Season Preview and Predictions

Yep, I've done a little research. And I've done a little thinking, and the time has come to talk about each WCHA team and make my predictions. It's a little early, but hey, the season is right around the corner!

Without further ado...

Michigan Tech University Huskies

Let's be honest. Tech was horrible last season. Just terrible. I blame their negative fan base who seems to accept that their team will suck every year. Last year the Huskies won a total of 7 games with only two of those being conference wins. This year doesn't look much better for the kids in Houghton, with only two seniors on the roster. There is a deep sophomore class at this school, and with leading scorer Jordan Baker returning, the Huskies may be able to win 10 games this year...but don't hold your breath

University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves

UAA! UAA! We are the Seawolves and we're ready to play! Sorry, had to. The best part of UAA's season is right now, when they are in first place. They showed some grit last year early and even cracked the top 20 in USCHO's poll. But by Christmas, the Seawolves were on their way to the depths of mediocrity in college hockey. They closed off the season strong though, sweeping a red-hot Minnesota Duluth team. Kevin Clark is coming off of a 30 point season and returns to the roster. Jon Olthuis returns in net for the Seawolves, who may surprise some teams this year. Or maybe not...

Minnesota State University - Mankato Mavericks

If anyone thought that Mankato would fall so fast, raise your hand. *pauses, waits* That's right, none of you. The 2007-2008 season was so surprising and the Mavericks just missed both the WCHA Final Five and the NCAA Tourney. Last year, they started out somewhat strong but quickly stumbled and never really recovered. Senior goalie Mike Zacharias departed last year, as well as senior defenseman Blake Friesan. The team does return some quality players though. Andrew Sackrison and is returning, so the Mavs can hope for some better offense production this year. Coach Troy Jutting is signed on for 4 more years.

University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs

Face it. None of us predicted their return to the NCAA's. And let's be honest. It's not like they had a spectacular season. In their last 7 regular season games they were 2-2-3! But they got hot at the right time. Swept Colorado College on the road then steamrolled over the competition in St. Paul to capture the WCHA championship. They took care of Princeton in an amazing game but the magic run out against eventual runner-up Miami of Ohio. Can the Bulldogs repeat what they did last year? I doubt it. 7 seniors depart the team, including MacGregor Sharp, who provided the Bulldogs with much spark late in the season. Goalie Alex Stalock has departed, though. I'm not ruling the Bulldogs out, but I don't think it's going to be like last year for them.

St. Cloud State Huskies

Another season of hope, another season of disappointment. Really, St. Cloud is that team that you have to pick early in the season based on the talent they have, but they can never seem to put anything together. They are like the New York Jets. Seem good on paper, should be good, but really, they are not. One of their best players, goalie Jase Weslosky departed the team for academic reasons and they also lost forward Brent Borgen to him being a senior and graduating. Ryan Lasch is back, at least for now, as well as defenseman Garrett Roe, who everyone loves for some reason. Goalie is obviously a huge question mark right now, so we'll see on this team.

University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Chants of YOU GOT LUCKY! should be flying all over the place here. They somehow pulled a split of both Duluth and Michigan Tech to gain home ice for the WCHA playoffs. Goalie Alex Kangas was not nearly what he was freshman year and the offense could never really get going last year. Combine that with young defensemen and the Gophers, some might say, overachieved. They did miss the NCAA tourney for the first time since like, the thing was invented. But this year brings some more promise. As far as I'm concerned, the only loss from this team was Ryan Stoa. RJ Anderson being gone is probably better for this team. Kangas is returning and hoping to shake off a sophomore slump. Freshman phenom Jordan Schroeder is returning for his sophomore year even though the Vancouver Canucks REALLY wanted to sign him. Combine that with another year of experience for the D and the Gophers will be back near the top of the WCHA standings.

Colorado College Tigers

Oh how the mighty have fallen! CC was picked by many to repeat, but couldn't ever get into a groove. Goalie Richard Bachman fell into the trap known as the sophomore slump and forwards Chad Rau, Bill Sweatt, and Mike Testwuide never found the spark they had in the 2007-2008 season. And take a look at the offseason the poor Tigers have had to endure. Assistant coach Mike Guentzel left the program for the Des Moines Buccaneers, prized recruit John Moore chose to sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets instead of play for CC, and Colten St. Clair changed his verbal commitment from CC to University of North Dakota. It's certainly been a rough off-season for CC, and IMO, it's not looking much better on the ice either.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers

It's no secret how much I hate Wisconsin. And it's no secret I want that school to explode. But Wisconsin had a decent season last year. They definitely struggled early but ended up putting together a decent season. This upcoming season should be even better. This team is loaded with talent on both sides of the puck. Ryan McDonagh and Blake Geoffrion return for their senior seasons. The ultimate question, as usual, is goaltender. Wisconsin has a history of excellent goaltending, so if they can get a good season out of junior Scott Gudmandson, the Badgers could be knocking not only on the door of the WCHA top, but the door of Ford Field as well. But I still hope they fail.

