2017-18 WCHA WEEKLY RELEASE Week Two (Games of Oct. 6-7, 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 • Now the Fun Really Starts: Following some exhibition-game appetizers and the season-opening U.S. Hall of Fame Game for • Founded 1951 • Tech, the first nearly-full weekend of regular season competition is coming up for the Men's League of the Western 2950 Metro Drive, Suite 102 Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Eight of the league's member schools will be in action for nonconference games. Bloomington, MN 55425 • Among the Best: Three (3) of the nation's top-15 winningest teams since 2013-14 play in the WCHA -- matching Hockey East 952-681-7947 for the second-highest representation among that upper 25 percent of any conference since realignment (the NCHC has four teams, Atlantic Hockey and ECAC Hockey have two apiece, and the Big Ten has a single program). MEMBER TEAMS • Minnesota State is tied for fifth nationally over the last four seasons with 98 wins, Michigan Tech is tied for ninth with University of Alabama in Huntsville 89 and Bowling Green is tied for 13th with 84. University of Alaska Anchorage • The WCHA also has four teams in the top-20 since realignment, matching the NCHC for the second-most among the University of Alaska Fairbanks upper-third of the country's 60 programs (Hockey East, counting Notre Dame, leads the way with five). Ferris State Bemidji State University ranks 18th with 80 victories since 2013-14. Bowling Green State University • Mavericks Open as Favorites: Minnesota State -- which is also tied for fourth nationally with 122 victories over the past five Ferris State University seasons -- is the heavy preseason league favorite in 2017-18, grabbing all nine possible first-place votes in the Mankato Free Lake Superior State University Press WCHA Coaches' poll and 12 of 14 in the UAHHockey.com WCHA Media poll (full results are available on Page 2). Michigan Technological University • The Mavericks are also 18th in the USCHO.com preseason poll and 15th in the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine Minnesota State University preseason rankings. Michigan Tech is receiving votes in both polls, while Bemidji State, Bowling Green and Ferris State Northern Michigan University all collected votes in the USCHO.com ledger. • Taking the Reins in Fairbanks, Houghton and Marquette: After the same 10 WCHA head coaches guided their programs over TRADITION STARTS HERE the last four seasons, three enter 2017-18 with a new bench boss: Alaska (Lance West), Michigan Tech () and #WeAreWCHA Northern Michigan ().

By the Numbers 2017-18 Important Dates • 100: Returning goals for Minnesota State, tied with Notre Dame for the seventh-most nationally. The Mavericks lost just 19 goals from their 22-win team a year ago, including double-digit lamp-lighters Zeb Knutson (15), Brad McClure (14), Marc Date Event Oct. 6-7 First full regular season Michaelis (14) and C.J. Suess (12). weekend • 999: Games in program history for Alabama Huntsville, which joined the NCAA ranks as a Division II team in 1986. The Chargers Icebreaker Tournament will play their 1,000th all-time contest in Friday's season opener at Notre Dame. Oct. 13-14 First WCHA league series Nov. 10-11 First weekend of five (5) The Week Ahead WCHA series • Ice Breaker Tournament: The WCHA returns to the Ice Breaker Tournament for just the second time in the last five years (Lake Dec. 17-Dec. 27 Holiday Break Superior State in 2015), as Michigan Tech will play in the 21st annual event. The Huskies open at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Late-Dec./ In-season tournaments Minn. against No. 16 Union on Friday, and will face either No. 3 Minnesota or host Minnesota Duluth (No. 6/11) on Saturday. Early-Jan. Great Lakes Inviational • Nonconference Tests: Including the Ice Breaker field, nine of the WCHA's 11 nonconference games come against ranked Ice Vegas Invitational opponents. Alabama Huntsville opens its season at No. 8 Notre Dame, Alaska Anchorage hosts No. 7 North Dakota and Alaska Three Rivers Classic welcomes No. 17 Air Force, while No. 18/15 Minnesota State plays a single contest against visiting No. 9/6 St. Cloud State. Feb. 23-24 Final weekend of the • Lake Superior State vs. Northern Michigan: With just one official WCHA league series scheduled between the UP rivals in regular season 2017-18, the Lakers and Wildcats will meet for a home-and-home, nonconference set as part of the annual Cappo Cup. March 2-4 2018 WCHA Quarterfinals Bowling Green will face some of the nation's top young talent, hosting the U.S. National Team Host sites; seeds 1-4 • Bowling Green Exhibition: March 9-11 2018 WCHA Semifinals Development Program (USNTDP) this Saturday night. The