Host teams Alaska Anchorage and Denver, along with visiting teams Minnesota Duluth and Wisconsin, all posted victories in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action on Saturday (Nov. 21) night while Colorado College completed a non-conference sweep of Robert Morris.
The Seawolves came through with a 4-1 win over visiting Minnesota State, Mankato, Denver edged North Dakota, 3-2, Minnesota Duluth won 3-2 at Minnesota, and Wisconsin forged a 4-1 victory at St. Cloud State. Both the Pioneers and Bulldogs were able to gain four points over the weekend and heading into Thanksgiving week the league race has tightened significantly.
Through games of Nov. 22, there is a three-way tie for first place in the WCHA standings and just two points and one victory separate the current top five teams. Sharing the top spot this week with 13 points apiece are Colorado College (9-2-1, 6-1-1 WCHA), pre-season favorite Denver (8-3-1, 6-1-1 WCHA) and defending WCHA Final Five champion Minnesota Duluth (9-4-1, 6-3-1 WCHA), although both the Tigers and Pioneers have played two fewer league games. Defending MacNaughton Cup champion North Dakota (7-4-1, 5-4-1 WCHA) and Wisconsin (7-4-1, 5-4-1 WCHA) are deadlocked in fourth with 11 points each, St. Cloud State (5-5-2, 4-3-1 WCHA) is sixth with nine points, Minnesota (4-7-1, 3-6-1 WCHA) is seventh with seven points, Alaska Anchorage (5-9-0, 3-7-0 WCHA) is up to eighth with six points, Minnesota State (4-7-1, 2-7-1 WCHA) is ninth with five points and Michigan Tech (3-7-0, 2-6-0 WCHA), idle this weekend, is 10th with four points.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend of Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28 - there are four WCHA series scheduled as Colorado College hosts Alaska Anchorage, Denver welcomes St. Cloud State, and Minnesota State entertains Michigan Tech. In non-conference action, North Dakota will play host to College Hockey America-member Bemidji State along with Miami and Ohio State of the CCHA to the Subway Holiday Classic in Grand Forks, while Minnesota and Wisconsin will take turns facing CCHA-members Michigan and Michigan State on the road in the College Hockey Showcase.
At Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Saturday (Nov. 21) night, Alaska Anchorage left winger Tommy Grant (2g, 1a) and right winger Kevin Clark (1g, 1a) led the way with multiple-point games as the Seawolves captured a 4-1 WCHA win over Minnesota State, Mankato and gained a split of their weekend series before 3,232. Grant's goal at 1:25 of the second period proved to be the game-winner while in nets, Bryce Christianson had 21 saves. For the Mavericks, center Zach Harrison notched a second period power-play goal while Kevin Murdock had 21 saves in goal.
At Magness Arena in the Mile High City on Saturday, a sellout crowd of 6,030 saw host Denver complete a sweep of North Dakota with a 3-2 victory as the Pioneers came back from a 2-0 second period deficit. Leading the way for DU offensively were linemates Joe Colborne (2g, 1a) and Kyle Ostrow (1g, 1a), with Ostrow's power-play goal at 8:33 of period two holding up as the winner, while in goal Marc Cheverie had 24 stops and did not surrender an even-strength goal. For the Sioux, forwards Danny Kristo and Chris VandeVelde notched first period power-play goals to give their team a 2-0 advantage while in goal, Brad Eidsness had 29 stops.
At Mariucci Arena on Nov. 21, visiting Minnesota Duluth overcame a two-goal deficit for the second straight night to fashion a 3-2 win over host Minnesota and gain a series sweep before a sellout crowd of 10,078. For UMD, defenseman Mike Montgomery scored the game-winner at 17:58 of the third period while defenseman Dylan Olsen added two assists and Brady Hjelle had 36 saves in nets. For the Golden Gophers, winger Mike Hoeffel and defenseman Kevin Wehrs both scored in the first period to give UM a 2-0 lead while Alex Kangas had 30 saves.
At the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud on Saturday night, visiting Wisconsin gained a split of their series with the SCSU Huskies with a 4-1 victory before a sellout of 6,081 as left winger John Mitchell scored the game-winner at 14:51 of the second period and the Badgers outshot their hosts, 33-19. Also for UW, defenseman Brendan Smith (1g, 1a) and center Aaron Bendickson (2a) had multiple-point games while in goal Scott Gudmandson had 18 saves. For SCSU, left winger David Eddy scored in the first period and goaltender Dan Dunn turned aside 29 shots.
And at the World Arena in Colorado Springs on Saturday evening, the CC Tigers completed a non-conference sweep of Robert Morris with a 4-1 verdict. Colorado College was led by left winger Bill Sweatt (2g, 1a) and right winger Andrew Hamburg (1g, 2a), with Sweatt notching the winner at 13:58 of the opening period.
This Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, November 20: Minnesota State 8 at Alaska Anchorage 2 (WCHA); Minnesota Duluth 4 at Minnesota 3 ot (WCHA); Wisconsin 1 at St. Cloud State 4 (WCHA); North Dakota 0 @ Denver 1 (WCHA); Robert Morris 3 at Colorado College 4 (nc).
Results of Saturday, November 21: Minnesota State 1 at Alaska Anchorage 4 (WCHA); Minnesota Duluth 3 at Minnesota 2 (WCHA); Wisconsin 4 at St. Cloud State 1 (WCHA); North Dakota 2 at Denver 3 (WCHA); Robert Morris 1 at Colorado College 4 (nc).
Next Week in the WCHA
Games for Friday, November 27: Alaska Anchorage at Colorado College (WCHA), 7:37 pm MT; St. Cloud State at Denver (WCHA), 7:37 pm MT; Michigan Tech at Minnesota State (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT; Wisconsin at Michigan State (nc), 7:05 pm ET; Minnesota at Michigan (nc), 7:35 pm ET; Ohio State at North Dakota (nc), 7:37 pm CT (Subway Holiday Classic).
Games for Saturday, November 28: Alaska Anchorage at Colorado College (WCHA), 7:05 pm MT; St. Cloud State at Denver (WCHA), 7:07 pm MT; Michigan Tech at Minnesota State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota at Michigan State (nc), 7:05 pm ET; Wisconsin at Michigan (nc), 7:35 pm ET; Miami at North Dakota (nc), 7:37 pm CT (Subway Holiday Classic).
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