2016-17 WCHA SEASON IN REVIEW JULY 24, 2017 / wcha.com @wcha_mhockey /WCHAHockey @wcha_mhockey WCHA.tv Matt Hodson ● o: 952-818-8872 ● c: 612-801-2808 ● [email protected] WESTERN COLLEGIATE OPENING FacE-OFF HOCKEY ASSOCIATION • No. 65 In the Books: The Men's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) proudly completed its 65th year • FOUNDED 1951 • of competition in 2016-17, another terrific season of on- and off-ice accomplishments by its student-athletes, coaches and Suite C programs. Minnesota State Univ., Mankato at Edina • The WCHA enjoyed the rousing first-year success of its three-week, on-campus "Battle for the Broadmoor" postseason 7700 France Avenue South, Suite 360C tournament; implemented fan-favorites in the new 3-on-3 overtime and shootout; had a quartet of programs reach Edina, MN 55435 the 20-win plateau; celebrated a first-time MacNaughton Cup champion; watched in awe as Northern Michigan 952-818-8869 goaltender Atte Tolvanen shattered league record books and made a run at NCAA history; featured a Hobey Baker Memorial Award top-10 finalist and a pair of All-Americans; applauded Senior CLASS Award® winner Brendan Harms MEMBER TEAMS of Bemidji State, along with an NCAA-high three student-athletes among the finalists; saluted Minnesota State University of Alabama in Huntsville defenseman Daniel Brickley for representing the U.S. at the 2017 IIHF World Championships; and, cheered on the 31 University of Alaska Anchorage players -- from all 10 member institutions -- who signed professional contracts (including seven who inked NHL deals). University of Alaska Fairbanks • There's No Place Like Home: The 2017 WCHA postseason tournament, which featured a return to campus sites and the Bemidji State University league’s first home-ice title game since 1965, was a true success. The three-week, eight-team “Battle for the Broadmoor” Bowling Green State University concluded with an epic Championship in front of a standing-room only crowd at Michigan Tech’s MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Ferris State University • Michigan Tech won the WCHA Championship, defeating Bowling Green, 3-2 in double overtime after the visiting Lake Superior State University Falcons erased a 2-0, third-period deficit. A capacity crowd of 4,466 saw Tech hoist the Broadmoor Trophy, then Michigan Technological University descend to the ice to celebrate with the hometown Huskies -- a moment that captured the pure joy of college sports. Minnesota State University • Everybody Loves a Winner: Ensuring that each contest had a “winner” in the league standings, every WCHA regular season Northern Michigan University game in 2016-17 that remained tied after regulation and the NCAA-mandated, five-minute 5-on-5 overtime advanced to a 3-on-3 overtime and, if necessary, a sudden-death shootout. TRADITION STARTS HERE • All 10 WCHA venues hosted at least one game that went to 3-on-3 overtime, while seven rinks hosted a shootout. #WEAREWCHA • Nine (9) teams earned an extra WCHA point via either a 3-on-3 or shootout win, while six enjoyed at least one win in both formats. • 4x20: For the second consecutive season, the WCHA produced four, 20-win teams: Michigan Tech (23-15-7), Bemidji State (22- 2017-18 IMPORTANT DATES 16-3), Minnesota State (22-13-4) and Bowling Green (21-18-2). • The WCHA joined the Big Ten, the ECAC and the NCHC for the second-most 20-win teams in the country. Hockey East Date Event led the way with six such teams, while Atlantic Hockey had three. Oct. 1 U.S. HOF Game • Bemidji State Hoists the Cup: With a stellar, nearly wire-to-wire effort, Bemidji State won the 2016-17 WCHA regular season Michigan Tech at Wisc. championship with a 20-win, 64-point campaign. The Beavers won their first MacNaughton Cup since joining the league for the Oct. 6-7 First full regular season 2010-11 season (and 22nd regular season conference crown in program history). weekend • Bemidji State swept its opening weekend of WCHA play (Oct. 7-8), won its first eight league games and was Icebreaker