2016-17 WCHA WEEKLY RELEASE WEEK FIVE (OCTOBER 24-30, 2016) / wcha.com @wcha_mhockey /WCHAHockey @wcha_mhockey WCHA.tv Matt Hodson ● o: 952-818-8872 ● c: 612-801-2808 ● [email protected] WESTERN COLLEGIATE OPENING FACE-OFF • Lakers Rising: With a 4-0-0 record, Lake Superior State joins top-ranked North Dakota (5-0-0) as the only two remaining unbeaten HOCKEY ASSOCIATION and untied teams in men's Division I college hockey. The Lakers have excelled in all facets, as LSSU is one of only three NCAA teams to • FOUNDED 1951 • rank in the top-15 for scoring offense (first at 6.00 goals per game), scoring defense (12th at 2.25 goals allowed per game), power-play Suite C efficiency (fourth at 28.0 percent) and penalty-kill efficiency (seventh at 92.0 percent). Minnesota State Univ., Mankato at Edina • Horns Up: No. 9 Minnesota State is another of the three NCAA teams to rank in the top-15 of those four main team statistical categories 7700 France Avenue South, Suite 360C (No. 7/6 Notre Dame is the third). Edina, MN 55435 • The Mavericks have the NCAA's fifth-ranked offense (4.33 gpg) and sixth-best defense (1.83 gapg), while ranking seventh for 952-818-8869 power-play efficiency (25.0 percent) and 13th on the penalty kill (88.9 percent). • Lake Superior State and Minnesota State are tied for the national lead with a +15 goal margin, while the Lakers are outscoring MEMBER TEAMS opponents by a NCAA-best 3.75 goals per contest. University of Alabama in Huntsville • Blue Line Contributors: A pair of sophomore defensemen are making their early marks on the NCAA scoring charts, as Minnesota University of Alaska Anchorage State's Daniel Brickley and Lake Superior State's Owen Headrick are tied for the national lead by averaging 1.50 assists per game. University of Alaska Fairbanks • Among NCAA defensemen, Brickley ranks first with nine assists, 10 points, five power-play assists and six power-play points. Bemidji State University Headrick is tops by averaging 1.75 points per game (seven in four games). Bowling Green State University • A Look at the Polls: Minnesota State held steady at No. 9 in the USCHO.com top-20 and USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine top-15 Ferris State University rankings, while Bemidji State dropped to 20th (and receiving votes) after a pair of one-goal losses at No. 1 North Dakota. Lake Superior Lake Superior State University State and Michigan Tech are receiving votes in both polls. Michigan Technological University • Tradition Starts Here: Four (4) of the nation's top-15 winningest teams over the past three seasons play in the WCHA - tied for the Minnesota State University highest representation among that upper 25% of programs of any D-I conference since realignment (Hockey East has four, the NCHC has Northern Michigan University three, the Big Ten and ECAC Hockey both have two each and Atlantic Hockey has a single program). • Minnesota State is tied for third nationally with 81 wins, Ferris State and Michigan Tech are tied for 13th with 67 and Bowling Green is tied for 15th with 63. TRADITION STARTS HERE BY THE NUMBERS • 2: WCHA goaltenders ranked in the NCAA top-10 for both goals-against average and save percentage. Minnesota State senior Cole IN MEMORIUM In memoriam of the late Oliver “Butch” Huggins (1.27 and .942) ranks second and seventh, respectively. Bemidji State junior Michael Bitzer (1.68 and .935) is eighth and ninth. Mousseau, the men’s Western Collegiate • 4: Goals for Northern Michigan's Darien Craighead, tied for second among NCAA freshmen. He is the first Wildcat rookie with at least Hockey Association (WCHA) will retire his two multi-goal efforts since 2007-08, when Phil Fox (2) and future NHL-er Mark Olver (3) both turned the trick. officials’ jersey number 12, while on-ice • 5: Wins for No. 9 Minnesota State, matching North Dakota for the most nationally. The Mavericks' .833 winning percentage (5-1-0) ranks officials will wear a specially-designed “12” fourth, while they lead the country with 26 goals scored. sticker on their helmets throughout the • 86.8: Percentage of time that No. 20 Bemidji State has played either tied or leading through six games (312:31 of 360:00). The Beavers 2016-17 season. have skated with a lead for 236:29 (65.7 percent). Mousseau, a longtime league official, THE WEEK AHEAD tragically passed away March 25 after • UP Rivals Meet: One of the