2017-18 WCHA WEEKLY RELEASE Week One (Games of Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2017) / wcha.com

@wcha_mhockey /WCHAHockey @wcha_mhockey WCHA.tv Matt Hodson ● o: 952-681-7668 ● c: 612-801-2808 ● [email protected]

WESTERN COLLEGIATE Opening Faceoff HOCKEY ASSOCIATION • Tradition Starts Here: The Men's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), among the most historic • Founded 1951 • conferences in college athletics, proudly drops the puck on its 66th season this weekend. Five member schools will host 2950 Metro Drive, Suite 102 exhibition contests, while Tech travels to Wisconsin for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Oct. 1 - the first Bloomington, MN 55425 regular season game of the 2017-18 NCAA Division I campaign. 952-681-7947 • Among the Best: Three (3) of the nation's top-15 winningest teams since 2013-14 play in the WCHA -- matching Hockey East for the second-highest representation among that upper 25 percent of any conference since realignment (the NCHC has four MEMBER TEAMS teams, Atlantic Hockey and ECAC Hockey have two apiece, and the Big Ten has a single program). University of Alabama in Huntsville • Minnesota State is tied for fifth nationally over the last four seasons with 98 wins, Michigan Tech is tied for ninth with University of Alaska Anchorage 89 and Bowling Green is tied for 13th with 84. University of Alaska Fairbanks • The WCHA also has four teams in the top-20 since realignment, matching the NCHC for the second-most among the Bemidji State University upper-third of the country's 60 programs (Hockey East, counting Notre Dame, leads the way with five). Ferris State Bowling Green State University ranks 18th with 80 victories since 2013-14. Ferris State University • Mavericks Open as Favorites: Minnesota State -- which is also tied for fourth nationally with 122 victories over the past five Lake Superior State University seasons -- is the heavy preseason league favorite in 2017-18, grabbing all nine possible first-place votes in the Mankato Free Michigan Technological University Minnesota State University Press WCHA Coaches' poll and 12 of 14 in the UAHHockey.com WCHA Media poll (full results are available on Page 2). Northern Michigan University • The Mavericks are also 18th in the USCHO.com preseason poll and 15th in the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine preseason rankings. Michigan Tech is receiving votes in both polls, while Bemidji State, Bowling Green and Ferris State all collected votes in the USCHO.com ledger. TRADITION STARTS HERE • Taking the Reins in Fairbanks, Houghton and Marquette: After the same 10 head coaches guided their programs over the last #WeAreWCHA four seasons, three programs enter 2017-18 with a new bench boss: Alaska (), Michigan Tech (Joe Shawhan) and Northern Michigan (). • West, who previously served as assistant coach at his alma mater, Alabama Huntsville, takes over a program for the 2017-18 Important Dates first time after spending the past nine seasons on the Nanooks' bench as an assistant to . Date Event • A 20-year coaching veteran, including the past three as an assistant to with the Huskies, Shawhan's first Oct. 6-7 First full regular season head job comes with the program he has helped steer to 75 wins and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. weekend • Potulny, a two-time NCAA and WCHA tournament champion during his playing days at Minnesota, makes his head Icebreaker Tournament coaching debut following an eight-year apprenticeship at his alma mater. Oct. 13-14 First WCHA league series First weekend of five (5) Nov. 10-11 By The Numbers WCHA series • 74: WCHA student-athletes who were recognized in the inaugural American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Dec. 17-Dec. 27 Holiday Break Scholar program, presented by Krampade. The program recognizes players who averaged a 3.6 GPA and participated in 40 In-season tournaments Late-Dec./ percent of their school's games during the 2016-17 season. Early-Jan. Great Lakes Inviational Ice Vegas Invitational Three Rivers Classic The Week Ahead Feb. 23-24 Final weekend of the • Michigan Tech at Wisconsin: Michigan Tech, the final WCHA team playing in 2016-17, has the honor of officially opening the regular season 2017-18 regular season with a Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1 tilt at Wisconsin. The Huskies and Badgers will meet in the U.S. Hockey March 2-4 2018 WCHA Quarterfinals Hall of Fame Game, held at the Kohl Center in Madison. Host sites; seeds 1-4 • Exhibitions: Five WCHA teams take the ice for exhibition games against Canadian schools. Alaska (Friday, Sept. 29) and Alaska March 9-11 2018 WCHA Semifinals Anchorage (Saturday, Sept. 30) will both host Simon Fraser, with the Seawolves playing in Eagle River. On Sunday, Oct. 1, Host sites; top 2 seeds Bowling Green welcomes Wilfred Laurier, Lake Superior State hosts Laurentian and Minnesota State skates at home Regina. March 17 2018 WCHA Semifinals Host site; top seed Final 2016-17 WCHA Standings March 23-25 2018 NCAA Regionals Conference (Final Regular Season) Overall Four sites Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts GP W L T 3/SW % GF GA GP W L T % GF GA April 5-7 2018 NCAA Frozen Four 1 Bemidji State (RV/NR) 64 28 20 6 2 2 .750 71 44 41 22 16 3 .573 94 79 Xcel Energy Center 2 Michigan Tech (19/NR) 54 28 15 7 6 3 .643 80 59 45 23 15 7 .589 131 100 Saint Paul, Minn. 3 Minnesota State (RV/NR) 51 28 15 9 4 2 .607 89 68 39 22 13 4 .615 119 95 4 Bowling Green (RV/NR) 44 28 14 13 1 1 .518 79 65 41 21 18 2 .537 120 102 5 Ferris State 42 28 12 12 4 2 .500 78 74 37 13 19 5 .419 95 101 WCHA.tv 6 Alaska 40 28 11 13 4 3 .464 67 84 36 12 20 4 .389 79 113 In partnership with industry leader 7 Lake Superior State 35 28 8 13 7 4 .411 78 87 36 11 18 7 .403 103 119 Stretch Internet, WCHA.tv - the official 8 Northern Michigan 34 28 10 15 3 1 .411 69 75 39 13 22 4 .385 93 108 9 Alabama Huntsville 30 28 9 16 3 0 .375 68 95 34 9 22 3 .309 74 120 online streaming platform of the WCHA 10 Alaska Anchorage 26 28 6 16 6 2 .321 52 80 34 7 21 6 .294 59 102 - will provide fans with live and archived (3 points for win in regulation or 5-on-5 OT; 1 point for tie after regulation and 5-on-5 OT; 1 point for win in 3-on-3 OT or shootout; broadcasts of WCHA hockey, now available rankings listed by USCHO.com first, followed byUSA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) via OTT aps on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. This Week in the WCHA (All Times Local) Featuring all 10 WCHA member institutions, every league game – home and away – will be Friday, September 29 Sunday, October 1 (Exh.) Simon Fraser at , 7:07 p.m. AT 2 at (12/11) Wisconsin, 2:00 p.m. CT streamed live, along with all nonconference Alaska Michigan Tech (Exh.) Wilfred Laurier at , 3:07 p.m. ET home games and the 2018 WCHA tournament. Bowling Green Saturday, September 30 (Exh.) Laurentian at Lake Superior State, 3:07 p.m. ET 1(Exh.) Simon Fraser at Alaska Anchorage, 7:00 p.m. AT* (Exh.) Regina at (18/15) Minnesota State, 5:07 p.m. CT.

1 - Game played in Eagle River, Alaska; 2 - U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game; Rankings listed by USCHO.com poll first, followed byUSA Today / USA Hockey Magazine poll 2017-18 WCHA Preseason Polls #WeAreWCHA

Minnesota State Tabbed as Preseason WCHA Favorite 2017-18 Mankato Free Press WCHA Coaches' Poll Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points The program that owns the fourth-most wins nationally over the last five years is the 1. Minnesota State (9) 90 heavy 2017-18 favorite in the men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), 2. Bemidji State (1) 81 as Minnesota State sits atop both the Mankato Free Press WCHA Coaches’ and 3. Michigan Tech 70 UAHHockey.com WCHA Media preseason polls. 4. Bowling Green 67 5. Ferris State 59 Predictions on the final standings by coaches and media mirrored each other, led by a 6. Lake Superior State 51 Mavericks team that has 122 victories since Mike Hastings took the reins prior to the 7. Northern Michigan 40 2012-13 season. Minnesota State, which also owns two MacNaughton Cups (2014-15 8. Alaska 35 and 2015-16 as co-champs) and a pair of Broadmoor Trophies (2014 and 2015) in that 9. Alabama Huntsville 29 span, received all nine possible first-place votes from coaches and 12 of 14 from the 10. Alaska Anchorage 18 media. Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Defending MacNaughton Cup champion Bemidji State received the other coaches’ first-place vote and is in second place in both poll. The Beavers are followed by WCHA Preseason Player of the Year (votes) reigning Broadmoor Trophy champion Michigan Tech (one media first-place vote) in Daniel Brickley, Jr., D, Minnesota State (4) and Marc Michaelis, So., F, third, Bowling Green (one media first-place vote) in fourth and Ferris State in fifth. The Minnesota State (4) Huskies and Falcons – both on three-year runs of 20+ victories – are tied for ninth and Others receiving votes: Michael Bitzer, Sr., G, Bemidji State (1); Gerry Fitzgerald, tied for 13th nationally for wins since realignment, with 89 and 84, respectively. The Sr., F, Bemidji State (1) Bulldogs are 18th with 80 victories in that span (Minnesota State is tied for fifth with 98). WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year (votes) Jake Jaremko, F, Minnesota State (4) Coaches and media also tabbed Lake Superior State (sixth place), Northern Michigan Others receiving votes: Brendan Harris, F, Bemidji State (2); Connor Mackey, (seventh) and Alaska (eighth) to qualify for the WCHA Tournament, with Alabama D, Minnesota State (2); Reggie Lutz, F, Minnesota State (1); Joseph Nardi, F, Huntsville (ninth) and Alaska Anchorage (10th). Northern Michigan

There was a tie among the league coaches for WCHA Preseason Player of the Year, Preseason All-WCHA Team as two Minnesota State players, sophomore forward Marc Michaelis and junior Forwards defenseman Daniel Brickley – the media’s pick – each received four coach votes Marc Michaelis, So., Minnesota State; C.J. Suess, Sr., Minnesota State; Mitch apiece. Bemidji State senior Michael Bitzer, the 2016-17 Player of the Year, McLain, Sr., Bowling Green and Beavers’ senior forward Gerry Fitzgerald split the other two coach votes. Defensemen Daniel Brickley, Jr., Minnesota State; Mark Auk, Sr., Michigan Tech Michaelis, a native of Mannheim, Germany, was the WCHA Rookie of the Year, a first- Goaltender team All-WCHA selection and the league’s top overall scorer last season with 36 points Michael Bitzer, Sr., Bemidji State (14g-22a), tied for the seventh-best nationally by a first-year skater and the second- most by a Maverick freshman in the program’s Division I history. Brickley, from Sandy, 2017-18 UAHHockey.com WCHA Media Poll Utah, was the league’s 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, a first-team All-WCHA Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points pick and the WCHA’s top-scoring defenseman with 31 points (8g-23a), while his 1.00 1. Minnesota State (12) 137 points-per-game ranked second among NCAA blue-liners. The pair finished two-three 2. Bemidji State 115 in the WCHA scoring race during league play, posting 28 (13g-15a) and 26 (7g-19a) 3. Michigan Tech (1) 110 points, respectively. 4. Bowling Green (1) 108 5. Ferris State 81 Minnesota State freshman forward Jake Jaremko was the coaches’ choice for WCHA 6. Lake Superior State 62 Preseason Rookie of the Year. The Nowthen, Minn. native, former Minnesota Mr. 7. Northern Michigan 59 Hockey and 2017 Clark Cup (USHL) champion with the Chicago Steel (USHL) player was 8. Alaska 43 one of three Mavericks to appear on coaches’ ballots. The others were forward Reggie 9. Alabama Huntsville 36 Lutz and defenseman Connor Mackey. Bemidji State forward Brendan Harris and 10. Alaska Anchorage 19 Northern Michigan forward Joseph Nardi also received votes. Predicted order of finish. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale.

