Waiting to Exhale, the WCHA is Back

This season I will be writing for Inside Hockey with a big blog from out east run by Tim Rosenthal… I will be one of the WCHA writers this season. Here was the first article that I submitted.

The whirl wind summer that saw a bunch of realignment in college hockey has finally come to an end and now college hockey fans can worry about... watching college hockey games as the hockey season is once again upon us. Most college hockey teams have already started their captain’s practices and college hockey coaches are allowed by NCAA rules to practice for two hours each week with their teams until October 1st 2011.

The college hockey season will officially kick off their exhibition games during the first weekend of October. The following weekend all 12 WCHA teams WCHA teams will kick off their non-conference and preseason tourney games. Here is the link composite WCHA schedule for the 2011-12 season. [Link to the composite WCHA schedule]

Re-alignment almost set?

As mentioned in the preceding paragraph; this past summer has been a whirl wind for college hockey fans of the WCHA with the defections of teams to the B1G (Wisconsin, Minnesota) and the defections of teams to the newly formed and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (Colorado College, Denver University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska Omaha and University of North Dakota), the WCHA in its present form will change after the 2012-13 season.

Starting in 2013-14 the WCHA will consist of the following teams, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bemidji State University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Tech University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Northern Michigan University, and Saint Cloud State University. Two other schools have been given invitations to join the WCHA from the CCHA, Western Michigan University and Bowling Green State University have been given invitations to join the WCHA but neither school has accepted or declined the invitation at this point. The WCHA would like to add WMU and BGSU as members to the WCHA because without either school, none of the schools in the WCHA are Division I in any other sport besides hockey.

Teams bolting for super conferences:

We already have an idea what the new WCHA will look like; there may be an addition or subtraction in the future. Based on the moves that have taken place this summer, it also appears that there will no longer be a CCHA. While re-alignment is almost over for the WCHA there are still a few moves yet to be played out. While holding up the show for most of the summer, Notre Dame has yet to pick a home for its college hockey team; there have been rumblings that the Fighting Irish are close to selecting a conference. Stay with me now; there are three or four scenarios in play for them right now, Notre Dame could join the NCHC, Hockey East, go independent or join the Big Ten. The later scenario has surfaced in the last week or so.

Big Ten driving re-alignment:

Due to a very generous donation from PSU alumnus Terry Pegula; Penn State University will now have a college hockey team to start the 2012-13 college hockey season. Peulla opened his rather large wallet and wrote Penn State a check for 88 million to help the Nittany Lions build Pegula Ice arena. That donation rocked the college hockey world, now that the Big Ten “will have” six teams that play college hockey, they are required by conference rules to have a B1G hockey conference. The addition of one college hockey team set the ball in motion for a very chaotic summer. The Big Ten Schools that used to be in both the WCHA and the CCHA are now going to form the Big Ten Hockey Conference.

Not to be out done and in response to the Big Ten hockey conference formation; Miami University from the CCHA decided to join North Dakota, Denver University, Colorado College University Nebraska Omaha to form the NCHC. The NCHC schools have been trying to lure Notre Dame to become a member of the six team super conference. WMU is also said to be very interested in joining the NCHC, and they have spent the summer trying to convince the NCHC that they would be a worthy suitor in the NCHC. If WMU is unable to join the NCHC they will probably join the WCHA. BGSU has yet to make decision but are leaning towards joining the WCHA.
There have been rumblings that if Notre Dames doesn’t join the NCHC that SCSU “might” get an invite to the NCHC but at this time they are still on the outside looking in. This move would stink with hypocrisy especially after Saint Cloud State University President Dr Earl H. Potter III said he wouldn’t join the NCHC even if his school was offered a spot in the conference. Potter has since backed off this statement.

How will things shake out?

While I don’t get a vote in the WCHA media pre-season poll, this is how I think the standings will shake out for the 2011-12 season. The top six – seven teams in the WCHA are pretty equal and could finish anywhere from first to seventh. Like last season, we could see one or both B1G schools failing to make the Final Five once again. I believe Denver, Colorado College and North Dakota are cream of the crop in the WCHA this season. In the future I will break down the teams to watch in the WCHA.

1. Denver
2. Colorado College
3. North Dakota
4. Minnesota
5. Nebraska-Omaha
6. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota-Duluth
8. Alaska-Anchorage
9. St. Cloud State
10. Bemidji State
11. Michigan Tech
12.MinnesotaState

NCHC picks conference HQ...

