2020-21 WCHA Men's League WEEKLY RELEASE WEEK 17 (WCHA QUARTERFINALS) / Wcha.Com
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TM TM 2020-21 WCHA Men's League WEEKLY RELEASE WEEK 17 (WCHA QUARTERFINALS) / wcha.com CONTACT: TODD BELL / O: 952-681-7668 / C: 972-825-6686 / [email protected] 2020-21 WCHA STANDINGS Conference Overall Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts GP W L T OTW/OTL SW Pts.% GF GA GP W L T GF GA 1. (3/3) Minnesota State^ 39 14 13 1 0 1/1 0 .929 56 15 22 18 3 1 81 32 2, (18/RV) Lake Superior State* 27 14 9 5 0 2/2 0 .643 39 34 24 15 6 3 65 52 (13/13) Bowling Green* 27 14 8 5 1 0/2 0 .643 46 34 28 19 8 1 99 58 4. (15/RV) Bemidji State* 24 14 8 5 1 3/2 0 .571 42 34 24 13 8 3 68 57 5. (RV/UR) Michigan Tech 20 14 7 7 0 1/0 0 .476 38 35 28 17 10 1 76 56 Northern Michigan 20 14 6 7 1 2/2 1 .476 40 47 24 8 15 1 62 87 7. Alabama Huntsville 8 14 3 11 0 1/0 0 .190 18 49 20 3 16 1 29 70 8. Ferris State 3 14 0 13 1 0/1 1 .071 28 59 23 1 21 1 54 97 Standings presented by ^-MacNaughton Cup champion/cliched No. 1 seed for WCHA Postseason; *- Clinched home ice for the WCHA Quarterfi nals Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks have opted out of the 2020-21 season (3 points for a regulation win; 2 points for a 3-on-3 or shootout win; 1 point for a 3-on-3 or shootout loss; zero points for a regulation loss) (Rankings are USCHO.com followed by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA (ALL TIMES LOCAL) FRIDAY, MARCH 12 SUNDAY, MARCH 14 No. 8 Ferris State at No. 1 (3/3) Minnesota State, 6:07 p.m. CT^ No. 8 Ferris State at No. 1 (3/3) Minnesota State#, 4:07 p.m. CT^ No. 7 Alabama Huntsville at No. 2 (18/RV) Lake Superior State, 7:07 p.m. ET^ No. 7 Alabama Huntsville at No. 2 (18/RV) Lake Superior State#, 5:07 p.m. ET^ No. 6 Northern Michigan at No. 3 (13/13) Bowling Green, 7:07 p.m. ET^ No. 6 Northern Michigan at No. 3 (13/13) Bowling Green#, 5:07 p.m. ET^ No. 5 (RV/UR) Michigan Tech at No. 4 (15/RV) Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m. CT^ No. 5 (RV/UR) Michigan Tech at No. 4 (15/RV) Bemidji State#, 5:07 p.m. CT^ SATURDAY, MARCH 13 No. 8 Ferris State at No. 1 (3/3) Minnesota State, 4:07 p.m. CT^ No. 7 Alabama Huntsville at No. 2 (18/RV) Lake Superior State, 5:07 p.m. ET^ No. 6 Northern Michigan at No. 3 (13/13) Bowling Green, 7:07 p.m. ET^ No. 5 (RV/UR) Michigan Tech at No. 4 (15/RV) Bemidji State, 6:07 p.m. CT^ # If necessary; ^ streaming live on FloHockey.tv; rankings are USCHO.com followed by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine OPENING FACEOFF BY THE NUMBERS • High-Caliber Backstops: The WCHA enters the postseason as the only Division • 36: Team-leading blocked shots total for Alabama Huntsville's Lucas Bahn. I conference with three goaltenders ranked in the top-10 nationally in goals- • 50: Career points for Bemidji State's Alex Ierullo after his game-winning goal against average and save percentage. Minnesota State's Dryden McKay (1.32), on March 7 against Alabama Huntsville. Michigan Tech's Blake Pietila (1.74) and Lake Superior State's Mareks Mitens • 40: Saves by Ferris State freshman goaltender Logan Stein in the Bulldogs' (1.86) rank No. 1, No, 5 and No. 8, respectively, in GAA. Pietila (.937), Mitens regular-season finale on March 6. (.934) and McKay (.933), check in at No. 4, No. 6 and No. 7, respectively in save • 25: Team-high point total for Michigan Tech's Trenton Bliss on 12 goals and 13 percentage. assists. • WCHA Announces All-Decade Team for the 2000s: The WCHA continued its • 18: Bowling Green players who have registered at least one point against recognition of 70 Years of Excellence last week with the announcement of its Northern Michigan this season. All-Decade honorees for the 2000s. • 18 (Again): Assists for Northern Michigan's Joseph Nardi, the ninth-best total • Named to the All-Decade