The coaches and media preseason All-WCHA Teams both featured Michaelis, Brickley WCHA Preseason Player of the Year and Bitzer. The Bemidji State netminder led the WCHA in all major goaltending Daniel Brickley, Jr., D, Minnesota State categories last season and paced the country with a 1.71 goals-against average and six Others receiving votes: Marc Michaelis, So., F, Minnesota State; Mitch McLain, Sr., shutouts (tied), complementing a 22-14-3 record and .932 save percentage (20-5-2, F, Bowling Green; Michael Bitzer, Sr., G, Bemidji State .940 and 1.40 in league play). Preseason All-WCHA First Team Coaches teamed Michaelis with Bowling Green senior Mitch McLain and Minnesota Forwards State senior C.J. Suess, while the media tabbed McLain and Ferris State junior Corey Mitch McLain, Sr., Bowling Green; Marc Michaelis, So., Minnesota State; Corey Mackin. McLain was fourth overall and tied for fourth in WCHA play in scoring last Mackin, Jr., Ferris State season (17-16=33, 15-9=24), with Suess was fifth overall and tied for fourth in league Defensemen action (12-19=31, 9-14=21). Mackin followed his 2015-16 WCHA Rookie of the Year Daniel Brickley, Jr., Minnesota State; Kurt Gosselin, Jr., Alabama Huntsville campaign with a 26-point sophomore season (13g-13a), including 21 in league games Goaltender (11g-10a). Michael Bitzer, Sr., Bemidji State

Michigan Tech senior Mark Auk was the coaches’ other blue-line pick after posting 23 Preseason All-WCHA Second Team points overall last season and ranking 10th among all WCHA skaters with 18 assists (2- Forwards 8=10 in league play). Alabama Huntsville junior Kurt Gosselin was the media’s choice, Gerry Fitzgerald, Sr., Bemidji State; C.J. Suess, Sr., Minnesota State; Joel following a season in which he led league defensemen and with nine goals and tied for L’Esperance, Sr., Michigan Tech fourth with 18 points in just 24 WCHA games. Defensemen Mitch Reinke, So., Michigan Tech; Mark Auk, Sr., Michigan Tech Goaltender Atte Tolvanen, Jr., Northern Michigan

Week 1 (Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2017) @wcha___mhockey /WCHAmenshockey @wcha___mhockey WCHA.tv wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2016-17 WCHA Season in Review - News and Notes #WeAreWCHA

'Battle for the Broadmoor' Bitzer's Sensational Season • Bringing Playoff Hockey Home: "Hockey is the best sport there is, playoff hockey • The Puck Stops Here: Bemidji State's Michael Bitzer solidified his place as one is the best of the best, and winning a championship in your home arena – or of the nation’s top with an exceptional junior campaign – one of coming together as a team to win on the road – is one of the greatest feelings a the best-ever by a league netminder. He led the NCAA with a 1.71 goals-against player or coach can have." Those words, spoken by esteemed Ferris State Head average and tied for tops with six shutouts, emerging as a first-team AHCA/CCM Coach , proved incredibly true in 2017, as the WCHA brought the Hockey All-American, a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and a singular intensity and passion of playoff college hockey directly to its member top-five finalist for the Mike Richter Award (honoring the nation’s top goaltender). institution fans with the on-campus "Battle for the Broadmoor." • Bitzer finished second nationally with 2355:22 minutes in net, third with a • 2017 WCHA Playoffs -- Quarterfinals: The best-of-three quarterfinals saw top- .932 save percentage, tied for ninth with 22 wins and 14th with 912 saves. seeded Bemidji State outlast No. 8 Northern Michigan in three games, along • His victory total was the most by a Bemidji State netminder since Steve with a trio of sweeps (No. 2 Michigan Tech over No. 7 Lake Superior State, No. 3 O’Shea (22-12-1) in 1986-87, Minnesota State vs. No. 6 Alaska and No. 4 Bowling Green over No. 5 Ferris State). • Record-Setting WCHA Numbers: Bitzer's league season was nothing short of • Memorable moments included the goaltending duel between BSU's historic, as he set the all-time WCHA record with a sparkling 1.40 goals-against Michael Bitzer and NMU's Atte Tolvanen; Tech's offensive onslaught; the average in his 27 league games. second career shutout for MSU's Jason Pawloski; and, BGSU's three goals • The WCHA Player of the Year and first-team All-WCHA goaltender also in the final 2:48 of regulation to rally for a series-clinching win. paced the circuit with a .940 save percentage (second in league history), • 2017 WCHA Playoffs -- Semifinals: The best-of-three semifinals featured the lone 20 wins (tied for seventh), a .778 winning percentage, five shutouts (tied road team series victory, as Bowling Green upset Bemidji State; and, a three-game for third) and 1625:40 in net. showdown won by Michigan Tech against Minnesota State. • Bitzer became the first goaltender to be named WCHA Player of the Year • Among the highlights were Kevin Dufour's hat trick heroics, including under the league’s current configuration, while his honor marks the 10th the overtime game-winner, for BGSU in Game One at Bemidji; Pawloski's time in league history a netminder has earned the award. season-saving, 1-0 shutout in Game Two at Houghton; and, a hat trick by • A Champion off the Ice: Bitzer, who carries a 3.81 grade-point average as an freshman Gavin Gould in MTU's series-clinching, Game Three victory. exercise science major, garnered second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America • 2017 WCHA Championship: The WCHA's first one-game, on-campus playoff honors for his combined performances athletically and in the classroom. championship since 1965 proved to be an epic showdown between two of the • Bitzer also earned his second WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award and was league's top teams, with tournament No. 2 seed Michigan Tech outlasting fourth- named to his second WCHA All-Academic Team. seeded Bowling Green, 3-2 in double-overtime in front of a sold-out, standing room-only crowd of 4,466 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. New Rules Quickly Become Fan Favorites • The capacity crowd, which included students who had camped out • No More Ties: For the first time in league history, WCHA league regular season overnight, saw the host Huskies jump out to a 2-0, second-period lead. games used, if necessary, a second overtime (five minutes of three-on-three With their season on the line, the Falcons scored twice in the third hockey) and (again, if necessary), a sudden-death shootout to determine the period to force a scintillating overtime session that featured spectacular recipient of extra league points, if the contest was tied after 65 minutes. goaltender saves and both teams draw iron on potential game-winners • Twenty-nine (29) WCHA games were tied after regulation. Of those: • Capping a night that will be forever remembered in Huskies’ and WCHA • Nine (9) games were won in the NCAA-mandated, 5-on-5 overtime; lore, Michigan Tech senior defenseman Shane Hanna scored at the 6:35 • Ten (10) games featured a winning goal in 3-on-3 overtime; mark of double overtime, a goal that gave MTU the Broadmoor Trophy • Ten (10) advanced all the way to a shootout. and sent the Houghton community into euphoric frenzy. • All 10 WCHA venues hosted at least one game that went to 3-on-3 overtime, while seven rinks hosted a shootout. Five Hours, 39 Minutes and Five Seconds • Nine (9) teams earned an extra WCHA point via either a 3-on-3 or • A Looong Time: Over the course of five hours, 39 minutes and five seconds, you shootout win, while six enjoyed at least one win in both formats. could binge watch the entire Mighty Ducks trilogy. You could come close to driving • Lake Superior State played the most in the new formats, with seven across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Or you could fly from Los Angeles to New games extending beyond the 5-on-5 OT. The Lakers earned the extra York. As for Atte Tolvanen, that was how long he went without allowing a goal. point a WCHA-best four times, scoring three times in 3-on-3 play and From January 20 to February 17 of this year, Northern Michigan’s sophomore winning once in a shootout. goaltender rewrote first his school’s, then the WCHA’s and, finally, the NCAA’s • Bemidji State (four games) and Bowling Green (three) were both record books. undefeated in contests that extended beyond regulation. The Beavers • Between allowing mid-game goals to Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 20) and won outright in 5-on-5 OT twice, scored once in 3-on-3 OT and won their Minnesota State (Feb. 17), Tolvanen put together a WCHA Men's League- lone shootout. The Falcons won all three games decided in 5-on-5 OT and, record scoreless streak of 339:05. The shutout is the second-longest in in their only game beyond 65 minutes, scored in 3-on-3 play for the extra NCAA Division I men's history, trailing only the 375:01 posted by Lake WCHA point. Superior State's Blaine Lacher in 1994. • Impact on the Standings: The new overtime format brought with it a change to • On Feb. 11, Tolvanen broke the 63-year-old WCHA Men's League record the standings, as each WCHA regular season league game is now worth three and tied the NCAA D-I men's standard with his fifth-straight shutout points. A team that wins in regulation or 5-on-5 overtime receives the full three; (North Dakota's Gerald "Spike" Schultz owned the previous WCHA mark both teams receive one point for a game tied after 65 minutes, with the team that with four-straight in Jan. 1954). Over the record-setting stretch, Tolvanen scores in 3-on-3 OT or wins in a shootout earning the additional point. blanked Alaska Anchorage on Jan. 21 (4-0), Bowling Green on Feb. 3 (3-0) • Bemidji State's 12-0-1-1 start gave the Beavers all the cushion needed to and Feb. 4 (2-0), and Alaska on Feb. 10 (3-0) and Feb. 11 (2-0). In each of clinch the MacNaughton Cup with three games to spare. those games, he made at least 30 saves, topping out at a career-best 48 • Befitting the highly-competitive nature that is a WCHA hallmark, the against the Nanooks in Feb. 11's record-tying game. league entered the final weekend of the 2016-17 regular season with five • During his remarkable run, Tolvanen made 220 saves in a row. teams alive for three spots in the WCHA Tournament (and the Nos. 2-8 • A Season Saved: Tolvanen’s record-setting run was part of a two-month stretch of seeds undetermined). goaltending excellence, one that turned the Wildcats’ 2016-17 campaign around • NHL Nets: WCHA skaters received four additional inches to work with behind the and propelled NMU into the WCHA Playoffs. After stumbling to a 4-16-2 mark net in each league rink in 2016-17, as all 10 member institutions installed the 40- and occupying the WCHA cellar during the season’s first half, NMU went 8-4-2 inch goal frame that is standard across the NHL. between Jan. 1 and the league’s final regular season weekend, a .643 winning • League Scoring Ticks Up: With more points on the line for winning in 65 minutes, percentage that matched Minnesota State for tops in the WCHA and was tied for along with the NHL nets (and other factors), per game goal-scoring in WCHA 15th-best nationally (through Feb. 26). regular season league games increased by 5.2 percent in 2016-17. • During that stretch, Tolvanen ranked second in the NCAA with a .941 save • An average of 5.22 goals were scored per WCHA regular season league percentage (447-for-475). game in 2016-17 (731 total), up 5.2 percent from the 4.98 scored in 2015- • By season's end, he finished third in the country in saves (1,048) and 16 (697 total). shots faced (1,141); he was one of only five netminders to stop 1,000 shots. He now ranks fifth in NMU history in single-season saves and tied for third in single-season games.

