North Dakota Lands Three Players on the NCHC All-Conference teams.

NCHC All-Conference First Team
Josh Archibald, Jr., F, Nebraska Omaha
Nic Dowd, Sr., F, St. Cloud State
Austin Czarnik, Jr., F, Miami
Dillon Simpson, Sr., D, North Dakota
Joey LaLeggia, Jr., D, Denver

Sam Brittain, Sr., G, Denver

NCHC All-Conference Second Team

Chase Balisy, Sr., F, Western Michigan
Riley Barber, So., F, Miami
Michael Parks, Jr., F, North Dakota
Jacob Slavin, Fr., D, Colorado College
Jordan Schmaltz, So., D, North Dakota

Ryan Faragher, Jr., G, St. Cloud State

NCHC All-Conference Rookie Team

Jake Guentzel, F, Nebraska Omaha
Alex Iafallo, F, Minnesota Duluth
Trevor Moore, F, Denver
Jaccob Slavin, D, Colorado College
Paul LaDue, D, North Dakota
Charlie Lindgren, G, St. Cloud State

Related articles

• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers Half Way Point (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers at the Half Way Point (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers (thehockeywriters.com)

UND vs. UMD Game Two

Champ, UMD mascot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UND Forward lines

9 Drake Caggiula–16 Mark MacMillan–15 Michael Parks (A)
28 Stephane Pattyn (A)–19 Rocco Grimaldi–27 Luke Johnson
21 Brendan O’Donnell–13 Connor Gaarder–11 Derek Rodwell
25 Mitch MacMillan–29 Bryn Chyzyk–17 Colten St. Clair

North Dakota Defense Pairings

5 Nick Mattson–6 Paul LaDue
18 Dillon Simpson ©–24 Jordan Schmaltz
4 Keaton Thompson–2 Troy Stecher

UND Goalies

31 Zane Gothberg
33 Clarke Saunders

Out: 7-Wade Murphy (Fr., F), 20-Gage Ausmus (Fr., D), 22-Andrew Panzarella (Jr., D), 26-Coltyn Sanderson (So., F), 30-Matt Hrynkiw (Fr., G)

Minnesota Duluth’s lines

11 Austin Farley–21 Caleb Herbert–25 Justin Crandall

14 Alex Iafallo–17 Dominic Toninato–26 Adam Krause

8 Kyle Osterberg–13 Tony Cameranesi–19 Max Tardy

23 Austyn Young – 27 Cal Decowsk–28 Sammy Spurell

Minnesota Duluth Defense Pairings

4 Carson Soucy–7 Andy Welinski
6 Derik Johnson–15 Willie Raskob
16 Tim Smith–3 Dan Molenaar

Minnesota Duluth Goalies

36 Matt McNeely

1 Aaron Crandall

30 Alex Fons

TV tonight: Midco Sports Network, My9 (Duluth) || Webcast: http://t.co/Adhs52BWB0
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) February 22, 2014

(Picture) North Star College Cup

I hate to say this, but we want the NCHC teams in the North Star Cup to win this weekend. So, this weekend we should cheer for the Huskies and the Bulldogs. Shall we say that the tourney has gone to the dogs.

Session 1

Friday, Jan. 24
Game #1: Minnesota State-Mankato vs. Minnesota Duluth - 4 p.m.
Game #2: St. Cloud State vs. Minnesota - 7 p.m.

Session 2

Saturday, Jan. 25
Game #3: Consolation Game - 4 p.m.
Game #4: Championship Game - 7 p.m.

Related articles

• Some NCHC Stats (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers Half Way Point (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: No Second Thoughts or Regrets (thehockeywriters.com)

Some NCHC Stats

Here's a look at some of the NCHC statistics that I broke down for a post that was originally posted on the Hockey Writers. 

NCHC Goaltending Save Percentage Leaders (all games) – min 10 games.

1   Sam Brittain, DU, .935
Tie Lukas Hafner, WMU, .935
3    Ryan McKay, MU, .921
4    Zane Gothberg, UND, .916
5    Ryan Faragher, SCSU, .912

NCHC goaltending goals against average (all games) – min 10 games.