Team were forwards Peter Sejna of in the NCAA. Colorado College (2000-03), John Pohl of Minnesota (1998-2002) • 6: Career-high consecutive games with at least a point for Lake Superior and Brett Sterling of Colorado College (2002-06); defensemen State's Pete Veillette as the Lakers begin postseason play. Jordan Leopold of Minnesota (1998-2002) and Matt Carle of Denver • 5: Game-winning goals for Minnesota State junior forward Julian Napravnik, (2003-06) and goaltender Brian Elliot of Wisconsin (2003-07). which is tied for the NCAA lead. • Minnesota's Leopold was honored as the Player of the Decade. The first of six consecutive Hobey Baker Award winners for the league THE WEEK AHEAD during the decade, Leopold captained Minnesota's 2002 national championship squad and was a two-time WCHA Defensive Player of • No. 8 Ferris State at No. 1 (3/3) Minnesota State: The top-seeded Mavericks the Year honoree during his career. and eighth-seeded Bulldogs meet for the fourth time in the WCHA postseason. • Minnesota's Don Lucia was named the WCHA Coach of the Decade. Minnesota State defeated Ferris State, 4-1, in the 2014 WCHA championship Lucia, who coached at Minnesota from 1999-2018, led the Golden Gophers game and 4-0 in 2015 WCHA semifinals. Ferris State won the most recent to back-to-back national championships (2001, 2002) along with a third meeting, 2-1, in the 2016 WCHA championship game. Frozen Four appearance during the 2000s (2004-05). In WCHA play, Lucia’s • No. 7 Alabama Huntsville at No. 2 (18/RV) Lake Superior State: The Chargers Minnesota squads captured two MacNaughton Cups and three Broadmoor and Lakers will meet for the first time in WCHA postseason play. The Lakers Trophies during the decade. were 3-0-1 in the four meetings between the teams this season. • WCHA Lands Four the Top-20 This Week: Minnesota State, Bowling Green, • No. 6 Northern Michigan at No. 3 (13/13 Bowling Green): This weekend Bemidji State and Lake Superior State represent the WCHA in the latest will mark the fourth meeting between the Wildcats and Falcons in WCHA USCHO rankings released March 8. Minnesota State is up to No. 3 this week postseason play. Bowling Green swept NMU, 2-0, in the 2015 quarterfinals and while Bowling Green remains at No. 13 with Bemidji State No. 15 and Lake the 2019 semifinals with NMU taking a 2-1 series win in the 2018 semifinals. Superior State No. 18. Michigan Tech also received votes. • No. 5 (RV/UR) Michigan Tech at No. 4 (15/RV) Bemidji State: Michigan • The Mavericks and Falcons are also No. 3 and No. 13, respectively, in Tech won the only other WCHA playoff matchup with the Beavers, taking a the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings this week while Lake 2-0 series sweep from BSU in the quarterfinals en route to the 2018 WCHA Superior State and Bemidji State received votes. Postseason title. • Minnesota State and Bemidji State are ranked in the latest College Hockey News Power 16 rankings released March 9. MSU is No. 5 while the Beavers are No. 13. @wcha_mhockey @wcha_mhockey /WCHAMensHockey FloHockey.tv /WCHAHockey WCHA QUICK FACTS #WEAREWCHA WCHA Mission Website ..................................................................................................................... wcha.com Streaming Partner ............................................................................................fl ohockey.tv The WCHA exists to achieve the highest level of competitive excellence in an Headquarters ..........................................................................................2950 Metro Drive environment that supports the academic and personal growth of all student ........................................................................................................................................ 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