Week 1 (Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2017) @wcha___mhockey /WCHAmenshockey @wcha___mhockey WCHA.tv wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2016-17 WCHA Season in Review - News and Notes #WeAreWCHA

The Next Level In the Classroom and In the Community • NHL Impact: Led by a pair of recent college contemporaries, 2014 and 2015 WCHA • Senior CLASS Award®: Bemidji State forward Brendan Harms was lauded as the Defensive Player of the Year Colton Parayko (Alaska / St. Louis Blues) and 2015 most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men's hockey, winning the Player of the Year Tanner Kero (Michigan Tech / Chicago Blackhawks), WCHA Senior CLASS Award® in a nationwide vote of D-I men’s coaches, national hockey alumni continue to make an impact at the sport's highest levels. media and fans. • Parayko, who starred for the Nanooks during UAF's first two WCHA • An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in seasons, followed up an All-Rookie caliber NHL campaign with a standout School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and sophomore season. He played in all 92 regular season and playoff games encourages students to use their athletic platforms to make a positive for the Blues, tallying 35 points (4g-31a) and a plus-7 rating in the regular impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, season, before adding five points (2g-3a) and a plus-6 postseason rating student-athletes must be classified as NCAA Division I seniors and have for the Western Conference semifinalists. notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, • Kero, who played a key role in returning the Copper Country to national character and competition. prominence, ranked fourth on the team with a plus-15 rating in 47 games • Selected as an alternate captain for the MacNaughton Cup champion for the Central Division-champion Blackhawks. The second-year center Beavers, Harms finished his BSU career with a 21-point season (8g-13a) in collected 16 points on six goals and 10 assists. 2016-17, which included six power-play goals and two game-winners. • Member-Institution Alumni in the NHL: Twenty-one (21) alumni, representing all • An All-WCHA Third Team selection (2014-15) and a three-time recipient 10 current WCHA member institutions, played in the NHL in 2016-17. of the WCHA’s Scholar-Athlete Award, as well as a three-time member of • Ferris State legend Chris Kunitz became the only active NHL player to win the league’s all-academic team, Harms ranks among the top 12 on BSU’s a fourth Stanley Cup, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins to their second- Division I-era scoring list with 88 points (33g-55a) in 141 games. consecutive title. • Harms graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade point average as a business • Former Alabama Huntsville goaltender Cam Talbot set the Edmonton administration major with a minor in human performance. Oilers single-season record with 42 regular season wins (and added seven • Harms emerged from a group of top-10 finalists that included three from more in the playoffs). the WCHA – more than any other Division I conference. Northern Michigan • Veteran NHL forward David Backes (Minnesota State) enjoyed a successful defenseman Brock Maschmeyer and Ferris State forward Chad McDonald first season with the Boston Bruins, tallying 38 points (17g-21a) in 74 were also among the finalists, who were chosen by national media from an regular season games. initial list of 15 candidates announced in January. • Alaska Anchorage alumnus Jay Beagle tallied 30 points (13g-17a) and • CoSIDA Academic All-Americans: Two Bemidji State teammates – Harms and a plus-20 rating in 81 regular season games, helping the Washington junior goaltender Michael Bitzer – were two of the six D-1 men’s college hockey Capitals to the Presidents' Trophy. players to be named second-team Academic All-Americans by the College Sports • Matt Read (Bemidji State) produced 10 goals and 19 points in his sixth Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). NHL season, playing in 63 contests for the Philadelphia Flyers. • Scholar-Athletes: A league-record 84 student-athletes, representing all 10 • Bowling Green's Kevin Bieksa played in 81 regular season games with member institutions, earned WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award status for maintaining Anaheim, then had a plus-5 postseason rating as the Ducks advanced to a GPA of 3.50 or above. the Western Conference finals. • This number represented a 16.6-percent increase, from 72 in 2015-16. • Steve Oleksy (Lake Superior State) skated in 11 regular season contests • All-Academic Team: One hundred and forty-three (143) student-athletes, for the Stanley Cup-champion Penguins, while former Northern Michigan representing all 10 member institutions, earned a spot on the WCHA All-Academic goaltender Jared Coreau compiled two shutouts for the Detroit Red Wings Team for maintaining a GPA of 3.00 or above. over his first 14 career NHL games. • This number represented a 2.1-percent increase, from 140 in 2015-16. • Pro Signings: Since the 2016-17 college season ended, 31 players – representing all 10 WCHA programs – have signed professional contracts (as of July 17). More from the 2016-17 Season • Seven (7) players have signed National Hockey League (NHL) entry-level • 20-win Plateau: Less than half (25) of the country's 60 Division I men's hockey contracts: UAA’s Mason Mitchell (Washington); BGSU’s Mark Friedman programs reached the 20-win mark in 2016-17, with four coming from the WCHA. (Philadelphia) and Chris Nell (New York Rangers); LSSU’s Kris Bindulis • Michigan Tech tied for ninth nationally with 23 wins -- even more (Washington) and Mitch Hults (Anaheim); and, MTU’s Angus Redmond impressive considering the Huskies started 1-5-2 in their first seven (Anaheim) and Matt Roy (Los Angeles Kings). contests. Beginning with an Oct. 28-29 sweep of UP rival Northern • Of those seven players, five (Mitchell, Nell, Bindulis, Hults and Redmond) Michigan, Tech went 22-10-5 (.662) over its last 37 games. were undrafted prior to signing; Friedman and Roy were both drafted • Bemidji State and Minnesota State tied for 13th in the NCAA with 22 wins following at least one season in the WCHA. apiece, while Bowling Green's 21 victories tied for 18th. • NHL Development Camps: Thirty-five (35) players with ties to WCHA programs – • Strong on the Back End: Bemidji State's nearly wire-to-wire run to the including 25 slated to skate in the league this upcoming season – were invited to MacNaughton Cup, along with Michigan Tech's Broadmoor Trophy-winning participate in 2017 NHL Development Camps. campaign, were both sparked by exceptional efforts on defense and special teams. • The 25 players expected to be on 2017-18 WCHA rosters feature 14 • Led by junior Michael Bitzer's NCAA-best 1.71 goals-against average and underclassmen (seven incoming freshmen and seven sophomores), along .932 save percentage (third nationally), the Beavers ranked second in the with six juniors and five seniors. country by allowing just 1.93 goals per contest. BSU also had the NCAA's • Defending Broadmoor Trophy champion Michigan Tech (eight players) second-best penalty-kill unit at 88 percent (139-for-158). and its WCHA title game opponent, Bowling Green (seven) led the league, • The Huskies ranked seventh nationally for scoring defense (2.22 goals followed by Minnesota State with five and Lake Superior State with four. allowed per game) and penalty-kill efficiency (86.1 percent), while Tech's MacNaughton Cup champion Bemidji State had three players in camps, all 186 penalty kills led the NCAA. MTU's Angus Redmond finished fourth of whom are expected to wear a Beavers sweater in 2017-18. nationally with a 1.85 GAA as a freshman. • International Competition: Parayko competed in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey • Hats Off: Not since Colorado College's Rylan Schwartz in 2011-12 had a WCHA for Team North America prior to the NHL season. When the Blues' playoff run was player recorded multiple hat tricks in the same season (Schwartz had three that complete, he donned a Canada sweater for the 2017 IIHF World Championships, campaign). But, a trio of skaters each recorded a pair of three-goal efforts in 2016- collecting seven points (3g-4a) in six games to help his native country advance to 17: Bowling Green's Kevin Dufour (Feb. 24 vs. Alabama Huntsville and March 10 at the gold medal game. Bemidji State) and Mitch McLain (Nov. 19 at Alabama Huntsville and Dec. 3 at Lake • Backes (Team USA) also skated in the World Cup of Hockey, while another Superior State, and Northern Michigan's Dominik Shine (Jan. 7 at Lake Superior Minnesota State product, rising junior defenseman Daniel Brickley, State and Jan. 20 vs. Alaska Anchorage). represented the United States at the 2017 Worlds. • Dufour's March 10 effort came during Game 1 of the WCHA Semifinals • Former Alaska goaltender Chad Johnson won all three of his starts for and included the overtime game-winner. Canada at the 2017 Worlds. • Shine On: Northern Michigan senior forward Dominik Shine missed the first six • Minnesota State sophomore-to-be Nick Rivera won silver with Team USA games of the season, but still became the Wildcats' first 20-goal scorer since the at the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Israel. 2007-08 campaign. • The WCHA's lone 20-goal performer, Shine finished 12th in the NCAA with 0.61 goals per game (20 in 33 contests).

