Lines can be found before the live chat ...
MINNESOTA STATE
21-Grant ... 18-Leitner ... 9-Gervais
25-Stepan ... 23-Blueger ... 22-McInnis
12-LaFontaine ... 26-Margonari ... 19-Lehrke
24-Knowles ... 17-Huntebrinker ... 8-Gaede
27-Stern ... 7-Palmquist
28-Jutzi ... 5-Foguth
11-Flanagan ... 2-Nelson
34-Huggins
35-Williams
31-Karambelas
Scratches: Buchanan, Herndon, Knoll, C. Nelson, Jo. Nelson, Thompson
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Seckel ... 11-Sooth ... 15-Shine
26-Higby ... 40-Vigier ... 29-Daugherty
10-Hanson ... 20-Nowick ... 17-Siemer
16-Johnson ... 3-Kesti ... 5-Trenz
27-Epp ... 18-Eibler
23-Baker ... 42-Kaib
4-Jones ... 14-Maschmeyer
30-Dahlstrom
1-Doan
Referees: Chris Perrault, Jared Moen. Linesmen: Rick Nelson, Matt Tyree.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Mavericks 3, Wildcats 2
Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...
1. Power surge: A week after going scoreless on the power play, the Mavericks scored two big power-play goals in the second period on Friday night. But it wasn't the usual suspects who did the scoring. It was the second unit, with the red-hot Bryce Gervais (eight goals in his last 12 games) and defenseman Sean Flanagan scoring the goals and Teddy Blueger and Zach Stepan each assisting on the two goals. Flanagan's goal put MSU up 3-0 before the game's midway point, and the Mavs needed it as Northern Michigan made a third-period push.
2. Solid in goal: Just two pucks got to goalie Cole Huggins in the first period and after two he saw eight in all (giving up one goal). But he didn't get sleepy back there. The freshman stopped a short-handed breakaway in the second period and 9 of 10 shots in the third to help the Mavericks win Game 1. "It can be hard for a goaltender," coach Mike Hastings said. "You have to stay mentally strong. When (the Wildcats) put their foot to the floor and we started to back in and let them dictate pace, he showed some mental stability and some mental toughness."
3. Big picture: The Mavericks moved up to 13th in the Pairwise Rankings. But that shouldn't make the team too comfortable considering how fluid those standings can be. The goal is to keep winning and get to the Final Five in Grand Rapids next week. Minnesota State can wrap that up with a win on Saturday night or, if necessary, Sunday. Certainly, the Mavericks would like to get it done in two games.
Deep thought: Attendance was 2,157, kind of another head-scratcher, even with the students on spring break (as they were a week ago). Lots of purple seats, even in the season-ticket areas. (By comparison, last year's Game 1 against Nebraska Omaha drew 2,855, so maybe it shouldn't be too surprising.)
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 8, Bemidji State 0 ... Bowling Green 2, Michigan Tech 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 2, Alaska 1
1. Power surge: A week after going scoreless on the power play, the Mavericks scored two big power-play goals in the second period on Friday night. But it wasn't the usual suspects who did the scoring. It was the second unit, with the red-hot Bryce Gervais (eight goals in his last 12 games) and defenseman Sean Flanagan scoring the goals and Teddy Blueger and Zach Stepan each assisting on the two goals. Flanagan's goal put MSU up 3-0 before the game's midway point, and the Mavs needed it as Northern Michigan made a third-period push.
2. Solid in goal: Just two pucks got to goalie Cole Huggins in the first period and after two he saw eight in all (giving up one goal). But he didn't get sleepy back there. The freshman stopped a short-handed breakaway in the second period and 9 of 10 shots in the third to help the Mavericks win Game 1. "It can be hard for a goaltender," coach Mike Hastings said. "You have to stay mentally strong. When (the Wildcats) put their foot to the floor and we started to back in and let them dictate pace, he showed some mental stability and some mental toughness."
