NCHC Hockey thread
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Around the NCHC
• Two weeks remain in the regular season and five teams are within seven points of first place. Two top-10 showdowns mark this weekend as No. 5/5 Miami is at No. 7/7 Denver and No. 8/8 Omaha is at No. 6/6 Minnesota Duluth. Those four teams are all within four points of each other.
• No. 1/1 North Dakota is riding a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1), which ties for the fourth longest active streak in the NCAA. UND can win the Penrose Cup (either outright or shared) this weekend, but needs at least five points vs. St. Cloud State and help in other conference games.
• All eight NCHC teams rank in the top nine in strength of schedule this year, led by Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Omaha, Western Michigan, Denver and Miami are the next four toughest schedules as NCHC teams make up the entire top six.
• Omaha sophomore forward Austin Ortega has 10 game-winning goals this season, which leads the NCAA and ties the NCAA single-season record, last set in 2002 by New Hampshire’s Colin Hemingway. Ortega is one of eight players all-time to tally 10 game-winners in a season. Miami junior forward Sean Kuraly is second in the country with nine game-winners this season, just one away from tying the NCAA record also.
• The NCHC is home to three of the top seven power play goal scorers in the country, led by SCSU junior forward Jonny Brodzinski, who has 10 power play goals to lead the NCAA. WMU junior forward Nolan LaPorte and UNO’s Ortega are tied for third nationally with eight power play goals.
• Three NCHC goaltenders rank in the top 10 nationally in win percentage, led by Miami junior Jay Williams in fifth (.762). UND junior Zane McIntyre ranks sixth (.758), while DU freshman Tanner Jaillet ties for ninth (.688).
• Two NCHC teams rely heavily on their defense for offense. UND is tied for first nationally with 91 points from blue liners this year, while Denver is tied for third with 88. DU senior Joey LaLeggia ranks second among NCAA defensemen with both 11 goals and 31 points.
• Omaha has recorded 73 goals from freshmen and sophomores, which is the most by any NCAA team. UNO’s 189 points from first and second year players is second nationally and 67 more than any other NCHC team.
• The Frozen Faceoff Trophy Tour continues this weekend in Grand Forks, N.D. at Ralph Engelstad Arena as North Dakota hosts St. Cloud State.
• NCHC teams finished 19-14-2 against ranked non-conference foes this year. The NCHC’s success shows in the national polls as the NCHC leads all conferences with five teams in the top eight of both national polls, while the five ranked NCHC teams are also the most by any conference in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO.com Poll. The NCHC has five teams ranked in the top eight and six in the top 14 of the PairWise Ratings as of Feb. 25, as well.
• The NCHC finished with the best non-conference record among the six conferences by a wide margin this season with a 53-25-4 (.671) mark (Hockey East is second at .583). Seven of eight NCHC teams finished with .500 or better records in non-conference play this year.
• Two weeks remain in the regular season and five teams are within seven points of first place. Two top-10 showdowns mark this weekend as No. 5/5 Miami is at No. 7/7 Denver and No. 8/8 Omaha is at No. 6/6 Minnesota Duluth. Those four teams are all within four points of each other.
• No. 1/1 North Dakota is riding a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1), which ties for the fourth longest active streak in the NCAA. UND can win the Penrose Cup (either outright or shared) this weekend, but needs at least five points vs. St. Cloud State and help in other conference games.
• All eight NCHC teams rank in the top nine in strength of schedule this year, led by Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Omaha, Western Michigan, Denver and Miami are the next four toughest schedules as NCHC teams make up the entire top six.
• Omaha sophomore forward Austin Ortega has 10 game-winning goals this season, which leads the NCAA and ties the NCAA single-season record, last set in 2002 by New Hampshire’s Colin Hemingway. Ortega is one of eight players all-time to tally 10 game-winners in a season. Miami junior forward Sean Kuraly is second in the country with nine game-winners this season, just one away from tying the NCAA record also.
