A quick skate through the WCHA before taking a little time off ...
Minnesota State is idle, of course, practicing but also getting as healthy as it can before next week's games against Michigan Tech. On Wednesday, coach Mike Hastings said the team's injured forwards — Teddy Blueger, C.J. Franklin and Brett Knowles — were all progressing but "day to day." Good news on the injury front was that Dylan Margonari was back skating with the team. With Tech also idle this weekend, the Mavericks won't have to do a lot of scoreboard watching.
This is the weekend when all of the league teams catch up to each other in the games-played category, and we'll know just where everyone stands going into the final two weeks of the regular season. Here's who's in action in WCHA play this weekend:
Alaska Anchorage at Bemidji State: The Beavers finally won some road games over the weekend, which put them in position to get home ice for the league playoffs. They're tied for fifth place with Northern Michigan and hold the tiebreaker for what is currently a home-ice spot with fourth-place Alaska out of the playoffs. The Seawolves, meanwhile, hope to get out of the basement but they looked stuck there last week at home, being outscored 15-1 in a series against Tech.
Northern Michigan at Bowling Green: The host Falcons need just one point to clinch home ice for the second year in a row. Bowling Green might have the top freshman goaltender in the league in Chris Nell, but the job appears to be going back to junior Tommy Burke for the stretch run. The Wildcats, meanwhile, need to snap a four-game losing streak to stay in the home-ice race.
Ferris State at Alabama Huntsville: The Bulldogs go back on the road after a rare home weekend to play a team that not only appears to be in the postseason mix but one that beat them in Big Rapids earlier this season. No easy task for offensively challenged Ferris. The Chargers, meanwhile, have won five of their last seven home games.
Read more about Huntsville's playoff hopes and Ferris State's scoring issues in this week's USCHO column by Jack Hittinger and myself. Also, check out our weekend picks.
This is also a big weekend for the Gustavus Adolphus men's hockey team, which has set a Division III record with eight ties this season. The Gusties are down to the final weekend of the regular season to get in the league playoffs. They need to sweep Bethel and get some help elsewhere but, once in, they could be a dangerous team.
In high school hockey action, Mankato West survived an instant classic, beating Albert Lea in double -overtime Thursday night in the Section 1A quarterfinals. Read more in my game story here.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Mavericks need the break
Seven straight weekends of games — including trips to the U.P., lower Michigan and Alaska — alone is enough to justify a needed break for Minnesota State. But the Mavericks also need some time off to get healthy for the big showdown with Michigan Tech coming up in 10 days.
"Yeah, we need a break," coach Mike Hastings said on Monday. "Academically, we need to get things taken care of this week, and athletically, we need to take care of our bodies so we can handle what we have coming up."
After a rough-and-tumble weekend at Alaska, Hastings said Teddy Blueger (lower body) and C.J. Franklin (upper body) are being evaluated for their injuries this week — "I hope to have an idea of exactly where they're at (midweek)," Hastings said, while Brett Knowles (concussion) is day to day after being checked from behind. All of those injuries occurred Friday night, and all three players were unavailable Saturday.
Here's a Vine of the hit on Knowles:
There was a suspension from that game, but it wasn't on Nolan Kaiser, who hit Knowles, it was on Josh Erickson, for a major contact-to-the-head penalty in overtime. But I was wrong in my description of that penalty in earlier posts and tweets. Erickson's hit was on Matt Leitner. Another hit to the back of Chase Grant's head moments later (by a different Alaska player) was not penalized.
Hastings said Dylan Margonari, who missed the Alaska trip as well as the Mavericks' previous two games after being checked from behind against Ferris State on Jan. 31, is getting better but "is not full-go yet." Zeb Knutson, who missed the Alaska trip due to an illness, is healthy.
"Yeah, we need a break," coach Mike Hastings said on Monday. "Academically, we need to get things taken care of this week, and athletically, we need to take care of our bodies so we can handle what we have coming up."
After a rough-and-tumble weekend at Alaska, Hastings said Teddy Blueger (lower body) and C.J. Franklin (upper body) are being evaluated for their injuries this week — "I hope to have an idea of exactly where they're at (midweek)," Hastings said, while Brett Knowles (concussion) is day to day after being checked from behind. All of those injuries occurred Friday night, and all three players were unavailable Saturday.
