The WCHA steps into 2013 on Friday with nine of 12 teams in action, including two league series: Colorado College at Nebraska-Omaha and Wisconsin at Alaska Anchorage.
Minnesota Duluth is off until a home series with Michigan Tech on Jan. 11-12.
Two WCHA bloggers are offering their choices for First Half of Season Awards in the league — Bruce Ciskie here and Andy Johnson here.
Inside Hockey’s WCHA Power Rankings from Eric Burton are available here.
The UMD men are joining with Essentia Health in Duluth for a jersey auction Jan. 12 to benefit a fight against breast cancer in the Northland. Information is available here.
You can go around the WCHA with Shane Frederick of the Mankato Free Press here and Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald here.
U.S. College Hockey Online makes weekend WCHA picks right here.
College Hockey Inc. has made some hires detailed in a U.S. College Hockey Online story here.
Three-time News Tribune high school girls cross country runner of the year Marisa Shady of Esko has made a commitment to South Dakota State. An update is here.
WCHA Standings Courtesy of College Hockey Stats.net
1 St. Cloud State 18 14 9- 5- 0 .643 45- 33 20 12- 8- 0 .600 67- 50 2 North Dakota 17 12 7- 2- 3 .708 44- 30 18 10- 5- 3 .639 60- 44 Denver 17 14 7- 4- 3 .607 44- 37 19 10- 6- 3 .605 65- 48 4 Minnesota State 16 14 8- 6- 0 .571 44- 37 20 12- 6- 2 .650 63- 48 5 Minnesota 15 12 6- 3- 3 .625 36- 30 19 13- 3- 3 .763 69- 35 Nebraska Omaha 15 12 7- 4- 1 .625 41- 34 20 11- 8- 1 .575 70- 52 7 Minnesota Duluth 13 14 5- 6- 3 .464 40- 40 20 7-10- 3 .425 54- 57 8 Colorado College 11 12 5- 6- 1 .458 41- 43 20 8-10- 2 .450 69- 71 Bemidji State 11 14 4- 7- 3 .393 34- 43 18 5-10- 3 .361 44- 52 10 Wisconsin 9 12 2- 5- 5 .375 23- 29 16 4- 7- 5 .406 35- 36 Michigan Tech 9 14 3- 8- 3 .321 34- 53 19 6-10- 3 .395 53- 63 12 Alaska Anchorage 5 12 1- 8- 3 .208 21- 38 16 3- 9- 4 .312 32- 49