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• Brickley, Michaelis Nearly Make History: A pair of talented Minnesota State Once Around the Rink underclassmen -- sophomore defenseman Daniel Brickley and freshman forward • UAH: The Chargers have improved their winning percentage in each of their three Marc Michaelis -- nearly made WCHA scoring history during their award-winning seasons under head coach Mike Corbett, while their 9-22-3 mark in 2009-10 seasons. marked the program’s most wins since 2009-10. UAH also posted three road • Brickley, the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, fell just short of sweeps for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign. becoming only the third blue-liner in the league's 65-year history to earn • UAA: The Seawolves set a program record with nine WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award the title of WCHA Scoring Champion. Despite missing six league games recipients, including two-time winner Olivier Mantha, who also ranks in the top-3 with injury, he amassed 26 points (7g-19a) in 22 WCHA contests, four in school history for save percentage (1st - .910), saves (2nd - 2,503), games (2nd - short of eventual champion Gerald Mayhew of Ferris State (30 points). 91) and goals-against average (3rd - 2.87). Overall, Brickley ranked second among NCAA defenseman by averaging • UAF: The Nanooks won their eighth-straight Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup, 1.00 points per game (8g-23a=31pts in 31 games). winning three-of-four WCHA games with in-state rival Alaska Anchorage. • Michaelis, the WCHA Rookie of the Year, has 28 points (13g-15a) in his 28 • BSU: The Beavers' MacNaughton Cup-winning campaign included a 22-16-3 league games, narrowly missing becoming the first freshman to lead the overall record, the program's most wins since 2009-10; BSU also set a Sanford conference in scoring since 1970-71 (and just the third overall). His team- Center victory standard by posting a 13-8-1 ledger at home. leading 36 points overall were the second-most by a Mavericks freshman • BGSU: After advancing to the 2017 WCHA Championship, the Falcons have won a in the program's Division I era, while his 0.92 points per game ranked 12th playoff series in each of the last seven seasons -- the longest streak in the country among NCAA rookies. (all under head coach Chris Bergeron). BGSU's goaltender the last three years, • Thrilling Playoff Chase: Befitting the highly-competitive nature that has long been Chris Nell, set program records for career shutouts (11), save percentage (.922), a WCHA hallmark, the league entered the final weekend of the 2016-17 regular goals-against average (2.07) and consecutive shutout minutes (207:31). season with five teams alive for three spots in the WCHA Tournament -- and seven • FSU: The Bulldogs' 3-0 win over Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 18 was the 700th in of eight seeding positions undetermined. program history -- 430 of which have come during the 25-year tenure of head • Michigan Tech and Minnesota State came down to the final Friday night coach Bob Daniels. to determine the tournament's No. 2 seed (which, as it turned out, gave • LSSU: The Lakers made their third-consecutive trip to the WCHA Playoffs behind a home-ice to the Huskies when Tech faced the Mavericks in the semifinal talented group of underclassmen, including a sophomore class that ranked eighth round of the WCHA Playoffs). nationally among their second-year peers with 135 total points (52g-83a). • Bowling Green won its regular season finale to secure the No. 4 seed • MTU: The Huskies' eight-member senior class won 89 games—the most since and ensure it would be the Falcons hosting No. 5 seed Ferris State in the the 1984 senior class. This year's seniors (forwards Brent Baltus, Tyler Heinonen, quarterfinals, not the other way around. Chris Leibinger, Michael Neville, Reid Sturos, defensemen Hanna and Cliff • With two games left, a mere four points separated Alaska, Lake Superior Watson, and goaltender Matt Wintjes) took Tech to the NCAA Tournament twice State, Northern Michigan and Alabama Huntsville for the final three spots. (2015 and 2017), won the MacNaughton Cup (2015-16), won the Broadmoor The Wildcats secured the eighth and final playoff seed with a last-day road Trophy (2016-17) and were ranked the No. 1 team in the nation in 2014-15 after a win, while 10th-place Alaska Anchorage remained alive until Friday night. program-best 10-0 start. • For the first time in the four seasons since realignment, the race for the • MSU: Led by WCHA Rookie of the Year and team scoring leader Marc Michaelis MacNaughton Cup did not come down to the last night, as Bemidji State (14g-22a=36pts), Mavericks freshmen racked up 101 points (39g-62a), tied for clinched Feb. 10. fourth nationally among rookie groups. • Changing of the Guard: The WCHA will feature three new head coaches in 2017- • NMU: Five Wildcats reached the 20-point plateau in 2016-17, NMU's most 18, as the 2016-17 campaign marked the final one in the league for Alaska's Dallas since the 2011-12 team had seven. Dominik Shine led the way with 30 points Ferguson, Michigan Tech's Mel Pearson and Northern Michigan's Walt Kyle. (20g-10a), followed by Robbie Payne (13g-16a=29pts), Gerard Hanson (7-19--26), • Ferguson resigned July 11 for the same role with the Calgary Hitmen of Darien Craighead (7-18--25) and Brock Maschmeyer (5-16--21). the Western Hockey League (WHL). On April 24, Pearson announced his return to Michigan as the Wolverines next head coach. NMU parted ways From the League Office with Kyle on March 10. • Live on ASN: Increasing exposure for the league and the sport, the WCHA enjoyed • The WCHA is excited to welcome veteran league assistant coaches Lance a continued partnership with the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.-owned American West and Joe Shawhan into the head coaching ranks at Alaska and Sports Network (ASN) to broadcast two Men's League games as part of ASN's Michigan Tech, respectively. The league is also thrilled for the return of nationally-syndicated, Friday night college hockey package: Bemidji State at Grant Potulny, a two-time NCAA and WCHA tournament champion during Bowling Green (Jan. 6) and Bowling Green at Ferris State (Jan. 27). his playing days at Minnesota, who will make his head coaching debut at • The two WCHA games in 2016-17 were broadcast on 96 ASN affiliates Northern Michigan. nationwide, spanning 38 states, while both contests were streamed in • Breitenbach Award: Honoring two individuals for their exceptional efforts on Canada via TSN GO. behalf of the WCHA, the Association bestowed the Otto Breitenbach WCHA • Debut of "Inside the WCHA": Fans took a deeper dive into the WCHA this season Distinguished Service Award to longtime Conference office employee Carol with the debut of “Inside the WCHA,” a bi-weekly web series featuring news, LaBelle-Ehrhardt and the late Oliver “Butch” Mousseau, a beloved Men’s League highlights, analysis, coach and player interviews, and more from around the 10- official. team league. The show was created and produced by the WCHA in partnership • Renamed the Otto Breitenbach WCHA Distinguished Service Award in with BLC Studios, a division of Bethany Lutheran College. conjunction with the 50th anniversary season of 2001-02, the honor is • Thirteen (13) webisodes were produced, beginning with a Sept. 29 season presented to individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to preview show, running bi-weekly throughout the year (except for the the Association. Award recipients, who are nominated and voted upon December holiday break) and concluding with weekly shows during the by WCHA member institutions, have included coaches, administrators, 2017 WCHA postseason. officials and members of the media. LaBelle-Ehrhardt and Mousseau • Digital Exposure Up 7.3 Percent: During the 2016-17 season, the WCHA Men's become the 40th and 41st honorees, respectively. League-specific social media handles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, along • LaBelle-Ehrhardt enjoyed a 17-year tenure as WCHA Associate with WCHA.tv, generated a 7-3-percent increase in organic impressions (year-to- Commissioner of Operations (1997-2014), helping shepherd the league year, from the 2015-16 campaign). first through an unprecedented period of growth, and then transition. • Between Sept. 1 and April 15, the league's aggregate social media • Mousseau, who tragically passed away March 25, 2016 stemming from followers grew by 14.7 percent. critical head injuries suffered during a fall to the ice during warmups • WCHA.tv saw a 15.3-percent increase in overall viewership, resulting in a March 18, was a highly-respected official in the WCHA for 13 seasons. 5.8-percent bump in net profit for the league. More importantly, he was – and is – a beloved person and figure in the • #WeAreWCHA: Along with growth in impressions, engagement with the hashtag sport of hockey. #WeAreWCHA increased throughout the season. • Mousseau's Number Retired: In memoriam of the late Oliver “Butch” Mousseau, • The tagline aims to engage everyone who is part of the WCHA Men's the WCHA retired his officials’ jersey number 12, while on-ice officials wore a League community – from alumni and current players to future student- specially-designed “12” sticker on their helmets throughout the 2016-17 season. athletes; from administrators to coaches; and, most importantly, the • While not mandatory, many WCHA teams memorialized Mousseau by league's fans. We are all the WCHA. placing the number 12 in the referees’ circle on their home ice.

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Tradition Starts Here • Standard for Success: Minnesota State has reached unprecedented heights NCAA Wins Leaders, 2012-17 during the five-year tenure of head coach Mike Hastings. The program has gone (Mike Hastings Era at Minnesota State) 122-62-18 (.649) during that span, matching Denver for the fourth-most wins in the country (behind only Quinnipiac's 132, North Dakota's 131 and Massachusetts Rank Team Wins Lowell's 127). 1. Quinnipiac (ECAC) 132 • The Mavericks have recorded five-consecutive 20-win seasons for the first 2. North Dakota (NCHC) 131 time in the school's D-I history and just the second-time ever (legendary 3. Massachusetts Lowell (HEA) 127 bench boss Don Brose also had a five-year run between 1978-79 and 4. Minnesota State (WCHA) 122 1982-83 at the D-II level). Denver (NCHC) 122 • 20-20-20: Bowling Green (21-18-2) and Michigan Tech (23-15-7) both reached 6. Boston College (HEA) 120 the 20-win plateau for the third-consecutive season in 2016-17. The Falcons last Minnesota (B1G) 120 achieved that feat during a nine-year stretch under legendary head coach Jerry 8. Providence (HEA) 114 between 1981-82 and 1989-90; the Huskies, not since a three-campaign run York St. Cloud State (NCHC) 114 between 1980-81 and 1982-83 (including the final two years of John MacInnes' 10. Union (ECAC) 111 Hall-of-Fame tenure in Houghton). • Michigan Tech is fourth nationally with 75 wins over the last three seasons 11. Robert Morris (AHA) 109 (75-34-14, .667), while Bowling Green is tied for 14th at 66-43-13 (.594). 12. Notre Dame (HEA) 108 • Minnesota State is eighth over that same span with 72 wins (72-34-14 13. Boston University (HEA) 104 (.658). 14. Michigan Tech (WCHA) 102 • Best Cities for Hockey Fans: In the 2017 edition of WalletHub's "Best Cities for 15. Air Force (AHA) 101 Hockey Fans," Houghton, Mich. (home of Michigan Tech) was the highest-rated "non-NHL" locale. • Houghton was No. 23 overall and No. 2 in "NCAA Rank" (behind Boston, NCAA Wins Leaders, 2013-17 Mass.). • Other WCHA cities in the top-25 for "NCAA rank" were Big Rapids, Mich. (Since Realignment) (Ferris State), Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. (Lake Superior State) and Bowling Green, Ohio (Bowling Green). Rank Team (Conference) Wins 1. North Dakota (NCHC) 109 2. Denver (NCHC) 102 Quinnipiac (ECAC) 102 4. Massachusetts Lowell (HEA) 99 5. Minnesota State (WCHA) 98 Boston College (HEA) 98 7. Providence (HEA) 97 8. Minnesota (B1G) 94 9. Michigan Tech (WCHA) 89 Robert Morris (AHA) 89 St. Cloud State (NCHC) 89 Union (ECAC) 89 13. Bowling Green (WCHA) 84 Air Force (AHA) 84 Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) 84 16. Boston University (HEA) 83 Notre Dame (HEA) 83 18. Ferris State (WCHA) 80 19. Harvard (ECAC) 78 Michigan (B1G) 78

NCAA Wins Leaders, 2014-17 (Last 3 Seasons)

Rank Team (Conference) Wins 1. North Dakota (NCHC) 84 2. Denver (NCHC) 82 3. Quinnipiac (ECAC) 78 4. Michigan Tech (WCHA) 75 Providence (HEA) 75 6. Boston University (HEA) 73 Massachusetts Lowell (HEA) 73 8. Minnesota State (WCHA) 72 9. Boston College (HEA) 70 Robert Morris (AHA) 70 11. Harvard (ECAC) 68 Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) 68 13. St. Cloud State (NCHC) 67 14. Bowling Green (WCHA) 66 Minnesota (B1G) 66

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Quarterfinal Round; March 3-5 Semifinal Round; March 10-12 2017 WCHA Championship Best-of-Three, at Host Sites Best-of-Three, at Host Sites Saturday, March 18 John MacInnes Student Ice Arena Houghton, Mich. #1 Bemidji State

BSU wins series, 2-1

#8 Northern Michigan #1 Bemidji State

BGSU wins series, 2-0

#4 Bowling Green #4 Bowling Green BGSU wins sereies, 2-0

#5 Ferris State

#4 Bowling Green

MTU wins, 3-2 (2OT)

#2 Michigan Tech #2 Michigan Tech

MTU wins series, 2-0 #7 Lake Superior State #2 Michigan Tech

MTU wins series, 2-1 #3 Minnesota State #3 Minnesota State MSU wins series, 2-0

#6 Alaska 2017 WCHA Championship "Three Stars" First Star – Shane Hanna, Sr., D, Michigan Tech Second Star – Angus Redmond, Fr., G, Michigan Tech Third Star – Matt Pohlkamp, Sr., F, Bowling Green

Most Outstanding Player – Shane Hanna, Michigan Tech

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2016-17 WCHA Players of the Week

