Good morning, hockey fans. I'm back in Mankato this weekend covering the marathon, so I'll be keeping tabs on MSU's games remotely. I'll be listening in to Mike Sullivan's radio broadcast on KTOE and, in all likelihood, watching the free webcast of the game on Facebook Saturday night. I'll be posting updates on Twitter throughout the weekend and might try to put together a live chat on the blog on Saturday during the game. Be sure to check in.
Let's move on to today's hockey coverage ...
The Mavericks, of course, will open WCHA play very short-handed with six injured players stuck back in Mankato. But, based on his comments earlier this week, Denver coach George Gwozdecky isn't looking past the Mavs. He, too, remembers that his team had a lead for just 2:25 in last year's playoff series.
"Minnesota State has the rap of being ... one of bottom-half dwellers (in the WCHA)," Gwozdecky said. "But if you look at how they've played the last few years, there's no team that works harder, there's no team that's better coached. They're physical, they play with a great amount of intensity. They're a tough team to play, whether it's at their house or on the road."
More on the series from The Free Press here.
While much gets made about players leaving early, here's a story on Denver being led by a couple of fifth-year seniors, Dustin Jackson and John Ryder. And if you haven't seen it yet, check out Mike Chambers' excellent three-part series on the Pioneers' Jesse Martin, whose neck was broken in a game last year, and his road to recovery.
Going around the rest of the WCHA ...
North Dakota at Wisconsin: The Sioux head to Madison wondering why it's getting little offensive production from its bottom two lines. The Badgers have questions, too, like why they can't seem to win in overtime (Wisco is 0-9-14 in OT, dating back to the '07-08 season).
Alaska-Anchorage at Nebraska-Omaha: A week after the Seawolves beat the red Mavericks in a nonconference tournament, they'll meet again for conference points. Anchorage is red-hot, and one reason is junior Daniel Naslund, who has seven points in four games. Omaha, meanwhile, is 1-3-0 but says it's too early to panic.
Michigan Tech at Bemidji State: The 4-0-0 Huskies will try to stay in first place in the WCHA this weekend. Part of the reason for their good start is one of new coach Mel Pearson's first recruits, Riley Sweeney. At 1-3-0 and 0-2-0 in conference play, Beavers, needless to say, are taking Tech pretty seriously.
New Hampshire at St. Cloud State: The Huskies have another tough nonconference series (they were swept at Northern Michigan a week ago). Not sure why they're not playing a conference series yet; they'll be the last to play a WCHA opponent next week. Anyway, here's a story on St. Cloud's backup goalie.
Minnesota Duluth at Providence: The Bulldogs are heading east after getting swept by the Gophers a week ago. A couple of freshmen are off to good starts for the defending national champs.
Vermont at Minnesota: The Gophers also step out of WCHA play. They will try to remain unbeaten as they host Vermont. Finnish sophomore Erik Haula is off to a great start with five goals and four assists already.
More WCHA stuff at USCHO, INCH and College Hockey News.
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