• The NCHC is home to three of the top seven power play goal scorers in the country, led by SCSU junior forward Jonny Brodzinski, who has 10 power play goals to lead the NCAA. WMU junior forward Nolan LaPorte and UNO’s Ortega are tied for third nationally with eight power play goals.
• Three NCHC goaltenders rank in the top 10 nationally in win percentage, led by Miami junior Jay Williams in fifth (.762). UND junior Zane McIntyre ranks sixth (.758), while DU freshman Tanner Jaillet ties for ninth (.688).
• Two NCHC teams rely heavily on their defense for offense. UND is tied for first nationally with 91 points from blue liners this year, while Denver is tied for third with 88. DU senior Joey LaLeggia ranks second among NCAA defensemen with both 11 goals and 31 points.
• Omaha has recorded 73 goals from freshmen and sophomores, which is the most by any NCAA team. UNO’s 189 points from first and second year players is second nationally and 67 more than any other NCHC team.
• The Frozen Faceoff Trophy Tour continues this weekend in Grand Forks, N.D. at Ralph Engelstad Arena as North Dakota hosts St. Cloud State.
• NCHC teams finished 19-14-2 against ranked non-conference foes this year. The NCHC’s success shows in the national polls as the NCHC leads all conferences with five teams in the top eight of both national polls, while the five ranked NCHC teams are also the most by any conference in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO.com Poll. The NCHC has five teams ranked in the top eight and six in the top 14 of the PairWise Ratings as of Feb. 25, as well.
• The NCHC finished with the best non-conference record among the six conferences by a wide margin this season with a 53-25-4 (.671) mark (Hockey East is second at .583). Seven of eight NCHC teams finished with .500 or better records in non-conference play this year.
Around the NCHC
• This weekend marks the final weekend of the NCHC regular season before beginning NCHC Tournament play next weekend. No. 1/1 North Dakota has already clinched a share of the Penrose Cup, awarded to the NCHC regular-season champion. UND needs just one point at No. 5/5 Miami this weekend to win the title outright. The RedHawks need to sweep UND to also get a share of the title, which would then give Miami the No. 1 seed in the NCHC Tournament and make UND the No. 2 seed.
• North Dakota enters the top-five series with Miami riding a four-game win streak and seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1), which is the longest active unbeaten streak in the NCAA. With its share of the Penrose Cup, UND has secured its 16th conference championship in program history, the most of any NCAA Division I men’s program.
• Four teams (Miami, Omaha, Denver and Minnesota Duluth) are separated by just five points with two games to play, while only three of those teams will get home ice for the NCHC Quarterfinals. UMD currently sits in fifth place on the outside looking in, but can make that up with at least three points and some help this weekend. UND has already secured home ice. Tiebreakers for seeding, should they be needed, are listed on page 8 of the release. More information on possible place finishes for these teams are listed below.
• According to the KRACH Ratings, the eight NCHC teams have played the eight toughest schedules in the country this season, led by Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Omaha, Denver, Miami, CC, WMU and UND round out the top eight, respectively.
• For the first time all season, NCHC players were selected as two of the NCAA’s Three Stars of the Week on Tuesday. CC sophomore goalie Tyler Marble earned third star honors after stopping 77 of 79 shots against WMU last weekend while DU sophomore forward Trevor Moore garnered second star honors after a six-point weekend against Miami.
• Denver senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia earned NCHC Player of the Month for February while DU freshman forward Danton Heinen was named NCHC Rookie of the Month for February. Both are riding seven-game point streaks as LaLeggia has 3-10-13 during the streak while Heinen has 5-10-15 during his seven-game point streak. Pioneers own the top three spots in both NCHC scoring races. Overall, Heinen is first (41 points), followed by Moore (37) and LaLeggia (35). In conference play, LaLeggia (29) is first with Moore (28) and Heinen (25) right behind.