Here's a Vine of the hit on Knowles:
There was a suspension from that game, but it wasn't on Nolan Kaiser, who hit Knowles, it was on Josh Erickson, for a major contact-to-the-head penalty in overtime. But I was wrong in my description of that penalty in earlier posts and tweets. Erickson's hit was on Matt Leitner. Another hit to the back of Chase Grant's head moments later (by a different Alaska player) was not penalized.
Hastings said Dylan Margonari, who missed the Alaska trip as well as the Mavericks' previous two games after being checked from behind against Ferris State on Jan. 31, is getting better but "is not full-go yet." Zeb Knutson, who missed the Alaska trip due to an illness, is healthy.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Mavericks slip a bit
Minnesota State men’s hockey team is no longer No. 1.
After three weeks atop the charts, the Mavericks slipped to No. 2 in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll and No. 3 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll on Monday, following their tie and loss at Alaska over the weekend.
In the USCHO poll, Minnesota State (23-6-2) received 10 first-place votes and 909 points. North Dakota is No. 1 with 980 points, including 35 first-place votes.
Boston University is third, followed by MSU’s next opponent, Michigan Tech, at No. 4. Tech moved up a spot from No. 5 and received four first-place votes.
After three weeks atop the charts, the Mavericks slipped to No. 2 in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll and No. 3 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll on Monday, following their tie and loss at Alaska over the weekend.
In the USCHO poll, Minnesota State (23-6-2) received 10 first-place votes and 909 points. North Dakota is No. 1 with 980 points, including 35 first-place votes.
Boston University is third, followed by MSU’s next opponent, Michigan Tech, at No. 4. Tech moved up a spot from No. 5 and received four first-place votes.
Bowling Green remained the only other WCHA team in the rankings, staying at No. 8.
In the USA Hockey rankings, North Dakota is first with 25 first-place votes and 500 points, followed by Boston University (1, 448), MSU (3, 423), Michigan Tech (5, 414). Bowling Green is eighth.
The Mavericks remained first in the Pairwise rankings, followed by North Dakota, BU and Minnesota Duluth.
In the USA Hockey rankings, North Dakota is first with 25 first-place votes and 500 points, followed by Boston University (1, 448), MSU (3, 423), Michigan Tech (5, 414). Bowling Green is eighth.
The Mavericks remained first in the Pairwise rankings, followed by North Dakota, BU and Minnesota Duluth.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Nanooks 3, Mavericks 1
Freddy's three thoughts (from afar) ...
1. Thread bare: The Mavericks were thin up front on Saturday night, playing without Brett Knowles, Teddy Blueger and C.J. Franklin, who were knocked out of Friday's game with injuries, as well as without Dylan Margonari and Zeb Knutson, who were back in Mankato with their own ailments. That's a collection of some of the team's tougher players. Not only was their bench shortened (defensemen Blake Thompson and Jaden Schmeisser were listed as the fourth line on chart), but the game ended up being a special-teams fest, too. MSU killed all eight (!) Alaska power plays but was just 1 for 7 on its own while also giving up a short-handed goal.
2. Top-line guys: Tyler Morley scored two Nanooks goals, including the empty-netter, and had three of his team's four in the series. He's up near the top of the WCHA scoring charts, along with Matt Leitner and Bryce Gervais of MSU and Michigan Tech's top guys. But the Mavericks' best scorers were kept off the board all weekend long. They needed those guys to play like the best players in the conference, to be the difference makers they can be. Another stud for Alaska is defenseman Colton Parayko, maybe the best in the WCHA.
3. Rest up: The results of the weekend kept the Mavericks No. 1 in the Pairwise as well as in first place in the WCHA. However, they now lead Michigan Tech by just one point in the league standings, which sets up quite the showdown in two weeks in Mankato. The good news for MSU is that the upcoming bye week couldn't come at a better time with the team's injury situation. The Mavericks have played seven consecutive weekends with eight games on the road. They went 10-2-2 in that entire stretch, 4-2-2 away from home.