Here is the official statement regarding the NCHC's selection of a headquarters office in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

COLORADO SPRINGS - The new National Collegiate Hockey Conference, which will begin competition in the 2013-14 season, announced today that it will locate its headquarters office in Colorado Springs.

The athletic directors of the Conference's six founding institutions accepted an invitation from El Pomar Foundation and determined the Conference's first commissioner and staff will operate all functions of league administration from the Colorado Springs office in the Copper Building (1631 Mesa Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, 80906), adjacent to the grounds of the world-famous Broadmoor Hotel. The conference's six founding members are Colorado College, University of Denver, Miami University, 2011 NCAA champion University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska Omaha and University of North Dakota.

"El Pomar founders Spencer and Julie Penrose were enthusiastic supporters of college hockey in Colorado Springs and the trustees of El Pomar are pleased to honor that legacy by supporting the National Collegiate Hockey Conference as it establishes a headquarters here," said William J. Hybl, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of El Pomar Foundation. "Colorado Springs benefits greatly from the presence of numerous sports-related organizations and we believe this new endeavor will add to an already important economic component of our city."

"We are very grateful to Bill Hybl and El Pomar Foundation for their enthusiastic interest in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference," said Brian Faison, Director of Athletics at North Dakota. "The Foundation's track record of support for higher education, nonprofits and amateur sports has been exemplary, and we are proud to be working with them to provide the best collegiate hockey competition in the country. It's an ideal setting with unmatched advantages that will create a perfect environment for everything we hope to achieve and to represent."

Colorado Springs is a popular location for sports organization headquarters including the United States Olympic Committee, U.S. Paralympics, the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and 21 national sports governing bodies.

"We're very happy that the National Collegiate Hockey Conference has chosen to join USA Hockey and the entire amateur sports community by headquartering in Colorado Springs," said Dave Ogrean, Executive Director of USA Hockey. "We look forward to working with the Conference office and the six outstanding founding school progams that continue to develop the game at the college level."

The Conference has a number of other organizational initiatives that are underway including the national search for the Conference's first Commissioner, a process for identifying and evaluating prospective additional members and evaluating possible venues for the Conference's championship tournament.

Related articles

• New hockey conference to base in Colorado Springs (denverpost.com)
• New hockey conference for DU, CC named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (denverpost.com)
• National Collegiate Hockey Conference is new home for DU, Colorado College (denverpost.com)

The WCHA response...

Image via WikipediaBetter late than never eh? I have been very disappointed in the WCHA's response to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. This is the WCHA's official response.

MADISON, Wis. – The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) today issued the following statement from Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod in response to the announcement that five current men's league member teams will depart following the 2012-13 season to form a new hockey conference that will begin play in 2013-14. Those teams are Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska Omaha and North Dakota.

"Obviously it's a tough day for the WCHA and a sad one for me personally," said McLeod, "and it's one that is not easy to put into perspective. We wish everyone well, but make no mistake, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is not going away. The league will proudly mark it's 60th season this fall and we will continue to operate as a full-fledged Association and continue to do business the way we always have – in a first-class and forward-thinking manner.

"The history of the WCHA includes numerous eras of expansion and contraction but what has remained constant has been our success – both on and off the ice. Our remaining member institutions – Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State – are absolutely committed to both Division 1 hockey and the WCHA and as an Association we will continue – as we always have – to provide a first-class product. We remain firm in our belief both that the game of college hockey is the best there is and that the WCHA will always be at the forefront of doing what is in the best interests of our sport. We look forward to promoting and enhancing the student-athlete experience, building on positive relationships with our local communities and fans, exciting rivalries and battling for championships.

"As regards to our future," said McLeod, "the WCHA has a short-term plan that we will implement immediately. In the long-term, we will continue to formulate a strategic approach that will ensure the well-being of this Association and it's member teams for the long run. As a group, we remain committed and we are 100% confident our future remains bright."

The WCHA, home to a record 37 national championships teams since it's founding in 1951, will continue to operate as a 12-team conference for the upcoming 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Current members consist of University of Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State University, Colorado College, University of Denver, Michigan Technological University, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and University of Wisconsin.

Earlier this year (March 21) the Big Ten announced the formation of a new Div. 1 men's hockey conference that will begin play in 2013-14 and include current WCHA-members Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Guentzel returns to Minnesota...

