Minnesota crosses finish line second, hoists the MacNaughton Cup first

St. Cloud State fans were launched onto cloud nine – sorry – when their Huskies knocked off No. 14 Wisconsin 4-2 in Madison, Wis. Friday and clinched a share of SCSU’s first (and final) WCHA men’s regular season championship. What was missing in the visiting team’s locker room at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, however, was … Read more

WCHA Picks: March 8-10

No. 8 St. Cloud State at No. 14 Wisconsin: Matthew: Thanks to the Wisconsin high school state basketball championships going on at UW’s Kohl Center, this series will take place at Madison, Wis.’s much older Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Many Badgers fans aren’t over the moon about it – the two games aren’t part of the … Read more

WCHA Picks: March 1-2

No. 16 Wisconsin at No. 13 Nebraska-Omaha: Tyler: In a battle of two teams that need two wins, I’m giving UNO a slight edge but I’m not going with a sweep. If the Badgers settle into their structured defensive style and take away UNO’s speed, they’ll have chance to come away with a win, but … Read more

WCHA Pick: Feb. 24-25

Note: Penn State and Wisconsin are set to take part in a rare Sunday-Monday series in Madison, Wis.. The two-game set was pushed back due to the Wisconsin high school wrestling championships taking place at UW’s Kohl Center over the past few days. Penn State at No. 18 Wisconsin: Matthew: I can’t get over a … Read more

WCHA Picks: Feb. 22-23

No. 6 North Dakota at No. 10 Denver: Matthew: In only picking up one point from a possible four last time out against intrastate rival Colorado College, DU missed an opportunity to keep its name on the still fairly large list of WCHA teams that still have a realistic chance of winning the league’s regular … Read more

WCHA Picks: Feb. 15-17

No. 2 Minnesota at No. 18 Wisconsin Friday; in Chicago Sunday Matthew: A very tough recent slate of games has seen Minnesota fall into a pattern of not picking up maximum points from each series over recent weeks, and I see that happening again this time around. I doubt a noticeable home-ice advantage will be … Read more

WCHA Pick: Feb. 12

Note from Tyler: Congratulations to Joe Paisley, who is once again working full-time at the Colorado Springs Gazette. I was glad to work with a professional writer like Joe this season and it’s even better to see a fellow writer working in a full-time capacity on his regular beat once again. Matthew Semisch, a sixth-year … Read more

Three observations from the weekend

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WCHA Picks: Feb. 8-9

No. 7 North Dakota at No. 14 Nebraska-Omaha Joe: A lot has been made of the outdoor game but this series will be decided by North Dakota offense, which must attack the net against UNO’s defense, which is seventh overall in the WCHA. UND will, but expect UNO senior John Faulkner to steal one win. … Read more

WCHA picks: Feb. 1

No. 10 Denver at Minnesota-Duluth Joe:  The Pioneers’ first visit to the “new” Amsoil Arena will be a tough one against a still-inconsistent UMD squad that has improved over the course of the season. I expect Denver to bounce back following a bye week with a superior defensive effort to earn a road split. Tyler: … Read more

WCHA picks: Jan. 25-26

Alaska-Anchorage at No. 20 Wisconsin Joe: The league’s No. 2 defense should be enough for the Badgers to get three points against the struggling Seawolves, who average only 1.91 goals (last in the WCHA), but usually manage one good game a weekend. Tyler: The Badgers defense held the Seawolves to 12 shots in a game … Read more

WCHA Picks: Jan. 18

No. 6 North Dakota at No. 1 Minnesota Joe: This series should bring out the best in both teams. That bodes well for UND, which did not put together a full 60 minutes each night against Holy Cross and Colorado College.  North Dakota will have to play its best to beat Minnesota, which it will … Read more

WCHA picks: Jan. 11

No. 13 Nebraska-Omaha at No. 9 Denver Joe:  Two teams with potent offenses and solid defensive corps that also chip in offensively. The difference will be in goal where Denver has the edge with Juho Olkinuora. Pioneers win and tie. Tyler: Olkinuora is the key in this series. In his last 20 games going back … Read more