1    Lukas Hafner, WMU, 1.61
2    Sam Brittain, DU, 2.04
3    Zane Gothberg, UND, 2.20
4    Ryan Faragher, SCSU, 2.42
5    Ryan McKay, MU, 2.50

NCHC scoring offense (conference games)

1    St. Cloud State, 3.25 GPG
2    Western Michigan, 3.17 GPG
3    Nebraska-Omaha, 3.00 GPG
4    North Dakota, 2.92 GPG
5    Minnesota Duluth, 2.83 GPG>
6    Denver, 2.58 GPG
7    Miami, 2.42 GPG
8    Colorado College, 2.08 GPG

Scoring Defense NCHC games (goals against)

1    Denver, 2.33
Tie St. Cloud State, 2.33
3    Nebraska-Omaha, 2.42
4    Western Michigan, 2.83
5    Minnesota Duluth, 3.00
6    Miami, 3.08
Tie North Dakota, 3.08
8    Colorado College, 3.17

NCHC Rankings scoring offense (National)

7    St. Cloud State, 3.50
18  Miami, 3.14
22  Nebraska-Omaha 3.00
28  North Dakota, 2.86
31  Minnesota Duluth, 2.75
34  Western Michigan 2.71
38  Denver, 2.59
58  Colorado College, 1.77

NCHC Rankings scoring defense (National)

5    Denver, 2.12
14    St. Cloud State, 2.35
16   Western Michigan, 2.38
31   North Dakota, 2.73
32   Minnesota Duluth, 2.75
33   Miami, 2.77
45   Nebraska Omaha, 3.18
49   Colorado College,  3.36

NCHC  College Hockey Stats Net (College Hockey Stats)
NCHC Statistics (nchchockey.com)
National Statistics NCAA Division I (National Statistics)

Related articles

• NCHC Hockey: No Second Thoughts or Regrets (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers at the Half Way Point (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey: The Weekend in Review (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCAA Hockey: There Has to Be a Better Way (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers Half Way Point (thehockeywriters.com)

North Dakota v Duluth

North Dakota is coming out of a weekend series where due to injury, sickness and a strong effort by a Dean Blais team they just barely hung on for a split.

Now it's time to square off versus Minnesota Duluth where we are still expected to be less than 100%. Herald Beat Report Brad Elliot Schlossman says he has no idea what UND's line up might be.

I think if we're to have any success this weekend I think the team is going to have to really dig deep and gut it out.  Given that I think this video is appropriate. 

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Making the Case for Dave Hakstol (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCAA Women's Hockey Morning Skate: October 18th, 2013 (thehockeywriters.com)

Hitting the links on Thursday NCHC Television focused

CBS Sports Network (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The newly released television schedule from the NCHC has gotten people talking.  

Here's the Western College Hockey Blog post and they broke down the number games each team has on the schedule. UND 6, Miami 5, Western Michigan, Colorado College and St. Cloud State all have 4 games on the TV schedule. Denver and Duluth have two games. 

Here’s something to chew on; the Mavericks will appear on CBS Sports Network just once when they host Michigan on Friday, Nov. 15. [OmahaMavericks]

The Hockey Writers, NCAA Hockey: Current NCHC Television Deal is Unacceptable

David Drew, MLive.com WMU hockey will have four NCHC games televised on CBSSports Network

Joe Paisley from the Gazette; CC picks up most-ever four national TV regular season games

UND Women make second NCAA tourney in a row

Western Collegiate Hockey Association logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Official Press Release
MADISON, Wis. – Two teams from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, winners of the last 13 national championships, have been selected to play in the quarterfinals of the 2013 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Ice Hockey Championship.

Defending national champion, 2012-13 WCHA regular season champ and No. 1 seed Minnesota (38-0-0) will host North Dakota (26-11-1), in the quarterfinal round, the NCAA revealed during Sunday night’s selection show. Puck drop is 4:00 pm CT Saturday at Ridder Arena. The game is a rematch of the 2013 WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF title game on Saturday (March 9) in Minneapolis when Minnesota continued its perfect season and extended its unprecedented winning streak to 46 games with a 2-0 victory. This will be the sixth meeting between the teams this season.

