With finals over and a week off, many of the boys have gone home for the holidays.
Next up for the Chargers is a trip to 14th-ranked Wisconsin to face the Badgers on Dec. 27-28. The games will be televised on Fox Sports Wisconsin and Fox College Sports Pacific (12/27) and Central (12/28). Typically these channels are available on a digital sports tier with your cable or satellite provider.
More to come on this series (and where to watch it) in Catching the Game next week.
Alumni: Former Charger Craig Bushey taught hockey to students at Crestline Elementary School in Hartselle.
Around the WCHA: Minnesota State’s sweep of UAH propelled the Mavericks to second place in the WCHA standings, eight points behind Ferris State. It also put MSU back into the USCHO.com poll, coming in at No. 20.
Minnesota State’s Zach Stepan was back in action Tuesday after getting up slowly from Ben Reinhardt’s check from behind late in Saturday’s game. However, the Nashville Predators prospect wasn’t playing for MSU: He suited up for the United States National Junior Team against his teammates in an exhibition game in Mankato. The Juniors won 3-2 in overtime, and Stepan made the cut for the U.S. squad as it plays in the World Junior Championships in Sweden starting Dec. 26.
First-place Ferris State had a week off from conference play, earned a tie at No. 3 Michigan on Tuesday and a win at Michigan State on Saturday. The Bulldogs are now No. 2 in the USCHO.com poll, with 12 first-place votes.
Bowling Green won and tied at Michigan Tech, and coupled with Bemidji State’s tie and loss at home with Alaska, means the Falcons and Beavers are tied for third.
Lake Superior State split at Alaska-Anchorage, and dropped down a notch to No. 18 in the poll. The Lakers are in a three-way tie for fifth with Michigan Tech and Anchorage. Also, Northern Michigan dropped two games at North Dakota.
| WCHA Standings | Conference | Overall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | T | Pts | W | L | T | |
| Ferris State | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 14 | 2 | 3 |
| Minnesota State | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Bowling Green | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Bemidji State | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Lake Superior State | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Michigan Tech | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| Alaska-Anchorage | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| Northern Michigan | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
| Alaska | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
| Alabama-Huntsville | 12 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0 |
THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
All times Central.
* WCHA game.
Friday, December 27
UAH at Wisconsin, 7:00 p.m. (TV: FS Wisconsin, FCS Pacific)
Michigan Tech vs. Michigan State, 2:30 p.m. (Great Lakes Invitational, Detroit)
Bowling Green vs. Boston College, 3:35 p.m. (Three Rivers Classic, Pittsburgh)
Saturday, December 28
UAH at Wisconsin, 8:00 p.m. (TV: FS Wisconsin, FCS Central)
Michigan Tech vs. Western Michigan or Michigan, 2:30 or 6:00 p.m. (Great Lakes Invitational, Detroit)
Bowling Green vs. Penn State or Robert Morris, 3:35 or 6:35 p.m. (Three Rivers Classic, Pittsburgh)