WCHA Thread IV

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1314/201401/jan28wcw.php

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Players of the Week for January 29 - http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1314/201401/jan29wpw.php

Offense: Meghan Lorence, Minnesota
Defense: Alex Rigsby, Wisconsin
Rookie: Claudia Kepler, Ohio State

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

It will be interesting to see how the Whioux do next week in Duluth, who are also missing Olympians.

Copied your comment from the Gophers' thread. Both are missing players, but I think North Dakota is missing more. I think what Eisenschmid and Villila bring to the blue line is similar, so we could look at that as being a wash. Stalder and Tapani as first-year players have had a similar impact; both are right around a point a game, although Stalder represents another hit to the UMD D corps. The Bulldogs' response has been to move McParland back to defense. UND is missing more up front with Karvinen gone. If Dufault remains out, then it is obvious that it is advantage UMD in terms of players gone. However, if Dufault can return and be close to full strength, then with players like her, Jakobsen, Menke, and Kohler, I think UND presents a more dynamic offense up front than BSU had to test the rebuilt Minnesota-Duluth blue line.

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Coming up in the WCHA:

St. Cloud State @ Minnesota State

Wisconsin @ Ohio State

North Dakota @ Minnesota-Duluth: Unless I'm mistaken...call it the WCHA Q'final Home Ice Clinch Series.

Bemidji State @ Minnesota

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

North Dakota @ Minnesota-Duluth: Unless I'm mistaken...call it the WCHA Q'final Home Ice Clinch Series.

Beep, beep, beep... that's the sound of North Dakota already backing into home ice this past weekend thanks to UMD's sweep of Bemidji State.

The Bulldogs will clinch home ice by getting at least two standing points over their last 4 games or Ohio State dropping two over their remaining six games. That could happen this weekend; I suspect the latter case will occur, since the Buckeyes host Bucky.

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Latest WCHA PotW recognitions:

http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1314/201402/feb5wpw.php

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Final From Friday, February 7th
Wisconsin 3
Ohio State 0

Badger Big Guns Break Through

For 55 minutes this was a very closely contested game, with both teams held scoreless 5x5. A couple of late goals off Buckeye errors -- one forced, one unforced -- padded the final total. But it took the Badgers' leading scorer to breakthrough the Buckeye defense with the key power play goal.

Three Stars of the Game: Decidedly Unofficial and Just For Fun

Honorable Mention: The Badger Defense
The disciplined Badger 'D' largely controlled their half of the ice, limiting the Buckeyes to 13 shots on goal. Five Badger defenders combined for 7 blocked shots, making the already difficult task of beating Alex Rigsby even tougher. New story? No. But these Badgers are good.

#3 Star: Julia McKinnon, Ohio State
Hard working and determined, Julia took 3 of the Buckeyes' shots and won 7 of her 12 face-off opportunities. She was a Buckeye leader throughout the game. Regrettably in the late going, McKinnon became entangled with Madison Packer and suffered an awkward leg-first collision with the side boards. Fortunately Packer returned to action, apparently no worse for the wear. McKinnon wasn't as lucky, needing some assistance to get off the ice. It was tough to see a courageous effort end that way. Here's to hoping that Julia's back on the ice tomorrow. But I have no idea if that's a reasonable expectation. What I do know is that when Julia went down, it really took the wind out of the Buckeyes' sails.

#2 Star: Alex Rigsby, Wisconsin
Solid shutout for Rigsby. Though Alex didn't face a ton of rubber, she was certainly poised and skillful when needed.

#1 Star: Brittany Ammerman, Wisconsin
On the GWG, Blayre Turnbull won just enough of the face-off to allow Brittany to send the puck back to Courtney Burke. Burke returned the favor. Ammerman patiently picked out a target in the lower left hand corner, then lasered the puck home. Later, in the game's closing moments, Ammerman forced a turnover below the Buckeye end line and centered a pass to Turnbull, who promptly finished the scoring.


Next Up: Rematch With Wisconsin; Face-Off at 4:07PM. A good crowd is expected for "Kids Day" at the Ice Rink.

[CrazyDave]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Some thoughts following the action so far this weekend.

Quarterfinal home ice -- Minnesota-Duluth clinched the final home-ice spot for the WCHA quarterfinals on Friday without even playing, due to Wisconsin's 3-0 win over Ohio State in the first game of that series.