Falcons skate at Western Michigan next Tuesday (Oct. 10). Host sites; top 2 seeds 2018 WCHA Semifinals 2017-18 WCHA Standings March 17 Conference (Final Regular Season) Overall Host site; top seed Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts GP W L T 3/SW % GF GA GP W L T % GF GA March 23-25 2018 NCAA Regionals 1 Alabama Huntsville 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 Four sites Alaska 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 April 5-7 2018 NCAA Frozen Four Alaska Anchorage 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 Xcel Energy Center Bemidji State 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 Saint Paul, Minn. Bowling Green 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 Ferris State 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 Lake Superior State 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 Michigan Tech 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 1 0 1 0 .000 2 3 WCHA.tv In partnership with industry leader (18/15) Minnesota State 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 Stretch Internet, WCHA.tv - the official Northern Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 0 0 0 0 .--- 0 0 (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 byUSA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) - will provide fans with live and archived broadcasts of WCHA hockey, now available his eek in the ll imes ocal) via OTT aps on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV T W WCHA (A T L and Android TV. Friday, October 6 Saturday, October 7 1Michigan Tech vs. (16) Union, 4:07 p.m. CT 1Michigan Tech vs. (3) Minn./(6/12) Minn. Duluth, 4:07/7:37 p.m. CT Featuring all 10 WCHA member institutions, Ferris State at Western Michigan, 7:05 p.m. ET Alabama Huntsville at (8) Notre Dame, 7:05 p.m. ET every league game – home and away – will be 2Northern Michigan at Lake Superior State, 7:07 p.m. ET* Western Michigan at Ferris State, 7:07 p.m. ET* streamed live, along with all nonconference Alabama Huntsville at (8) Notre Dame, 7:35 p.m. ET 2Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan, 7:07 p.m. ET* home games and the 2018 WCHA tournament. (Exh.) USNTDP at Bowling Green, 7:37 p.m. ET (9/6) St. Cloud State at (18/15) Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m. CT* (7) North Dakota at Alaska Anchorage, 7:07 p.m. AT* (7) North Dakota at Alaska Anchorage, 7:07 p.m. AT* (17) Air Force at Alaska, 7:07 p.m. AT* (17) Air Force at Alaska, 7:07 p.m. AT* 1 - Ice Breaker Tournament (AMSOIL Arena; Duluth, Minn.); 2 - Nonconference series between WCHA teams; * - WCHA.tv 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

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'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 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.

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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 / ), 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 . • 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 -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 and Northern Michigan's . (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. • Debut of "Inside the WCHA": Fans took a deeper dive into the WCHA last season • The WCHA is excited to welcome veteran league assistant coaches Lance with the debut of “Inside the WCHA,” a bi-weekly web series featuring news, West and Joe Shawhan into the head coaching ranks at Alaska and highlights, analysis, coach and player interviews, and more from around the 10- Michigan Tech, respectively. The league is also thrilled for the return of team league. The show was created and produced by the WCHA in partnership Grant Potulny, a two-time NCAA and WCHA tournament champion during with BLC Studios, a division of Bethany Lutheran College. his playing days at Minnesota, who will make his head coaching debut at • Thirteen (13) webisodes were produced, beginning with a Sept. 29 season Northern Michigan. preview show, running bi-weekly throughout the year (except for the • Breitenbach Award: Honoring two individuals for their exceptional efforts on December holiday break) and concluding with weekly shows during the behalf of the WCHA, the Association bestowed the Otto Breitenbach WCHA 2017 WCHA postseason. Distinguished Service Award to longtime Conference office employee Carol • Digital Exposure Up 7.3 Percent: During the 2016-17 season, the WCHA Men's LaBelle-Ehrhardt and the late Oliver “Butch” Mousseau, a beloved Men’s League League-specific social media handles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, along official. with WCHA.tv, generated a 7-3-percent increase in organic impressions (year-to- • Renamed the Otto