Week of Offensive Defensive Rookie Oct. 3 Max McHugh, Jr., F, Alabama Huntsville Matt Larose, Sr., G, Alabama Huntsville Craig Pefley, RS-Fr., F, Ferris State Oct. 10 Robbie Payne, Jr., F, Northern Michigan Cole Huggins, Sr., G, Minnesota State Zach Whitecloud, Fr., D, Bemidji State Oct. 17 Reid Sturos, Sr., F, Michigan Tech Michael Bitzer, Jr., G, Bemidji State Parker Tuomie, Fr., F, Minnesota State Owen Headrick, So., D, Lake Superior State Oct. 24 Diego Cuglietta, So., F, Lake Superior State Collin Saccoman, Fr., D, Lake Superior State Nick Rivera, Fr., F, Minnesota State Oct. 31 Gerald Mayhew, Sr., F, Ferris State Michael Bitzer, Jr., G, Bemidji State Angus Redmond, Fr., G, Michigan Tech Nov. 7 Phillip Marinaccio, Sr., F, Bemidji State Kurt Gosselin, So., D, Alabama Huntsville Justin Kapelmaster, Fr., G, Ferris State Nov. 14 Kevin Dufour, Sr., F, Bowling Green Michael Bitzer, Jr., G, Bemidji State Gavin Gould, Fr., F, Michigan Tech Nov. 21 Brendan Harms, Sr., F, Bemidji State Jason Pawloski, So., G, Minnesota State Justin Kapelmaster, Fr., G, Ferris State Nov. 28 Mitch McLain, Jr., F, Bowling Green Angus Redmond, Fr., G, Michigan Tech Luke Morgan, Fr., F, Lake Superior State Dec. 5 Mitch McLain, Jr., F, Bowling Green Kurt Gosselin, So., D, Alabama Huntsville Marc Michaelis, Fr., F, Minnesota State Dec. 12 Jake Lucchini, So., F, Michigan Tech Brandon Parker, Jr., D, Alabama Huntsville Angus Redmond, Fr., G, Michigan Tech Dec. 19 Mitch McLain, Jr., F, Bowling Green Michael Bitzer, Jr., G, Bemidji State Marc Michaelis, Fr., F, Minnesota State Jan. 2 Matt Anholt, Jr., F, Alaska Anchorage Justin Kapelmaster, Fr., G, Ferris State Angus Redmond, Fr., G, Michigan Tech Jan. 9 Dominik Shine, Sr., F, Northern Michigan Aaron Nelson, Jr., G, Minnesota State Ryan Bednard, Fr., G, G, Bowling Green Jan. 16 C.J. Franklin, Jr., F, Minnesota State Davis Jones, Sr., G, Alaska Max Humitz, Fr., F, Lake Superior State Rylan Yaremko, Fr., D, Northern Michigan Jan. 23 Dominik Shine, Sr., F, Northern Michigan Atte Tolvanen, So., G, Northern Michigan Luke Morgan, Fr., F, Lake Superior State Jan. 30 Reid Sturos, Sr., F, Michigan Tech Daniel Brickley, So., D, Minnesota State Parker Tuomie, Fr., F, Minnesota State Feb. 6 Kyle Bauman, Jr., F, Bemidji State Atte Tolvanen, So., G, Northern Michigan Tommy Muck, Fr., D, Bemidji State Feb. 13 Robbie Payne, Jr., F, Northern Michigan Atte Tolvanen, So., G, Northern Michigan Zach Whitecloud, Fr., D, Bemidji State Feb. 20 Corey Mackin, So., F, Ferris State Daniel Brickley, So., D, Minnesota State Nick Rivera, Fr., F, Minnesota State Feb. 27 Kevin Dufour, Sr., F, Bowling Green Chris Nell, Jr., G, Bowling Green Craig Pefley, RS-Fr., F, Ferris State March 6 Matt Pohlkamp, Sr., F, Bowling Green Jason Pawloski, So., G, Minnesota State Parker Tuomie, Fr., F, Minnesota State March 13 Kevin Dufour, Sr., F, Bowling Green Chris Nell, Jr., G, Bowling Green Gavin Gould, Fr., F, Michigan Tech March 20 Michael Neville, Sr., F, Michigan Tech Shane Hanna, Sr., D, Michigan Tech Angus Redmond, Fr., G, Michigan Tech

2016-17 WCHA Players of the Month Month Player Rookie October 2016 Mitch Hults, So., F, Lake Superior State Craig Pefley, RS-Fr., F, Ferris State November 2016 Mitch McLain, Jr., F, Bowling Green Angus Redmond, Fr., G, Michigan Tech December 2016 Mitch McLain, Jr., F, Bowling Green Marc Michaelis, Fr., F, Minnesota State January 2017 Dominik Shine, Sr., F, Northern Michigan Max Humitz, Fr., F, Lake Superior State February 2017 Atte Tolvanen, So., G, Northern Michigan Justin Kapelmaster, Fr., G, Ferris State March 2017 Matt Pohlkamp, Sr., F, Bowling Green Angus Redmond, Fr., G, Michigan Tech

2016-17 National Accolades (WCHA Honorees) HONOREES Honor Player (Yr., Pos., Team) AHCA/CCM Hockey Division I All-America First Team Michael Bitzer (Jr., G, Bemidji State) AHCA/CCM Hockey Division I All-America Second Team Daniel Brickley (So., D, Minnesota State) College Hockey News National Freshman Goaltender of the Year Justin Kapelmaster (Fr., G, Ferris State) College Hockey News All-Rookie Team Justin Kapelmaster (Fr., G, Ferris State) Senior CLASS Award® Winner Brendan Harms (Sr., F, Bemidji State) CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team Michael Bitzer (Jr., G, Bemidji State) Brendan Harms (Sr., F, Bemidji State) HCA Division I National Rookie of the Month (Dec. 2016) Marc Michaelis (Fr., F, Minnesota State)

NOMINEES / CANDIDATES / FINALISTS Honor Player (Yr., Pos., Team) Hobey Baker Memorial Award Top Ten Finalist Michael Bitzer (Jr., G, Bemidji State) Mike Richter Award Finalist (Top Five) Michael Bitzer (Jr., G, Bemidji State) Mike Richter Award Watch List (Top 20) Gordon Defiel (Jr., G, Lake Superior State) Cole Huggins (Sr., G, Minnesota State) Chris Nell (Jr., G, Bowling Green) Atte Tolvanen (So., G, Northern Michigan) Senior CLASS Award® Finalist (Top 10) Brock Maschmeyer (Sr., D, Northern Michigan) Chad McDonald (Sr., F, Ferris State)

Week 1 (Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2017) @wcha___mhockey /WCHAmenshockey @wcha___mhockey WCHA.tv wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2016-17 WCHA Season in Review - Awards #WeAreWCHA Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Michael Bitzer, Jr., G, Bemidji State Daniel Brickley, So., D, Minnesota State Bitzer backstopped Bemidji State to the Brickley was the top two-way player in the program’s first MacNaughton Cup as WCHA WCHA, pacing league defensemen with 19 regular season champion, solidifying his place assists, 26 points and 14 power-play points in as one of the nation’s top goaltenders with an just 22 league contests, while ranking second exceptional junior campaign – one of the best- with 55 blocked shots. The first-team All-WCHA ever by a league netminder. The Moorhead, performer nearly became the first blue-liner in Minn. native set the all-time WCHA record with 20 years to lead the league in scoring, falling a sparkling 1.40 goals-against average in his 27 just four points shy – despite missing six games league games, while also pacing the circuit with due to injury. a .940 save percentage (second in league history), 20 wins (tied for seventh), a .778 winning percentage, five shutouts (tied for third) and 1625:40 in net. The sophomore from Sandy, Utah wrapped up his campaign with eight goals, 23 assists and 31 points in 31 games, ranking second among NCAA defensemen with 1.00 points- The first-team All-WCHA goaltender led the country with a 1.71 overall goals- per-game (trailing only the 1.14 average by Harvard freshman and Calgary Flames against average, while he tied his own Bemidji State single-season record with six prospect Adam Fox). His overall point total tied for 10th among blue-liners (third for shutouts (tied for most in the NCAA). Bitzer posted a .932 save percentage (third-best underclassmen). Brickley also added 72 blocked shots (ranking 10th nationally with nationally) and finished with a 22-14-3 record, becoming the first BSU goalie with 22 2.32 blocks per game) and a plus-9 rating, helping Minnesota State to a 22-win season wins in a season since Steve O’Shea (22-12-1) in 1986-87. He was in the net for every and a trip to the WCHA semifinals. Beaver victory in 2016-17, as the team won its most league games of its seven WCHA campaigns and posted its most overall triumphs since 2009-10. Coach of the Year Bitzer, a top-10 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist and Mike Richter Award top-five , Bemidji State finalist, became the first goaltender to be named WCHA Player of the Year under the Serratore guided Bemidji State to its first league’s current configuration (10th time in league history a netminder has earned the MacNaughton Cup as WCHA regular season award). champions, capping the Beavers’ best campaign in its seven years in the league. He led BSU to Rookie of the Year a 20-6-2-2 mark and 64 points in WCHA play, Marc Michaelis, F, Minnesota State outdistancing second-place Michigan Tech by 10 Michaelis put together one of the most points. Bemidji State swept its opening weekend impressive rookie campaigns in Minnesota of WCHA play and was undefeated in its first State history, leading the team with 36 points 13 league contests (12-0-1); meaning that, aside from a bye week on the opening – the second-most by a Maverick freshman in weekend of league games (Oct. 1-2), the Beavers held at least a share of first place the program’s Division I history. A first-team after every WCHA weekend in which it competed. All-WCHA and WCHA All-Rookie Team selection, he scored 14 goals and collected 22 assists in 39 Serratore wrapped up his 16th season at the helm of his alma mater by taking Bemidji games, tying for the seventh-most points (36) by State to the semifinal round of the 2017 WCHA Playoffs and a 22-16-3 overall mark, a NCAA freshman. The Hockey Commissioners’ the program’s most wins since finishing 23-10-4 in 2009-10. This is the sixth time Association Division I National Rookie of the Month for December, Michaelis tallied at Serratore has been honored as a league’s top bench boss, as he also garnered College least one point in 24 contests overall. Hockey America (CHA) Coach of the Year accolades in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The native of Mannheim, Germany ranked second in the WCHA scoring race with 28 points in 28 league games, just two points shy of becoming the third freshman in All-WCHA First Team conference history – and first in 46 years – to win a scoring title. Michaelis also paced Gerald Mayhew, Sr., F, Ferris State WCHA rookies in goals (13), points, goals-per-game (0.46), points-per-game (1.00), Mitch McLain, Jr., F, Bowling Green power-play goals (6), power-play points (13), short-handed goals (2) and hat tricks (1). Marc Michaelis, Fr., F, Minnesota State Daniel Brickley, So., D, Minnesota State Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Matt Roy, Jr., D, Michigan Tech Chad McDonald, Sr., F, Ferris State Michael Bitzer, Jr., G, Bemidji State McDonald was a four-year contributor to one of All-WCHA Second Team the WCHA’s top programs, helping Ferris State C.J. Franklin, Jr., F, Minnesota State to a MacNaughton Cup as league regular season Mitch Hults, So., F, Lake Superior State champions, a Broadmoor Trophy as postseason Phillip Marinaccio, Sr., F, Bemidji State and Corey Mackin, So., F, Ferris State champs and a pair of appearances in an NCAA Shane Hanna, Sr., D, Michigan Tech tournament regional final. The Battle Creek, Sean Walker, Sr., D, Bowling Green Mich. native scored 38 goals with 46 assists Atte Tolvanen, So., G, Northern Michigan for 84 points in 145 collegiate games, reaching the 20-point mark in three of his four seasons. All-WCHA Third Team A leader in all facets, he was selected by his peers to serve as one of the Bulldogs’ Brad McClure, Jr., F, Minnesota State assistant captains for his senior campaign. Dominik Shine, Sr., F, Northern Michigan Gerry Fitzgerald, Jr., F, Bemidji State McDonald graduated in May with a B.S. in Business Administration, an A.S. in Legal Mark Friedman, Jr., D, Bowling Green Studies and a Certificate in data mining. A finalist for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award®, Kurt Gosselin, So., D, Alabama Huntsville McDonald has volunteered for a variety of different organizations that help those with Justin Kapelmaster, Fr., G, Ferris State disabilities, both in Big Rapids (playing floor hockey with Big Rapids Special Olympians) and his native Battle Creek (serving as a mentor for Community Inclusive Recreation). All-WCHA Rookie Team Scoring Champion Marc Michaelis, F, Minnesota State Gerald Mayhew, Sr., F, Ferris State Darien Craighead, F, Northern Michigan (15 goals, 15 assists for 30 points in 26 WCHA games) Max Humitz, F, Lake Superior State Ian Scheid, D, Minnesota State Goaltending Champion Alec Rauhauser, D, Bowling Green; Mitch Reinke, D, Michigan Tech; and Michael Bitzer, Jr., Bemidji State Zach Whitecloud, D, Bemidji State (38 goals allowed in 1625:40 for a 1.40 GAA in 27 WCHA games) Angus Redmond, G, Michigan Tech