UND's conference playoff position -- With a straight-up win or a tie and shootout win tomorrow against Minnesota-Duluth, UND can clinch a top-three seed in the WCHA playoffs and will remain in contention for the #2 position. A UND loss or tie and shootout loss tomorrow will mean that they will not finish in the top two (Wisconsin holds the tie-breaker with a 2-1-1 record head-to-head) and that the Bulldogs can still potentially catch them for 3rd.

WCHA regular season title scenario -- This one has to wait until next weekend, but Minnesota needs to only take 3 standings points from Wisconsin to clinch the WCHA regular season title outright. The Badgers need at least 4 points to remain in contention, and can move within 1 point with a weekend sweep.

I'm sure that there are other situations to be discussed, but these are big items.

[pokechecker]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

just curious about something, I could have sworn that when Kim Martin was a goaltender for UMD her plans to pay in a men's pro hockey league was nixed by the Bulldogs since it would have made her ineligible for NCAA play.
So what's the deal with Kateřina Mrázová, she played for the Boston Blades, who are a pro team right?
what is the difference, was there a rule change or is the women's pro league not a real pro league?

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Final From Saturday, February 8th
Wisconsin 3
Ohio State 2

Buckeye Rally Falls Just Short

Maybe the Buckeyes came out a bit flat. Or maybe for the first 30 minutes the Badgers gave the dominating performance Timothy A. had been hoping for. (See OSU/UW thread) But from there the home team mounted a rousing comeback. A Kari Schmitt PP goal closed the gap to 3-2 at 13:18 of the third. A would-be tying goal was waved off with 10.8 seconds to play. Readers from elsewhere might be tempted to think that the Buckeye rally just needed a helping hand. But apparently the opposite was the case.

Three Stars of the Game: Decidedly Unofficial and Just For Fun

Honorable Mention: Jenny Ryan, Wisconsin
Jenny played a fearless game, recording an impressive total of six blocked shots. A Purple Heart is in order for Jenny Ryan. She's also part of a steady, reliable freshman 'D' pair, teaming with Melissa Channell.

#3 Star: Becky Allis, Ohio State
Becky had an excellent afternoon, ultimately earning ice time on the 6x5 situation at game's end. Allis brought tremendous energy to the rink, applying effective pressure on the forecheck. Knock her to the ice? No problem; she'll take the shot anyway. Shorthanded? No problem; she'll just disrupt two Badger players. Well done, Becky.

#2 Star: (tie) Hayley Studler, Ohio State and Ally Tarr, Ohio State
The first Buckeye scoring play started out routinely enough, with Melanie Moylan sending the puck deep, then racing to the Buckeye bench for change. Hayley took over from there, winning a battle along the end boards. The assist was Studler's first point as a Buckeye. Next, Ally wrapped around the Badger net. It took a couple tries and a little Buck puck luck, but Tarr floated the shot over the goalie's right shoulder. The goal lit a fire under the Buckeyes, who were a different team from that point forward.

#1 Star: Brittany Ammerman, Wisconsin
A boring, redundant choice; but what to do? Brittany opened the scoring and later got the GWG. Brittany Ammerman=Difference Maker.


Next Up: Road Trip To Bemidji State; 5th Place On The Line

[CrazyDave]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

UND's conference playoff position -- With a straight-up win or a tie and shootout win tomorrow against Minnesota-Duluth, UND can clinch a top-three seed in the WCHA playoffs and will remain in contention for the #2 position. A UND loss or tie and shootout loss tomorrow will mean that they will not finish in the top two (Wisconsin holds the tie-breaker with a 2-1-1 record head-to-head) and that the Bulldogs can still potentially catch them for 3rd.

UMD and UND tied 2-2 on Sunday, but the Bulldogs won the shootout. So (as mentioned above) UND will not be able to catch Wisconsin for 2nd in the conference and still haven't clinched 3rd (though it's highly likely they will... they only need 1 point in the remaining 4 games).

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1314/201402/feb11wcw.php

USA!

Take down Team Showboat!

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1314/201402/feb11wcw.php

Series of the season! (so far)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx6TBrfCW54

[CrazyDave]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Players of the Week - February 12

Offense: Hannah Brandt, Minnesota

Defense: Milica McMillen, Minnesota

Rookie: Lauren Hespenheide, St. Cloud State

[brookyone]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Regular season comes to a close:

Wisconsin @ Minnesota State

North Dakota @ Ohio State: National hopes take another hit?

Bemidji State @ St. Cloud State

Minnesota-Duluth @ Minnesota: A little wary of a possible let down myself. Hope #22 is able to go.