Arlan MarttilaMinnesota came into Friday’s game with the country’s best team defense, but Minnesota-Duluth made it look very porous in winning 4-2 at AMSOIL Arena. The Bulldogs (12-8-1, 9-7-1-1 WCHA) scored three times in a 12-minute stretch in the first period to overcome a 1-0 deficit and produce a better result than they achieved in a … Read more
How has Wisconsin put together a run that, outside of Mark Johnson’s Olympic hiatus, always seems to have them ranked in the upper echelon and poised to make a championship run? The reasons are many, but suffice it to say that a key factor is that the Badgers always seem to have an abundance of … Read more
In every season, there is a week or two where everything seems to play out opposite of what one would expect. The first full week of action in 2012 was such a time. Of the USCHO top 10, eight teams were in action against opponents ranked below them. Six of those resulted in ties or … Read more
In every season, there is a week or two where everything seems to play out opposite of what one would expect. The first full week of action in 2012 was such a time. Of the USCHO top 10, eight teams were in action against opponents ranked below them. Six of those resulted in ties or … Read more
Entering Saturday’s game with Wisconsin, Minnesota’s most recent victory over the Badgers was a 7-5 affair 14 months ago. Offense proved tougher to come by in the teams’ final regular season meeting of 2011-12, a 1-0 win for the Gophers (18-3-1, 12-3-1-0 WCHA) on Saturday night. “What a weekend of hockey, to be honest,” Minnesota … Read more
Three times, No. 1 Wisconsin claimed one-goal leads; three times No. 2 Minnesota answered. When Hilary Knight fired a fourth puck past Noora Räty as the final shooter in a three-round shootout, the Badgers (19-1-1, 13-1-1-1 WCHA) had a commanding seven-point lead in the WCHA standings with one head-to-head match remaining. “A lot of positive … Read more
On the eve of a series between No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 2 Minnesota, Arlan Marttila looks at some of the game’s storied rivalries in his weekly column.
Most teams get back into action over the coming week, but a quartet got an early start by closing out 2011 with Friday and Saturday games. The WCHA’s fifth and sixth place teams, Ohio State and Bemidji State respectively, wrapped up the nonconference portion of their schedules with differing results. Both were missing players due … Read more
Most teams get back into action over the coming week, but a quartet got an early start by closing out 2011 with Friday and Saturday games. The WCHA’s fifth and sixth place teams, Ohio State and Bemidji State respectively, wrapped up the nonconference portion of their schedules with differing results. Both were missing players due … Read more
Whether your favorite team used the first half to build a foundation for the rest of the season or only managed to dig itself a hole, plenty of work remains over the next couple of months in order to stock a worthy highlight video. Assuming that your team of choice has tournament dreams, how realistic … Read more
A few days and games still remain in 2011, but a new year will be here before the action fully revs up once more. Here’s a look at notable games and series that hold promise in advance of the postseason. Jan. 6-7, Wisconsin at Minnesota: No. 1 taking on No. 2 is always intriguing. Minnesota … Read more
A few days and games still remain in 2011, but a new year will be here before the action fully revs up once more. Here’s a look at notable games and series that hold promise in advance of the postseason. Jan. 6-7, Wisconsin at Minnesota: No. 1 taking on No. 2 is always intriguing. Minnesota … Read more
When asked to identify the weakest of the four conferences, without hesitation, most fans would say the CHA. The popular answer is not always the correct answer. Thus far this season, if excluding games against independents Lindenwood and Sacred Heart, teams from the CHA are four games over .500. By comparison, Hockey East squads have … Read more
We’re at the halfway point in the season, and D-I columnist Arlan Marttila looks at the Christmas wish list for every coach in women’s D-I hockey.
When discussing hockey players, we often turn to numbers to support just how effective a given individual is. In the case of Ohio State senior forward Natalie Spooner, most of the statistics fail to do her justice. It is best just to concentrate on the number five, that worn by Spooner, because that is what … Read more
Minnesota is off to a great start, and a big part of that is it’s solid defensive core. Arlan Marttila reports.
Some separation evident as most arrive at the break Four series over the weekend matched teams from the top 10 as compiled by KRACH. Two of those produced splits, with the home team winning the opener, but unable to complete the sweep the next day. Meanwhile, the nation’s top two teams posted a pair of … Read more
Some separation evident as most arrive at the break Four series over the weekend matched teams from the top 10 as compiled by KRACH. Two of those produced splits, with the home team winning the opener, but unable to complete the sweep the next day. Meanwhile, the nation’s top two teams posted a pair of … Read more
Minnesota may have a number of different recipes for success, but the Gophers tend to favor a few that have proven reliable. On Sunday, No. 2 Minnesota (17-3-0, 11-3-0 WCHA) scored first, got a goal and an assist from each of its top three scorers, and strong goaltending from Noora Räty as it completed the … Read more
Minnesota scored three times in less than two minutes early in the opener of its series with Ohio State, and that trio of goals proved to be the difference in a 4-1 victory for the home team. Said Brad Frost, coach of the Gophers (16-3-0, 10-3-0 WCHA), “The quick start paid dividends. We always like … Read more