team take three of four points from the upstart Michigan Tech Huskies this weekend.

Edisness also made a case that he deserves to play more down the stretch for the Fighting Sioux as he played well all weekend long and made many big saves at key times during the games.

The game was a bit of a boring grind it out defensive battle. The second period could have been described as being less than exciting, as both teams had to fight for every inch. The Fighting Sioux and the Huskies each put six shots on net and gave the fans little to cheer about.

Finally, after playing 46:06 minutes of scoreless and uneventful hockey, Fighting Sioux junior forward Corbin Knight put the Fighting Sioux on the board, with a bit of a fluky goal from the end line.

“I would lie to you and tell you that I meant to do that, but obviously that wasn’t true,” Knight said. “I saw Nelson back door there back door there and I thought a quick turnaround play and kind of catch them off guard. Luckily enough it went off a skate and went in.”

“I will take it. It’s one of the greasier ones [goals] that I have had.”

The Huskies would answer the Fighting Sioux goal with a shorthanded marker from Huskie senior forward Jordan Baker (Chestermere, Alberta), who ironically had hit a crossbar and a post in the first period.

Coming into the game the Fighting Sioux had won 12 straight games against the Michigan Tech Huskies, that winning streak would come to an end with a 1-1 tie, however, the Fighting Sioux are still 12-0-1 in the last 13 games against the Huskies.

Coming into this game Carter Romney had scored six goals in three games, that streak would also come to an end tonight as the line of Rowney, Michael Parks and Mark MacMillan was held off of the score sheet.

Tonight wasn’t about the forwards and the defenseman; the two goalies stole the show.

“Josh Robinson kind of said to me in the line that was fun, Eidsness aid. “Sometimes goalie duals are fun, we are both seniors and we have played each other in our careers. I don’t know sometimes a tie and isn’t always what you want, its fun to go against a guy that is playing well.”

When Eidsness was asked how felt about his game he had this to say.

“I feel pretty good.”

“It’s been a long road back from last year, but I think I have cleared up some things, there were some hairy moments,” Eidsness said. “The first period was interesting to say the least. I feel pretty confident in the way that I am playing right now.”

“I think a lot of that has to be with the way our team is playing in front of us. We are playing pretty well in front of both me and [Aaron] Dell.”

Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol didn’t seem that disappointed about the tie tonight.

“It was a good point for us, at the end of the day, both teams worked real hard,” Hakstol said. “we were obviously were not at our best, but we emptied the tank tonight.”

“We were not nearly as sharp to start the game as we would to have liked to have been. But as the game wore on we got a little bit better, the third period was a real battle. Both teams gave everything that they had. It came down to a one to one tie, as we came in wanting four points here at home, it’s a point in the standing and we will move forward.”

With the tie tonight the Fighting Sioux (17-11-3, 13-10-1 WCHA) are in a three way tie for fourth place in the WCHA.

With the tie tonight, Michigan Tech (13-15-4, 10-10-4 WCHA) is sitting alone in seventh place.

Eidsness leads UND past MTU 4-2

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Grand Forks, ND – The Fighting Sioux hockey team has been decimated by injuries this season and the last healthy scratch for UND was sophomore forward Taylor Dickin back in December of 2011, so the theme for the Fighting Sioux during the second half of the season has been all in.

Everyone that has been healthy is in the lineup for the Fighting Sioux hockey team. With all of the injuries, there are no extra skaters for the Fight Sioux hockey team, and barring any more injuries the rest of the season, there will “only” be 12 forwards, six defense and two goalies. That’s it, there is no one else left.

Unfortunately, Fighting Sioux junior goalie Aaron Dell was the latest Fighting Sioux hockey player to get bitten by the injury Ninja. Dell was a scratch for tonight’s game with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day to day.

With Dell out of the lineup, two time all-WCHA goalie Brad Eidsness would take Dell’s spot in the starting lineup and get a rare start.

After starting out the first period by giving up two soft goals that Eidsness would probably like the have back, the senior goalie settled down and played very well the rest of the way, leading the Fighting Sioux to a 4-2 conference win over the upstart Michigan Tech Huskies.

After being the backup goaltender for the better part of two seasons, the senior goalie from Chestermere, Alberta is making the coaching staff’s line up decisions more difficult, but also giving them options between the pipes.