This is the eighth NCAA regional appearances for Minnesota. Minnesota also hosted the regional game in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. The Golden Gophers beat North Dakota in the NCAA Regional at Ridder Arena last season. This is the second NCAA tournament appearance for North Dakota, which received one of the four at-large berths.

Eight teams are selected for the championship. Of the eight teams, the top-four teams are seeded. Three conferences were awarded automatic bids for the 2013 tournament. The remaining five teams were selected at-large. The automatic qualifying conferences and their representatives are the WCHA – Minnesota; ECAC Hockey – Cornell; and Hockey East Association – Boston University. Boston College, Clarkson, Harvard, Mercyhurst and North Dakota were all selected as at-large teams.

The quarterfinals will be played Saturday, March 16 and the other pairings have No. 2-seeded Cornell (27-5-1) hosting Mercyhurst (28-6-1), No. 3 Boston University (26-5-3) entertaining Clarkson (28-9-0) and Harvard (24-6-3) at Boston College (26-6-3), the No. 4 seed. The quarterfinal winners will advance to the 2013 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four, set for Friday, March 22 and Sunday, March 24 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. The semifinal games will be played at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. CT on March 22. The championship game will be played at 3 p.m. CT on March 24.

In the 12 years of NCAA-sponsored tournaments, WCHA members have won all 12 titles – Minnesota Duluth has five, Wisconsin has four and Minnesota three. Minnesota defeated Wisconsin, 4-2 in the 2012 championship game at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. Six of this year quarterfinalists are repeaters from last year’s field, including North Dakota and Minnesota. The other repeaters are Mercyhurst, BC, Cornell and BU.

Related articles

• Lamoureux Snubbed for Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings: Week 20 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings: Week 21 (thehockeywriters.com)

Final WCHA standings

 NEXT WEEK IN THE WCHA

WCHA PLAYOFFS • FIRST ROUND, BEST-OF-THREE

Games for Friday, March 15: #12 Alaska Anchorage at #1 St. Cloud State, 7:37 pm CT; #11 Bemidji State at #2 Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT; #10 Michigan Tech at #3 North Dakota, 7:37 pm CT; #9 Minnesota Duluth at #4 Wisconsin; #8 Colorado College at #5 Denver; #7 Nebraska Omaha at #6 Minnesota State.

Games for Saturday, March 16: #12 Alaska Anchorage at #1 St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT; #11 Bemidji State at #2 Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT; #10 Michigan Tech at #3 North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT; #9 Minnesota Duluth at #4 Wisconsin; #8 Colorado College at #5 Denver #7 Nebraska Omaha at #6 Minnesota State.

Games for Sunday, March 17 (if necessary): #12 Alaska Anchorage at #1 St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT; #11 Bemidji State at #2 Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT; #10 Michigan Tech at #3 North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT; #9 Minnesota Duluth at #4 Wisconsin; #8 Colorado College at #5 Denver; #7 Nebraska Omaha at #6 Minnesota State.

WCHA Web Media Poll: Week 13

Each week, I participate in a WCHA Web Media Poll that is put on by the Tech Hockey Guide with 11 other people that represent both the print media as well as the hockey blogosphere.

There is no movement in the first two spots in the poll, but there is a new number three this week. Omaha moves from six to three. Saint Cloud State moves from three to six. Minnesota Duluth and Wisconsin both moved up two spots.