WCHA's fiercest rivalries resumes this weekend when Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan square off for a suffering critical head injuries stemming from home-and-home series (Friday in Hougton and Saturday in Marquette). a fall to the ice during warm-ups prior to the • Broadmoor Trophy Rematch: No. 9 Minnesota State and Ferris State will meet for the first time since the Bulldogs ended the Mavericks' second WCHA Final Five semifinal game on season with a 2-1 victory in the 2016 Final Five championship game. This weekend's series takes place in Mankato. Friday, March 18 at the Van Andel Arena • Alaskas Head to the Lower 48: Alaska Anchorage and Alaska will leave the Last Frontier for the first time this season, as the Seawolves in Grand Rapids, Mich. Mousseau was 48. visit No. 20 Bemidji State and the Nanooks travel to Lake Superior State. LSSU will be hosting its ninth annual Pink in the Rink weekend. • Nonconference Road Tests: A pair of WCHA teams have nonconference road games this weekend, as Bowling Green faces intra-state Butch was universally respected for his work rival Miami in Oxford, Ohio; and, Alabama Huntsville travels to No. 10 St. Cloud State. on the ice and beloved for his kind and generous spirit to all, along with his love 2016-17 WCHA STANDINGS Conference Overall for the great sport of hockey at all levels. Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts GP W L T 3/SW % GF GA GP W L T % GF GA 1 (20) Bemidji State 12 4 4 0 0 0 1.000 10 2 6 4 2 0 .667 16 10 2 (9) Minnesota State 9 4 3 1 0 0 .750 16 6 6 5 1 0 .833 26 11 3 Alabama Huntsville 7 6 2 3 1 0 .417 15 23 8 2 5 1 .312 15 33 4 Lake Superior State 6 2 2 0 0 0 1.000 11 5 4 4 0 0 1.000 24 9 5 Michigan Tech 5 4 1 2 1 1 .375 9 11 8 1 5 2 .250 18 28 6 Northern Michigan 4 4 1 2 1 0 .375 8 10 6 2 3 1 .417 16 18 7 Alaska 3 2 1 1 0 0 .500 5 9 6 2 4 0 .333 16 22 8 Ferris State 2 4 0 3 1 1 .125 10 14 7 0 6 1 .071 15 23 WCHA.TV 9 Alaska Anchorage 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 4 1 3 0 .250 3 13 In partnership with industry leader Bowling Green 0 2 0 2 0 0 .000 2 6 6 0 5 1 .083 13 29 Stretch Internet, WCHA.tv - the official (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; online streaming platform of the WCHA rankings listed by USCHO.com first, followed by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) - will provide fans with live and archived broadcasts of WCHA hockey. THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA (ALL TIMES LOCAL) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 Featuring all 10 WCHA member institutions, 1Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech, 7:07 p.m. ET* Bowling Green at Miami, 7:05 p.m. ET every league game – home and away – will be Bowling Green at Miami, 7:35 p.m. ET 1Alaska at Lake Superior State, 7:07 p.m. ET* streamed live, along with all nonconference 1Alaska at Lake Superior State, 7:37 p.m. ET* 1Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan, 7:07 p.m. ET* home games and the 2017 WCHA tournament. 1Alaska Anchorage at (20) Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m. CT* 1Alaska Anchorage at (20) Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m. CT* 1Ferris State at (9) Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m. CT* 1Ferris State at (9) Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m. CT* Alabama Huntsville at (10) St. Cloud State, 7:37 p.m. CT Alabama Huntsville at (10) St. Cloud State, 7:07 p.m. CT 1 - WCHA game; * - WCHA.tv Rankings listed by USCHO.com poll first, followed by USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine poll THE WEEK IN REVIEW - GAMES OF OCT. 21-22, 2016 #WCHA • Lake Superior State remained undefeated on the season with a pair of Northern Michigan 6, at Ferris State 4 victories in Huntsville, spoiling Alabama Huntsville’s home opener. at Ferris State 2, Northern Michigan 2 - OT (Ferris State won the shootout, 1-0) • Playing in the on-campus Patty Ice Arena in Fairbanks, host Alaska’s win on (Oct. 21 and 22 at Ewigleben Ice Arena; Big Rapids, Mich.) Saturday gave the Nanooks a split with No. 9 Minnesota State. In a wild WCHA showdown, Northern Michigan and Ferris State kept the fans • In a wild WCHA showdown, Northern Michigan and Ferris State kept the at Ewigleben Ice Arena entertained from start to finish. fans at Ewigleben Ice Arena entertained from start to finish.