3. Big picture: The Mavericks moved up to 13th in the Pairwise Rankings. But that shouldn't make the team too comfortable considering how fluid those standings can be. The goal is to keep winning and get to the Final Five in Grand Rapids next week. Minnesota State can wrap that up with a win on Saturday night or, if necessary, Sunday. Certainly, the Mavericks would like to get it done in two games.
Deep thought: Attendance was 2,157, kind of another head-scratcher, even with the students on spring break (as they were a week ago). Lots of purple seats, even in the season-ticket areas. (By comparison, last year's Game 1 against Nebraska Omaha drew 2,855, so maybe it shouldn't be too surprising.)
Read my game story here.
Around the WCHA: Ferris State 8, Bemidji State 0 ... Bowling Green 2, Michigan Tech 1 ... Alaska Anchorage 2, Alaska 1
MSU vs. Northern Michigan, WCHA Playoff Game 1
Lines can be found below the live blog ...
MINNESOTA STATE
21-Grant ... 18-Leitner ... 9-Gervais
25-Stepan ... 23-Blueger ... 22-McInnis
12-LaFontaine ... 26-Margonari ... 19-Lehrke
24-Knowles ... 17-Huntebrinker ... 8-Gaede
27-Stern ... 7-Palmquist
28-Jutzi ... 5-Foguth
11-Flanagan ... 2-Nelson
34-Huggins
35-Williams
31-Karambelas
Scratches: Buchanan, Herndon, Knoll, C. Nelson, Jo. Nelson, Thompson
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Seckel ... 11-Sooth ... 15-Shine
26-Higby ... 40-Vigier ... 29-Daugherty
10-Hanson ... 20-Nowick ... 17-Siemer
16-Johnson ... 3-Kesti ... 5-Trenz
27-Epp ... 18-Eibler
23-Baker ... 42-Kaib
4-Jones ... 14-Maschmeyer
30-Dahlstrom
1-Doan
Referees: Chris Perrault, Jared Moen. Linesmen: Rick Nelson, Matt Tyree.
MINNESOTA STATE
21-Grant ... 18-Leitner ... 9-Gervais
25-Stepan ... 23-Blueger ... 22-McInnis
12-LaFontaine ... 26-Margonari ... 19-Lehrke
24-Knowles ... 17-Huntebrinker ... 8-Gaede
27-Stern ... 7-Palmquist
28-Jutzi ... 5-Foguth
11-Flanagan ... 2-Nelson
34-Huggins
35-Williams
31-Karambelas
Scratches: Buchanan, Herndon, Knoll, C. Nelson, Jo. Nelson, Thompson
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
9-Seckel ... 11-Sooth ... 15-Shine
26-Higby ... 40-Vigier ... 29-Daugherty
10-Hanson ... 20-Nowick ... 17-Siemer
16-Johnson ... 3-Kesti ... 5-Trenz
27-Epp ... 18-Eibler
23-Baker ... 42-Kaib
4-Jones ... 14-Maschmeyer
30-Dahlstrom
1-Doan
Referees: Chris Perrault, Jared Moen. Linesmen: Rick Nelson, Matt Tyree.
Friday Morning Skate (Playoff Edition)
For the second year in a row, Minnesota State is hosting a WCHA first-round playoff series, this time as the second seed hosting seventh-place Northern Michigan. The starts at 7:07 p.m. tonight.
If last week was any indication of how the playoffs will go, expect a close, tight-checking affair between a pair of teams a lot closer than the difference in their spot in the final standings might show.
If that's the case, the Mavericks will need contributions all throughout their lineup, just as they have over the course of their nine-game unbeaten streak. That includes the fourth line where junior forward Max Gaede has accepted and owned an important role. Gaede may not be the goal scorer he thought he might be (although the biggest of his six career goals came in last season's playoffs), but scoring doesn't have to define his game.