Here are the results of the Tech Hockey Guide WCHA Web Media Poll for Week 13:

	Team	Pts	Previous	Record	High	Low
1)	Minnesota (8)	137	1	13-3-3	1	3
2)	North Dakota (2)	132	2	12-5-3	1	3
3)	Nebraska Omaha (2)	116	6	13-8-1	1	6
4)	Denver	108	4	12-6-3	3	6
5)	Minnesota State	97	5	14-6-2	4	7
6)	St. Cloud State	92	3	12-10-0	3	7
7)	Minnesota Duluth	59	9	7-10-3	6	9
8)	Wisconsin	58	10	6-7-5	6	10
9)	Colorado College	51	7	8-12-2	7	11
10)	Michigan Tech	47	8	6-10-3	87	11
11)	Bemidji State	27	11	5-11-4	10	11
12)	Alaska Anchorage	12	12	3-11-4	12	12

Representing Name Publication Twitter

Alaska-Anchorage, Taylor Hall College Hockey News @thall907

Bemidji State, Troy Mills The Beaver Pond
Colorado College, Joe Paisley, Paisley Hockey @Paisleyhockey
Denver, Mike Chambers, Denver Post @MChambersDP
Michigan Tech, Tim Braun, Tech Hockey Guide @TBraunTHG
Minnesota, Dan Myers, Minnesota Hockey Magazine @1DanMyers
Minnesota Duluth, Bruce Ciskie, The Ciskie Blog @BruceCiskie
Minnesota State, Chris Dilks, Western College Hockey @ChrisDilks
Nebraska-Omaha, Matt Semisch, Radio Free Omaha @matthewsemisch
North Dakota, Eric Burton The Hockey Writers Combine and Goon’s World @goon48
St. Cloud State, Jeremy Larson, Husky Hockey Time @jclarson02
Wisconsin, Andy Johnson, Bucky’s 5th Quarter @andyjohnsonB5Q

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine. 

GWG by Mark MacMilian

Danny Kristo described what he saw on the game winning goal.

“Just a chip in,” Kristo said. “Just kind of read the play to the Duluth “D” – rimmed it – beat the guy to the puck and luckily beat the guy off of the wall. Originally, looked shot then I saw Mark [MacMilan] out of the corner of my eye and he was opened up for a one-timer so just tried to make a good pass and it went through and he buried it.

From the new INCH blog, Gladdy says...

• Of course, one of the games we dialed up was the Friday night contest between North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth. I encourage the readers to take advantage of your opportunities to watch Danny Kristo play hockey. He’s one of the best offensive talents I’ve seen in my years of closely following college hockey. I consider some of Kristo’s attributes as a combination of the players involved in the great Hobey debate of 2008. His anticipation to make plays and to be in the right places on the ice matches Michigan’s Kevin Porter. Kristo’s skill, excitement, and big-game contributions compare favorably to Boston College’s Nathan Gerbe. Even Jess Myers would buy a ticket to watch Kristo play.

Related articles

• UND beats UMD in Overtime 4-3 (thehockeywriters.com)
• UMD and UND gut out hard fought 4-4 tie (thehockeywriters.com)

UND: The Weekend Ahead (11/16-11-17)

The University of North Dakota entertains the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in an important two-game WCHA series this weekend at Ralph Englestad Arena on November 16 and 17.

North Dakota (4-3-1, 2-1-1 WCHA) #6 USCHO and #5 USA Today polls versus University of Minnesota Duluth (2-5-1, 0-3-1 WCHA)

Game times: 7:37 pm CT on Friday, 7:07 pm CT on Saturday.

Radio:  UND 96.1 (KQHT-FM) – The Fox.

Webcast and Audio:  UNDSPORTS.COM  and UMD 94X 

TV: Midco Sports Network, FOX College Sports Central,

DirecTV 623 (Friday), DirecTV 608 (Saturday)

Series History: All-Time: UND leads the series against the Bulldogs 135-75-8 (.638), UND’s record against UMD in Grand Forks, ND – UND leads 75-31-2 (.704). UND’s record against UMD in Duluth, MN – UND leads 55-39-5 (.581). UND’s record against UMD at Neutral sites – Series tied 2-2-1 (.500). UND record against UMD the Last 10 games – UND leads 7-3-0 (.700) 

Players to Watch:

North Dakota: Forwards: Danny Kristo (1g-6a—7pts), Rocco Grimaldi (3g-3a—6pts), Connor Gaarder (3g-3a—6pts), Mark MacMillan (3g-3a—6pts), Corbin Knight (2g-3a—5pts), Carter Rowney (2g-2a—5pts). Defense: Jordan Schmaltz (1g1a—2pts) Dillon Simpson (1g-2a—3pts), Andrew MacWilliam (0g-2a—2pts), Derek Forbort (2g-3a—5pts). Goaltenders: Clarke Saunders 3-2-1, 1.98 GAA, .931 save percentage, Zane Gothberg 1-1-0, 2.54 GAA, .902 save percentage.