Eidsness is finishing his senior season strong and sporting some pretty impressive numbers. With the win tonight, Eidsness has 5-2-0 record and has a 2.07 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.

The senior Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness was upbeat about his role after the game.

“I try to not to look at myself as a backup goalie the last couple of years, Eidsness said. “I always had confidence in my abilities.”

Certainly it’s nice to get in there and play a little bit more and maybe prove to everybody else; that I can still play and still help the team win.”

There has been another re-occurring them for the Fighting Sioux hockey team. Fighting Sioux junior forward Carter Rowney has been red hot and has scored nine goals in nine games.

Rowney also has had a shot at a hat trick in three straight games, but has yet to score a third goal in any of those three games. When Rowney was asked if he was ever going to bury a third goal in a game to secure the hat trick, the junior forward said this.

“The boys in the locker room giving me a lot of heck on that one,” Rowney said.

“I don’t know, I will just keep working hard and maybe it will come one day or maybe it won’t. I don’t know. I will just keep working my hardest.”

For the past three seasons the Michigan Tech University Huskies have been a very bad hockey team and went 15-85 during that time period.

Fast forward to this year, the Michigan Tech Huskies are a much improved hockey team and coming into tonight’s game had a record of 13-14-3 overall record, much better than the squad that went a dismal 4-30-4 last season.

Tonight, the Michigan Tech Huskies proved to be a hard team to play against. The Huskies gave the Fighting Sioux all they could handle and in the third period had the Fighting Sioux on their heels for about a three minute period.

In the end the Fighting Sioux would prevail to secure the win with a pair of power play goals. That would be the 12^th game in a row that the Fighting Sioux have won against the Michigan Tech Huskies.

The last time the Michigan Tech Huskies beat the Fighting Sioux was at the Great Lakes Invitational on December 28, 2008.

MTU head coach Mel Pearson was asked about his teams play after the game.

“It was a good hockey game; it was very entertaining for the fans,” Pearson said.

“It was a hard fought game, obviously two desperate teams trying to get points in the standings. I thought out goaltender Josh Robinson gave us a chance to win and he made some big saves at critical times. I thought their guy [Eidsness] made his best saves in the third period when we pressed a little bit.”

After the slow start in the first period Fighting Sioux made adjustments and were able to overcome a 2-1 deficit by scoring three unanswered goals; two on the power play.

Head coach Dave Hakstol seemed pleased that his team was able to recover from the rough start and win the game with a pair of power play goals in the second period.

Coach Hakstol was also asked about the importance of having two power play units clicking at this time of the year.

Extremely important!

“We had an early power play earlier in the game we didn’t accomplish very much that is something that we have to improve on,” Hakstol said.

“Latter in the game, the power play did come through with some big plays for us. It’s important specialty at this time of year, this is playoff hockey, specialty teams, goaltending a lot of little things make big differences.”

With the win tonight, UND improves to 17-11-2, 13-10-0 in the WCHA. UND has won five out of the last six games and is sitting in 5^th place in the WCHA standings.

The Huskies with the loss drop to 13-15-3, 10-10-3 in the WCHA and currently sit in 7^th place in the WCHA standings. MTU has lost two games in a row and is 1-3-1 for the month of February.

Same two teams’ faceoff tomorrow night at 7:07 pm.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 2/12/2012

Image via WikipediaThis is my weekly WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY, Zack Friedli from Hockey State of Mind and I do a weekly WCHA Power Rankings.

1. Minnesota Duluth – (13-6-3 WCHA, 19-7-4) The Bulldogs split with the UND Fighting Sioux this past weekend (1-3 L, 5-4 W). This weekend the Bulldogs travel to Minnesota State to play the Mavericks in Mankato.

2. Denver – (12-6-4 WCHA, 17-9-4). The Denver Pioneers swept the Minnesota Gophers in Denver this past weekend (5-3 W, 4-3 W O.T.) This weekend the Pioneers travel to Wisconsin to take on the struggling Badgers who are winless in their last four games.

3. North Dakota – (12-10-0, 16-11-2) The University of North Dakota split with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (3-1 W, 4-5 L). The Fighting Sioux return home to entertain the resurgent MTU Huskies at home this weekend.

4. Minnesota – (15-7-0 WCHA, 19-11-1). The Minnesota Gophers were swept by the Denver Pioneers this past weekend in Denver (3-5 L, 4-5 L O.T.) The Gophers entertain the smoking hot Bemidji State Beavers at Mariucci Arena this weekend.

