More teams in the WCHA got their conference schedules under way this past weekend.
Bemidji State is still alone in first place after a split at home against league-favorite Minnesota State. Bowling Green and Ferris State got sweeps in their first-ever WCHA series, and Northern Michigan split at Alaska to join them with four points in the early going.
Four WCHA series are on tap this weekend, including UAH’s first visit to the state of Alaska since 1993 as the Chargers face Alaska-Anchorage. Lake Superior State will be the last team to start its conference slate when it hosts Alaska.
#16 Minnesota State at Bemidji State
Bemidji State 4, Minnesota State 1 (Friday): The Beavers stayed undefeated in WCHA play thanks to three goals in a span of 6:27 of the second period against the Mavericks. Andrew Walsh stopped 27 of 28 shots for BSU.
Minnesota State 4, Bemidji State 3 (Saturday): Bemidji State erased a 2-0 deficit last in the second period, but a late goal by Johnny McInnis and an empty-netter by Teddy Blueger with 10 seconds left secured the split.
Alaska-Anchorage at Bowling Green
Bowling Green 6, Alaska-Anchorage 1 (Friday): Camden Wotjala had two goals as the Falcons breezed past the Seawolves. BG notched three goals on the power play.
Bowling Green 1, Alaska-Anchorage 0 (Saturday): Brent Tate’s goal at 11:50 of the first was all the Falcons needed to complete the sweep. Tomas Sholl made 16 saves for the shutout. UAA’s Rob Gunderson stopped 24 of 25 shots.
Northern Michigan at Alaska
Alaska 5, Northern Michigan 4 (Friday): Northern Michigan’s rally falls short as the Nanooks win their first WCHA game. Alaska used three power-play goals and five different scorers to build a 5-2 lead. Cohen Adair had two goals for the Wildcats.
Northern Michigan 2, Alaska 1 (Saturday): Stephan Vigier’s league-leading seventh goal of the season with :22 left in the first was the game winner as the Wildcats earn a split. Mathias Dahlstrom made 22 saves for NMU.
#12 Lake Superior State at #13 Wisconsin
Lake Superior State 3, Wisconsin 3 (OT, Friday): The Lakers stunned the Badgers with three goals in the first 4:09, but the Badgers rallied for the tie at home thanks to two third-period goals. LSSU’s Alex Globke and Dan Radke each had a goal and an assist, and Kevin Kapalka made 41 saves in net.
Wisconsin 8, Lake Superior 1 (Saturday): Nic Kerdiles scored twice as the Badgers convincingly handed the Lakers their first loss of the season. Kevin Czuczman had the lone tally for LSSU.
Michigan Tech at #4 Michigan
Michigan 3, Michigan Tech 2 (OT, Friday): Andrew Copp scored with 1:34 left in overtime to give the Wolverines the win. Blake Pietila and C.J. Eick each had second-period goals as the Huskies rallied from a 2-0 deficit. MTU goalie Phoenix Copley made 40 saves.
Michigan 2, Michigan Tech 1 (Saturday): Tech could not finish coming back from another 2-0 deficit as the Wolverines sweep. Dennis Rix had the goal for MTU, which got another 28 saves from Copley.
On Tuesday, Bowling Green lost at Ohio State 5-3.
More looks around the league:
- SBN College Hockey: WCHA Notebook and Musings
- USCHO: Beavers are tough, Mavericks lose power, Lakers and Chargers on the rebound
| WCHA Standings | Conference | Overall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | T | Pts | W | L | T | |
| Bemidji State | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Bowling Green | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Ferris State | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Northern Michigan | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Alaska | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Michigan Tech | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Minnesota State | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Lake Superior State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Alaska-Anchorage | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Alabama-Huntsville | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
All times Central
* WCHA game
Friday, November 8
* UAH at Alaska-Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
* Bemidji State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
* Alaska at Lake Superior State, 6:37 p.m.
* Bowling Green at Minnesota State, 7:37 p.m.
Michigan State at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Saturday, November 9
* UAH at Alaska-Anchorage, 10:07 p.m.
* Bemidji State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
* Alaska at Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m.
* Bowling Green at Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Western Michigan, 6:05 p.m.
Michigan State at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Sunday, November 10
Northern Michigan at Western Michigan, 4 p.m.