• Omaha sophomore forward Austin Ortega has 10 game-winning goals this season, which leads the NCAA and ties the NCAA single-season record, last set in 2002 by New Hampshire’s Colin Hemingway. Ortega is one of eight players all-time to tally 10 game-winners in a season. Miami junior forward Sean Kuraly is second in the country with nine game-winners this season, just one away from tying the NCAA record also.
• The Frozen Faceoff Trophy Tour concludes this weekend in Kalamazoo, Mich. at Lawson Ice Arena as Western Michigan hosts Minnesota Duluth.
• NCHC teams finished 19-14-2 against ranked non-conference foes this year. The NCHC’s success shows in the national polls as the NCHC leads all conferences with five teams in the top eight of both national polls, while the five ranked NCHC teams are also the most by any conference in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO.com Poll. The NCHC has five teams ranked in the top eight of the PairWise Ratings as of March 4, as well.
• The NCHC finished with the best non-conference record among the six conferences by a wide margin this season with a 53-25-4 (.671) mark (Hockey East is second at .583). Seven of eight NCHC teams finished with .500 or better records in non-conference play this year.
Possible place finishes for each team entering this weekend:
· North Dakota – 1,2 (needs just 1 point at Miami to clinch 1 seed/outright title, already has share of regular season title)
· Miami – 1,2,3,4,5 (needs 2 points to secure home for sure, needs sweep of UND to share regular season title and get 1 seed)
· Omaha – 2,3,4,5 (needs 4 points to secure home ice for sure)
· Denver – 2,3,4,5 (needs 5 points to secure home ice for sure)
· Minnesota Duluth – 2,3,4,5,6 (needs just 1 point to secure 5 seed, needs at least one team ahead of them to lose/tie to have a chance to get home ice)
· St. Cloud State – 5,6 (SCSU has to sweep DU and UMD has to get swept by WMU for SCSU to move up to 5 seed)
· Western Michigan – locked in to 7
· Colorado College – locked in to 8
• This weekend marks the final weekend of the NCHC regular season before beginning NCHC Tournament play next weekend. No. 1/1 North Dakota has already clinched a share of the Penrose Cup, awarded to the NCHC regular-season champion. UND needs just one point at No. 5/5 Miami this weekend to win the title outright. The RedHawks need to sweep UND to also get a share of the title, which would then give Miami the No. 1 seed in the NCHC Tournament and make UND the No. 2 seed.
• North Dakota enters the top-five series with Miami riding a four-game win streak and seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1), which is the longest active unbeaten streak in the NCAA. With its share of the Penrose Cup, UND has secured its 16th conference championship in program history, the most of any NCAA Division I men’s program.
• Four teams (Miami, Omaha, Denver and Minnesota Duluth) are separated by just five points with two games to play, while only three of those teams will get home ice for the NCHC Quarterfinals. UMD currently sits in fifth place on the outside looking in, but can make that up with at least three points and some help this weekend. UND has already secured home ice. Tiebreakers for seeding, should they be needed, are listed on page 8 of the release. More information on possible place finishes for these teams are listed below.
• According to the KRACH Ratings, the eight NCHC teams have played the eight toughest schedules in the country this season, led by Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Omaha, Denver, Miami, CC, WMU and UND round out the top eight, respectively.
• For the first time all season, NCHC players were selected as two of the NCAA’s Three Stars of the Week on Tuesday. CC sophomore goalie Tyler Marble earned third star honors after stopping 77 of 79 shots against WMU last weekend while DU sophomore forward Trevor Moore garnered second star honors after a six-point weekend against Miami.
• Denver senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia earned NCHC Player of the Month for February while DU freshman forward Danton Heinen was named NCHC Rookie of the Month for February. Both are riding seven-game point streaks as LaLeggia has 3-10-13 during the streak while Heinen has 5-10-15 during his seven-game point streak. Pioneers own the top three spots in both NCHC scoring races. Overall, Heinen is first (41 points), followed by Moore (37) and LaLeggia (35). In conference play, LaLeggia (29) is first with Moore (28) and Heinen (25) right behind.