5 Colorado College – (12-9-1 WCHA, 15-11-2) The Tigers were swept by the Bemidji State Beavers this past weekend in Bemidji (2-4 L, 1-4 L). The Tigers return home to play the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks.

6. Nebraska-Omaha – (10-7-5 WCHA, 13-11-6) The Mavericks took three point against the Michigan Tech Huskies (3-3 T, 4-0 W) in Houghton, Michigan this past weekend. The Mavericks travel to Colorado Springs to play the Tigers this weekend.

Tie – 7. Michigan Tech – (10-9-3 WCHA, 13-14-3) The Michigan Tech Huskies took one point this weekend against the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (3-3 T, 0-4 L). This weekend the Tech Huskies make the trek down highway 2 to play the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

Tie – 7. Bemidji State – (9-10-3 WCHA, 15-12-3) The Beavers swept the Colorado College Tigers this past weekend in Bemidji (4-2 W, 4-1 W). This weekend the Beavers travel to Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Gophers. The Beavers are 4-1-1 in their last six games.

9. St. Cloud State – (9-10-3 WCHA, 12-14-4) The Huskies were Idle this past weekend. This weekend the Huskies entertain the Anchorage Alaska Seawolves who have won one game in 11.

10. Wisconsin – (7-13-2 WCHA, 12-14-2) The Wisconsin Badgers were off this past weekend. Ironically, the idle Badgers actually fell to 11^th place in the WCHA with the Minnesota State’s sweep of the Seawolves. That being said, the Badgers have two games in hand on the Mavericks and entertain the Denver Pioneers this weekend at the Kohl Center. The Badgers look to break a four game losing streak against the Pioneers.

11. Minnesota State – (8-15-1 WCHA, 12-19-1) The Minnesota State Mavericks swept the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (3-2 W, 2-1 W). This weekend the Mavericks entertain the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in Mankato.

12. Alaska-Anchorage – (4-19-1 WCHA, 7-19-2) The Seawolves were swept by the Minnesota State Mavericks in Anchorage Alaska (2-3 L, 1-2 L). It would be an understatement to say that the Seawolves are struggling as they have lost 10 of 11 games and have one win since December 9^th 2011. This weekend the Seawolves travel to Saint Cloud State Huskies.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

A Miami Redhawks goal or not?

I just finished watching the Miami and Michigan game on my DVR and wow what a game. Also, if you think WCHA officials are bad, you should go back and watch game if you have it at your disposal, the officials Keith Sergott and Brian Hill were brutal in this game, but they did appear to get this call right. Check out the video at the 02:00 minute mark. That was close.

Redskin Warriors --- There are two things you’ll notice after the 2:00 minute mark of the highlight video posted above. First of all, take a look at the goal/no-goal that Rico was rather furious about. From just about every vantage point I’ve seen – on the replays in the arena (I’m amazed the arena staff kept replaying it on the video boards) and afterwards on the DVR – the puck doesn’t appear to cross the line.

That being said, when the NCHC starts it's league play they have to decide if they want to use WCHA and CCHA officials. There are so many poor officials in both of those leagues that I would caution the NCHC leadership to think long and hard before they decide to use these officials. There needs to be some transparency, the refs need to ref the game the way its meant to be officiated.

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 2/5/2012

This is my weekly WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY, Zack Friedli from Hockey State of Mind and I do a weekly WCHA Power Rankings.

1. Minnesota – (15-5-0 WCHA, 19-9-1). The Minnesota Gophers were idle this past weekend. This weekend the Gophers travel to Denver to play the Pioneers.

2. Minnesota Duluth – (12-5-3 WCHA, 18-6-4) The Bulldogs split with the UAA Seawolves (4-1 W, 2-3 L) this past weekend in Anchorage, Alaska. This weekend the Bulldogs entertain UND at Amsoil Arena. Since the 2004-05 season, UMD has a 6-17-2 record against UND.

2. Colorado College – (12-7-1 WCHA, 15-9-2) The Tigers took three of four points (2-0 W, 2-2 T) against their cross state rivals the Denver Pioneers. This weekend the Tigers travel to Bemidji to play the Beavers at the Sanford Center.