Image via WikipediaOn the day that the NCHA was making their big announcement the University of Minnesota was usurping the less than impressive National Collegiate Hockey Conference press conference to announce they have re-hired Mike Guentzel as Associate Head coach. 

University of Minnesota Press Release --- University of Minnesota men's hockey coach Don Lucia announced today the hiring of Mike Guentzel as Associate Head Coach.

Guentzel, who played defense for Minnesota from 1981-85 and served as an assistant coach for the Gophers from 1994-08, rejoins the Maroon and Gold staff after one year as an assistant coach at Nebraska Omaha during the 2010-11 season. From 2009-10 he was the head coach and general manager of the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers and he was an assistant coach at Colorado College from 2008-09.

"I wanted to hire a Minnesota alumnus, someone who could work with the defensemen, and someone familiar with the WCHA," said Lucia. "Mike has all the qualities I was looking for and it was an easy decision. Mike knows the league, Gopher Hockey, and also has a tremendous relationship with Grant Potulny and Justin Johnson. He is also energized and excited to be a part of the transition to the Big Ten."

Related articles

• College Hockey's Seismic Shift Begins Today in Colorado Springs (pikespeaklife.wordpress.com)
• New league for DU, Colorado College hockey (denverpost.com)

Another perspective to consider...

Ryan S. Clark of Slightly Chilled and beat writer for the Fargo Forum has an interesting perspective to consider, I have seen a lot of gloom and doom scenarios out there and Ryan's perspective goes more to the silver lining...If you haven't seen this blog post it's worth a look.

Ryan S. Clark; Slightly Chilled --- That’s something these schools, the ones not in the “Super League”, have to start doing. A buddy of mine on Sunday made a valid point. He pointed out that Nebraska-Omaha has never been one of the traditional hockey powers but that program made the steps to compete and now they’re at the cool kids table while everyone else is wondering what they have to do to get invited.

This next point might hit a nerve but it needs to be said. Hockey fans are arguably the greatest guardians of its game. They have to be. They’re constantly sticking up for a sport that’s often ridiculed. These are the same fans that tout pride, honor, tradition, et. al. They are fans that want more people to love the game regardless of race, socioeconomics, you name it.

But just mention the idea of a new team in a “non-traditional’ market or any kind of change and World War III has just started. It is that attitude and that mentality is what will keep hockey a niche sport. Frederick Douglass once said, “Without struggle there is no progress.” It feels like at times hockey’s struggle has been progress.

Let go of the idea that things need to stay the same. Let go of it so that way the bigger schools can all beat the crap out of one another and that way those smaller programs, which might not have had a tournament chance, play in a separate conference, make the tournament and come into the tournament with a chance at making a run.

Related articles

• NCAA hockey shake-up: Six top schools set to form 'super conference' in 2013-14 (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• New league for DU, Colorado College hockey (denverpost.com)
• College Hockey's New 'Super Conferences': Are They Good Or Bad For The Game? (sbnation.com)

Game 2 vs. UNO: The Attack of the Moronic ARs (RW77)

Well... we lost.

The Game

Funny, they didn't show the replay of the goal at the Qwest... at least not without removing the clock. So I was left with the impression that we were going to overtime. Judging on the fact that Campion only reviewed the goal for about 5-10 seconds made me wonder if he even looked at the time. I guess he did.

UND played great... for 59 minutes and 47 seconds. With about 12 seconds left in the game, the puck was tucked behind the UNO goal and I thought "well, OT here we come. We better not tie." And the rush for UNO began. UND bottled up the outside and I thought they would waste enough time to force OT, but... The Red Light went on and the crowd went nuts. It was truly dramatic. And it was scored by a UNO player that gave us fits all weekend, imo.

Alex Hudson (#26 aka last night's 3rd star of the game imo) was again all over the ice and again in the position one needs to be in to capitolize on a rebound. He was there and he made no mistake.

Aaron Dell played well. Matt Frattin can't find a stick that can stay intact for longer than a game. He broke at least 2 this weekend, maybe 3. I can honestly say that we were just beaten by opportunity. We didn't beat ourselves in this one.