"You won't see me stickhandling over the blue line," he said in a quote not used in the story. "I'm just going t throw it behind the D and make them sweat when I come in on them. I just gotta be the best at that, and that' pretty much what (coach Mike Hastings) wants from me. It's not too bad. I don't mind it anymore. I used to."
As for the series itself, MSU went 3-1 against Northern Michigan this season in their first-ever meetings with each other. Read more about the matchup in today's gameday preview.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, have a group of seniors that has not yet won a playoff series and hopes to check that off its list before graduation.
In the other first-round matchups ...
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska: The series got underway Thursday night in Fairbanks with the host Nanooks winning 3-2 in overtime. Colton Beck scored the game-winner 3:40 into OT. Alaska, which boasts WCHA player of the year Cody Kunyk (good choice) trailed twice in the game, including a 2-1 deficit in the third period, but now has the edge in the series.
Michigan Tech at Bowling Green: This could be a good one in Ohio. Tech went 2-1-1 against the Falcons this season, including a road sweep. Bowling Green hasn't hosted a playoff series since 2008 and hope to capitalize on the comforts of home as the Huskies go on the road for the 21st time in a row.
Bemidji State State at Ferris State: The champions and WCHA coach of the year Bob Daniels host the Beavers in what could also be a better series than a 1-8 matchup should be (the Bulldogs aren't playing Alabama Huntsville, after all). Still, Ferris' players aren't feeling too much pressure. As for Bemidji, it may have squeaked into the playoffs but there's an upset win over the Bulldogs from Feb. 15 that's pretty fresh in the Beavers' minds.
My and Matt Wellens' WCHA playoff preview can be found here, and our playoff picks can be found here. More from College Hockey News here.
Also from College Hockey News, Adam Wodon takes a closer look at the Lake Superior State situation following the ouster of coach Jim Roque.
One of the complaints I've heard about college hockey's realignment this year has been how little each conference pays attention to the others. So, in case you missed it, here's what else is happening in college hockey land ...
The Big Ten is in its final weekend of regular season play.
The NCHC is in first-round action. Nebraska Omaha beat Denver in the first of their three-game series last night, while the other matchups are Miami at St. Cloud State, Colorado College at North Dakota and Western Michigan at Minnesota Duluth.
In the Hockey East quarterfinals, Northeastern is at New Hampshire, Maine plays at Providence, Vermont goes to UMass-Lowell and Notre Dame plays at Boston College.
In the ECAC, Clarkson goes to Cornell, Yale plays at Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence is at Colgate and Dartmouth is at Union.
In Atlantic Hockey, Robert Morris plays at UConn, Canisius goes to Bentley, Holy Cross is at Mercyhurst and Niagara is at Air Force.
If last week was any indication of how the playoffs will go, expect a close, tight-checking affair between a pair of teams a lot closer than the difference in their spot in the final standings might show.
If that's the case, the Mavericks will need contributions all throughout their lineup, just as they have over the course of their nine-game unbeaten streak. That includes the fourth line where junior forward Max Gaede has accepted and owned an important role. Gaede may not be the goal scorer he thought he might be (although the biggest of his six career goals came in last season's playoffs), but scoring doesn't have to define his game.
"You won't see me stickhandling over the blue line," he said in a quote not used in the story. "I'm just going t throw it behind the D and make them sweat when I come in on them. I just gotta be the best at that, and that' pretty much what (coach Mike Hastings) wants from me. It's not too bad. I don't mind it anymore. I used to."
As for the series itself, MSU went 3-1 against Northern Michigan this season in their first-ever meetings with each other. Read more about the matchup in today's gameday preview.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, have a group of seniors that has not yet won a playoff series and hopes to check that off its list before graduation.
In the other first-round matchups ...
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska: The series got underway Thursday night in Fairbanks with the host Nanooks winning 3-2 in overtime. Colton Beck scored the game-winner 3:40 into OT. Alaska, which boasts WCHA player of the year Cody Kunyk (good choice) trailed twice in the game, including a 2-1 deficit in the third period, but now has the edge in the series.