University of Minnesota Duluth: Forwards: Mike Seidel (5g-4a—9pts), Tony Cameranesi (3g-4a—7pts), Austin Farley (2g-4a—6pts). Defense: Wade Bergman (0g-6a—6pts), Andy Welinski (1g-2a—3pts), Chris Casto (0g-2a—2pts). Goaltenders: Matt McNeely 1-3-1, 2.78 GAA, .892 save percentage, Aaron Crandall 1-2-0, 3.05 GAA, .898 save percentage.

UND Official Web Page

UMD Official Web Page

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers – Combine

Goon's weekly WCHA Picks 2/17 - 2/18

Fri 02/17/12
Bemidji State at Minnesota 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-FSn)
Denver at Wisconsin 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-FSw,Wisc)
Alaska Anchorage at St. Cloud State 7:37 p.m. CT (TV-Charter)
Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota State 7:37 p.m. CT
Michigan Tech at North Dakota 7:37 p.m. CT (TV-FSSN,FCSc)
Nebraska Omaha at Colorado College 8:07 p.m. MT (TV-CBSSN)

Sat 02/18/12
Alaska Anchorage at St. Cloud State 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-Charter)
Bemidji State at Minnesota 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-FSn)
Denver at Wisconsin 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-FSw,Wisc)
Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota State 7:07 p.m. CT
Michigan Tech at North Dakota 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-FSSN,FCSc)
Nebraska Omaha at Colorado College 7:07 p.m. MT

Alaska Anchorage at St. Cloud State – SCSU Sweep
Bemidji State at Minnesota – Split
Denver at Wisconsin – DU Sweep
Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota State – UMD Sweep
Michigan Tech at North Dakota – Split
Nebraska Omaha at Colorado College – Split

Last Week 4-6 Record for the season 121-74

Here are some interesting stats from @UNDSID on the Sioux's record after the first of the year...

Year Before After
2004-05 13-7-2 (.636) 12-8-3 (.587)
2005-06 12-7-1 (.625) 17-9-0 (.654)
2006-07 7-10-1 (.417) 17-4-4 (.760)
2007-08 8-6-1 (.567) 20-5-3 (.768)
2008-09 9-8-1 (.528) 15-7-3 (.660)
2009-10 9-6-3 (.583) 16-7-2 (.680)
2010-11 13-5-2 (.700) 19-4-1 (.813)
2011-12 9-8-1 (.528) 7-3-1 (.682)
Totals 80-57-12 (.577) 122-47-17 (.702)

UND has been particularly effective once the calendar turns to February. Over the previous three seasons, the Sioux have gone 26-5-1 (.828) from February to April, and 77-24-12 (.735) overall in those months during Hakstol's entire tenure. - Jayson Hajdu

Related articles

• WCHA Power Rankings - February 13 (insidehockey.com)
• Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 2/12/2012 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
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• WCHA Power Rankings - Super Bowl Sunday (insidehockey.com)
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UND stops UMD 3-1

This is the best that I have seen UND Fighting Sioux hockey team play all season long. True to form they're already seem to be in play off mode. They don't have a lot of room for error but they will be in the tourney if they keep winning games.

The Fighting Sioux didn't give the Bulldogs a lot of great looks and this is how they have to continue to play like, if they want to be successful. It's starts in the defensive zone and it's about grinding out wins, they don't have the fire power to just skate past people but they do have a great back end.

That being said, I think everyone seems to be buying into their roles and the Fighting Sioux are becoming very hard team to play hockey against. That is a trade mark of a Dave Hakstol team. I like the fact that this is one of the more disciplined Fighting Sioux hockey teams that I have seen in some time. 