My Three Stars:

First Star: Faulkner (UNO)
Second Star: Hudson (UNO)
Third Star: Aaron Dell (UND)

The media went with Hudson as the first star, and I couldn't blame them, but I think it was the UNO goaltender that stole the game for UNO. There were some incredible saves he made on UND down low.

The Experience

I sat near more UND fans this game, but not immediately so. Once again, I sat in front of an incredibly nice UNO family who were great fun to talk to. They were courteous. At one point in the game, UND was dominating (we were on the PK) and he told his wife how UND was a team UNO hasn't played before in terms of talent and ability. "Everything was smooth" according to him. And I agree. Fundamentally, we were MUCH better last night than Friday.

The Officiating

Nope. Not going to rag on Campion and Mason because I think they actually called a decent game. However, Dane Jackson was right. The ARs were atrocious all weekend long. Once again, UND was offsides a few times and got away with it. They once again didn't know how to call hybrid icing. They had a bear of a time trying to stay out of the way. As for the final rush and that offsides, looking at the replay, they couldn't have gotten that one right. If they had, the crowd would have seriously been upset. And they have a right to be. Up until that point, UNO was offsides and got the whistle. UND had been offsides 2 times (3 times this weekend at least) without the whistle going off.

If I were Hakstol and Blais, I'd see if I could get those plays on video and submit them to Sheptard. Then file a copy away for the post season meetings. This was a screw job that affected both UND and UNO.... but at least they didn't get as screwed by the officials as the Husker football team.

The Weekend

UND played well enough to get 4 points offensively, 2 points defensively, and got 2 points despite it all. They were trying to accomplish 3 straight WCHA Sweeps, something they haven't done since '98-'99. Oh well.

I think Dell is the man for now. His numbers are mind blowing. Eidsness' confidence is wandering somewhere between Grand Forks and Minot in that wasteland known as Highway 2. He is the key, imo. We need two goaltenders on their game to make #8, even if it is Dell in the Title game...or Dell taking most of the games as #1.

The only thing I question is: It would have been nice to see Bruneteau play instead of Gleason this weekend. Gleason was invisible (at least from where I was sitting).

Oh yeah, Brock Nelson needs to find away to use his weight. He got thrown around like a rag doll this weekend.

Live thoughts: Game 1 vs. UNO

Ok, I went to the Qwest Center for my first live Sioux game since I moved to Omaha and I can say... well... we won....

Goaltending

Goon hit it right on. Eidsness isn't a bad goaltender when he's on... but the man's got a self-confidence problem the size of North America. The first goal happened right in front of me. Genoway "sorta" dives and the puck deflects off of his leg right onto the blade of a UNO player and it goes in. Yes, it was weak, but it would have been avoided had Genoway simply dove traditionally instead of the kind of slide one usually sees baserunners do going into second base. Oops! Sorry. Eidsness' fault. Sorry to pick on a fan favorite who can do no wrong. {/off soapbox}

The goals as I saw it? I already spoke about the first goal. The second and fourth goals were weak on Eidsness' fault. The third goal was simply sniped in. There wasn't much of an angle for Montpetit to shoot at and he threaded the needle (at least from my angle it looked like it did). Doesn't excuse Eidsness but... I was lenient on that one. Eidsness' second goal and Dell's lone goal he gave up have one thing in common though: If you had your stick square to the shooter, neither pucks would have gone in.

Funny thing..... UNO's goaltender started to imitate Eidsness as the game wore on. He played ok in the First Period (though UND only managed 6 shots on goal of which 2 were really genuine scoring chances). Genoway's wraparound was a complete joke. Yeah, it counts, but what Faulkner was doing while Genoway was going around the net was anyone's guess. If I were Blais, I would have called a time out right after that goal and yanked him. Seriously, Genoway had an open net to tuck the puck into.

I'd play Dell tomorrow (obviously going to happen but just in case anyone was wondering) and I'd actually play Faulkner's backup as well.

Defense

Andrej Sustr is big. Like, Joe Finley big.... And had he wore UND green, people would hate him. He wasn't physical.... at all.

In any case, UND's bread and butter was supposed to be their defense. Yeah well.... unless we can count on scoring 6 goals per game, defensive "performances" like this won't win us many games. Though goaltending was rather subpar tonight, UNO scored on rebounds. We didn't protect the front of the net and they beat us to the rebounds. The first period was just embarrassing.

Special Teams

Our powerplay sucked. Sorry guys. I don't recall if we ever scored on the powerplay, but I told my friend I went with that we should go down a man more often to produce more offense rather than up a man.

