TM TM 2019-20 WCHA WEEKLY RELEASE WEEK 8 (GAMES OF NOV. 22-23) / wcha.com @wcha_mhockey @wcha_mhockey /WCHAmenshockey /WCHAHockey FloHockey.tv CONTACT: TODD BELL / O: 952-681-7668 / C: 972-825-6686 / [email protected] WESTERN COLLEGIATE OPENING FACEOFF • Battle for the Upper Peninsula: One of college hockey's fiercest rivalries renews this weekend when No. 19/RV Northern HOCKEY ASSOCIATION Michigan and Michigan Tech tangle in a home-and-home series. Game one will see Michigan Tech host the Wildcats on • FOUNDED 1951 • Nov. 22 in Houghton. On Saturday, the two squads will travel the 100 miles down U.S. 41 to Marquette, where the Wildcats 2950 Metro Drive, Suite 102 will host Tech in the second game of the series. Friday's game will be the 154th meeting between the two squads. Bloomington, MN 55425 Northern Michigan holds the series lead at 75-64-14. • Mavericks Remain No. 1: Minnesota State was idle last weekend but the Mavericks retained the No. 1 spot in the USCHO 952-681-7947 rankings again this week and moved into sole possession of the top spot in the USA Hockey Magazine/USA Today poll. • Bowling Green and Northern Michigan are No. 17 and No. 19, respectively in the USCHO rankings with Alaska MEMBER TEAMS receiving votes. The Falcons check in at No. 15 in the USAH/USAT poll while NMU and the Nanooks received University of Alabama in Huntsville votes. University of Alaska Anchorage • The top ranking for the Mavericks gives the WCHA the No. 1 teams in both men's and women's hockey for the University of Alaska Fairbanks second week in a row as Minnesota continues to hold down the top spot in the women's rankings. • Five League Series on Tap This Weekend: For the fi rst time in 2019-20, the WCHA weekend slate sees all 10 teams Bemidji State University engage in league series. In addition to the Northern Michigan-Michigan Tech matchup, Lake Superior State visits No. 17/15 Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Bemidji State hosts Alabama Huntsville, Alaska Anchorage travels to No. 1/1 Minnesota State and Ferris Ferris State University State makes the trek to Fairbanks to meet RV/UR Alaska. Lake Superior State University Michigan Technological University BY THE NUMBERS Minnesota State University • .652: WCHA-leading faceoff percentage for Minnesota State freshman Nathan Smith, which ranks sixth nationally and is Northern Michigan University second among NCAA rookies. • 30: NCAA-leading blocked shot total by Ferris State senior defenseman Joe Rutkowski, who stopped a league-high nine shots last weekend. TRADITION STARTS HERE • 8: Power-play points tallied by Northern Michigan sophomore forward Vincent de Mey on a goal and seven assists, which #WEAREWCHA leads the WCHA and is tied for sixth nationally. • 1.32: WCHA-leading goals against average for Minnesota State sophomore Dryden McKay, which ranks No. 2 in the NCAA. FLOHOCKEY.TV THE WEEK AHEAD • (19/RV) Northern Michigan vs. Michigan Tech: The first installment of the annual home-and-home series between the In partnership with FloSports, the two UP rivals takes place this weekend. Tech enters the series with a 35-31-8 mark against the Wildcats on home ice at innovator in live digital sports and the MacInnes Student Ice Center while NMU has skated to a 43-24-6 advantage in games played in Marquette. original content, FloHockey.tv - the • Lake Superior State at (17/15) Bowling Green: The Lakers visit Bowling Green for the first of two series between the offi cial online streaming platform of two teams this season. The two teams met for just one series last season, Nov. 16-17, in Bowling Green and split the two the WCHA - will provide fans with live contests. BGSU leads the all-time series, 84-74-13. and archived broadcasts of WCHA • Alabama Huntsville at Bemidji State: The Chargers return from an off week to travel to Northern Minnesota to take on hockey via iOS, Roku, Fire TV or Apple Bemidji State. The two schools have met 88 times, dating back to their first matchup in the 1994 NCAA Division II playoffs. TV 4. The Beavers hold the all-time advantage, 51-32-5. • Alaska Anchorage at (1/1) Minnesota State: The top-ranked Mavericks return from an off week to host Alaska Featuring each of the 10 WCHA member Anchorage at the Mankato Civic Center. Minnesota State leads the all-time series between the two teams, 53-29-2 and institutions, every league game – home swept the only series between the two last season, 4-1 and 6-0, Dec. 7-8, 2018 in Mankato and away – will be streamed live, along • Ferris State at (RV/UR) Alaska: Ferris State begins a two-weekend sojourn in the 49th State with a two-game set at with all nonconference home games, Alaska this weekend. The Nanooks swept the only meeting with FSU a season ago, 4-3 (OT) and 6-2, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in select nonconference road contests and Fairbanks. the 2020 WCHA Tournament. 