Three things I think I learned this weekend …
Turning into a trend?
Lake Superior State improved to 4-0 to start the season, sweeping Union 6-5 in overtime and 3-2 on the road over the weekend. The Lakers are one of just four 4-0 teams and six unbeaten teams remaining in the country.
Stephen Perfetto scored the overtime winner on Friday. He had three assists earlier in the game and ended up with a four-point night. He also had an assist on Saturday.
Across the continent, Alaska-Anchorage came back to earth a bit with a 6-2 loss to Western Michigan on the first day of the Alaska Goal Rush in Fairbanks, Alaska. But this is a new Seawolves team. the next night it defeated WCHA defector Denver 3-2 in overtime thanks to a Matt Bailey goal. The win snapped a 10-game winless streak against the Pioneers.
Alaska, meanwhile won its second straight Goal Rush with a win over Denver and a tie against its old CCHA foe Western Michigan. A shootout victory gave the Nanooks the tournament title.
Old guys rule
Every coach will tell you that his seniors are going to lead the way. Glancing at the the early season scoring list, look which players sit at the top.
Six of the top eight scorers in the WCHA are seniors (the other two are juniors), with Bryce Williamson, a forward for Bowling Green, leading the way with four goals and seven points. He had two goals and two assists in a win and tie against Colgate. Ferris State senior Garrett Thompson and junior Justin Buzzeo also have seven points apiece.
Anchorage’s Bailey has four goals (and six points), as does Alaska’s Cody Kunyk. The top-scoring defensemen are seniors: Northern Michigan’s C.J. Ludwig and Lake Superior’s Zach Sternberg each have five points.
Minnesota State’s Johnny McInnis had a three-assist weekend in the Mavericks’ sweep of Connecticut.
Appreciate the candor
With league games beginning next week, coaches will start to tighten their lips when it comes to officiating, under the threat of fines.
Out of conference, well, enjoy the honesty.
Minnesota State’s Mike Hastings went off on the eastern officials last week at Providence, and Sunday, Michigan Tech’s Mel Pearson spoke his mind after his team received 85 minutes worth of penalties in a 7-3 loss at Notre Dame.
“I was really disappointed in the refereeing today,” Pearson said in Michigan Tech’s press release. “I feel bad for the players, the fans, everyone.
“We had a lot of guys play well, and I thought we were the better team when it was five-on-five and we’d tied the score. But when your top guys are killing penalties all night, it’s tough to get anything going offensively.”
At Northern Michigan on Saturday, Nebraska Omaha’s Dean Blais, whose team is no longer in the WCHA, expressed frustration with penalties after his team lost to the Wildcats at Marquette.