4. Denver – (10-6-4 WCHA, 15-9-4). The Denver Pioneers took one point (0-2 L, 2-2T) in a home and home series with the C.C. Tigers. This weekend the Pioneers entertain the Minnesota Gophers.

4. North Dakota – (11-9-0 WCHA, 15-10-2) The University of North Dakota was idle last weekend. This weekend the University of North Dakota makes the drive down highway two to play the high flying Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. Since the 2004-05 season, UND has a 17-6-2 record against UMD.

6. Michigan Tech – (10-8-2 WCHA, 13-13-2) The Michigan Tech Huskies split with the Minnesota State Mavericks this past weekend (3-5 L, 7-3 W) in Mankato, Minnesota. This weekend the Huskies entertain the UNO Mavericks.

7. Nebraska-Omaha – (9-7-4 WCHA, 12-11-5) The Mavericks took one point against the (1-1 T, 4-6 L) Bemidji State Beavers. The UNO Mavericks have won a grand total of one game in 10 tries, over the course of two seasons, against the Beavers 1-6-3. This includes a record of 1-1-2 this season. This weekend the UNO Mavericks travel to Houghton, Michigan to play the Tech Huskies.

7. Bemidji State – (7-10-3 WCHA, 13-12-3) The Beavers took three of four points this past weekend series with the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (1-1 T, 6-4 W) in Omaha, Nebraska. The Beavers have a 6-1-3 record against the UNO Mavericks in 10 games over the course of two seasons, against the Mavericks. This weekend the Beavers entertain the C.C. Tigers in the Sanford Center.

9. St. Cloud State – (9-10-3 WCHA, 12-14-4) The Huskies wept the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison this past weekend (5-1 W, 2-1 W). The depleted Huskies only dressed 11 healthy forwards on Saturday night. Huskies junior goalie Mike Lee returned from a hip injury last weekend. This weekend he was stellar in net stopping 72/74 shots this weekend against the Wisconsin Badgers. Lee has only given up four goals in three games since his return from injury.

10. Wisconsin – (7-13-2 WCHA, 12-14-2) The Wisconsin Badgers were swept by the Saint Cloud State Huskies this past weekend (1-5 l, 1-2 L) at the Kohl Center. The Badgers are idle next weekend.

11. Minnesota State – (6-15-1 WCHA, 10-19-1) The Minnesota State Mavericks split their weekend series Michigan Tech Huskies (5-3 W, 3-7 L). The Mavericks travel to Anchorage, Alaska to play the UAA Seawolves.

12. Alaska-Anchorage – (4-17-1 WCHA, 7-17-2) The Seawolves split with the UMD Bulldogs at home (1-4 L, 3-2 W). With their win against the Bulldogs on Saturday night the Seawolves halted an 8 game losing streak. Before last night’s win the Seawolves had not won a game since December 9, 2011. This weekend the Seawolves entertain the Minnesota State Mavericks.

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Goon’s WCHA Power Rankings 1/29/2012

Here is this weeks WCHA Power Rankings, Zack Friedli has a previous engagement this week, so here is this week's Inside Hockey WCHA Power Rankings.

1. Minnesota – (15-5-0 WCHA, 19-9-1) Minnesota swept the Saint Cloud State Huskies in a home and home series (2-1 W, 3-2 W) this past weekend. The Minnesota Gophers limited the SCSU Huskies to 25 shots on net for the weekend. This weekend the Gophers are idle.

2. Minnesota Duluth – (11-4-3 WCHA, 17-5-4) The Bulldogs tied and lost (4-4 T, 0-5 L) against Michigan Tech University this past weekend at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minnesota. This weekend the Bulldogs travel to Anchorage, Alaska to play the UAA Seawolves.

3. Colorado College – (11-7-0 WCHA, 14-9-1) The Tigers were idle this past weekend. This weekend the Tigers have a home and home series with their cross state rivals the Denver Pioneers.

4. Denver – (10-5-3 WCHA, 15-8-3). The Pioneers swept the Seawolves this past weekend in Anchorage Alaska (4-2 W, 6-3 W). Saturday, sophomore goalie Sam Brittain returned from a knee injury; started in goal and got the win in net for the Pioneers. This weekend the Pioneers have a home and home series with their cross state rivals the Colorado College Tigers.

