Why, hello there again. Are you ready for hockey season? Most of the WCHA turned up to play this past weekend, with all teams in action but one earning victories Friday night. Granted, most of those teams lost on Saturday, but it’s always nice starting off one’s season with a notch in the win column. … Read more
Strictly speaking in conference, Minnesota had a down year. The Gophers had most of their struggles after the New Year, managing to finish one game above .500 and squeaked into the final home ice spot in the playoffs, where they proceeded to sweep St. Cloud before falling to Minnesota-Duluth in the Final Five play-in game. … Read more
Last year was quite the wild ride for Minnesota-Duluth. The Bulldogs struggled early, picked it up around the holidays before going on a skid to end the season 0-3-2. That late skid dropped them to seventh in the league, but as soon as they hit the playoffs, they found the fire. First they swept Colorado … Read more
The 2008-09 season was a wild one for Wisconsin. Everyone thought if the Badgers could get past their tough opening schedule, they’d be OK. Everyone was right, for the most part. Wisconsin started off the season 0-6-1, but picked it up enough to end up tied for third in the league, gain home ice and … Read more
What do we say about last year’s WCHA season to try to recap it? Do we talk about the ridiculous parity, and how it came down to the final night of play to determine the standings, only narrowly avoiding using a plethora of tiebreaking procedures that would be enough to make anyone cry? Do we … Read more
Except for the last few games of the season, last year seemingly panned out the way the last few have for North Dakota: struggle early, surge in the second half, end up in the top half in the league (maybe or maybe not winning the MacNaughton Cup). The difference is that each first-half struggle is … Read more
Although Alaska-Anchorage remained at the bottom of the league last year, it fought tooth and nail until the end to stay in the mix. Think of it this way: with the way the league ended up, points-wise, UAA was just six points out of fifth place and a home-ice berth, something the team has never … Read more
If there was any team last year that stuck to its preseason expectations last year, it was Michigan Tech. The Huskies were picked to finish in the bottom of the WCHA basement and finish there they did, mustering 11 league points and only two conference wins all season. The bright spots seen from their basement … Read more
Coming into last season, it seemed as if the Colorado College Tigers were on top of the WCHA. They were the defending MacNaughton Cup holders and lost two games at home all season. The Tigers were hosting the West Regional and they wanted to snatch hold of that No. 1 seed to ensure the best … Read more
Over the past few years, St. Cloud State has managed to put together some decent seasons, but nothing spectacular. Each year, there has been a different reason; last year’s was arguably inconsistency. The Huskies would go on either mini-winning streaks or mini-losing streaks with hardly any variation. Just as you’d think they were going to … Read more
Minnesota State has a tendency to be a very confusing club. Two years ago, the outlook for the team was bleak, yet it turned in an impressive performance, finishing fourth in the league and just outside the NCAA tournament bubble. Last year, the Mavericks returned much of the same squad and with that, had expectations … Read more
Coming into this season, coach George Gwozdecky is optimistic about his team’s chances, and with good reason. While several of his peers lost key components of their teams, Gwozdecky didn’t lose all that much, comparatively. His team is stocked and loaded with depth he hasn’t seen in years. “Our seniors will give us the luxury … Read more
Denver is the runaway favorite to win the WCHA this season according to both the league’s coaches and media. The Pioneers took eight of the 10 first-place votes in the Grand Forks Herald coaches poll, while 23 of the 25 voters in the madison.com media poll put Denver first. North Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota and St. … Read more
Assistant coach Mike Guentzel has left Colorado College to take the head coaching position with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL. It’s Guentzel’s third time heading a USHL team — he led the St. Paul Vulcans from 1989 to 1992 and the Omaha Lancers from 1992 to 1994. He then was an assistant coach … Read more
Goaltender Jase Weslosky will not be back at St. Cloud State for his senior season, the St. Cloud Times reported. Weslosky is academically ineligible, Huskies coach Bob Motzko told the newspaper. “He fell just short of fulfilling his obligations to be a student-athlete at St. Cloud State,” Motzko said. “But he’s a fine young man … Read more
North Dakota has dismissed junior forward Matt Frattin after his second run-in with the law this offseason. Frattin, 21, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence on Wednesday, according to a team statement. Coach Dave Hakstol announced Frattin’s dismissal for a violation of team rules. Matt Frattin “This decision was made with the … Read more
North Dakota has suspended forward Matt Frattin for two games and reduced his scholarship money after he and a former Fighting Sioux player were arrested early Tuesday for disorderly conduct. The Grand Forks Herald also reported that the school is ordering Frattin to attend counseling. Frattin and former North Dakota defenseman Joe Finley were arrested, … Read more
Troy Jutting and Minnesota State have agreed to a contract extension that will keep the coach with the Mavericks through the 2012-13 season. The four-year extension is to a contract that was expiring this offseason. Troy Jutting enters his 10th season as Minnesota State’s coach in the fall. Jutting has a 142-162-44 record in nine … Read more
Defenseman John Moore, who committed to join Colorado College this season before he became a first-round NHL draft pick, instead has signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. “I wish the rules were different,” Moore told the Colorado Springs Gazette. “Unfortunately, I won’t be coming to CC in the fall.” Moore was the 21st player selected … Read more
Minnesota-Duluth coach Scott Sandelin has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him behind the Bulldogs’ bench through the 2011-12 season. The move comes after Sandelin led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament with an unprecedented run through the WCHA playoffs. UMD swept at Colorado College in the first round, then became the first … Read more