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USCHO.com USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine September 25, 2017 (PRESEASON) September 25, 2017 (PRESEASON) Rk Team (1st Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll Rank Team, Points (1st place) Last Wk Record Top 15 1 Denver (48) 33-7-4 998 1 1. Denver, 510 (34) 1 33-7-4 1 2 Boston University 24-11-3 837 6 2. Boston University, 424 6 24-12-3 1 3 Minnesota 23-12-3 822 7 3. Minnesota, 408 7 23-12-3 1 4 Harvard (1) 28-6-2 744 3 4. Harvard, 351 3 28-6-2 1 5 Massachusetts Lowell 27-11-3 711 4 5. Providence, 348 15 22-12-5 1 6 Minnesota Duluth (1) 28-7-7 642 2 6. St. Cloud State, 281 -- 16-19-1 1 7 North Dakota 21-16-3 632 9 7. North Dakota, 276 9 21-16-3 1 8 Notre Dame 23-12-5 611 5 8. Notre Dame, 269 4 23-12-5 1 9 St. Cloud State 16-19-1 547 NR 9. Massachusetts Lowell, 266 5 27-11-3 1 10 Penn State 25-12-2 530 8 10. Penn State, 206 8 25-12-2 1 11 Providence 22-12-5 494 15 T11. Wisconsin, 156 -- 20-15-1 1 12 Wisconsin 20-15-1 414 17 T11. Minnesota Duluth, 156 2 28-7-7 1 13 Boston College 21-15-4 366 16 13. Quinnipiac, 103 -- 23-15-2 1 14 Quinnipiac 23-15-2 286 20 14. Northeastern, 101 -- 18-15-5 1 15 Cornell 21-9-5 279 13 15. Minnesota State, 41 -- 22-13-5 1 16 Union 25-10-3 215 11 Also receiving votes: Cornell, 37; Ohio State, 32; Boston College, 30; Clarkson, 17 Air Force 27-10-5 203 12 22; Air Force, 22; Union 14; Western Michigan, 12; Miami 7; Michigan Tech, 4; 18 Minnesota State 22-13-4 198 NR Yale, 1. 19 Ohio State 21-12-6 180 14 20 Northeastern 18-15-5 172 NR 20 Western Michigan 22-13-5 172 10 Others receiving votes: Vermont 119, Michigan Tech 60, Bemidji State 52, Clarkson 45, Robert Morris 39, Miami 37, Michigan 24, St. Lawrence 18, Omaha 17, Bowling Green 16, Yale 11, Ferris State 5, Brown 1, Canisius 1, Dartmouth 1, New Hampshire 1.

WCHA Against the Rest (Final 2016-17) By Team vs AHA vs B10 vs ECAC vs HEA vs NCHC vs. Ind. Total Alabama Huntsville 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-3-0 0-2-0 0-0-0 0-6-0 Alaska Anchorage 1-0-0 0-3-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-1-0 0-0-0 1-4-0 Alaska 0-1-0 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-2-0 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-5-0 Bemidji State 0-0-0 0-1-0 0-2-0 0-0-0 0-4-1 0-0-0 0-7-1 Bowling Green 2-0-0 0-2-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 1-2-1 0-0-0 3-4-1 Ferris State 0-1-0 1-2-0 0-0-0 0-0-1 0-2-0 0-0-0 1-5-1 Lake Superior State 0-0-0 3-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-2-0 0-0-0 3-3-0 Michigan Tech 0-0-0 2-2-1 0-0-0 1-1-0 0-4-0 0-0-0 3-7-1 Minnesota State 0-0-0 1-1-0 1-1-0 0-0-0 2-0-0 0-0-0 4-2-0 Northern Michigan 0-0-0 2-2-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 0-1-1 0-0-0 2-5-1 TOTALS: 3-3-0 9-15-1 1-4-0 1-7-1 3-19-3 0-0-0 17-48-5 (.500) (.380) (.200) (.167) (.180) (.---) (.279)

By Site vs AHA vs B10 vs ECAC vs HEA vs NCHC vs. Ind Total Home 2-1-0 3-4-0 0-2-0 0-0-0 2-4-2 0-0-0 7-11-2 Away 0-0-0 4-8-1 1-1-0 1-5-0 1-11-1 0-0-0 7-25-2 Neutral 1-2-0 2-4-0 0-1-0 0-2-1 0-4-0 0-0-0 3-12-1 TOTALS: 3-3-0 9-15-1 1-4-0 1-7-1 3-19-3 0-0-0 17-48-5 (.500) (.380) (.200) (.167) (.180) (.---) (.279)

WCHA Head-to-Head (Regular Season - Final 2016-17) UAH (pts) UAA (pts) UAF (pts) BSU (pts) BGSU (pts) FSU (pts) LSSU (pts) MTU (pts) MSU (pts) NMU (pts) W-L-T-3/SW (pts) UAH ---- 2-0-0-0 (6/6) 1-2-1-0 (4/12) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 0-4-0-0 (0/12) 3-1-0-0 (9/12) 0-4-0-0 (0/12) 0-2-2-0 (2/12) 0-2-0-0 (0/6) 2-0-0-0 (6/6) 9-16-3-0 (30) UAA 0-2-0-0 (0/6) ---- 1-3-0-0 (3/12) 1-3-0-0 (3/12) 0-1-1-0 (1/6) 1-2-1-0 (4/12) 1-0-1-0 (4/6) 0-1-3-2 (5/12) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 1-3-0-0 (3/12) 6-16-6-2 (26) UAF 2-1-1-1 (8/12) 3-1-0-0 (9/12) ---- 0-2-0-0 (0/6) 2-2-0-0 (6/12) 1-0-1-1 (5/6) 2-1-1-0 (7/12) 0-2-0-0 (0/6) 1-2-1-1 (5/12) 0-2-0-0 (0/6) 11-13-4-3 (40) BSU 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 3-1-0-0 (9/12) 2-0-0-0 (6/6) ---- 3-1-0-0 (9/12) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 1-0-1-1 (5/6) 3-1-0-0 (9/12) 2-1-1-1 (8/12) 4-0-0-0 (12/12) 20-6-2-2 (64) BGSU 4-0-0-0 (12/12) 1-0-1-1 (5/6) 2-2-0-0 (6/12) 1-3-0-0 (3/12) ---- 2-2-0-0 (6/12) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 0-2-0-0 (0/6) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 2-2-0-0 (6/12) 14-13-1-1 (44) FSU 1-3-0-0 (3/12) 2-1-1-1 (8/12) 0-1-1-0 (1/6) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 2-2-0-0 (6/12) ---- 3-0-1-0 (10/12) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 2-2-0-0 (6/12) 0-1-1-1 (2/6) 12-12-4-2 (42) LSSU 4-0-0-0 (12/12) 0-1-1-1 (2/6) 1-2-1-1 (5/12) 0-1-1-0 (1/6) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 0-3-1-1 (2/12) ---- 0-2-0-0 (0/6) 1-2-1-0 (4/12) 1-1-2-1 (6/12) 8-13-7-4 (35) MTU 2-0-2-2 (10/12) 1-0-3-1 (7/12) 2-0-0-0 (6/6) 1-3-0-0 (3/12) 2-0-0-0 (6/6) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 2-0-0-0 (6/6) ---- 1-2-1-0 (4/12) 3-1-0-0 (9/12) 15-7-6-3 (54) MSU 2-0-0-0 (6/6) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 2-1-1-0 (7/12) 1-2-1-0 (4/12) 1-1-0-0 (3/6) 2-2-0-0 (6/12) 2-1-1-1 (8/12) 2-1-1-1 (8/12) ---- 2-0-0-0 (6/6) 15-9-4-2 (51) NMU 0-2-0-0 (0/6) 3-1-0-0 (9/12) 2-0-0-0 (6/6) 0-4-0-0 (0/12) 2-2-0-0 (6/12) 1-0-1-0 (4/6) 1-1-2-1 (6/12) 1-3-0-0 (3/12) 0-2-0-0 (0/6) ---- 10-15-3-1 (34)

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Head Coach: Mike Corbett (5th season) Head Coach: Matt Thomas (5th season) Record at UAH/Overall: 26-104-14 Record at UAA/Overall: 44-79-17 2016-17 Overall Record: 9-22-3 (9-16-3-0) 2016-17 Overall Record: 7-21-6 (6-16-6-2)

Chargers Seawolves University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Alaska Anchorage

• UAH has a total of 34 games on its 2017-18 regular season slate, beginning • Olivia Mantha ranks in UAA's top-10 in five career categories entering in on the road in a nonconference series on Oct. 6-7 at NCAA Frozen Four 2017-18: first in save percentage (.910), second in saves (2,503), third in qualifier Notre Dame. The Chargers first home series – one of seven this goals against average (2.87), third in minutes (5188:56) and tied for sixth in season – is slated for Nov. 10-11 against Alaska Anchorage at the Von Braun wins (24). Center. • The Seawolves have 17 letterwinners returning and lost nine from last year. • The Chargers are coming off their strongest campaign as members of the • UAA has players from five different countries (Canada, Finland, Germany, Western Collegiate Hockey Association, as the squad went 9-22-3 overall and Sweden, United States), six provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, 9-16-3 in league play in 2016-17, which included three road series sweeps. Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan) and three states (Alaska, Washington and UAH garnered its first All-WCHA honoree following the season with Kurt Ohio). Gosselin being named to the Third Team after posting 18 points on nine • UAA will face Simon Fraser in an exhibition game for the second straight year goals and nine assists from the blue line. after defeating SFU 6-1 a year ago. • UAH rates 10th nationally entering the new season with 87 percent of its scoring returning from the 2016-17 season, which was led by Huntsville nativeJosh Kestner with a career-best 22 points from nine goals and 13 assists. A total of nine players posted 10 points or more on last season's squad, with eight of the nine Chargers returning for 2017-18. • The squad benefitted from strong performances from the blue line as three of its top five point scorers were defensemen, which included Cam Knight (3g-16a), Gosselin (9g-9a) and Brandon Parker (6g-9a). UAH returns all but one defensemen from the 2016-17 roster.