Read more here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 10, Alaska Anchorage 0 ... Bemidji State 5, Northern Michigan 1 ... Ferris State 3, Bowling Green 2 (OT) ... Alabama Huntsville 3, Lake Superior State 1
1. Thread bare: The Mavericks were thin up front on Saturday night, playing without Brett Knowles, Teddy Blueger and C.J. Franklin, who were knocked out of Friday's game with injuries, as well as without Dylan Margonari and Zeb Knutson, who were back in Mankato with their own ailments. That's a collection of some of the team's tougher players. Not only was their bench shortened (defensemen Blake Thompson and Jaden Schmeisser were listed as the fourth line on chart), but the game ended up being a special-teams fest, too. MSU killed all eight (!) Alaska power plays but was just 1 for 7 on its own while also giving up a short-handed goal.
2. Top-line guys: Tyler Morley scored two Nanooks goals, including the empty-netter, and had three of his team's four in the series. He's up near the top of the WCHA scoring charts, along with Matt Leitner and Bryce Gervais of MSU and Michigan Tech's top guys. But the Mavericks' best scorers were kept off the board all weekend long. They needed those guys to play like the best players in the conference, to be the difference makers they can be. Another stud for Alaska is defenseman Colton Parayko, maybe the best in the WCHA.
3. Rest up: The results of the weekend kept the Mavericks No. 1 in the Pairwise as well as in first place in the WCHA. However, they now lead Michigan Tech by just one point in the league standings, which sets up quite the showdown in two weeks in Mankato. The good news for MSU is that the upcoming bye week couldn't come at a better time with the team's injury situation. The Mavericks have played seven consecutive weekends with eight games on the road. They went 10-2-2 in that entire stretch, 4-2-2 away from home.
Read more here.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 10, Alaska Anchorage 0 ... Bemidji State 5, Northern Michigan 1 ... Ferris State 3, Bowling Green 2 (OT) ... Alabama Huntsville 3, Lake Superior State 1
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Mavericks 1, Nanooks 1 (OT)
Freddy's three thoughts from afar ...
1. Safe at home: The Mavericks needed Stephon Williams to be good in his hometown on Friday night. The junior goaltender stopped 29 of 30 shots as the Mavericks' own offense sputtered (just 18 shots). Williams did not play in Fairbanks when the Mavericks were there last season and last played a meaningful game there when he was a high school junior. He stopped all 14 shots he faced in the third period and turned away a couple of breakaways. The only goal he gave up was a power-play redirect by Tyler Morley. In fact, four of the last five goals he's allowed have been power-play goals.
2. Roster thins out: Brett Knowles was checked from behind in the first period in what looked like a scary moment for the Mavs. While the Alaska broadcast via WCHA.tv didn't show a replay nor Knowles lying on the ice, he was down for awhile before exiting the rink. Coach Mike Hastings even went out to check on the junior forward. Knowles did not return to the game. Also, it appeared C.J. Franklin did not play the second half of the game. Wasn't feeling well, according to the radio broadcast, and Zeb Knutson (sick) and Dylan Margonari (upper body injury) were left back in Mankato. Chase Grant appeared to skate back to the bench slowly in overtime after getting hit illegally (Alaska's second major), but he returned to the game.
3. All things considered: Not a bad point on the road, against a good team (you have to believe me on that point, folks ... Morley and Colton Parayko could play for anybody), when taken out of your game. However, it's a good point if you get one or two on Saturday night. The Mavericks have to be a little grittier on the road against a physical team, which Alaska appeared to be. They also have to be smarter. Zach Palmquist, a senior and captain who should know better, got a retaliation roughing penalty with 5:27 left in the third, just after his team killed off another late penalty. Can't do that.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 5, Alaska Anchorage 1 ... Bemidji State 1, Northern Michigan 0 ... Bowling Green 4, Ferris State 1 ... Alabama Huntsville 1, Lake Superior State 1 (OT)
1. Safe at home: The Mavericks needed Stephon Williams to be good in his hometown on Friday night. The junior goaltender stopped 29 of 30 shots as the Mavericks' own offense sputtered (just 18 shots). Williams did not play in Fairbanks when the Mavericks were there last season and last played a meaningful game there when he was a high school junior. He stopped all 14 shots he faced in the third period and turned away a couple of breakaways. The only goal he gave up was a power-play redirect by Tyler Morley. In fact, four of the last five goals he's allowed have been power-play goals.