• Omaha sophomore forward Austin Ortega has 10 game-winning goals this season, which leads the NCAA and ties the NCAA single-season record, last set in 2002 by New Hampshire’s Colin Hemingway. Ortega is one of eight players all-time to tally 10 game-winners in a season. Miami junior forward Sean Kuraly is second in the country with nine game-winners this season, just one away from tying the NCAA record also.
• The Frozen Faceoff Trophy Tour concludes this weekend in Kalamazoo, Mich. at Lawson Ice Arena as Western Michigan hosts Minnesota Duluth.
• NCHC teams finished 19-14-2 against ranked non-conference foes this year. The NCHC’s success shows in the national polls as the NCHC leads all conferences with five teams in the top eight of both national polls, while the five ranked NCHC teams are also the most by any conference in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO.com Poll. The NCHC has five teams ranked in the top eight of the PairWise Ratings as of March 4, as well.
• The NCHC finished with the best non-conference record among the six conferences by a wide margin this season with a 53-25-4 (.671) mark (Hockey East is second at .583). Seven of eight NCHC teams finished with .500 or better records in non-conference play this year.
Possible place finishes for each team entering this weekend:
· North Dakota – 1,2 (needs just 1 point at Miami to clinch 1 seed/outright title, already has share of regular season title)
· Miami – 1,2,3,4,5 (needs 2 points to secure home for sure, needs sweep of UND to share regular season title and get 1 seed)
· Omaha – 2,3,4,5 (needs 4 points to secure home ice for sure)
· Denver – 2,3,4,5 (needs 5 points to secure home ice for sure)
· Minnesota Duluth – 2,3,4,5,6 (needs just 1 point to secure 5 seed, needs at least one team ahead of them to lose/tie to have a chance to get home ice)
· St. Cloud State – 5,6 (SCSU has to sweep DU and UMD has to get swept by WMU for SCSU to move up to 5 seed)
· Western Michigan – locked in to 7
· Colorado College – locked in to 8
Attached is the NCHC weekly release and NCHC Quarterfinal preview for games on March 13-15, 2015.
Around the NCHC
• No. 1/1 North Dakota captured the Penrose Cup last Friday with a win at Miami as UND won the 2014-15 NCHC regular-season title, its first NCHC championship of any kind. The title is UND’s 16th conference championship in program history, the most of any NCAA Division I men’s program. North Dakota is the top seed heading into this weekend’s NCHC Tournament.
• Of the four teams hosting quarterfinal series this weekend, only two hosted last season - top-seeded North Dakota and third-seeded Omaha. Second-seeded Miami and fourth-seeded Denver are hosting a quarterfinal series for the first time in the NCHC Tournament. Last season, only one host team advanced to the Frozen Faceoff (second-seeded North Dakota) as three lower seeds won road series, including sixth-seeded Denver, which went on to defeat eighth-seeded Miami in the inaugural Frozen Faceoff Championship to claim the NCHC Tournament title.
• Only one NCHC Quarterfinal series this year is a rematch from last season -- Colorado College at North Dakota. Last year it was the 2-7 match-up, while this year it is the 1-8 series. Last year, CC took the series to three games before UND prevailed.
• Comparing the final NCHC standings to the NCHC Preseason Poll, as voted upon by media, the Preseason Poll was almost exactly correct. The only difference was Omaha and St. Cloud State, which finished in opposite places they were predicted.
• The eight NCHC teams have played the eight toughest schedules in the country this season, led by Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Omaha, Miami, Denver, WMU, CC and UND round out the top eight, respectively, in the KRACH Ratings.
• Omaha sophomore forward Austin Ortega broke the NCAA single-season record for game-winning goals with his 11th game-winner this season in Saturday’s win over Colorado College. He broke the record of 10 that had been matched seven times, last in 2002 by New Hampshire’s Colin Hemingway. Miami junior forward Sean Kuraly is second in the country with nine game-winners this season.