Michigan Tech at Bowling Green: This could be a good one in Ohio. Tech went 2-1-1 against the Falcons this season, including a road sweep. Bowling Green hasn't hosted a playoff series since 2008 and hope to capitalize on the comforts of home as the Huskies go on the road for the 21st time in a row.
Bemidji State State at Ferris State: The champions and WCHA coach of the year Bob Daniels host the Beavers in what could also be a better series than a 1-8 matchup should be (the Bulldogs aren't playing Alabama Huntsville, after all). Still, Ferris' players aren't feeling too much pressure. As for Bemidji, it may have squeaked into the playoffs but there's an upset win over the Bulldogs from Feb. 15 that's pretty fresh in the Beavers' minds.
My and Matt Wellens' WCHA playoff preview can be found here, and our playoff picks can be found here. More from College Hockey News here.
Also from College Hockey News, Adam Wodon takes a closer look at the Lake Superior State situation following the ouster of coach Jim Roque.
One of the complaints I've heard about college hockey's realignment this year has been how little each conference pays attention to the others. So, in case you missed it, here's what else is happening in college hockey land ...
The Big Ten is in its final weekend of regular season play.
The NCHC is in first-round action. Nebraska Omaha beat Denver in the first of their three-game series last night, while the other matchups are Miami at St. Cloud State, Colorado College at North Dakota and Western Michigan at Minnesota Duluth.
In the Hockey East quarterfinals, Northeastern is at New Hampshire, Maine plays at Providence, Vermont goes to UMass-Lowell and Notre Dame plays at Boston College.
In the ECAC, Clarkson goes to Cornell, Yale plays at Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence is at Colgate and Dartmouth is at Union.
In Atlantic Hockey, Robert Morris plays at UConn, Canisius goes to Bentley, Holy Cross is at Mercyhurst and Niagara is at Air Force.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
WCHA awards
Seven Minnesota State players were named All-WCHA on Thursday.
The Mavericks had representatives on each of the four teams,
including first-team forward Matt Leitner and first-team defenseman Zach
Palmquist.
Second-team picks included forward Jean-Paul LaFontaine and
goaltender Cole Huggins.
Forwards Johnny McInnis and Zach Lehrke were named to the
third team.
Huggins, the league’s goaltending champion and defenseman Sean Flanagan
were selected to the all-rookie team.
Voting was done by head and assistant coaches, players and
sports information directors.
“When you’re judged by coaches competing against you and
players competing against you and you’re voted to one of he teams, it’s
something you should be very proud of,” MSU coach Mike Hastings said. “We had
multiple guys contribute to our season, and I think that’s a recognition for
the number of guys who contributed to our regular season.”
Ferris State and Alaska each had five players picked.
Here are the awards:
FIRST TEAM—Forwards: Matt Leitner, MSU; Cody Kunyk, Alaska;
Matt Bailey, UAA. Defensemen: Zach Palmquist, MSU; Colton Parayko, Alaska. Goaltender:
C.J. Motte, FSU.
SECOND TEAM—Forwards: Jean-Paul LaFontaine, MSU; Colton
Beck, Alaska; Garrett Thompson, FSU. Defensemen: Scott Czarnowczan, FSU; Kevin
Czuczman, LSSU. Goaltender: Cole Huggins, MSU.
THIRD TEAM—Forwards: Johnny McInnis, MSU; Zach Lehrke, MSU;
Tyler Morley, Alaska. Defensemen: Matt Prapavessis, BSU; Jason Binkley, FSU. Goaltender:
Kevin Kapalka, LSSU.