Breitenbach WCHA Distinguished Service Award in year, from the 2015-16 campaign). conjunction with the 50th anniversary season of 2001-02, the honor is • Between Sept. 1 and April 15, the league's aggregate social media presented to individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to followers grew by 14.7 percent. the Association. Award recipients, who are nominated and voted upon • WCHA.tv saw a 15.3-percent increase in overall viewership, resulting in a by WCHA member institutions, have included coaches, administrators, 5.8-percent bump in net profit for the league. officials and members of the media. LaBelle-Ehrhardt and Mousseau • #WeAreWCHA: Along with growth in impressions, engagement with the hashtag become the 40th and 41st honorees, respectively. #WeAreWCHA increased throughout the season. • LaBelle-Ehrhardt enjoyed a 17-year tenure as WCHA Associate • The tagline aims to engage everyone who is part of the WCHA Men's Commissioner of Operations (1997-2014), helping shepherd the league League community – from alumni and current players to future student- first through an unprecedented period of growth, and then transition. athletes; from administrators to coaches; and, most importantly, the • Mousseau, who tragically passed away March 25, 2016 stemming from league's fans. We are all the WCHA. critical head injuries suffered during a fall to the ice during warmups March 18, was a highly-respected official in the WCHA for 13 seasons. More importantly, he was – and is – a beloved person and figure in the sport of hockey. • Mousseau's Number Retired: In memoriam of the late Oliver “Butch” Mousseau, the WCHA retired his officials’ jersey number 12, while on-ice officials wore a specially-designed “12” sticker on their helmets throughout the 2016-17 season. • While not mandatory, many WCHA teams memorialized Mousseau by 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 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, Thru Oct. 1, 2017) (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 Boston University (HEA) 84 Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) 84 17. Notre Dame (HEA) 83 18. Ferris State (WCHA) 80 19. Harvard (ECAC) 78 Michigan (B1G) 78

NCAA Wins Leaders, 2014-17 (Last 3 Seasons, Thru Oct. 1, 2017)

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) 74 7. 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 2 (Oct. 6-7, 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) October 2, 2017 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 0-0-0 2 2 Boston University 24-11-3 837 6 2. Boston University, 426 2 1-0-0 2 3 Minnesota 23-12-3 822 7 3. Minnesota, 403 3 0-0-0 2 4 Harvard (1) 28-6-2 744 3 4. Harvard, 373 4 0-0-0 2 5 Massachusetts Lowell 27-11-3 711 4 5. Providence, 338 5 0-0-0 2 6 Minnesota Duluth (1) 28-7-7 642 2 6. St. Cloud State, 302 6 0-0-0 2 7 North Dakota 21-16-3 632 9 7. North Dakota, 280 7 0-0-0 2 8 Notre Dame 23-12-5 611 5 8. Notre Dame, 263 8 0-0-0 2 9 St. Cloud State 16-19-1 547 NR 9. Massachusetts Lowell, 238 9 0-0-0 2 10 Penn State 25-12-2 530 8 10. Wisconsin, 186 T11 1-0-0 2 11 Providence 22-12-5 494 15 11. Penn State, 168 10 0-0-0 2 12 Wisconsin 20-15-1 414 17 12. Minnesota Duluth, 130 T11 0-0-0 2 13 Boston College 21-15-4 366 16 13. Northeastern, 117 14 0-0-0 2 14 Quinnipiac 23-15-2 286 20 14. Quinnipiac, 108 13 0-0-0 2 15 Cornell 21-9-5 279 13 15. Minnesota State, 59 15 0-0-0 2 16 Union 25-10-3 215 11 Also receiving votes: Boston College 48; Clarkson, 29; Ohio State, 28; Cornell, 17 Air Force 27-10-5 203 12 28; Air Force, 23; Miami, 14; Western Michigan 7; Union College, 2. 18 Minnesota State 22-13-4 198 NR 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 By Team vs AHA vs B10 vs ECAC vs HEA vs NCHC vs. Ind. Total Alabama Huntsville 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Alaska Anchorage 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Alaska 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Bemidji State 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Bowling Green 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Ferris State 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Lake Superior State 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Michigan Tech 0-0-0 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-1-0 Minnesota State 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Northern Michigan 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 TOTALS: 0-0-0 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-1-0 (.---) (.000) (.---) (.---) (.---) (.---) (.000)