* Denver sophomore forward Trevor Moore captured the NCHC conference scoring title with 30 points in 23 conference games. His 13 goals tied for the lead in NCHC play. DU senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia was second with 29 points, which led all blue liners in conference play. Denver freshman forward Danton Heinen took the rookie scoring title with 26 points in 24 NCHC games. Heinen also leads all NCHC players in overall scoring with 42 points.
• The NCHC leads all conferences with five ranked teams (all in the top 8) in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO.com Poll. The NCHC has five teams ranked in the top eight of the PairWise Ratings as of March 11, as well. One NCHC quarterfinal series is a top-10 match-up with No. 6/6 Minnesota Duluth at No. 8/7 Denver.
Around the NCHC
• No. 1/1 North Dakota captured the Penrose Cup last Friday with a win at Miami as UND won the 2014-15 NCHC regular-season title, its first NCHC championship of any kind. The title is UND’s 16th conference championship in program history, the most of any NCAA Division I men’s program. North Dakota is the top seed heading into this weekend’s NCHC Tournament.
• Of the four teams hosting quarterfinal series this weekend, only two hosted last season - top-seeded North Dakota and third-seeded Omaha. Second-seeded Miami and fourth-seeded Denver are hosting a quarterfinal series for the first time in the NCHC Tournament. Last season, only one host team advanced to the Frozen Faceoff (second-seeded North Dakota) as three lower seeds won road series, including sixth-seeded Denver, which went on to defeat eighth-seeded Miami in the inaugural Frozen Faceoff Championship to claim the NCHC Tournament title.
• Only one NCHC Quarterfinal series this year is a rematch from last season -- Colorado College at North Dakota. Last year it was the 2-7 match-up, while this year it is the 1-8 series. Last year, CC took the series to three games before UND prevailed.
• Comparing the final NCHC standings to the NCHC Preseason Poll, as voted upon by media, the Preseason Poll was almost exactly correct. The only difference was Omaha and St. Cloud State, which finished in opposite places they were predicted.
• The eight NCHC teams have played the eight toughest schedules in the country this season, led by Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Omaha, Miami, Denver, WMU, CC and UND round out the top eight, respectively, in the KRACH Ratings.
• Omaha sophomore forward Austin Ortega broke the NCAA single-season record for game-winning goals with his 11th game-winner this season in Saturday’s win over Colorado College. He broke the record of 10 that had been matched seven times, last in 2002 by New Hampshire’s Colin Hemingway. Miami junior forward Sean Kuraly is second in the country with nine game-winners this season.
* Denver sophomore forward Trevor Moore captured the NCHC conference scoring title with 30 points in 23 conference games. His 13 goals tied for the lead in NCHC play. DU senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia was second with 29 points, which led all blue liners in conference play. Denver freshman forward Danton Heinen took the rookie scoring title with 26 points in 24 NCHC games. Heinen also leads all NCHC players in overall scoring with 42 points.
• The NCHC leads all conferences with five ranked teams (all in the top 8) in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO.com Poll. The NCHC has five teams ranked in the top eight of the PairWise Ratings as of March 11, as well. One NCHC quarterfinal series is a top-10 match-up with No. 6/6 Minnesota Duluth at No. 8/7 Denver.
MINNEAPOLIS – With the final National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Quarterfinal series completed on Sunday night, the field for the 2015 NCHC Frozen Faceoff is set and the NCHC has announced the times for both semifinals on Friday, March 20 at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. In the first semifinal, top-seeded No. 1/1 North Dakota battles sixth-seeded St. Cloud State at 4:08 p.m. CT, followed by second-seeded No. 5/5 Miami taking on fourth-seeded No. 8/7 Denver in the nightcap at 7:38 p.m. CT. Three of the four teams played in last year’s Frozen Faceoff as well, though three higher seeds advanced this year after three lower seeded teams made it to Target Center in 2013-14.