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Head Coach: Lance West (1st season) Head Coach: Tom Serratore (17th season) Record at UAF/Overall: 1st season Record at BSU/Overall: 266-256-70 2016-17 Overall Record: 12-20-4 (11-13-4-3) 2016-17 Overall Record: 22-16-3 (20-6-2-2)

Nanooks Beavers University of Alaska Bemidji State University

• The Alaska Nanooks kick-off the 2017-18 season under the direction of • Bemidji State will open its 2017-18 campaign the weekend of Oct. 13-14 with first-year head coach Lance West (Alabama Huntsville ’95). West served as a home-and-home series against Minnesota Duluth. the team’s assistant coach for the past nine seasons under then-head coach • The Beavers were picked to finish second in the WCHA by both league Dallas Ferguson. coaches and media, while senior goaltender Michael Bitzer garnered • Joining West on this year’s staff is second-year assistant coach and UAF preseason All-WCHA accolades. hockey alumni Erik Largen, first-year assistant coach Lincoln Nguyen, first- • Bemidji State finished the 2016-17 season with an overall record of 22-16-3, year volunteer assistant coach Mike Parnell and new Director of Hockey while it earned its first Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season Operations Camden Pommenville. title and its 22nd conference championship in program history. • On Monday, the WCHA announced the 2017-18 Preseason Polls, with both • The Beavers went 13-8-1 at home, establishing a new record for wins at the UAHHockey.com Media Poll and the Mankato Free Press Coaches Poll Sanford Center and its best home win total since BSU was 13-3-1 on home ranking the Nooks eighth amongst WCHA teams. Last season, Alaska was ice in 1996-97. ranked 10th and 8th, respectively. • Bemidji State earned the WCHA top seed in the postseason, defeating • The Nanooks return 22 players from last year’s roster and welcome five Northern Michigan in a three-game series (2-1) to open the playoffs before newcomers to the program. Alaska’s 2017-18 team will consist of four dropping consecutive games to Bowling Green in the semifinal round. It seniors, five juniors, 12 sophomores and five freshmen. Positionally, Alaska is marked BSU's first postseason trip beyond the opening round since 2010-11. made up of 15 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders. • BSU finished the 2016-17 season leading the country in goals allowed (1.89), • In a particularly odd situation, the Nanooks return two goaltenders and while it allowed a meager 1.57 in WCHA play to lead the league. The Beavers welcome one new goalie, with none of the three ever playing a minute in allowed more than three goals just 11 times all season. net. Sophomore goaltenders Niko DellaMaggiore and Anton Martinsson • Upon the completion of the season, BSU’s Michael Bitzer pulled down were never given the chance to appear between the pipes, while freshman WCHA Player of the Year and First Team All-WCHA laurels. He was the first Tony Rehm is just stepping on campus for the first time this fall. BSU player to earn the league’s top individual player award since Matt Read • Conversely, the Alaska Nanooks defensive-core (nine players) are all was selected as Player of the Year to cap 2009-10. veterans. • After leading BSU to the conference title and its first 20-win season since • Last weekend, the Nanooks hosted their annual Blue vs. Gold game with 2009-10, Tom Serratore was named as the WCHA Coach of the Year. It Gold defeating Blue 4-2. A trio of Nanooks collected multi-point games, marked Serratore’s first WCHA Coach of the Year citation, while it marks the including redshirt-senior defenseman Justin Woods (1G, 1A), sophomore sixth time he has earned a coach of the year nod (five times with CHA). forward Aaron Herdt (1G, 1A) and freshman forward Max Newton (2 • Bitzer was joined on the All-WCHA team by Phillip Marinaccio, who earned assists). a spot on the All-WCHA Second Team, junior forward Gerry Fitzgerald, who • Last season, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team completed the 2016-17 was a third-team pick and freshman Zach Whitecloud, who rounded out season with an overall record of 12-20-4 and had an 11-13-4-3 mark within BSU’s postseason awards as a member of the WCHA’s All-Rookie Team. conference play. The Nooks finished the regular season placing sixth in the • Bitzer won the league’s goaltending award after backstopping a league-best league standings with 40 points. scoring defense (1.57 GPG) and leading the league in goals against average • The Nanooks return their highest-scoring player this season in sophomore (1.40), save percentage (.940) and winning percentage (.778). forward Chad Staley. Staley accumulated eight goals and 13 assists for 21 • Bitzer’s 1.71 goals against average led the country, earning the junior the points throughout the season. NCAA’s statistical championship. • Junior defenseman Zach Frye was the only other Alaska skater to register 20 • Bitzer became the 57th player in Bemidji State history to garner all-America points (five goals, 15 assists), while 10 other Nooks collected double-digit accolades when he was named to the CCM/American Hockey Coaches’ points. Association All-America West First Team. • The Alaska Nanooks hockey team hosts the Simon Fraser University Clan on • Bitzer was one of five finalists for the 2016-17 Mike Ritcher Award and was Friday, Sept. 29 in an exhibition contest at the . one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. • Alaska officially kicks-off the 2017-18 season with a two-game non- • Brendan Harms was selected as the winner of the 2016-17 Senior CLASS conference series against the United States Air Force Academy on Oct. 6-7 at Award® for collegiate hockey, given annually to the most outstanding senior the Carlson Center. student-athlete in Division I men’s hockey. • Juniors Kyle Bauman and Gerry Fitzgerald led the team with 13 goals apiece. • G. Fitzgerald was BSU’s top player on the power play this season (8g-7a). He led the team with eight power-play goals. • The BSU penalty-kill unit was 139-for-158 (.880) overall, second nationally to Air Force (157-175 (.897). BSU was 98-of-107 (.917) in league play to pace the WCHA. • Following the season, BSU seniors Charlie O’Connor and Harms each signed contracts to play in the ECHL. O’Connor inked a deal with the and Harms with the .

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Head Coach: Chris Bergeron (8th season) Head Coach: Bob Daniels (26th season) Record at BGSU/Overall: 123-131-33 Record at FSU/Overall: 430-443-100 2016-17 Overall Record: 21-18-2 (14-13-1-1) 2016-17 Overall Record: 13-19-5 (12-12-4-2)

Falcons Bulldogs Bowling Green State University Ferris State University

• The Falcons have won its preseason exhibition matchup for the last 18 years, • Though the 2016-17 Bulldogs won just 13 games last season, there dating back to 1998 (no exhibition played in 2001). were plenty of positive indicators out of it. Ferris State finished just one • Most recently faced Wilfrid Laurier on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 and won with conference victory shy of their 2015-16 total, a season in which the Bulldogs a 7-1 final. won the Broadmoor Trophy. They were three points shy of hosting the WCHA • Since 2008, the Falcons have outscored the Golden Hawks 23-8 and have first round of the playoffs as well. gone 4-0 in exhibition play. • Much had to do with a second half correction after a slow start to the year. • The Falcons look to return nine of 12 forwards who appeared in the WCHA Ferris State finished 5-1-1 headed into the postseason. After posting just one Championship, in addition to five of seven defensemen for the 2017-18 victory in October, the Bulldogs put together a far steadier 12-10-4 mark to campaign. In goal, the Falcons will return Florida Panthers drafteeRyan close out the regular season before running into a hot Bowling Green team Bednard, who marked a 2.70 GAA and .882 save percentage. in the first round of the playoffs, that went on to finish three inches short of • BGSU has won a playoff series in each of the last seven seasons, the longest winning their first ever Broadmoor Trophy. active streak in the country. • Several players took steps forward in their development, but offensively, • The Falcons hosted a playoff round for the fourth consecutive season in none larger than Mitch Maloney. As a junior, Maloney established career- 2016-17, ever since joining the WCHA highs in goals (12) assists (8) and points (20), after earning eight total points • With an overall record of 21-18-2, the Falcons marked its third consecutive a season before. Maloney scored on opening night for Ferris State for the 20+ win season and fourth straight winning season. Bowling Green had third consecutive season as well, and led the team in power play goals with records of 22-14-6 in the 2015-16 campaign, following a 23-11-5 record in five. the 2014-15 season. Last year was the 21st season that the Falcons have • Sophomore Corey Mackin established new career-bests in goals (13) and tallied a 20-plus win season. points (26) earning his 50th point in his 72nd game, or 11 games faster than • The Falcons went on a seven-game win streak entering the WCHA now graduated teammate Gerald Mayhew (83 games). Freshman defensman Championship, the longest of Coach Chris Bergeron’s career and longest Joe Rutkowski led all first-year Bulldogs in scoring with two goals and 18 of the Bowling Green hockey team since the 1987-88 campaign; a year in assists for 20 points and finished plus-five for the season. which the team clinched its last conference title and advanced to the NCAA • Ferris State brings four freshmen skaters to the 2017-18 team. Coale Norris, Tournament. Liam MacDougall, Marshall Moise and Lucas Finner all join the squad as • By competing in the 2017 WCHA Championship, it marked Bowling Green’s forwards. first conference championship appearance since 1988. • Rangy blue-line patroller Zach Yoder (Air Force) and former conference foe • The WCHA saw a total of nine hat tricks last year, with Bowling Green Jasen Fernsler (Alaska) each spent last year as observers for Ferris State accounting for four of those. Mitch McLain and Kevin Dufour each marked Hockey as NCAA Transfer rules required them to sit out their season. Both two on the year, with each player marking the two three-goal performances enter the 2017-18 season as redshirt sophomores. Yoder comes in tied as in a three week span. Ferris State’s tallest player at six feet and five inches with Tyler Andrew, and • Leading the Falcons offensively was McLain. On the season, McLain earned a is Ferris State’s first ever Georgia native (Woodstock) on the roster. total of six conference awards (2x POTM, 3x POTW, All-WCHA First Team), in • Ferris State comes into the 2017-18 season ranked fifth in the preseason addition to being named a WCHA Scholar-Athlete and to WCHA All-Academic coaches poll with 59 points, just eight back of their 2016-17 playoff first honors. round foe, Bowling Green. Mackin was the lone Bulldog to receive votes for • Bowling Green saw extensive time in the penalty box, and ranked ninth the Preseason All-WCHA First team for Ferris State. The Bulldogs finished in the nation with a total of 631 minutes for 15.4 minutes per game. The fifth in the 2016-17 regular season as well, and look to improve upon that Falcons are one of five WCHA schools in the top ten in the category. finish heading into the 2017-18 season. • The Falcons had three WCHA Scholar-Athletes, in addition to 13 Academic • A pair of Bulldogs were seen just 90 minutes north of Big Rapids wearing the All-WCHA honorees. Winged Wheel at Centre Ice Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings National • BGSU logged 10 WCHA Players of the Week, three WCHA Players of the Hockey League training camp. Simon Denis (26) played for the East Coast Month, WCHA Championship Third Star of the Game (Matt Pohlkamp), Hockey League’s (ECHL) Toledo Walleye last season, where he led all team NCAA Hockey No. 1 Star of the Week (Chris Nell), No. 4 spot on defensemen in points with 55 on 15 goals and 40 assists. Denis also set the SportCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Night (Dufour). team record in plus/minus at +40. Denis was ECHL Player of the Week for Feb. 6-12 when he had four goals and three assists, including a hat trick on Feb. 11 against Brampton. Pat Nagle (30) started 25 games for the of the ECHL (affectionately known as Ferris State South for the following reason), where he was a teammate of other former Bulldogs Ryan Lowney, Garrett Thompson, Mike Embach, Jason Binkley, and for a very brief time in the 2015-16 season, Simon Denis. Nagle is an ECHL Champion (2011-12), and an NCAA (West) All American joining NHLer’s Justin Schultz, Matt Frattin, and former Grand Rapids Griffin Andy Miele.