4. North Dakota – (11-9-0, 15-10-2) The University of North Dakota swept the Badgers at the Ralph Englestad Area this past weekend (5-3 W, 4-2 W). UND is idle this weekend. The University of North Dakota has been hit by the Injury Ninja and the following players are currently out of the lineup for UND. Here is the list, Rocco Grimaldi (knee, season), Brendan O’Donnell (shoulder) and Derek Rodwell (shoulder, season).

6. Nebraska-Omaha – (9-6-3 WCHA, 12-10-4) The Mavericks were idle this past weekend. This weekend the Mavericks entertain the Bemidji State Beavers.

7. Michigan Tech – (9-7-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Michigan Tech Huskies look three of four points (4-4 T, 5-0 W) against the Bulldogs at Amsoil arena in Duluth, Minnesota. This weekend Michigan Tech travels to Mankato to play the Minnesota State Mavericks.

8. Bemidji State – (6-10-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Beavers split their weekend series with the Minnesota State Mavericks (2-1 W, 2-5 L) at the Sanford Center. This weekend the Beavers travel to Omaha to play the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks.

9. Wisconsin – (7-10-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Wisconsin Badgers have an impressive 11-4-1 record at Kohl Center. After being swept by University of North Dakota this past weekend (2-5 L, 2-4 L) in Grand Forks, the Badgers have an unimpressive 1-8-1 record away from the Kohl Center. This weekend the Badgers look to improve on their home record against the depleted Saint Cloud State Huskies.

10. St. Cloud State – (7-10-3 WCHA, 10-14-4) The Huskies were swept by the Gophers (1-2 L, 2-3 L) this past weekend. This weekend the Huskies travel to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers. Huskies junior goalie Mike Lee returned from injury and played Friday night for the Huskies. The Huskies has been hit by the Injury Ninja as they have lost forward Travis Novak to a lower body injury on Friday night and are still without their top forward Drew LeBlanc (broken leg).

11. Minnesota State – (5-14-1 WCHA, 9-18-1) The Minnesota State Mavericks split their series with the Bemidji State Beavers (1-2, L, 5-2 W). The Mavericks entertain the Michigan Tech Huskies in Mankato, Minnesota.

12. Alaska-Anchorage – (3-16-1 WCHA, 6-16-2) The Seawolves were swept (2-4 L, 3-6 L) by the Denver Pioneers in Anchorage Alaska this past weekend. This weekend the Seawolves entertain Minnesota Duluth. Anchorage has lost seven games in a row and has not won since December 9, 2011.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Controversial non call in St Cloud

While I was at the Sioux game versus the Badgers, and my twitter blew up and this the goal by the Huskies was the play that set the Gopher fans off.

So did the refs blow the call? Is this indicative of WCHA officiating? It looks like Nate Condon was hacked and pulled down causing an opportunity going the other way and Ben Hanowski scores on Patterson.

Here is what the Star Tribune had to say on the matter.

Even so, the Huskies scored the only goal of the first period. One second Nate Condon had a near breakaway for the Gophers before being separated from the puck.

The next, SCSU had an odd-man rush that ended with Ben Hanowski sliding the puck underneath Gophers goalie Kent Patterson.

Gophers coach Don Lucia chewed out the referee who dared skate over to the visitors' bench. Lucia wanted a hooking call on Condon's rush.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Goon’s WCHA Power Rankings 1/22/2012

This is my weekly WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY, Zack Friedli from Hockey State of Mind was out of town he didn't do a weekly WCHA Power Rankings.

1. Minnesota Duluth – (11-3-2 WCHA, 17-4-3) The Bulldogs swept the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers (2-1 W, 4-3 W) in Duluth this past weekend. This weekend the Bulldogs entertain the Michigan Tech Huskies. Barring a complete meltdown it looks like the Bulldogs are hitting on all cylinders and are the best team in the WCHA

2. Minnesota – (13-5-0 WCHA, 17-9-1) Minnesota split with Colorado College Tigers (1-2 L, 2-1 W) at Mariucci Arena. This weekend the Gophers have a home and home series with the Saint Cloud State Huskies, Minnesota has lost 4 of their last 6 games.

3. Colorado College – (11-7-0 WCHA, 14-9-1) The Tigers split their weekend series with the Minnesota Gophers (2-1 W, 1-2 L). This weekend the Tigers are off.

4. Denver – (8-5-3 WCHA, 13-8-3). The Pioneers were off this past weekend. This weekend the Denver Pioneers make the trek to Alaska Anchorage to play the Seawolves.