By Site vs AHA vs B10 vs ECAC vs HEA vs NCHC vs. Ind Total Home 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 Away 0-0-0 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-1-0 Neutral 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 TOTALS: 0-0-0 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-1-0 (.---) (.000) (.---) (.---) (.---) (.---) (.000)

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 opens its 2017-18 season on the road for the initial four series • Alaska Anchorage defeated Simon Fraser 6-1 in an exhibition game Sept. beginning this Friday and Saturday at 2017 NCAA Frozen Four-qualifier No. 8 30th in Eagle River. Austin Azurdia recorded a hat trick and added one assist Notre Dame at the Compton Family Ice Arena with puck drop slated for 6:35 to lead the Seawolves. Matt Anholt and Nicolas Erb-Ekholm each finished p.m. CT for the opener and 6:05 p.m. for the finale. The Chargers owned an with three assists. Olivier Mantha made 19 saves for the Seawolves. UAA overall record of 9-22-3 last season and 9-16-3 within the WCHA, while UND finished with a 26-20 edge in shots. Alaska Anchorage was 0-4 on the power boasted an overall mark of 23-12-5 and 12-6-4 during the Big Ten schedule play, and Simon Fraser finished 0-5. in 2016-17. • UAA will open the season at home when it hosts former WCHA foe North • Friday’s season opener will be the UAH hockey’s 1,000th varsity game as Dakota Friday and Saturday. UND leads the all-time series 47-17-4, but 14 of the program owns a historical record of 434-493-72 (.470) since joining the UAA's 17 wins in the series have come in Anchorage. North Dakota has won NCAA ranks in 1986. Soon after UAH officially sponsoring the program as the last seven meetings between the two schools with UAA's last win a 2-1 an NCAA sport, Huntsville garnered the moniker “The Hockey Capital of the decision in Anchorage in 2009. South” as decreed by gubernatorial proclamation in 1987 and the program’s • Mantha, a senior, ranks in the top-10 in school history in five career reputation continued to rise in the years to follow with NCAA Division II categories: first in save percentage (.910), second in saves (2,503), third in Championships in the 1995-96 and 1997-98 campaigns. goals against average (2.87), third in minutes (5188:56) and tied for sixth in • UAH has a total of 34 games on the 2017-18 slate beginning at Notre Dame wins (24). this coming weekend, which starts a four-series road trip as the squad has • Anholt, a senior forward, will serve as the team captain this year, and trips to Michigan Tech (Oct. 20-21), Cornell (Oct. 27-28) and Arizona State Mantha, senior forward Tad Kozun and sophomore Nolan Nicholas will serve (Nov. 3-4) following the season-opening series. The Chargers open their as assistant captains. seven-series home slate on Nov. 10-11 when Alaska Anchorage makes the • The Seawolves have 17 letterwinners returning and lost nine from last year. trek from the Last Frontier. • UAA has players from five different countries (Canada, Finland, Germany, • The Chargers are coming off their strongest campaign as members of the Sweden, United States), six provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Western Collegiate Hockey Association, as the squad went 9-22-3 overall and Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan) and three states (Alaska, Washington and 9-16-3 in league play in 2015-16 which included three road series sweeps. Ohio). UAH garnered its first All-WCHA honoree following the season with Kurt Gosselin being named to the Third Team after posting 18 points on nine goals and nine assists from the blue line. • 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. UAH boasted a total of nine players with 10 points or more last season, 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 squad. • Knight finished his sophomore season in 2016-17 ranked tied for eighth among WCHA blue liners with a career-best and team-high 16 assists in addition to rating tied for second on the UAH roster with 19 points. Knight’s 19 points (3g-16a) were the most for a UAH defenseman since Matt Baxter’s 22 in 2010-11 and his 16 assists were the most for a Charger defenseman since Brandon Roshko’s 17 in 2007-08. Knight enters his junior campaign with 60 appearances under his belt as well as 24 points on four goals and 20 assists. • UAH head coach Mike Corbett enters his fifth season at the helm of the Chargers with the 27-man roster fully recruited by Corbett along with assistant coaches Gavin Morgan and Matty Thomas. The staff brought in a total of eight players to the program this season, including one Huntsville native, one Georgia native, one Michigan native and five players from Ontario. • The Chargers enter this weekend’s matchup with an all-time record of 6-10-0 against the Fighting Irish, with Notre Dame notching a 5-0 win on Jan. 11, 2014 in the two program’s most recent meeting.