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Head Coach: (4th season) Head Coach: Joe Shawhan (1st season) Record at LSSU/Overall: 33-68-14 Record at MTU/Overall: 1st season 2016-17 Overall Record: 11-18-7 (8-13-7-4) 2016-17 MTU Record: 23-15-7 (15-7-6-3)

Lakers Huskies Lake Superior State University Michigan Technological University

• Lake Superior State opens the 2017-18 season and its 52nd season of varsity • Michigan Tech begins its 97th season of hockey on Sunday as the Huskies competition this Sunday (Oct. 1) with a home exhibition game against the travel to the University of Wisconsin. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. (Eastern) at Laurentian (Ontario) Voyageurs of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). the Kohl Center in the annual US Hockey Hall of Fame Game. • The Lakers return seven of their top 2016-17 season points leaders, led • Seniors Mark Auk (Coaches, Media Second Team) and Joel L’Esperance by senior forward J.T. Henke and junior forward Diego Cuglietta. Henke (Media Second Team) and sophomore Mitch Reinke (Media Second Team, registered a team second-best and career-high 30 points on 10 goals and 20 Coaches received votes) were recognized on the Preseason All-WCHA Teams. assists in 36 games last season while Cuglietta compiled a squad third-most Sophomore Gavin Gould received votes in the media’s picks. 25 points on career single-season bests in goals (12) and assists (13) in 35 • Tech was selected third in both WCHA preseason polls, behind first-place contests. Minnesota State and second-place Bemidji State in the Mankato Free Press • LSSU welcomes back 65.9 percent (190-288) of its points production from Preseason Coaches' Poll and the UAHHockey.com Preseason Media Poll. last season and 72.8 percent (75-103) of its goal-scoring output. The four • Six current Huskies and two former Huskies participated in NHL returnees who posted double-figure goals in junior forward Gage Torrel (14 Development Camps over the summer. Current players Auk (Edmonton), goals), sophomore forward Max Humitz (13 goals), junior forward Cuglietta Dane Birks (Pittsburgh),Jake Jackson (Sharks), Jake Lucchini (Edmonton), (12 goals), and Henke (10 goals) generated 47.6 percent of the Lakers' goals Reinke (Calgary), Alex Smith (Calgary) and former Huskies Shane Hanna in the 2016-17 season. (Stars) and Angus Redmond (Ducks) all participated. • The 2017-18 Lake Superior State roster consists of four senior, eight juniors, • Senior forward Brent Baltus was named the captain of the 2017-18 Huskies. seven sophomore, and nine freshmen. The Lakers feature 14 forwards, L'Esperance and fellow senior Dylan Steman, Lucchini, and Reinke will serve 10 defensemen, and four goaltenders. LSSU returns 19 letter winners as alternate captains. from last season, which consists of 12 forwards, five defensemen, and two • Keegan Ford and Patrick "Packy" Munson are transfers on this year’s team. netminders. Ford played 12 games for the Wisconsin Badgers in 2014-15, recording two • Senior defenseman Aiden Wright has been named the Lakers' captain for assists. Munson played 21 games for the Vermont Catamounts in 2015- the 2017-18 season, while senior defenseman Ryan Renz and Torrel will 16 and was Denver’s roster last season. Munson had a 9-10-1 record for serve as assistant captains. Wright, who along with Renz were alternate Vermont with a 2.37 goals against average, and a .920 save percentage. captains on the 2016-17 team, is coming off a career season-high seven • There are eight freshmen on the roster. The class consists of forwards Justin points on a goal and six assists in 36 matchups last season. Renz totaled Misiak, Greyson Reitmeier, and Marcus Russell, defensemen Seamus three points (all assists) in 14 games and Torrel netted a team-high 14 Donohue, Mitch Meek, Tyler Rockwell, and Cooper Watson, and goaltender lamplighters and had eight assists for a career season-high 22 points in Robbie Beydoun. 36 contests. Wright and Renz were both recognized as 2016-17 American • Nine former Huskies participated in NHL Preseason Training Camp: Pheonix Hockey League Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Scholars. Copley (Washington), Shane Hanna (Dallas), Tanner Kero (Chicago), Jujhar Khaira (Edmonton), Jamie Phillips (Winnipeg), Blake Pietila (New Jersey), Angus Redmond (Anaheim), Matt Roy (Los Angeles), Cliff Watson (Calgary). • Tech plays nine nonconference games this season. This weekend opens at Wisconsin followed by next weekend’s Ice Breaker Tournament. Union, Minnesota Duluth, and Minnesota are in the field for the Ice Breaker. The GLI dates haven’t been announced yet but the field is Bowling Green, Michigan, and Michigan State. The Huskies open against MSU. Tech also plays in the Ice Vegas Invitational in Las Vegas. The Huskies open up against Boston College with Northern Michigan and Arizona State meeting in the second semifinal. The nonconference schedule wraps up at home vs. ASU in February. • Tech finished with a 23-15-7 overall record in 2016-17. It was the third year in a row that the Huskies won 20 games—something that hasn't been done since 1983. Tech was also in the top 20 in the final USCHO.com poll (19th) for the third-straight season. Tech was ranked No. 9 at the end of the 2014- 15 season and No. 16 after the 2015-16 season. • Tech made its 12th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the second in the last three years. Top-seeded, and eventual national champion, Denver ended the Huskies’ season in the Midwest Regional Semifinal • Tech finished second in the WCHA standings with a 15-7-6 league mark. The Huskies advanced in the WCHA Playoffs with a sweep of Lake Superior State and a three-game series win over Minnesota State. The Huskies then hosted the WCHA Championship Game and won 3-2 in double overtime over Bowling Green to take home the Broadmoor Trophy. The title was the third (1962, 1965, and 2017) outright WCHA Tournament Championship won by Tech. They also earned WCHA co-playoff titles in 1960, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1981.

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Head Coach: Mike Hastings (6th season) Head Coach: Grant Potulny (1st season) Record at MSU/Overall: 122-62-18 Record at NMU/Overall: 1st season 2016-17 Overall Record: 22-13-4 (15-9-4-2) 2016-17 Overall Record: 13-22-4 (10-15-3-1)

Mavericks Wildcats Minnesota State University Northern Michigan University

• Minnesota State, which went 22-13-4 last season and returns 19 • A season ago, NMU finished 13-22-4 overall marking the fifth-consecutive letterwinners, is enters the 2017-18 campaign rated 18th in the country in season the Wildcats finished the year with a losing record. Finishing with the USCHO.com poll and #15 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. a 10-15-3 mark in WCHA contests, NMU finished the year eighth in the The Mavericks were rated #1 in preseason polls put forth by both the WCHA conference standings. media and the league coaches. • The Wildcats were chosen to finish sevent in both the Mankato Free Press • The Minnesota State men's hockey program got its start in 1969 and in the Coaches’ Poll and the UAHHockey.com Preseason Media Poll. Minnesota past 48 years have forged a 858-635-153 (.568) record. State, Bemidji State and Michigan Tech were picked to finish fer, second, and • The Mavericks are entering their 19th season as members of the Western third in both polls. Collegiate Hockey Association. Not including post-season action, the • On Oct. 7, NMU will formally name the ice surface in the Berry Events Center Mavericks sport a 226-217-61 (.509) mark against league opposition since the "Rick Comley Rink." The first head coach in Wildcat Hockey history, entering the league in 1999-00. Comley assembled a 538-429-68 record at NMU, with regular-season titles • Minnesota State is beginning its 22nd year as a member of NCAA Division I in the CCHA in 1979-80 and 1980-81, and a WCHA title in 1990-91. Under his (first DI season was 1997-98). guidance, the Wildcats won the 1989, 1991 and 1992 WCHA Tournaments • MSU went 13-3-3 (.763) in 19 games played at Verizon Wireless Center in and the 1980 and 1981 CCHA Tournaments. He led Northern Michigan 2016-17 and in the last five years there, are 70-20-6. MSU's record in 23 to a national title in 1991. He is one of only two coaches to win a NCAA seasons in the facility stands at 226-132-48 (.616). The Mavericks averaged Tournament title with two different universities after accomplishing the 3,862 fans per home game in 2016-17 (79.9% capacity), which ranked 21st in same feat at Michigan State in 2007. the nation in average attendance per game. • Senior forward Robbie Payne is the top returning goal and point scorer from • The Mavericks have won 20 games in a season during their NCAA Division the 2016-17 sqaud, recording 13 goals and 29 points a season ago. Payne I-era seven times, but never five seasons in a row like they have the last five was second on the team behind Dominik Shine, who is now playing with the years. Detroit Red Wings system. • Minnesota State is expected to be led by senior captain C.J. Suess (12-19--31 • Sophomore forward Darien Craighead is the top returning assist man from last year), sophomore forward Marc Michaelis (14-22--36 in 2015-16, WCHA last year’s team. Craighead was second on the 2016-17 team with 18 assists, Rookie of the Year) and junior defenseman Daniel Brickley (8-23--31, 2016- totaling 25 total points. Not far behind Craighead, sophomore defender 17 Second Team All-American, WCHA Defensive Player of the Year). Philip Beaulieu had 16 assists and 19 points in his first season at NMU. • Along with Suess, the other captains for the Mavericks in 2017-18 are senior • Junior goalie Atte Tolvanenwill return to lead the Wildcats after making forward Brad McClure and junior forward Max Coatta. 38 appearances, 35 starts a season ago. Tolvanen finished the year with • Head coach Mike Hastings enters the season having led the Mavericks to a 12-22-4 record, making 1,048 saves in the process. As a sophomore, a 122-62-18 record and three NCAA tournament appearances in his five Tolvanen set an NCAA record for consecutive shutout victories with five seasons with the program. spanning from January 21 through February 11 of 2017. • The Mavericks host the University of Regina Sunday in their first action of • Grant Potulny enters his first season at the helm of the Wildcats. After a 2017-18. four-year playing career at Minnesota, Potulny played a number of seasons professionally before retiring in 2008. As an eight-year assisant coach at his alma mater, Minnesota, Potulny helped the Gophers to a 182-105-26 (.623) record and two Frozen Four Appearances. • The 2017-18 opening home-and-home series between NMU and LSSU (Oct. will mark the 128th and 129th occasions that the two teams have met. The Wildcats hold the all-time series advantage with a 67-41-13 record versus the Lakers.

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