5. North Dakota – (9-9-0, 13-10-2) The University of North Dakota split with Saint Cloud at the National Hockey Center (1-3 L, 3-2 W). This weekend UND entertains the Wisconsin Badgers. The University of North Dakota has been hit by the Injury Ninja and the following players are “currently out” of the line up for UND. Here is the list, Rocco Grimaldi (knee, season), Derek Forbort (lower body, day to day), Brendan O'Donnell (shoulder) and Derek Rodwell (shoulder, season).

6. Nebraska-Omaha – (9-6-3 WCHA, 12-10-4) The Mavericks split with Minnesota State this past weekend in Mankato (1-2 O.T. L, 5-4 O.T. W). The Mavericks are off this weekend.

7. St. Cloud State – (7-8-3 WCHA, 10-12-4) The Huskies split their weekend series with North Dakota (3-1 W, 2-3 L). The Huskies have a home and home series with the Minnesota Gophers. The Huskies could get Mike Lee and Drew LeBlanc back from injuries soon.

8. Michigan Tech – (8-7-1 WCHA, 11-12-1) The Michigan Tech Huskies lost to Northern Michigan. The Huskies travel to Duluth to play the high flying Bulldogs. Tech is 2-4-0 in their last six games.

8. Wisconsin – (7-9-2 WCHA, 12-10-2) The Wisconsin Badgers have an impressive 11-4-1 record at home and after sweeping Alaska Anchorage at home (4-0 W, 3-2 W), the Badgers have a less than unimpressive 1-6-1 record away from the Kohl Center. This weekend the Badgers travel to Grand Forks, ND to play North Dakota.

10. Bemidji State – (5-9-2 WCHA, 11-11-2) The Beavers are off this weekend. This weekend the Beavers entertain the Minnesota State Mavericks.

11. Minnesota State – (4-13-1 WCHA, 8-17-1) The Minnesota State Mavericks split their series with the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (0-4 L, 3-0 W). The Mavericks travel to Bemidji State to play the Beavers.

12. Alaska-Anchorage – (3-14-1 WCHA, 6-14-2) The Seawolves were swept by the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison (2-6 L, 4-6 L). This weekend the Seawolves entertain the Denver Pioneers in Anchorage Alaska. Anchorage has lost five games in a row and has not won since December 9^th, 2011.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

WCHA at the mid point.

Image via Wikipedia

2011-2012 WCHA STANDINGS

		WCHA Games							Overall
		GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	W	L	T	GF	GA
1	Minnesota	14	11	3	0	22	51	28	14	5	1	83	41
	Minnesota Duluth	14	10	2	2	22	59	32	12	3	3	73	44
3	Colorado College	14	9	5	0	18	59	48	11	5	0	67	50
4	Nebraska Omaha	14	7	4	3	17	46	43	9	8	3	62	60
5	Denver	14	6	5	3	15	47	45	8	7	3	59	55
6	North Dakota	14	7	7	0	14	39	37	9	8	1	51	50
7	Michigan Tech	14	6	7	1	13	41	43	9	9	1	54	55
	St. Cloud State	14	5	6	3	13	43	41	7	9	4	64	62
9	Bemidji State	14	5	7	2	12	36	46	9	9	2	55	56
10	Wisconsin	14	4	8	2	10	40	50	7	9	2	57	59
11	Alaska Anchorage	14	3	10	1	7	29	54	6	10	2	46	63
12	Minnesota State	14	2	11	1	5	37	60	5	14	1	55	75

This is the standings at the half way point of the season in the WCHA. Below is how I picked the league to finish in the 2nd Annual WCHA blogger poll.

1. Denver University (-4)
2. Colorado College - (-1)
3. North Dakota - (-3)
4. Minnesota - (+4)
5. Nebraska-Omaha - (+1)
6. Wisconsin - (-4)
7. Minnesota-Duluth - (+7)
8. Alaska-Anchorage - (-3)
9. St Cloud St - (+2)
10. Bemidji St - (+1)
11. Michigan Tech - (+4)
12. Minnesota St - (=)

This is how the WCHA fan Bloggers picked the league to finish. So how did we do at the halfway point? Obviously this is a body of work that is meant to reflect the "whole" season and there are 14 games left so a lot can happen between now and then .