2019-20 WCHA STANDINGS Conference Overall Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts GP W L T 3/SW % GF GA GP W L T % GF GA 1. (1/1) Minnesota State 15 6 5 1 0 0/0 .833 21 7 10 8 1 1 .850 36 13 (19/RV) Northern Michigan 15 6 5 1 0 0/0 .833 23 16 12 7 3 2 .667 43 36 TABLE OF CONTENTS (RV/UR) Alaska 15 8 5 3 0 0/0 .625 14 17 14 7 7 0 .500 25 38 4. Bemidji State 12 6 4 2 0 0/0 .667 22 8 10 4 4 2 .500 30 20 WCHA QUICK FACTS/MEDIA SERVICES ..........2 (17/15) Bowling Green 12 6 4 2 0 0/0 .667 15 13 11 7 4 0 .636 30 27 6. Michigan Tech 9 8 3 5 0 0/0 .375 15 18 11 5 6 0 .454 25 22 WCHA SCHOOL DIRECTORY .............................3 7. Alaska Anchorage 8 6 2 3 1 0/1 .417 13 13 10 2 6 2 .300 21 29 WCHA REGULAR SEASON/POSTSEASON ........4 8. Lake Superior State 6 6 2 4 0 0/0 .333 14 25 14 4 10 0 .400 37 56 THE WEEK IN REVIEW .......................................5 9. Ferris State 3 6 1 5 0 0/0 .167 17 24 11 3 8 0 .273 30 42 WCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK .......................6 10. Alabama Huntsville 1 6 0 5 1 0/0 .083 12 25 10 0 9 1 .050 15 44 (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; WCHA NOTES ................................................. 7 rankings are USCHO.com followed by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) 2019-20 WCHA CAPTAINS ..........................8 SEASON HIGHS ..................................................9 NON-CONFERENCE/H-TO-H/POTW, POTM ... 10 THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA (ALL TIMES LOCAL) NATIONAL POLLS/WEEK-BY-WEEK ................. 11 FRIDAY, NOV. 22 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 WCHA COMPOSITE SCHEDULE ...................... 12 Lake Superior State at (17/15) Bowling Green, 7:07 pm ET^ Michigan Tech at (19/RV) Northern Michigan, 6:07 pm ET^ 2019-20 WCHA PRESEASON POLLS ......... 13 (19/RV) Northern Michigan at Micihgan Tech, 7:07 pm ET^ Lake Superior State at (17/15) Bowling Green, 7:07 pm ET^ TEAM NOTEBOOKS ........................................... 14 Alabama Huntsville at Bemidji State, 7:07 pm CT^ Alabama Huntsville at Bemidji State, 6:07 pm CT^ 2019-20 STATISTICS ................................... 24 Alaska Anchorage at (1/1) MInnesota State, 7:07 pm CT^ Alaska Anchorage at (1/1) MInnesota State, 6:07 pm CT^ Ferris State at (RV/UR) Alaska, 7:07 pm AT^ Ferris State at (RV/UR) Alaska, 7:07 pm AT^ ^ streaming live on FloHockey.tv; (EXH) exhibition game; rankings are USCHO.com followed by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine WCHA QUICK FACTS/MEDIA SERVICES #WEAREWCHA WCHA Media Services Website ..................................................................................................................... wcha.com Streaming Partner ............................................................................................fl ohockey.tv Headquarters ..........................................................................................2950 Metro Drive Statistics/Releases ........................................................................................................................................ Suite 102 Statistics are updated regularly on wcha.com while press releases are ......................................................................................................Bloomington, Minn. 55425 posted on the website throughout the season. 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LinkedIn ............................................................................................................../wchahockey Players of the Week Founded ................................................................................................................................1951 Men’s League Players of the Week winners will be posted on wcha. First Season .................................................................................................................1951-52 com and distributed via email on Monday afternoons. Commissioner .................................................................................................Bill Robertson Offi cial Colors Offi ce ...............................................................................................................