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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 . 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. • Last week, 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 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 12th, 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 season, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team completed the campaign with 2009-10, Tom Serratore was named as the WCHA Coach of the Year. It an overall record of 12-20-4 and had an 11-13-4-3 mark within conference marked Serratore’s first WCHA Coach of the Year citation, while it marks the play. The Nooks finished the regular season placing sixth in the league sixth time he has earned a coach of the year nod (five times with CHA). standings with 40 points. • Bitzer was joined on the All-WCHA team by Phillip Marinaccio, who earned • The Nanooks return their highest-scoring player this season in sophomore a spot on the All-WCHA Second Team, junior forward Gerry Fitzgerald, who forward Chad Staley. Staley accumulated eight goals and 13 assists for 21 was a third-team pick and freshman Zach Whitecloud, who rounded out points throughout the season. BSU’s postseason awards as a member of the WCHA’s All-Rookie Team. • Junior defenseman Zach Frye was the only other Alaska skater to register 20 • Bitzer won the league’s goaltending award after backstopping a league-best points (five goals, 15 assists), while 10 other Nooks collected double-digit scoring defense (1.57 GPG) and leading the league in goals against average points. (1.40), save percentage (.940) and winning percentage (.778). • Last weekend, the Alaska Nanooks defeated the Simon Fraser Clan • Bitzer’s 1.71 goals against average led the country, earning the junior the (Burnaby, B.C.) 6-0 in an exhibition matchup at the . Three NCAA’s statistical championship. Nanooks collected multi-point nights, including Frye (1G, 1A), sophomore • Bitzer became the 57th player in Bemidji State history to garner all-America forward Colton Leiter (2A) and freshman forward Steven Jandric (1G, 1A). accolades when he was named to the CCM/American Hockey Coaches’ DellaMaggiore made the most of his 20 minutes in net, tallying nine saves. Association All-America West First Team. • The Alaska Nanooks kick-off the 2017-18 season this weekend by hosting the • Bitzer was one of five finalists for the 2016-17 Mike Ritcher Award and was #17 Air Force Falcons in a two-game non-conference series at the Carlson one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. Center in Fairbanks this Friday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 7. • Brendan Harms was selected as the winner of the 2016-17 Senior CLASS Award® for collegiate hockey, given annually to the most outstanding senior 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 Toledo Walleye and Harms with the Florida Everblades.

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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

• All-time, the Falcons are 1-2 against the U.S. National Development team. • Ferris State sports a 51-76-14 all-time record against Western Michigan, and • Bowling Green most recently faced the U.S. Under-18 team on Feb. 21, 2014 hasn’t defeated the Broncos since March 11, 2011 in the first round and in an exhibition matchup that resulted in a 6-1 Team USA win. game one of the CCHA Playoffs. Ferris State’s last win on home-ice over the • The Falcons win over the U.S. Under-18 team came on Nov. 15, 2002 in a 2-1 Broncos was back on Nov. 19, 2010. The Broncos and Bulldogs are meeting victory. for just the fifth and sixth times since 2012. Western Michigan has a 7-0-3 • In a 3-1 win at home, the Falcons unofficially opened the 2017-18 season record in the series over the last 10 games. when they hosted Wilfrid Laurier in exhibition play Sunday, Oct. 1. • Ferris State comes into the 2017-18 season ranked fifth in the preseason • Senior forward Mitch McLain led the Falcons with a pair of goals, including WCHA coaches’ poll with 59 points, just eight back of their 2016-17 playoff a power play goal and empty netter against the Golden Hawks. A native of first round foe, Bowling Green State University. The Bulldogs finished fifth Baxter, Minn., McLain also notched a team-leading four shots on goal, as in the 2016-17 regular season as well, and look to improve upon that finish well as two blocked shots. heading into the 2017-18 season. • Sophomore Casey Linkenheld opened the scoring with an even strength goal • While Ferris State was picked fifth place in both polls (also media), junior in the first period. Last season, Linkenheld tallied one goal off six shots in 10 forward and highest-returning man in points Corey Mackin earned games played. Preseason All-WCHA first team honors at forward. Bulldog sophomoresJoe • In net, sophomore Ryan Bednard saw 35:34 minutes of action and made 13 