University of Denver Pioneers

George is a funny coach. He gets so riled up against North Dakota. I mean, really? Do they piss you off that much? Ok, that out of the way, let's focus on the team that that most will pick as the preseason favorite. And why not? They had a great season last year, relinquishing first place to UND really late in the season. They return some ridiculous talent, including forward Tyler Bozak, Anthony Maiani, and Brandon Vossberg. They also return goalie Marc Cheverie, but I'm not convinced he's all that great. He's good, but not great. I watched him last year. When he's on, he's ON! But when he gets off, oh boy. He has a tendency to get rattled really easily, so if teams get to him early, that can spell trouble for the Pioneers. But with this roster, this team should be the favorite.

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux

I'm convinced that after Minnesota, North Dakota is the most hated school in the WCHA. Because they are good. And because of events like last year, where they go from 9th place to winning the WCHA. Even though the Sioux stumbled in the Final Five and eventually against UNH in the NCAA's, they still had a great season. This year, the Sioux lose proven playmaker Ryan Duncan as well as cornerstones Ryan Martens, Matt Jones, Brad Miller, Andrew Kozek, and Joe Finley. However, they are bringing in some ridiculously talented freshmen, Eidsness is looking to improve on what I would call an above-average season, and seniors Chay Genoway and Chris VandeVelde were willing to stick around. And it's the Sioux. Can you really count them out?

Alright, there you have it. Takes on every team. Now, time for the rankings. Like last year, the bottom two teams are easy to pick. Unlike last year, there is no clear cut #1. I think the middle is easier to pick this year than last year, but #1 is tough, as well as 2-3-4. Oh well, here we go:

1. DU
2. Wisconsin
3. UND
4. Minnesota
5. Mankato
6. CC
7. UAA
8. St. Cloud
9. Daloot
10. Tech

Recap of 2008-2009

Yes, that time has come again this year. A recap of last season. Since we have like a month until the puck drops, I figured I better get cracking, since I really haven't done a lot of blogging this summer. Yeah, I have a life outside this. Not much of one, but I digress.

In any event, the season last year opened up with some questions. Oshie left for the big leagues, there were glaring question marks at the goaltender position, and really, aside from Finley, who was there on defense? Nevertheless, with Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan leading the offense, the Sioux were still looking to have a decent season.

It got off to a rough start as the Sioux lost their first 3 games of the season. The losses were not just tough losses, but the goaltender question was looking even more glaring. Watkins, who had only started one game in his collegiate career was struggling and it looked like early on the Sioux would be using Brad Eidsness as their go-to-guy. The Sioux won their next game in Mankato by scoring 4 goals in the 3rd period, including the game winner by VandeVelde at 19:51.

The Sioux split their next 3 series against Wisconsin, CC, and Alaska-Anchorage, respectively. Hakstol continued to try to split the time with the goalies, but it was becoming pretty clear that Walski wasn't the answer. I didn't have the greatest confidence in Eidsness, but at that point, Dirty would have been a better goaltender than Walski.

After a loss and a tie to eventual WCHA champion Minnesota-Duluth, many fans were ready to write the team off, including me. This team didn't seem ready for a 2nd half turnaround that we have all become accustomed to under Hak. They pulled together a good win against Cornell and swept both Harvard and St. Cloud, but at the GLI, they came crashing back to earth quickly, losing to both Michigan State and Michigan Tech.

At this point, nearly every Sioux fan was saying the season was over. They were looking at the top of the standings from 9th place. 9th! Granted, at some points in the 2nd half, 1st and 9th were separated by 9 points, but still! The Sioux needed to start that 2nd half turnaround fast. And get it started they did!

Sweeping both Bemidji and the hated Gophers, the Sioux vaulted in the standings. They took 3/4 from Michigan Tech and 3/4 from Denver, causing Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky to get thrown out of the game by dancing on the dasher AGAIN! Check out the video for hilariousness! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNumTfae7Z0

Along with splitting a series against St. Cloud and sweeps of Mankato and UAA, North Dakota was riding a 5 game win streak into the most pivotal series of the season...a home series against CC. The first night was played to a 4-4 tie. The 2nd night, CC tied the game at 3 with a crucial goal in the 3rd period. It appeared in overtime that the game would be a tie and the Sioux would have a share of 1st place in the WCHA...then this play happened...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOROJlNPCL0

Anyway, the Sioux were now not only in sole possession of 1st place but could clinch the MacNaughton cup with a win over Wisconsin...and that's exactly what they did. On the Kohl Center ice, the Sioux were presented with the trophy for the first time since 2004. Now they were looking at playing last place Tech for the playoffs.

