WCHA Web Media Poll: Week 17

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.

The Minnesota Gophers are the #1 team in this week’s WCHA Web Media Poll, garnering seven of 12 votes. Second in this week’s poll, are the Saint Cloud State Huskies, as they picked up five of 12 first place votes.  Coming in third is the University of North Dakota.

The only teams that actually moved in this week’s poll were Denver and Nebraska Omaha, those two teams switched places. The remaining six through 12 spots remained the same as last week.

Here’s a look at the results the Tech Hockey Guide WCHA Web Media Poll for Week 17:

		Pts	Previous	Record	High	Low
1.	Minnesota (7)	139	1	18-4-4	1	2
2	St. Cloud State (5)	137	2	15-10-1	1	2
3.	North Dakota	116	3	13-8-5	3	5
4.	Denver	104	5	13-8-4	3	5
5.	Nebraska Omaha	102	4	15-9-2	3	6
6.	Wisconsin	80	6	11-8-5	5	7
7.	Minnesota State	78	7	16-9-3	5	7
8.	Minnesota Duluth	54	8	10-11-3	8	10
9.	Colorado College	46	9	10-14-2	8	10
10.	Michigan Tech	43	10	7-12-4	8	11
11.	Bemidji State	25	11	5-14-5	10	11
12.	Alaska Anchorage	12	12	3-16-5	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

Cross posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine...

Related articles

• WCHA Web Media Poll: Week 16 (thehockeywriters.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings: Week 16 (insidehockey.com)
• WCHA Web Media Poll: Week 15 (thehockeywriters.com)
• WCHA Web Media Poll: Week 14 (thehockeywriters.com)

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll; UND stays at 7

February 04, 2013

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Minnesota	(30)	18- 4-4	978	1
2	Quinnipiac	(20)	19- 3-4	967	2
3	Miami		17- 6-5	876	4
4	New Hampshire		16- 7-2	804	3
5	Boston College		15- 7-2	798	5
6	Western Michigan		17- 6-5	770	6
7	North Dakota		14- 8-6	659	7
8	St. Cloud State		17-10-1	603	12
9	Denver		15- 8-4	596	10
10	Yale		13- 6-3	587	8
11	Minnesota State		16- 9-3	421	15
11	Notre Dame		16-11-1	421	9
13	Boston University		13-10-1	412	11
14	Nebraska-Omaha		16-10-2	352	14
15	Niagara		17- 4-5	328	17
16	Massachusetts-Lowell		14- 9-2	280	13
17	Dartmouth		11- 8-3	190	16
18	Union		13- 8-5	168	18
19	Wisconsin		11- 9-6	97	19
20	Merrimack		12-10-5	61	NR
Others receiving votes: Alaska 46, Colgate 46, Ferris State 17, Providence 13, Ohio State 4, St. Lawrence 2, Bowling Green 1, Holy Cross 1, Northern Michigan 1.

Wisconsin's Michael Mersch will not be suspended

I just got off of the phone with Greg Shepherd the head of WCHA officials and this is what I know. According to Shepherd, Badgers forward Michael Mersch came off of the bench on a line change and he would've had to enter the altercation in question to be suspended. In other words, Mersch will not be suspended by the WCHA.

So, after reading that, if you're still in disbelief like I am, you’re not alone. If Mersch had jumped off of the Wisconsin player’s bench and then entered the altercation in the Wisconsin end, Mersch would've then been suspended.

This doesn’t pass the smell test, even if you were in altered state of mind.

So, if you’re confused, you’re not alone. I guess the fact that Mersch jumped off of the bench challenged UND forward Steph Pattyn to a fight, while he was being escorted off of the ice by one of the officials.  In addition, it’s obvious by the video that Mersch came off of the Wisconsin players bench, while the previous play had been whistled dead; then took off his helmet. Apparently, this is not relevant in this case.

I don’t know many coaches that allow their hockey players to change lines during an altercation, take off their helmet, and then challenge an opponent to a fight, while said play is stopped. Usually they wait until the puck is dropped, and then challenge someone to a fight.

You’re not supposed to change lines during an altercation. I have to give the WCHA credit; they’re easy to get clarification from on incidents.

Don Cherry Ramblings on college hockey players

If you haven’t seen this Youtube.com video from Don Cherry, it’s absolutely hilarious. First off, there are eight American players on the Toronto Maple Leafs current roster, that's just the way it is.  There are also 11 players with college hockey experience as well.

While there might not be any players from Toronto, there are four players from Ontario on the Toronto Maple Leafs, so I am not sure what he babbling about. There are roughly 14 Canadians on the Toronto Maple Leafs current roster.  

Ironically, Max Pacioretty the top scorer for the Montreal Canadians last year is an American born ex University of Michigan hockey player. The number two scorer from last season's Montreal Canadians was Erik Cole who was born in America as well and played his college hockey at Clarkson College of the ECAC.

I bet Grapes would like UND's roster because there are two Ontario natives on the current roster.