I don’t think anyone is going to want to draw the Fighting Sioux in the WCHA Playoffs and they would be a tough draw in the NCAA playoffs as well. 

I thought that UND played good in all three zones of the ice tonight and didn't give the UMD forwards much time and space at all. The  Fighting Sioux also didn’t allow the UMD forwards to get behind them very often and when they did the defense was able to recover. 

UND was in the shooting lanes and took away the second and third opportunities in front of their net all night long. 

One of the things that I thought was a positive was that junior goaltender Aaron Dell was unbelievable all night long and he looks like the goaltender that was an All-American last season.

How good has Dell been against UMD Bulldogs the last two games he has played against them? Dell has stoped 61/62 shots he has faced. Actually, Dell was a 1 minute, 6 seconds away from getting back to back shutouts when J.T. Brown scored the Bulldogs only goal. 

So the patented Hakstol surge is upon us, the Fighting Sioux are 12-3-1 the past 16 games. UND is 2-0 against UMD in their new arena and has outscored them 8-1 through six periods of hockey. UND holds a 17-6-2 record their last 25 games against UMD.

Related articles

• UND vs. UMD Series Notes (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - Super Bowl Sunday (insidehockey.com)
• Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 2/5/2012 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UMD-Minnesota State Preview (insidehockey.com)
• Four-goal outburst sparks UMD (insidehockey.com)

Goon's Weekly Picks 2/10 - 2/11

Nebraska Omaha at Michigan Tech 7:07 p.m. ET (Winter Carnival) 

North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-CBSCS) DirecTV - 613

Colorado College at Bemidji State 7:37 p.m. CT (TV-LPT)

Minnesota at Denver 8:07 p.m. MT
Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)

Saturday 02/11/12

Nebraska Omaha at Michigan Tech 5:07 p.m. ET (Winter Carnival) 

Colorado College at Bemidji State 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-LPT)

North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth 7:07 p.m. CT  (TV-My9)

Minnesota at Denver 7:07 p.m. MT (TV-Root,FSn)

Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)

Nebraska Omaha at Michigan Tech – Split

Colorado College at Bemidji State – Split

North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth – Split

Minnesota at Denver – UMN Sweep

Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage – UAA Sweep 

Last Week 5-5 Record for the season 117-68

Related articles

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• Goon's Weekly Picks 1/20 - 1/21 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• WCHA at the mid point. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings (2/2/12) (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - Super Bowl Sunday (insidehockey.com)

The Gloves are off version III - UND vs. UMD

It's UND vs. UMD hockey week. UND

The University of North Dakota (11-9-0 WCHA, 15-10-2) Travels to Minnesota Duluth – (12-5-3 WCHA, 18-6-4). UND will be the underdogs this weekend.

Related articles

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• UMD-Minnesota State Preview (insidehockey.com)
• Goon's WCHA Power Rankings 12/04/2011 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

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.

Goon’s Weekly WCHA Picks 2/3 – 2/4

Fri 02/03/12

St. Cloud State at Wisconsin 7:07 p.m. CT (TV-BTN)
Bemidji State at Nebraska Omaha 7:37 p.m. CT
Michigan Tech at Minnesota State 7:37 p.m. CT
Colorado College at Denver 7:37 p.m. MT (TV-Root)
Minnesota Duluth at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)

Sat 02/04/12

Bemidji State at Nebraska Omaha 7:07 p.m. CT
Michigan Tech at Minnesota State 7:07 p.m. CT
Denver at Colorado College 7:07 p.m. MT
St. Cloud State at Wisconsin 8:07 p.m. CT (TV-Wisc,Charter)
Minnesota Duluth at Alaska Anchorage 7:07 p.m. AT (TV-GCI)



Bemidji State at Nebraska Omaha – Split
Michigan Tech at Minnesota State  – Split
Denver at Colorado College – Split
St. Cloud State at Wisconsin – Badgers Sweep
Minnesota Duluth at Alaska Anchorage – Bulldogs Sweep


Last Week 7-3 Record for the season 112-63