2. Roster thins out: Brett Knowles was checked from behind in the first period in what looked like a scary moment for the Mavs. While the Alaska broadcast via WCHA.tv didn't show a replay nor Knowles lying on the ice, he was down for awhile before exiting the rink. Coach Mike Hastings even went out to check on the junior forward. Knowles did not return to the game. Also, it appeared C.J. Franklin did not play the second half of the game. Wasn't feeling well, according to the radio broadcast, and Zeb Knutson (sick) and Dylan Margonari (upper body injury) were left back in Mankato. Chase Grant appeared to skate back to the bench slowly in overtime after getting hit illegally (Alaska's second major), but he returned to the game.
3. All things considered: Not a bad point on the road, against a good team (you have to believe me on that point, folks ... Morley and Colton Parayko could play for anybody), when taken out of your game. However, it's a good point if you get one or two on Saturday night. The Mavericks have to be a little grittier on the road against a physical team, which Alaska appeared to be. They also have to be smarter. Zach Palmquist, a senior and captain who should know better, got a retaliation roughing penalty with 5:27 left in the third, just after his team killed off another late penalty. Can't do that.
Around the WCHA: Michigan Tech 5, Alaska Anchorage 1 ... Bemidji State 1, Northern Michigan 0 ... Bowling Green 4, Ferris State 1 ... Alabama Huntsville 1, Lake Superior State 1 (OT)
Friday, February 13, 2015
Friday Morning Skate
The Mavericks are on the road in Fairbanks, Alaska, this weekend for what ought to be a challenging series against the Alaska Nanooks. Recall that Alaska upset MSU 5-4 in overtime on Dec. 5. The Mavericks have lost just once since that night, which is why they're ranked No. 1 in the country.
Alaska may be ineligible for postseason play, but that doesn't mean it a team not to be taken seriously. The Mavericks need to be aware that they're playing a potential spoiler. This weekend marks the Nanooks' final home games of the season, and they still have a shot to finish in the upper division of the WCHA. And that "home-ice" position remains a goal, coach Dallas Ferguson said in this week's USCHO column.
For more on the series, check out The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday feature, and read Tim O'Donnell's preview in Fairbanks' News Miner.
O'Donnell this week also writes about MSU goalie Stephon Williams, a Fairbanks native who is expected to play in his hometown for the first time since his junior year in high school (Cole Huggins played in both games at Alaska last season).
Going around the WCHA ...
Bowling Green at Ferris State: The visiting Falcons are expecting a physical series in Big Rapids, and why not? This weekend makes it four consecutive games between the two teams. Last week, Bowling Green won a pair of one-goal games. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are at home for only the second time since mid-December, and they've won just two games over that stretch.
Bemidji State at Northern Michigan: This is a big series, as the visiting Beavers are trying to get into a home-ice spot and the host Wildcats are trying to hold onto fourth place in the league standings. Just four points separate the teams currently.
Alabama Huntsville at Lake Superior State: This is another series that could have postseason implications. The teams are tied for eighth place in the standings, two points ahead of last-place Alaska Anchorage. Two of those three teams will make the league playoffs (due to Alaska's playoff ban), and a sweep by either team would go a long way in helping secure a spot. Both of those teams sat out the postseason a year ago.
Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage: The Huskies have been rolling, keeping pace with Minnesota State, which sits four points ahead of them atop the league standings. They've also played nine straight home games. Tech is on the road for the first time since Jan. 9 and out of the U.P. for the first time since Jan. 3. The Seawolves, meanwhile, are desperate to get out of the WCHA's basement.
Looking at the the docket of WCHA games this weekend, I ended up picking splits across the board in my and Jack Hittinger's weekly prediction blog. Someone's going to sweep, though, right? Maybe MSU?
Alaska may be ineligible for postseason play, but that doesn't mean it a team not to be taken seriously. The Mavericks need to be aware that they're playing a potential spoiler. This weekend marks the Nanooks' final home games of the season, and they still have a shot to finish in the upper division of the WCHA. And that "home-ice" position remains a goal, coach Dallas Ferguson said in this week's USCHO column.
For more on the series, check out The Free Press' College Hockey Gameday feature, and read Tim O'Donnell's preview in Fairbanks' News Miner.
O'Donnell this week also writes about MSU goalie Stephon Williams, a Fairbanks native who is expected to play in his hometown for the first time since his junior year in high school (Cole Huggins played in both games at Alaska last season).
Going around the WCHA ...
Bowling Green at Ferris State: The visiting Falcons are expecting a physical series in Big Rapids, and why not? This weekend makes it four consecutive games between the two teams. Last week, Bowling Green won a pair of one-goal games. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are at home for only the second time since mid-December, and they've won just two games over that stretch.
