Weekend Preview: November 18-20, 2016
Another weekend and the WCCHA tournament picture remains murky as ever as teams battle for positioning. With all 10 teams in league action for the second straight week, there is plenty on the line for everyone as we turn towards the home stretch of the conference season.
#9 Wisconsin-Eau Claire @ #20 University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI)
The #9 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is on a roll as they head south to Madison to take on #20 University of Wisconsin. The Blugolds have swept their last two opponents - on the road - and seem to improve each game. A balanced attack and solid defense/goaltending is always a great recipe for success, and UWEC seems to have found it early in the season. However, the Badgers will look to play spoilers and make a statement at the same time. With two games in hand on the rest of the conference, two wins against the current top team could be a huge boost for a team looking to rekindle the magic they found in the WCCHA tournament last season. For UWEC, two wins would make them the first team to book their place in this year’s tournament.
Players to watch:
Michael Kessler, G, UW - Kessler has shouldered the brunt of work in net for the Badgers, who need a strong defensive performance to match the dangerous, yet balanced UWEC attack.
Will Reabe, F, UWEC - Last weekend, it was Reabe’s turn to lead a Blugold attack that seems to find a different contributor each series. Yet, confidence could be a big factor for this dangerous forward looking to continue his hot streak.
Last week, #15 Minnesota State University-Mankato earned a surprising yet emphatic series sweep at home over the University of North Dakota. This week, the Mavs take on the other team from the state, North Dakota State University, this time on the road. Despite missing some key players, MSU-Mankato held nothing back in scoring 19 goals last weekend - an effort they will surely want to bring with them to keep them in the hunt for the top spot in the WCCHA. NDSU, on the other hand, returns home after a split at Wisconsin, hoping that some home cooking and a receptive crowd will help them earn their first series sweep since opening weekend.
Players to watch:
Tyler Lawry, F, MNSU - Lawry stepped up big last weekend with 5 points, including a hat trick on Friday night. With the offense clicking, the Mavs will expect Lawry and co. to keep rolling.
Riley Fisher, D, NDSU - Fisher has quitely put up an impressive 11 points in 13 games from the blue line, but will need to lead the defensive core with a solid performance in the home zone to shutdown the potent MNSU attack.
#17 St. Cloud State vs. #19 University of Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Cloud, MN)
In St. Cloud, #17 St. Cloud State University is set to host fellow WCCHA founder #19 University of Minnesota in the yearly home-and-home series between the two clubs. St. Cloud State enjoyed a home-and-home sweep over St. Thomas last weekend to put their winning streak at 6 games, while Minnesota fell in two hard fought games against UW-Eau Claire. The teams are separated by four points in the standings, but Minnesota has played 4 fewer games. Falling at a pivotal time for both teams, the results in this series could put either team in a good position for an upper seed in the conference tournament.
Players to watch:
Andrew Johnson, F, SCSU - The forward is currently on a 5 game winning streak, which happens to coincide nicely to the Huskies’ current run of form. He’ll look to stay hot to bring the team two wins.
Clay Knutsen, G, UMN - Last year’s All-Tournament Team goalie has had a strong start to the season with 4 wins, but the Gophers continue to rely on him to shut down the opposing offense.
After a sweep of cross-river rival UW-La Crosse, #16 Winona State University welcomes #18 University of North Dakota to town for the first ever meeting between the two teams. UND suffered their first-ever conference sweep last weekend to Mankato, and hit the road again hoping for a different outcome. The Warriors have shown a lot of fight in their first year, and the teams are currently separated by one point in the standings. It would be no surprise if these games are high-scoring affairs, and whatever team proves more potent will take home the share of points.
Players to watch:
Logan Kappes, F, UND - Scoring 2 goals in each game last weekend, Kappes did his part for the Fighting Hawks. If he continues that output this weekend, the final results could be different against the Warriors.
Connor Wilcox, F, WSU - The team captain and club president has been a revelation in his first WCCHA scoring, leading all players with 30 points from 16 games. The production will need to continue for WSU to earn two victories against a highly skilled UND team.
The University of St. Thomas welcomes the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to St. Paul for a two game series where both teams will be desperate for points. With about half of the season down, these teams sit in the bottom two positions in max available points - meaning that every point from here on out is important in the push for tournament qualifying. Both teams suffered sweeps last weekend - UST to SCSU and UWL to WSU - and so both need to build momentum. If these two games play out like playoff hockey, it is because for these teams, it almost is. Will either team be able to boost their standing with a sweep?
Players to watch:
Jack Hardwick, G, UST - Hardwick has adjusted well to speed of the college game in his first season, but UST will need their goaltenders to step up this weekend in two must win games.
Ryan Herbert, F, UWL - Leading the team in points, he and brother Cole have been the offensive stars for the Eagles so far this season. Adding to his point total would be a good sign for a UWL team that needs victories.
FULL SCHEDULE
Friday, November 18, 2016:
#9 Wisconsin-Eau Claire @ #20 Wisconsin | WCCHA - Mankato, MN
#17 St. Cloud State vs. #19 Minnesota | WCCHA - Madison, WI
#18 North Dakota @ #16 Winona State | WCCHA - St. Cloud, MN
Wisconsin-La Crosse @ University of St. Thomas | WCCHA - Winona, MN
Saturday, November 19, 2016:
#9 Wisconsin-Eau Claire @ #20 Wisconsin | WCCHA - Mankato, MN
#15 Minnesota State-Mankato @ North Dakota State | WCCHA - Minneapolis, MN
#17 St. Cloud State vs. #19 Minnesota | WCCHA - Madison, WI
#18 North Dakota @ #16 Winona State | WCCHA - St. Cloud, MN
Wisconsin-La Crosse @ University of St. Thomas | WCCHA - Winona, MN
Sunday, November 20, 2016:
#15 Minnesota State-Mankato @ North Dakota State | WCCHA - Minneapolis, MN