Both semifinal match-ups will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with the winners advancing to the Frozen Faceoff championship game on Saturday, March 21 at Target Center at 7:38 p.m. CT. The championship game will also air nationally on CBS Sports Network with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The two semifinal losers meet first in the third-place game on Saturday before the championship at 3:38 p.m. CT with the game streamed on NCHC.tv.
Friday’s first semifinal pits the NCHC’s only two Penrose Cup champions against each other. Top-ranked North Dakota (27-7-3, 16-6-2-0 NCHC) is making it second straight appearance in the Frozen Faceoff after sweeping eighth-seeded Colorado College in its best-of-three quarterfinal series March 13-14 in Grand Forks. UND, which is the 2014-15 Penrose Cup and NCHC regular-season champions, finished in third place at last year’s inaugural Frozen Faceoff after falling to Miami in the semifinals and defeating Western Michigan in the third-place game. SCSU (18-17-1, 11-12-1-0 NCHC) is making its first ever appearance in the Frozen Faceoff after sweeping third-seeded No. 7/8 Omaha on the road at CenturyLink Center in its quarterfinal series last weekend. The Huskies won the inaugural Penrose Cup and NCHC regular-season title last year, but were swept by Miami in last year’s quarterfinal series. North Dakota won three of four meetings with SCSU during the 2014-15 regular season, including both games in Grand Forks Feb. 20-21 in their most recent meetings.
Both semifinal match-ups will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network with the winners advancing to the Frozen Faceoff championship game on Saturday, March 21 at Target Center at 7:38 p.m. CT. The championship game will also air nationally on CBS Sports Network with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The two semifinal losers meet first in the third-place game on Saturday before the championship at 3:38 p.m. CT with the game streamed on NCHC.tv.
Friday’s first semifinal pits the NCHC’s only two Penrose Cup champions against each other. Top-ranked North Dakota (27-7-3, 16-6-2-0 NCHC) is making it second straight appearance in the Frozen Faceoff after sweeping eighth-seeded Colorado College in its best-of-three quarterfinal series March 13-14 in Grand Forks. UND, which is the 2014-15 Penrose Cup and NCHC regular-season champions, finished in third place at last year’s inaugural Frozen Faceoff after falling to Miami in the semifinals and defeating Western Michigan in the third-place game. SCSU (18-17-1, 11-12-1-0 NCHC) is making its first ever appearance in the Frozen Faceoff after sweeping third-seeded No. 7/8 Omaha on the road at CenturyLink Center in its quarterfinal series last weekend. The Huskies won the inaugural Penrose Cup and NCHC regular-season title last year, but were swept by Miami in last year’s quarterfinal series. North Dakota won three of four meetings with SCSU during the 2014-15 regular season, including both games in Grand Forks Feb. 20-21 in their most recent meetings.
North Dakota vs. St. Cloud, Winner Takes All
And from the NCHC
FRIDAY’S NOTES/SATURDAY SET-UP
• All three NCHC teams that opened NCAA Tournament action Friday were victorious in their regional semifinal, meaning all six NCHC teams that made the NCAA Tournament will be in action Saturday. No. 1 seed North Dakota and No. 3 seed St. Cloud State both won in the West Regional, setting up an all-NCHC West Region final Saturday as at least one NCHC team will make the Frozen Four. SCSU and UND have met five times already this season with UND going 3-2-0 but the Huskies won just last week in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinals, 3-1.
• With UND’s 4-1 win over Quinnipiac Friday, North Dakota advanced to the regional final for the ninth time in 11 years under head coach Dave Hakstol. UND is looking to earn its second straight Frozen Four berth and 21st trip to the Frozen Four in program history.