Bemidji State at Northern Michigan: This is a big series, as the visiting Beavers are trying to get into a home-ice spot and the host Wildcats are trying to hold onto fourth place in the league standings. Just four points separate the teams currently.
Alabama Huntsville at Lake Superior State: This is another series that could have postseason implications. The teams are tied for eighth place in the standings, two points ahead of last-place Alaska Anchorage. Two of those three teams will make the league playoffs (due to Alaska's playoff ban), and a sweep by either team would go a long way in helping secure a spot. Both of those teams sat out the postseason a year ago.
Michigan Tech at Alaska Anchorage: The Huskies have been rolling, keeping pace with Minnesota State, which sits four points ahead of them atop the league standings. They've also played nine straight home games. Tech is on the road for the first time since Jan. 9 and out of the U.P. for the first time since Jan. 3. The Seawolves, meanwhile, are desperate to get out of the WCHA's basement.
Looking at the the docket of WCHA games this weekend, I ended up picking splits across the board in my and Jack Hittinger's weekly prediction blog. Someone's going to sweep, though, right? Maybe MSU?
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
While I was out ...
Here are a few hockey notes from Monday ...
Minnesota State remained No. 1 in both national polls, getting 33 of 50 first-place votes in the USCHO rankings and 17 of 34 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings. In the former, which I vote on an is used by The Associated Press, North Dakota is 2, Boston University is 3, Nebraska Omaha is 4 and Michigan Tech is 5. Bowling Green is the other WCHA team, besides MSU and Tech, in the top 20, coming in at No. 8. The Mavericks, who travel to Alaska (Fairbanks) this week, are No. 1 for the fourth time in five weeks.
Mavericks freshman forward Brad McClure was named WCHA Rookie of the Week for his performance in MSU's sweep of Alaska Anchorage over the weekend. McClure had three assists, including helpers on both game-winners, along with seven shots on goal and was +3 in the series. McClure now has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points, which puts him 19th in the country in freshman scoring (teammate C.J. Franklin, with 23 points is ninth).
Saturday night's sellout at the Verizon Wireless Center got me thinking about the popularity of Minnesota State hockey right now. It just might be at an all-time high. Sure, there have been bigger crowds, but now the people are coming out in droves to see the home team. The Mavericks are a hot ticket, and the rink should be rockin' in 2 1/2 weeks when Michigan Tech comes to town.
Here's some more information on Bryce Gervais joining the 20-goal club, as well as some other notes from last weekend's games. Gervais is the 11th player to join the club, and it's the 12th time it's happened (Shane Joseph hit the mark twice). Gervais is nine goals from Joseph's D1-era high mark, and the Mavericks have at least nine games remaining in the season, likely more.
Minnesota State remained No. 1 in both national polls, getting 33 of 50 first-place votes in the USCHO rankings and 17 of 34 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings. In the former, which I vote on an is used by The Associated Press, North Dakota is 2, Boston University is 3, Nebraska Omaha is 4 and Michigan Tech is 5. Bowling Green is the other WCHA team, besides MSU and Tech, in the top 20, coming in at No. 8. The Mavericks, who travel to Alaska (Fairbanks) this week, are No. 1 for the fourth time in five weeks.
Mavericks freshman forward Brad McClure was named WCHA Rookie of the Week for his performance in MSU's sweep of Alaska Anchorage over the weekend. McClure had three assists, including helpers on both game-winners, along with seven shots on goal and was +3 in the series. McClure now has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points, which puts him 19th in the country in freshman scoring (teammate C.J. Franklin, with 23 points is ninth).
Saturday night's sellout at the Verizon Wireless Center got me thinking about the popularity of Minnesota State hockey right now. It just might be at an all-time high. Sure, there have been bigger crowds, but now the people are coming out in droves to see the home team. The Mavericks are a hot ticket, and the rink should be rockin' in 2 1/2 weeks when Michigan Tech comes to town.
Here's some more information on Bryce Gervais joining the 20-goal club, as well as some other notes from last weekend's games. Gervais is the 11th player to join the club, and it's the 12th time it's happened (Shane Joseph hit the mark twice). Gervais is nine goals from Joseph's D1-era high mark, and the Mavericks have at least nine games remaining in the season, likely more.
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