Outdoor games with a watery attitude, frantic finishes with the Gold Pan and a statement game for the league leader were all part of Saturday’s WCHA. It left St. Cloud State building its first-place advantage to 31 points with North Dakota climbing into second place. Three points separate second-through-sixth place.
Minnesota Duluth was swept for a second straight week at home as No. 11 Minnesota State-Mankato finished the weekend with a 5-1 victory at Amsoil Arena. Recaps from the News Tribune here, Mankato Free Press here, Freddy’s Three Thoughts here, and the sports information offices of UMD here and Mankato here.
At Omaha, Neb., warm temperatures and deteriorating conditions caused the outdoor game between No. 7 North Dakota and No. 14 Nebraska-Omaha to be delayed by 2-plus hours at Ameritrade Park, but when things got going North Dakota finsihed off a sweep with a 5-2 victory. There were 13,650 fans, most dressed in green. North Dakota scored three in the first period, including Nic Mattson and Mitch McMillan 73 seconds apart. Zane Gothberg had 29 saves for the win. Omaha led in shots 31-27. From the Grand Forks Herald here and Omaha World Herald here and here.
At Houghton, Mich., after being lovertaken late in Friday’s opening game, Michigan Tech scored three first-period goals on the way to defeating Alaska anchorage 6-1 in Winter Carnival play. Tech led 43-25 in shots. Alex Petan had two goals. Anchorage switched goalies during the game for a second straight night. Attendance 3,576. From U.S. College Hockey Online here.
At Colorado Springs, Colo., the most entertaining game of the night had Colorado College outlasting No. 9 Denver 6-5 in overtime in Gold Pan play. CC led 5-2 with four second-period goals, including a power-play score by Mike Boivin. Denver rallied to tie with three goals in less than three minutes in the third period, Zac Larraza getting the equalizer with 2:42 left. In OT: freshman Hunter Fejes scores for CC with 11 seconds remaining. CC led in shots 38-36 to gain three points in the series. Sellout of 7,750. From the Colorado Springs Gazette here and Denver Post here.
At Madison, Wis., No. 19 Wisconsin built a three-goal lead and held off Bemidji State 3-2. Kevin Schulze gave Wisconsin a 3-0 lead midway through the game. Mathieu Dugas went the first 31 minutes in goal for BSU and Andrew Walsh finished. Shots were 20-20. Attendance 11,835. From the Wisconsin State Journal here and Bemidji Pioneer here.
In St. Cloud, Minn., No. 8 St. Cloud State built its own three-goal lead and then held off No. 1 Minnesota 4-3 for a series split before a crowd of 6,140. Drew LeBlanc gave the Huskies a 4-1 advantage at 6:40 of the third period. Nick Bjugstad and Nate Condon (with 5:34 left) got the Gophers within one. Ryan Faragher earned the victory in goal. Minnesota led in shots 39-21. From the St. Cloud Times here and Minneapolis Star Tribune here.
WCHA Standings and Summaries Courtesy of College Hockey Stats.net
1 St. Cloud State 31 22 15- 6- 1 .705 74- 47 30 18-11- 1 .617 99- 72 2 North Dakota 28 22 11- 5- 6 .636 72- 56 30 16- 8- 6 .633 96- 74 3 Minnesota 26 20 11- 5- 4 .650 68- 48 28 19- 5- 4 .750 105- 54 Nebraska Omaha 26 22 12- 8- 2 .591 74- 65 30 16-12- 2 .567 103- 83 5 Denver 25 22 10- 7- 5 .568 70- 64 29 15- 9- 5 .603 98- 77 Minnesota State 25 22 12- 9- 1 .568 67- 54 30 18- 9- 3 .650 94- 68 Wisconsin 25 22 9- 6- 7 .568 49- 48 28 12- 9- 7 .554 63- 57 8 Colorado College 20 22 8-10- 4 .455 72- 77 30 11-14- 5 .450 100-105 9 Minnesota Duluth 19 22 8-11- 3 .432 56- 67 28 10-15- 3 .411 70- 84 10 Michigan Tech 16 22 6-12- 4 .364 59- 72 27 9-14- 4 .407 78- 82 11 Bemidji State 13 22 4-13- 5 .295 45- 69 28 5-17- 6 .286 57- 86 12 Alaska Anchorage 10 24 2-16- 6 .208 45- 84 28 4-17- 7 .268 56- 95
Alaska Anchorage 1 at Michigan Tech 6 Box North Dakota 5 at Nebraska Omaha 2 Box Bemidji State 2 at Wisconsin 3 Box Minnesota 3 at St. Cloud State 4 Box Minnesota State 5 at Minnesota Duluth 1 Box Denver 5 at Colorado College 6, OT Box