Our shorty was a great goal but it was a greater lapse by UNO's powerplay that made it possible. They simply looked so put out by our PK unit that, when the rush started, they simply seemed to sit back and watch. Boom. Goal.

Our PK was dominant. Funny how well we play defensively when we were down a man but we couldn't handle 5 on 5 defense... or maybe UNO's powerplay simply sucks.

Offense

We played VERY well offensively.... for the last half of the game. The first half of the game we were so squeamish and worried about UNO that, even if there was a slight possibility of UNO taking possession, UND would fall back. We seemed preoccupied rather than confident. Hiccups offensively happen and defense usually picks up the slack. No defense was there to be had so all that was there to pick up the slack was our goaltender and he had no confidence. I guess that's what went down.

Oh, Frattin is great and I'm SUPER happy Kristo finally gets his goal.

UNO was fast... very fast. I actually thought at times they were faster than we were. The UNO fans that sat behind me stated that UNO is typically a Saturday team and...well... Name a Dean Blais team that didn't seem to be better on Saturday than on Friday.

The Experience

Though I was supposedly on the UND side of the arena, I wasn't around many Sioux fans. However, I did get to see the dark side of UND fandom. I witnessed a very passionate UNO fan sitting one row in front of me get verbally abused (albeit very briefly so) by a UND fan after UNO got called for a penalty that shouldn't have been called (more on this later). He was right. He was angry. But his verbal outcry was against the refs, not UND or its fans. It was embarrassing to me. The UNO fans I was sitting around were very nice to me. It didn't seem warranted. Look, I know we've a right to speak our feelings and defend our team, but do it with class... and know your place. We're in Omaha right now and this isn't our home territory. Remember we are guests in the Qwest Center and, though we're not here to cheer UNO to victory, nor should be we expected to be happy if things don't go our way, we need to act with some level of class and civility in our host's "house."

I'm not lucky enough to be sitting with those nice people (UNO fans they may be) tomorrow, but I can't wait to go again.

By the way, no way there was almost 11,500 people there. No way. And their intermission entertainment was mostly good. The No Frills "Let's Make a Deal" spinoff was lame. The races they had were actually kindof fun. The video before the third period was SPECTACULAR. I wish UND had that instead of the stupid Tostito/Cloverdale Meats/Altru commercials... which, by the way, there were NO ads on the Jumbotron pretty much all game.

Getting out of the Qwest sucked though.

The Officiating

I don't know who these bums were but.... They sucked. BIG TIME. The AR's seemed to be out of shape and sluggish. They seemed to always get in the way. They also factored into some pretty bad officiating calls. First, the penalty that shouldn't have been. Yes, UNO's #12 elbowed a UND player (I didn't catch who). Yes, it was a penalty... or was it? No, it wasn't. Why? Because UND was WAY THE HELL offsides. No Call. UND also got a gift icing called when UNO actually had the inside track on the puck (though he was about a half step behind the UND player). There were some BS calls that actually went UND's way (for once). I couldn't believe it. The officiating had the Mavs fan in front of me almost in the state of cardiac arrest. He looked so darned mad it was amazing. Still can't help but wonder what the WCHA would be like if we had quality officiating.

My Three Stars

First Star: Matt Frattin
Second Star: Brad Malone
Third Star: Alex Hudson

UNO had our number and nearly beat us. Tomorrow's game will come down to adjustments. Whoever makes the better adjustments tomorrow will win the game. At this point, I don't know who will win.

WCHA Preview Part II

Here's the second installment of the Preview. Sorry it's been so long. Today we will be previewing UNO, BSU, and CC.

University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks

2009 - 2010 Overall Record: 20-16-6 Conference Record (CCHA): 13-12-3 (7-4-3 NC record)

Key Losses: Nick Fanto, Jeric Agosta, Eddie Del Grosso
Key Returners: Matt Ambroz, Terry Broadhurst, John Faulkner, John Kemp, Joey Martin, Eric Olimb, Rich Purslow
Key Recruits: Matt White, Tony Turgeon, Brock Montpetit

A newcomer to the WCHA, one might claim that a team would go down before it goes up. To be sure, UNO will not be competing for the McNaughton it is inaugural year in the WCHA, but it won't be playing the McNaughton winner in the WCHA Play In game either. They come to the WCHA after finishing in the middle of the CCHA. However, I feel that they could probably have finished higher if it weren't for some bad luck and inconsistency in net.