Tournament undefeated in its first 13 contests (12-0-1; meaning that, aside from a bye week on the opening weekend of league Oct. 13-14 First WCHA league series play (Oct. 1-2), BSU held at least a share of first place after every WCHA weekend in which it competed. Nov. 10-11 First weekend of five (5) • Tolvanen's Historic Streak: Northern Michigan sophomore goaltender Atte Tolvanen backstopped the Wildcats from the WCHA series WCHA cellar into the league playoffs with a record-setting second half. Dec. 17-Dec. 27 Holiday Break • Tolvanen established the WCHA Men's League record, and matched the all-time NCAA Division I men’s mark, with Late-Dec./ In-season tournaments five-straight shutouts between Jan. 21 and Feb. 11; he also set a league standard with a 339:05 scoreless streak (the Early-Jan. Great Lakes Inviational second-longest in NCAA men’s history). Ice Vegas Invitational • National Accolades: WCHA Player of the Year Michael Bitzer, Bemidji State's junior goaltender, was a top-10 finalist for the Three Rivers Classic Hobey Baker Memorial Award, a top-five finalist for the Mike Richter Award and a first-team AHCA/CCM Hockey All-American. Feb. 23-24 Final weekend of the • Minnesota State sophomore defenseman Daniel Brickley earned second-team All-America honors, while he skated for regular season Team USA at the 2017 IIHF World Championships. March 2-4 2018 WCHA Quarterfinals • Ferris State produced its second-consecutive College Hockey News national freshman Goaltender of the Year, as Justin earned a spot on the website's All-Rookie Team. Host sites; seeds 1-4 Kapelmaster • Bemidji State forward Brendan Harms was lauded as the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men's March 9-11 2018 WCHA Semifinals hockey, winning the Senior CLASS Award® in a nationwide vote of D-I men’s coaches, national hockey media and fans. Host sites; top 2 seeds • The Next Level: Since the 2016-17 college season ended, 31 players – representing all 10 WCHA programs – have signed March 17 2018 WCHA Semifinals professional contracts (as of July 17). Host site; top seed • Seven (7) players have signed National Hockey League (NHL) entry-level contracts: UAA’s Mason Mitchell March 23-25 2018 NCAA Regionals (Washington); BGSU’s Mark Friedman (Philadelphia) and Chris Nell (New York Rangers); LSSU’s Kris Bindulis Four sites (Washington) and Mitch Hults (Anaheim); and, MTU’s Angus Redmond (Anaheim) and Matt Roy (Los Angeles Kings). April 5-7 2018 NCAA Frozen Four Xcel Energy Center 2016-17 WCHA STANDINGS Saint Paul, Minn. Conference (Final Regular Season) Overall Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts GP W L T 3/SW % GF GA GP W L T % GF GA 1 Bemidji State (RV/NR) 64 28 20 6 2 2 .750 71 44 41 22 16 3 .573 94 79 2 Michigan Tech (19/NR) 54 28 15 7 6 3 .643 80 59 45 23 15 7 .589 131 100 3 Minnesota State (RV/NR) 51 28 15 9 4 2 .607 89 68 39 22 13 4 .615 119 95 4 Bowling Green (RV/NR) 44 28 14 13 1 1 .518 79 65 41 21 18 2 .537 120 102 5 Ferris State 42 28 12 12 4 2 .500 78 74 37 13 19 5 .419 95 101 6 Alaska 40 28 11 13 4 3 .464 67 84 36 12 20 4 .389 79 113 7 Lake Superior State 35 28 8 13 7 4 .411 78 87 36 11 18 7 .403 103 119 8 Northern Michigan 34 28 10 15 3 1 .411 69 75 39 13 22 4 .385 93 108 9 Alabama Huntsville 30 28 9 16 3 0 .375 68 95 34 9 22 3 .309 74 120 10 Alaska Anchorage 26 28 6 16 6 2 .321 52 80 34 7 21 6 .294 59 102 (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; rankings listed by USCHO.com first, followed byUSA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) 2016-17 WCHA SEASON IN REVIEW - NEWS AND NOTES #WEAREWCHA 'BATTLE FOR THE BROADMOOR' BITZER'S SENSATIONAL SEASON • Bringing Playoff Hockey Home: "Hockey is the best sport there is, playoff hockey • The Puck Stops Here: Bemidji State's Michael Bitzer solidified his place as one is the best of the best, and winning a championship in your home arena – or of the nation’s top goaltenders 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 Bob Daniels, 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.