• SCSU rallied in the final minute to tie No. 2 seed Michigan Tech and force overtime as freshman forward Judd Peterson scored in the extra session to give the Huskies the 3-2 win. It was his second career game-winner and first goal of any kind since Jan. 24. St. Cloud State won its regional semifinal in overtime for a second straight year and won a NCAA regional semifinal for the third straight season overall.
• The third NCHC team to win Friday was No. 2 seed Minnesota Duluth, which knocked off No. 3 seed Minnesota, 4-1. UMD beat the Golden Gophers for a fourth time this season in five meetings. UMD snapped a seven-game postseason losing streak with the win (conference and NCAA tournaments) dating back to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. UMD is looking to earn its fifth trip to the Frozen Four in program history, last doing so in 2011 when UMD won the national championship.
And from the NCHC
FRIDAY’S NOTES/SATURDAY SET-UP
• All three NCHC teams that opened NCAA Tournament action Friday were victorious in their regional semifinal, meaning all six NCHC teams that made the NCAA Tournament will be in action Saturday. No. 1 seed North Dakota and No. 3 seed St. Cloud State both won in the West Regional, setting up an all-NCHC West Region final Saturday as at least one NCHC team will make the Frozen Four. SCSU and UND have met five times already this season with UND going 3-2-0 but the Huskies won just last week in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinals, 3-1.
• With UND’s 4-1 win over Quinnipiac Friday, North Dakota advanced to the regional final for the ninth time in 11 years under head coach Dave Hakstol. UND is looking to earn its second straight Frozen Four berth and 21st trip to the Frozen Four in program history.
• SCSU rallied in the final minute to tie No. 2 seed Michigan Tech and force overtime as freshman forward Judd Peterson scored in the extra session to give the Huskies the 3-2 win. It was his second career game-winner and first goal of any kind since Jan. 24. St. Cloud State won its regional semifinal in overtime for a second straight year and won a NCAA regional semifinal for the third straight season overall.
• The third NCHC team to win Friday was No. 2 seed Minnesota Duluth, which knocked off No. 3 seed Minnesota, 4-1. UMD beat the Golden Gophers for a fourth time this season in five meetings. UMD snapped a seven-game postseason losing streak with the win (conference and NCAA tournaments) dating back to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. UMD is looking to earn its fifth trip to the Frozen Four in program history, last doing so in 2011 when UMD won the national championship.
NCAA Hockey: Coaches Favor Status Quo
Apparently, some think that moving the NCAA tourney back on campus is taking a step back.
Apparently, some think that moving the NCAA tourney back on campus is taking a step back.
It's been a whirl wind week at UND. Coach Dave Hakstol is now the head coach of the Broad Street Bully's.
I had a chance to chat with some of the UND Players Excited About Coach Berry's Promotion.
I had a chance to chat with some of the UND Players Excited About Coach Berry's Promotion.
The NCHC and College Hockey did well during the 2015 NHL Draft
College Hockey: Reviewing the 2015 NHL Draft and NCHC Hockey: 10 Players Selected During 2015 NHL Draft
College Hockey: Reviewing the 2015 NHL Draft and NCHC Hockey: 10 Players Selected During 2015 NHL Draft
Short Shorts
Registered User
Wouldn't the logical solution for avoiding a shootout be to not have a shootout at all?
Who among the NCHC's devotees is optimistic that the conference can duplicate its dominance from last year in terms of NCAA tournament representation?
One pundit has already stated that sending six teams to the bracket yet again is not out of the question, while five is perfectly reasonable: http://alongtheboards.com/2015/09/many-teams-will-nchc-send-2016-ncaa-tournament/
One pundit has already stated that sending six teams to the bracket yet again is not out of the question, while five is perfectly reasonable: http://alongtheboards.com/2015/09/many-teams-will-nchc-send-2016-ncaa-tournament/
It's possible. IMO, it's the deepest conference in the country. If the squads do well in non-conference play, 6 is again a very real possibility. Only real weak team is CC right now and I don't think they'll be down long.
