Happy Turkey Day weekend everyone. This week’s Exclusive College Hockey Preview will be a shoutout to the WCHA’s Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as the CCHA’s Michigan and Michigan State. The new national polls are now updated.
Minnesota: (7-1-4), #1. Streak: 1 loss
Leading Scorer: Ryan Stoa, Junior Forward, (10g, 9a)=19pts in 12 games (7th in the nation)
Starting Netminder: Alex Kangas, Sophomore, .929 save ratio,
Player to Watch: Jordan Schroeder, Freshman Forward, (6g, 11a)= 17pts in 12 games
Synopsis: The Gophers gained the coveted #1 ranking last week after they took three points from Michigan Tech. This past weekend they split with a highly-ranked Denver team. Gophers are 7-1-2 in this tourney.
Noteworthy Notes: The Gophers have held a tie-split pattern for four of their six weeks and three of those four weeks were at home.
Prediction: I predict a tie with Michigan and a drubbing of Michigan State.
- Gopher Defensemen Cade Fairchild Has Been More Than A Nuisance To Opponents (photo: Brace Hemmelgarn)
Wisconsin: (5-7-2), unranked. Streak: 1 win
Leading Scorer: Jamie McBain, Junior Defensemen, (3g, 12a) =15pts in 14 games
Starting Netminder: Shane Connelly, Senior, .905 save ratio
Player to Watch: Brendan Smith, Sophomore Defensemen, (4g, 7a) =11pts in 13 games
Synopsis: Coming off an emotional win against a ranked St. Cloud State team, the Badgers are looking to keep the steam rolling and bump their overall record above the .500 mark this weekend. Michigan Tech looks to be a great confidence booster before heading into Saturday’s match up hosting a very sturdy Michigan squad.
Noteworthy Notes: Wisconsin’s #1 and #2 point leaders are defenders. Teams should be wary of shots from the blue line.
Prediction: I predict Wisconsin beats Michigan State toward the latter half of the game, but falls to Michigan in a tough battle, but slower-paced game.
- Wisconsing Rallies Around Their Starting Netminder, Shane “Waddle” Connelly (photo: Brace Hemmelgarn)
Michigan: (8-6), #14. Streak: 2 losses
Leading Scorer: Aaron Palushaj, Sophomore Forward, (7g, 13a) =20pts in 14 games (3rd in the nation)
Starting Netminder: Bryan Hogan, Sophomore, .913 save ratio
Player to Watch: Louie Caporusso, Sophomore Forward, (12g,4a) =16pts in 14 games
Synopsis: Michigan is not a strong team while they are away, but then again, the statistics might be a little skewed as the last two games Michigan played were at a #7 Miami team.
Noteworthy Notes: In the past four games, Michigan has scored 7 goals, allowed 6, but gone 1-3. I am under the strong belief they are going to come out flying against the Gophers.
Prediction: Tie against the Gophers, slowly take out the Badgers.
Michigan State: (4-8-2), unranked. Streak: 6 losses
Leading Scorer: Matt Schepke, Senior Forward, (5g, 2a) =7pts in 14 games
Starting Netminder: Jeff Lerg, Senior, .916 save ratio,
Player to Watch: Andrew Conboy, Freshman Forward, 46PIM in 11 games
Synopsis: Michigan State is a struggling team. After starting the season 4-2-2, they have been swept by the past three teams to put them on a six game losing streak. In the last two losses, against Nebraska-Omaha, they were outscored 10-2. Offense is hard to come by for this team as they have only scored 20 goals in 14 games and have yet to tally more than three in one game. Defense could be considered a halfway strength, but after the drubbing by Nebraska-Omaha, it is difficult to argue.
Noteworthy Notes: Head coach Rick Comley is in his 36th coaching season and 146-93-26 overall in his years with Michigan State. A slump of six games is not to go over well with him and his team will probably show it on the ice on Friday.
Prediction: I predict Michigan State will rage its worthiest battle on the road this weekend. They need a win in this horribly difficult strech of ranked teams that lies ahead of them. Anything but a loss would help them get on their feet, so I am predicting a very good battle at Wisconsin. A tie is not out of the question against the Badgers, but they will most likely be swept by the WCHA teams.
- This Is SPARTA!!! (well, close enough)
Weekend Prediction Recaps
Friday’s Games:
Michigan State 2, Wisconsin 4
Minnesota 2, Michigan 2 OT
Saturday’s Games:
Michigan 4, Wisconsin 3
Minnesota 5, Michigan State 1
Dude,
It’s Tuesday – where’s the update and what’s wrong with the WILD?