ROOKIE TEAM—Forwards: Alex Globke, LSSU; Marcus Basara,
Alaska; Kyle Schempp, FSU. Defensemen: Sean Flanagan, MSU; Shane Hanna, MTU;
Ruslan Pedan, MSU. Goaltender: Cole Huggins, MSU.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cody Kunyk, F, Alaska
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bob Daniels, Ferris State
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Alex Globke, Lake Superior State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Colton Parayko, Alaska
STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Chad Brears, Alabama Huntsville
The Mavericks also had the following players make the WCHA's All-Academic Team: Teddy Blueger, Nick Buchanan, Max Gaede, Bryce Gervais, Chase Grant, Jon Jutzi, Evan Karambelas, Mat Knoll, Zach Lehrke, Dylan Margonari, Josh Nelson, Zach Palmquist, Brett Stern, Blake Thompson and Stephon Williams.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
First departure, first casualty
The new WCHA playoff format that tossed the bottom two teams out of postseason contention meant it was early season for pro prospects and coaching changes.
Lake Superior State, which needed just one point over its last four games to get a playoff spot, saw two big changes on Tuesday afternoon.
First, junior defenseman Kevin Czuczman signed a free-agent contract with the New York Islanders, opting to forgo his senior season. Czuczman was the top goal-scoring defenseman in the WCHA and sixth in the league in points.
Then the big blow game.
Lake Superior State fired coach Jim Roque, announcing that it would not be renewing his contract for next year. Roque was the Lakers' coach for nine years. He went 16-19-1 this year, the first year of the new WCHA and had his team ranked in the top 20 early on when it started 4-0-1, including a sweep of now-third-ranked Union. His record with the Lakers is 136-165-46.
Of course, a national search for his replacement will begin immediately.
Lake Superior State, which needed just one point over its last four games to get a playoff spot, saw two big changes on Tuesday afternoon.
First, junior defenseman Kevin Czuczman signed a free-agent contract with the New York Islanders, opting to forgo his senior season. Czuczman was the top goal-scoring defenseman in the WCHA and sixth in the league in points.
Then the big blow game.
Lake Superior State fired coach Jim Roque, announcing that it would not be renewing his contract for next year. Roque was the Lakers' coach for nine years. He went 16-19-1 this year, the first year of the new WCHA and had his team ranked in the top 20 early on when it started 4-0-1, including a sweep of now-third-ranked Union. His record with the Lakers is 136-165-46.
Of course, a national search for his replacement will begin immediately.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
WCHA final standings vs. preseason picks
Minnesota State was the overwhelming favorite to win the WCHA last fall. The Mavericks came close, falling one point short of the MacNaughton Cup. Here are the final WCHA standings and how they compare to how the coaches and media predicted things would go.
Final standings
1. Ferris State
2. Minnesota State
3. Alaska*
3. Bowling Green
5. Michigan Tech
6. Alaska Anchorage
7. Northern Michigan
8. Bemidji State*
8. Lake Superior State
10. Alabama Huntsville
* wins tiebreaker
Coaches poll
1. Minnesota State
2. Ferris State
3. Michigan Tech
4. Bowling Green
5. Alaska
6. Northern Michigan
7. Bemidji State
8. Lake Superior State
9. Alaska Anchorage
10. Alabama Huntsville
Media poll
1. Minnesota State
2. Ferris State
3. Alaska
4. Bowling Green
5. Michigan Tech
6. Northern Michigan
7. Lake Superior State
8. Bemidji State
9. Alaska Anchorage
10. Alabama Huntsville
PucKato's picks
1. Minnesota State
2. Ferris State
3. Bowling Green
4. Michigan Tech
5. Alaska
6. NorthernMichigan
7. Bemidji State
8. Lake Superior State
9. Alaska Anchorage
10. Alabama Huntsville
PucKato's picks
1. Minnesota State
2. Ferris State
3. Bowling Green
4. Michigan Tech
5. Alaska
6. NorthernMichigan
7. Bemidji State
8. Lake Superior State
9. Alaska Anchorage
10. Alabama Huntsville
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