Rutkowski (Defense) and Justin Kapelmaster (Goalie) also received votes for saves without sacrificing a goal. Freshman Eric Dop rounded out the game Ferris State. with 24:26 minutes in net, and made five saves with one goal against. • From Daneryd, Sweden to San Diego, California, Ferris State is certainly • Bowling Green had a perfect penalty kill, as they burned all six opportunities all over the map. While 15 of Ferris State’s players hail from Michigan, the Wilfrid Laurier had the man advantage. On the night, the Falcons went 2-9 remainder come from a wide array of places. The Bulldogs maintain their on the power play, generating 13 of its 30 shots with the advantage. three Pittsburgh players (Tyler Andrew, Jacob Hetz, Trevor Recktenwald) • The Falcons look to return nine of 12 forwards who appeared in the WCHA and a fourth Pennsylvanian in the leading returner in points, Mackin Championship, in addition to five of seven defensemen for the 2017-18 (Philadelphia). Ferris State has four representatives from Ontario (Darren campaign. In goal, the Falcons will return Florida Panthers drafteeBednard , Smith, Ryker Killins, Liam MacDougall, Zac Tierney) and a fifth international who marked a 2.70 GAA and .882 save percentage. man in transfer Oskar Andren of Sweden. Elsewhere, Ferris State has two • BGSU has won a playoff series in each of the last seven seasons, the longest representatives from Illinois (Rutkowski, Lucas Finner) and one each from active streak in the country. The Falcons hosted a playoff round for the fourth Florida (Kapelmaster), Georgia (Zach Yoder), California (Nate Kallen) and consecutive season in 2016-17, ever since joining the WCHA. Ohio (Jason Tackett). • With an overall record of 21-18-2, the Falcons marked its third consecutive • Though the 2016-17 Bulldogs won just 13 games last season, there 20+ win season and fourth straight winning season. Bowling Green had were plenty of positive indicators out of it. Ferris State finished just one records of 22-14-6 in the 2015-16 campaign, following a 23-11-5 record in conference victory shy of their 2015-16 total, a season in which the Bulldogs the 2014-15 season. Last year was the 21st season that the Falcons have won the Broadmoor Trophy. They were three points shy of hosting the tallied a 20-plus win season. WCHA first round of the playoffs as well. Much had to do with a second half • The Falcons went on a seven-game win streak entering the WCHA correction after a slow start to the year. Ferris State finished 5-1-1 headed Championship, the longest of Coach Chris Bergeron’s career and longest into the postseason. After posting just one victory in October, the Bulldogs of the Bowling Green hockey team since the 1987-88 campaign; a year in put together a far steadier 12-10-4 mark to close out the regular season which the team clinched its last conference title and advanced to the NCAA before running into a hot Bowling Green team in the first round of the Tournament. playoffs, that went on to finish three inches short of winning their first ever • By competing in the 2017 WCHA Championship, it marked Bowling Green’s Broadmoor Trophy. first conference championship appearance since 1988. • Several players took steps forward in their development, but offensively, • The WCHA saw a total of nine hat tricks last year, with Bowling Green none larger than Mitch Maloney. As a junior, Maloney established career- accounting for four of those. McLain and Kevin Dufour each marked two highs in goals (12) assists (8) and points (20), after earning eight total points on the year, with each player marking the two three-goal performances in a a season before. Maloney scored on opening night for Ferris State for the three-week span. third consecutive season as well, and led the team in power play goals • Leading the Falcons offensively was McLain. McLain earned a total of six with five. Mackin established new career-bests in goals (13) and points conference awards (2x POTM, 3x POTW, All-WCHA First Team), in addition to (26) earning his 50th point in his 72nd game, or 11 games faster than now being named a WCHA Scholar-Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team honors. graduated teammate Gerald Mayhew (83 games). Rutkowski led all first-year • Bowling Green saw extensive time in the penalty box, and ranked ninth Bulldogs in scoring with two goals and 18 assists for 20 points and finished in the nation with a total of 631 minutes for 15.4 minutes per game. The plus-five for the season. Falcons are one of five WCHA schools in the top ten in the category. • The Falcons had three WCHA Scholar-Athletes, in addition to 13 Academic All-WCHA honorees. • BGSU logged 10 WCHA Players of the Week, three WCHA Players of the Month, WCHA Championship Third Star of the Game (Matt Pohlkamp), NCAA Hockey No. 1 Star of the Week (Chris Nell), No. 4 spot on SportCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Night (Dufour).

