The new-look WCHA hasn’t exactly had the best showing in the first two weeks of action.
There were some bright spots: Alaska-Anchorage is already halfway to matching its win total from all of last season after winning its home tournament (and beating national finalist Quinnipiac to boot).
Unheralded Bemidji State had a one-goal loss and a tie at No. 9 St. Cloud, although they could’ve had more if it weren’t for Nic Dowd (Huntsville native, wink, wink). Michigan Tech had a similar weekend at Minnesota-Duluth. But what was up with the shootouts? The NCHC uses shootouts on ties in league games. For non-conference games, the opposing team can accept before the series to have shootouts. The shootout results do not count in Pairwise rankings, so why bother?
But overall, the WCHA is a combined 6-11-3 so far in nonconference action, and Anchorage and Lake Superior accounted for four of those wins. Perhaps it’s not coincidence that they were the only ones to play at home.
More nonconference action this weekend, but this time six WCHA clubs will be hosts. The Chargers are idle ahead of their WCHA opener at home against Bemidji.
Here’s what happened around the WCHA this week. UAH was swept by Northeastern, 9-1 and 3-2.
Kendall Hockey Classic hosted by Alaska-Anchorage
Alaska 6, Air Force 1: It wasn’t until Wednesday that Air Force got the go-ahead to fly up to Anchorage because of the government shutdown. The Falcons might wish they hadn’t gone after all. Cody Kunyk paced the Nanooks with two goals. Anchorage Daily News recap
Alaska-Anchorage 3, No. 10 Quinnipiac 1: The stunner of the weekend involving a WCHA team belonged to the home-standing Seawolves. UAA, with only four wins last season, took the national championship finalist from last spring. Hudson Friesen and Brett Cameron each had a goal and an assist, and Rob Gunderson kept the Bobcats at bay with 24 saves. Anchorage Daily News recap
No. 10 Quinnipiac 4, Alaska 1: Quinnipiac got back on track Saturday with three power-play goals. Anchorage Daily News recap
Alaska-Anchorage 4, Air Force 2: In the finale, Matt Bailey scored the game-winning goal with four seconds left to give Alaska-Anchorage its second win a row. Jordan Kwas had a hat trick, netting his second goal to tie the game with 1:52 remaining, and then scoring an empty-netter just before the final buzzer. Anchorage Daily News recap
No. 11 Minnesota State at No. 14 Providence
Providence 5, Minnesota State 1: Bryce Gervais gave the Mavericks the early lead, but the Friars won with five unanswered. USCHO recap
Providence 3, Minnesota State 0: It didn’t get better for the WCHA favorites, as the Mavs were stymied by Jon Gilles’ 38 saves. USCHO recap
Northern Michigan at No. 3 Wisconsin
Wisconsin 5, Northern Michigan 2: NMU could not recover from three first-period goals by the Badgers. CJ Ludwig and Stephan Vigier scored for the Wildcats. The Mining Journal recap
Wisconsin 2, Northern Michigan 1: Luke Eibler had the goal for NMU to tie the game in the third, but he had something to do with the Wisconsin game-winner. The Mining Journal recap
Bemidji State at No. 9 St. Cloud State
St. Cloud State 3, Bemidji State 2: Huntsville-native Nic Dowd scored the game-winner shorthanded for the Huskies with 4:01 to go. St. Cloud Times recap
Bemidji State 2, St. Cloud State 2: The Beavers held a 2-0 lead on goals by Phil Brewer and Nate Arentz, but St. Cloud rallied in the third. Dowd tied the game on the power play. BSU won the pointless shootout 3-2. St. Cloud Times recap
Bowling Green at No. 16 Union
Bowling Green 3, Union 3: Three second-period goals for the Falcons erased a 2-0 Dutchmen lead. Dan DeSalvo, Pierre-Luc Mercier, and Bryce Williamson scored for BG. Albany Times Union recap
Union 5, Bowling Green 2: Bowling Green allowed four power play goals. Albany Times Union recap
Michigan Tech at Minnesota-Duluth
Minnesota-Duluth 2, Michigan Tech 1: Pheonix Copley kept Tech in the hunt with 39 saves, but Justin Crandall scored the game-winner with 2:46 left for the Bulldogs. Duluth News Tribune recap
Michigan Tech 1, Minnesota-Duluth 1: Mike Neville tied the game for MTU with 6:07 to go. In another meaningless shootout, the Huskies won 2-0. Duluth News Tribune recap
Robert Morris at Lake Superior State
Lake Superior State 3, Robert Morris 1: Alex Globke, Matt Bruneteau, and Chris Ciotti each had a goal to take down the Colonials. Kevin Murdock stopped 26 shots for the Lakers. LSSULakers.com recap
Lake Superior State 3, Robert Morris 1: Matt Johnson, Andrew Dommett, and Kevin Czuczman scored in a near replay in Sault Ste. Marie. LSSULakers.com recap
| WCHA Standings | Conference | Overall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | Pts | W | L | T | |
| Alaska-Anchorage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Superior State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Ferris State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bemidji State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bowling Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Michigan Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Alabama-Huntsville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Minnesota State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Northern Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
All times Central.
Tuesday, October 15
Ohio State at Bowling Green, 6 p.m.
Ferris State at Mercyhurst, 6 p.m.
Friday, October 18
Colgate at Bowling Green, 6 p.m.
St. Lawrence at Ferris State, 6 p.m.
Nebraska-Omaha at Northern Michigan, 6 p.m.
Lake Superior at Union, 6 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Bemidji State, 7:30 p.m.
Connecticut at Minnesota State, 7:30 p.m.
Western Michigan vs. Alaska-Anchorage at Alaska Goal Rush, 8 p.m.
Denver at Alaska (Alaska Goal Rush), 11 p.m.
Saturday, October 19
Colgate at Bowling Green, 6 p.m.
St. Lawrence at Ferris State, 6 p.m.
Nebraska-Omaha at Northern Michigan, 6 p.m.
Lake Superior at Union, 6 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Bemidji State, 7 p.m.
Connecticut at Minnesota State, 7 p.m.
Denver vs. Alaska-Anchorage at Alaska Goal Rush, 7 p.m.
Western Michigan at Alaska (Alaska Goal Rush), 10 p.m.