	Team (1st Place Votes)	Points
1.	Denver (10)	196
2.	Colorado College (4)	179
3.	North Dakota (2)	175
4.	Nebraska-Omaha	141
5.	Minnesota-Duluth (1)	140
6.	Minnesota	124.5
7.	Wisconsin	100
8.	St. Cloud State	92
9.	Alaska-Anchorage	68.5
10.	Bemidji State	52
11.	Michigan Tech	30
12.	Minnesota State-Mankato	28

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Goon’s WCHA Power Rankings 12/11/2011

Each week Zach Friedli and I do the WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY. This will be the last Power Rankings till January 8th, 2012.

1. Minnesota Duluth – (10-2-2 WCHA, 12-3-3) The Bulldogs took 3 out of 4 points from the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, this past weekend. With the win and the Bulldogs moved into a tie for first place with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Bulldogs travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan to play future NCHC foe Western Michigan (9-4-5). Friday’s game will be broadcast on CBS College Sports.

2. Minnesota – (11-3-0 WCHA, 14-5-1) The Gophers split their weekend series with the upstart Michigan Tech Huskies in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gophers are off until the December 30^th when they play Niagara University (5-5-6) in the Mariucci Classic.

3. Nebraska-Omaha – (7-4-3 WCHA, 9-8-3) The Mavericks split their weekend series with the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux this past weekend (2-1 O.T. W, 0-1 L). The Mavericks are off until December 30^th when the Mavericks play Quinnipiac University Bobcats in Omaha, Nebraska.

4. North Dakota – (7-7-0, 9-8-1) The Fighting Sioux split their weekend series with the UNO Mavericks (1-2 O.T. L, 1-0 W). The Fighting Sioux have now won 6 out of the last 8 games and are tied with the C.C. Tigers for fourth. The Fighting Sioux have a single exhibition game with the Russian Red Stars on Saturday night. The Fighting Sioux will resume play with a non-conference game against the Harvard University Crimson (4-3-3) on December 30^th at Ralph Englestad Arena.

5. Colorado College – (7-5-0 WCHA, 9-5-0) The Tigers split their weekend series with the UAA Seawovles (3-6 L, 4-3 W), this weekend the Tigers travel to Mankato, Minnesota to play the Minnesota State Mavericks.

6. Denver – (5-4-3 WCHA, 7-6-3) – The Denver Pioneers split their weekend series with the Bemidji State Beavers (3-2 W, 1-2 L). The Pioneers travel to Saint Cloud to play the SCSU Huskies.

7. Bemidji State – (5-7-2 WCHA, 7-9-2) The Bemidji State Beavers split their weekend series with the Denver Pioneers (2-3 L, 2-1 W). According to Eric Stromgren from the Bemidji Pioneer, this was the Beavers first win against the Denver Pioneers in the Division I era. The Beavers entertain their old CHA Rival University of Alabama Huntsville (1-17-1). I wonder if we will see any of the “Who Hates Huntsville” T-Shirts this weekend.

8. Michigan Tech – (6-7-1 WCHA, 9-8-1) The Tech Huskies split with the Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2 O.T. W, 2-6 L). The Huskies are (6-3-1) at home and (3-5-0) away from the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Tech Huskies travel to across the Upper Peninsula to Marquette, Michigan for a single game with their arch rival the Northern Michigan University Wildcats (8-7-3).

9. Wisconsin – (4-8-2 WCHA, 7-9-2) The Badgers took one point from the high flying UMD Bulldogs this past weekend, the Badgers are off till New Years Eve when they play the USDT Under 18 team. The Badgers will resume play next year on January 6^th, when they play the R.I.T. Tigers in Madison, Wisconsin.

10. St. Cloud State – (4-5-3 WCHA, 6-8-4) The Huskies were idle this past weekend. 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). The Huskies entertain the Denver Pioneers with weekend.

11. Alaska-Anchorage – (3-10-1 WCHA, 6-10-2) The UAA Seawolves split their weekend series with the Colorado College Tigers in Colorado Springs (6-3 W, 3-4L). The Seawolves won’t play against till January 13^th when they travel to Houghton, Michigan to play the Tech Huskies.

12. Minnesota State – (2-9-1 WCHA, 5-12-0) The Minnesota State Mavericks swept the UAH Chargers in a non-conference match-up (4-2, 9-1). The Mavericks entertain the Colorado College Tigers this weekend.

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