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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: 0-1-0 2016-17 Overall Record: 11-18-7 (8-13-7-4) 2016-17 Overall Record: 23-15-7 (15-7-6-3)

Lakers Huskies Lake Superior State University Michigan Technological University

• Lake Superior State officially opens the 2017-18 season and its 52nd season • Michigan Tech fell 3-2 in its season-opening game at No. 12 Wisconsin on of varsity competition this weekend with a Cappo Cup, home-and-home Sunday. Joel L’Esperance and Jake Lucchini scored the two goals—both on nonconference series with Northern Michigan. the power play in the second period. • With just one WCHA league series scheduled between the teams this • L’Esperance scored from Mark Auk and goaltender Patrick Munson for his season, the Lakers and Wildcats will play a nonconference set. Friday night's 35th career goal. Lucchini scored his 19th career goal from Gavin Gould and game will be in Sault Ste. Marie, while Saturday's contest is in Marquette. Auk. • LSSU rallied for a 3-2, exhibition win last Sunday agaisnt visiting Laurentian • Munson finished with 24 saves in his first game in a Tech uniform. University. Junior forward Jake Hand scored a first-period goal, while fellow Sophomore Keegan Ford and freshmen Seamus Donohue, Mitch Meek, and junior forward Diego Cuglietta (tying goal) and sophomore forward Max Marcus Russell also made their debut for Tech. Ford played 12 games for Humitz (game-winner) struck in the third period to lead the Lakers to victory. Wisconsin in 2014 and started on the blue line for the Huskies Sunday. Junior goaltender Nick Kossoff played the entire game in net, making 19 • Tech wore new road uniforms. The jersey design was based off a jersey from saves. the 1932-33 season. • The Lakers return seven of their top 2016-17 season points leaders, led by • The Huskies play this weekend in the annual Ice Breaker Invitational senior forward J.T. Henke and Cuglietta. Henke registered a team second- Tournament hosted by Minnesota Duluth. Tech opens Friday against Union best and career-high 30 points on 10 goals and 20 assists in 36 games last at 5 p.m. in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Host UMD and season while Cuglietta compiled a squad third-most 25 points on career Minnesota play in the second semifinal. Game times for Saturday are 5:07 single-season bests in goals (12) and assists (13) in 35 contests. and 8:37 p.m. all played at AMSOIL Arena. • LSSU welcomes back 65.9 percent (190-288) of its points production from • Seniors Auk (Coaches, Media Second Team) and L’Esperance (Media Second last season and 72.8 percent (75-103) of its goal-scoring output. The four Team) and sophomore Mitch Reinke (Media Second Team, Coaches received returnees who posted double-figure goals in junior forward Gage Torrel votes) were recognized on the Preseason All-WCHA Teams. Sophomore (14 goals), Humitz (13 goals), Cuglietta (12 goals), and Henke (10 goals) Gould received votes in the media’s picks. generated 47.6 percent of the Lakers' goals in the 2016-17 season. • Tech was selected third in both WCHA preseason polls. The Huskies were • The 2017-18 Lake Superior State roster consists of four senior, eight juniors, third behind first place Minnesota State and Bemidji State in the Mankato seven sophomore, and nine freshmen. The Lakers feature 14 forwards, Free Press Preseason Coaches' Poll and the UAHHockey.com Preseason 10 defensemen, and four goaltenders. LSSU returns 19 letter winners Media Poll. from last season, which consists of 12 forwards, five defensemen, and two • Senior forward Brent Baltus was named the captain of the 2017-18 Huskies. netminders. Seniors L'Esperance and Dylan Steman, junior Lucchini, and sophomore • Senior defenseman Aiden Wright has been named the Lakers' captain for Reinke will serve as alternate captains the 2017-18 season, while senior defenseman Ryan Renz and Torrel will • Ford and Munson are transfers on this year’s team. Ford played 12 games serve as assistant captains. Wright, who along with Renz were alternate for the Wisconsin Badgers in 2014-15, recording two assists. Munson played captains on the 2016-17 team, is coming off a career season-high seven 21 games for the Vermont Catamounts in 2015-16 and was Denver’s roster points on a goal and six assists in 36 matchups last season. Renz totaled last season. Munson had a 9-10-1 record for Vermont with a 2.37 goals three points (all assists) in 14 games and Torrel netted a team-high 14 against average, and a .920 save percentage. lamplighters and had eight assists for a career season-high 22 points in • There are eight freshmen on the roster: Forwards Justin Misiak, Greyson 36 contests. Wright and Renz were both recognized as 2016-17 American Reitmeier, and Marcus Russell, defensemen Seamus Donohue, Mitch Meek, Hockey League Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Scholars. Tyler Rockwell, and Cooper Watson, and goaltender Robbie Beydoun. • Nine former Huskies participated in NHL Training Camp: Pheonix 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) and Cliff Watson (Calgary). • Tech finished with a 23-15-7 overall record in 2016-17. It was the third year in a row with 20+ wins —something that hasn't been done since 1983. • For the third year in a row, Tech was in the top 20 in the final USCHO.com poll. The Huskies finished ranked No. 19 in the nation. 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 at season’s end. • 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