They took care of Tech with a convincing 5-1 win and a not-so-convincing 4-3 win. Then it was off to St. Paul for the WCHA Final Five. They would have to wait until Friday night to find out who they played...Minnesota-Duluth or Minnesota. Minnesota played an uninspired game and Minnesota-Duluth took amazing 2nd half momentum and a heavily-laden senior class and beat the Gophers. The Sioux played an uninspired game and some mistakes led to a 3-0 victory for the Bulldogs. The Sioux would play in the consolation game and lose to the Badgers 4-1. Some rumblings about the lackluster performance popped up and the fact that the Sioux shot themselves in the foot and would most likely be in a rough bracket for the NCAA playoffs. And that's exactly what happened.

The Sioux got sent out to New Hampshire, where they would face the Wildcats. Even if they won the game, they would be going up against undisputed #1 Boston University.

The Sioux had a 2-1 lead going into the 2nd period, where we finally got to see the game thanks to ESPNU playing a REGULAR SEASON lacrosse game that went into like 11837891372871 overtimes. The Sioux looked decent, but there was just something off. I couldn't put my finger on it, but being that I have probably watched over 1000 hockey games in my lifetime, I could sense it.

In the 3rd period, it was 5-4 North Dakota. Face-off was in the UND defensive end. About 5 seconds left. All they had to do was win the face-off and the game was over. Or fall on the puck. Or anything. But none of that happened. And with .1 seconds left, UNH tied the game. That's right....1 seconds left. I was dumbfounded. And I knew deep down that the season was over.

In overtime, UNH quickly ended UND's season with a goal :45 seconds in. Just like that, the Sioux were sent home. No 5th Frozen Four for Hakstol. No 8th championship for UND. The Sioux were left wondering "what went wrong?" My theory is they ran out of gas too early. They peaked just a tiny bit too early. Too much catch-up. Too much emotion. Regardless of the why, I had to endure a Frozen Four with 0 WCHA teams. Seeing Bemidji in the Frozen Four was really special, and the championship game was as exciting as you'll ever see. Plus my girlfriend's alma mater got their 5th championship. :-)

In any event, time to dust ourselves off and prepare for the next season.

Matt Frattin kicked off the Sioux team

Matt Frattin got in trouble one too many times this offseason, I guess. First there was the lawnmower incident with Joe Finley, then a DUI. UND decided to wash their hands of him once and for all and kicked him off the team.

The Schloss blog talks about it more. You can read it here.

Personally, I think this sends a message to Sioux players, both current and upcoming that if you fuck around, they will come down on you. I'm glad to see this. Now, the question is, how will this affect the Sioux next year?

CCHA votes down Alabama Huntsville

In a move that is shocking and surprising and to me, very very sad...the CCHA today voted down allowing Alabama-Huntsville into its league, thereby all but guarateeing the folding of that program. Why the CCHA wouldn't want to keep a 12 team league is beyond me, but supposedly "cost" and "economic structure" isn't jiving with the league.

Whatever, way to kill off a team there CCHA. Way to go. I've always hated Michigan; now I hope everyone else does as well.

BSU and UNO to join the WCHA

As was widely expected, both Bemdji and University of Nebraska-Omaha were admitted to the WCHA earlier in the summer. This not only saved the Bemidji program, which was in danger of folding, but will probably allow Alabama Huntsville to enter the CCHA, thus saving every team in college hockey and ensuring our favorite sport survives.

I personally am glad to see teams survive. That is all.

The NCAA Sucks

I was browsing my buddy Joe's blog and read this story. Apparently it's not a new story, but still new enough to me that it really ground my gears.

Basically, the NCAA doesn't care that a coach lets ineligible players that have crappy ACT scores play, but if a player is honest and comes forth with an honest mistake, he is banned and stoned and crucified. Like Jesus, minus the stoning and rising from the dead.

I hate the NCAA. You should too.

UNO gets Dean Blais...is the WCHA next?

I got a call from the USCHO WCHA Correspondent yesterday saying that Dean Blais had been named the head coach of University of Nebraska-Omaha. This didn't come as a huge surprise, but certainly makes things interesting. When checking up on my morning reading, I headed over to Goons World and found this post.

I certainly hope for Bemidji's sake that this is true.