They join the WCHA with one of the, if not THE, best coaching trios in the WCHA in Dean Blais, Mike Hastings, and Mike Guentzel. So, if they do finish in the bottom half of the WCHA this year, and history repeats itself with Blais, UNO won't stay there long. They also boast a very nice arena, despite it not being a truly hockey dedicated facility in the Qwest Center.

Problem is, Omaha isn't exactly a hockey hotbed despite boasting a nice hockey history (Hockey legend Gordy Howe began his pro career in Omaha) and a quality USHL team that has produced UND players Brett Bruneteau and Danny Kristo (among others).

However, they do have some quality players coming in to play with USHL Player of the Year Matt White on campus right now. John Faulkner can be a great netminder provided he can find consistency. He'll need it with a lot of untested players behind him in Bengstrom and Taffe. This is a team of lunch pail type players. They're not going to be flashy. They will be playing vintage Dean Blais hockey. That means they won't be a cakewalk. And I think they have a possibility of surprising quite a few.

Predicted Finish: Hard to say, but without any clear cut power and inconsistent goaltending, I'm putting them 9th. However, they could finish as high as 6th (ahead of BSU, CC, and even UMN).

Bemidji State University Beavers

Overall Record: 23-10-4 CHA Conference Record: 14-3-1 (9-7-3 NC Record)

Key Losses: Tyler Lehrke, Kyle Hardwick, Chris McKelvie
Key Returners: Matt Read, Brad Hunt, Dan Bakala, Mathieu Dugas, Jordan George
Key Recruits: Radislav Illo, Drew Fisher

The biggest news about BSU is that they come to the WCHA with having two NCAA Tourney visits in the last 2 years, including one trip to the Frozen Four under their belts. They've only put 2 goaltenders in the NHL in the last 3 years as well (Matt Climie and Matt Dalton). Funny you don't hear that much about a team coming from a "throw away" league such as the CHA. They also come to the WCHA with a Hobey Candidate in Matt Read.

Bemidji isn't top heavy, but they are kings at strategy and experience. They were dominant in the CHA and was decent in non conference play. However, the 9-7-3 record gives a good indicator of where to expect BSU this season, as they don't lose a whole lot in talent due to the pros or graduation. They have a real dynamic recruit coming into Bemidji in Radislav Illo. They also have experience coming into a depth/grinder position in Drew Fisher. Couple that with a couple of Swedish defensemen and some wingers from the NAHL (Ladd and Jubinville) and possibly USHL forward Matt Cain.

I expect that they'll more than likely be right in the mix in the middle of the WCHA pack. Tom Serratore is an excellent coach. If Chay Genoway doesn't get the Hobey, I'd love to see Matt Read get it. Like UNO, BSU's playing style is very complimentary to the WCHA and they should fit right in. However, whether they have a big future or not is up in the air. They did briefly get a big time recruit in Franko but he bolted for a career in the WHL.

Time will tell.

Predicted Finish: 8th (could be as high as 6th and as low as 9th)

Colorado College Tigers

Overall Record: 19-17-3 WCHA Record: 12-13-3 (7-4-0 NC Record)

Key Losses: Nate Prosser, Mike Testuide, Addison DeBoer, Brian McMillin, Bill Sweatt
Key Returners: Joe Howe, Rylan Schwartz, Andrew Hamberg
Key Recruits: Jaden Schwartz, Dakota Eveland, Eamon McDermott

This team lives and dies by Joe Howe. So when the freshman goaltender started out on fire, life was good. However, Joe Howe succumbed to the biggest problem freshmen goaltenders face: they're freshmen. He cooled off and so did the Tigers.

The Tigers bring in Eveland and Schwartz hoping to bring scoring to the team, but this team will need everyone to step up. There was even message board scuttlebutt (which means it's hardly worth mentioning) that Scotty Owens could be on the hot seat if things don't improve.

Unfortunately, the WCHA is again deep this year and there's not much room for CC to go up unless Joe Howe can pull a Marc Cheverie or Peter Mannino and simply be unbeatable for the majority of the season. I don't see them having enough of a team depth in scoring to be able to crack the top 5.

Predicted Finish: 7th

Next: UMN, UW, and DU