• Rated #18 by USCHO.com and #15 by USA Today/USA Hockey in preseason • A season ago, NMU finished 13-22-4 overall marking the fifth-consecutive polls, Minnesota State started its 2017-18 season with an 8-0 home season the Wildcats finished the year with a losing record. Finishing with exhibition win over the University of Regina (Sask.) Saturday. a 10-15-3 mark in WCHA contests, NMU finished the year eighth in the • Senior forward Brad McClure had a goal and two assists in the win over conference standings. the visiting Cougars. Freshman forward Jake Jaremko added a pair of goals • The Wildcats were chosen to finish sevent in both the Mankato Free Press and freshman defenseman Connor Mackey chipped in with three assists. Coaches’ Poll and the UAHHockey.com Preseason Media Poll. Minnesota Maverick netminders Jason Pawloski, Connor LaCouvee and Aaron Nelson State, Bemidji State and Michigan Tech were picked to finish fer, second, and each saw 20 minutes of work in combining for the 25-save shut-out. third in both polls. • Minnesota State owns an all-time record of 13-3-0 in games vs. Canadian • On Oct. 7, NMU will formally name the ice surface in the opponents. the " Rink." The first head coach in Wildcat Hockey history, • Minnesota State officially opens the season Saturday with #9 St. Cloud State Comley assembled a 538-429-68 record at NMU, with regular-season titles visiting Mankato in a nonconference contest slated for a 7:07 p.m. face-off. in the CCHA in 1979-80 and 1980-81, and a WCHA title in 1990-91. Under his The Mavericks are 15-29-7 vs. the Huskies as a NCAA Division I program. guidance, the Wildcats won the 1989, 1991 and 1992 WCHA Tournaments All-time, in a series that dates back to the 1969-70 season (MSU's first year and the 1980 and 1981 CCHA Tournaments. He led Northern Michigan as a varsity program), the Mavericks own a 71-53-10 mark vs. SCSU. MSU to a national title in 1991. He is one of only two coaches to win a NCAA won both games played between the two schools last year (4-1 and 6-4) in Tournament title with two different universities after accomplishing the St. Cloud. same feat at Michigan State in 2007. • Minnesota State owns a 20-23-4 mark in season-opening contests. • Senior forward Robbie Payne is the top returning goal and point scorer from • The Mavericks take an all-time record in Verizon Center of 226-132-48 the 2016-17 sqaud, recording 13 goals and 29 points a season ago. Payne into this weekend vs. St. Cloud State. MSU went 13-3-2 in home games in was second on the team behind Dominik Shine, who is now playing with the 2017-18. Detroit Red Wings system. • Mike Hastings has led Minnesota State to a 122-62-18 (.649) record in his • Sophomore forward Darien Craighead is the top returning assist man from five years as head coach of the the Mavericks. last year’s team. Craighead was second on the 2016-17 team with 18 assists, • Minnesota State senior captain C.J. Suess, who has 35 goals and 49 assists for totaling 25 total points. Not far behind Craighead, sophomore defender 84 points in 117 career games, enters 2017-18 tied for fourth amongst active Philip Beaulieu had 16 assists and 19 points in his first season at NMU. NCAA DI men's hockey players with 15 career power play goals. • Junior goalie Atte Tolvanenwill return to lead the Wildcats after making • Minnesota State's 2017-18 roster is made up 11 Minnesota natives, two 38 appearances, 35 starts a season ago. Tolvanen finished the year with from German, North Dakota, South Dakota and British Columbia. The rest a 12-22-4 record, making 1,048 saves in the process. As a sophomore, of the 28-man line-up consists of one each from Alaska, California, Illinois, Tolvanen set an NCAA record for consecutive shutout victories with five Nebraska, Ohio, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Utah and Wisconsin. spanning from January 21 through February 11 of 2017. • Following Saturday's home tilt vs. SCSU, the Mavericks continue • Grant Potulny enters his first season at the helm of the Wildcats. After a nonconference action with a two-game road series at #2 Boston University four-year playing career at Minnesota, Potulny played a number of seasons Oct. 13-14. The meetings with the Terriers, who sported a 24-11-3 mark in professionally before retiring in 2008. As an eight-year assisant coach at his 2016-17, will be the first for the Mavericks. 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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