Minnesota Hockey Journal

WCHA Hits, Highlights & Headlines

St. Cloud State In First Place, including 3 straight wins

Three Points Separate Top Six Clubs

Minnesota State Enters Break with Seven Wins in Last Eight
Wisconsin Unbeaten Over Last Six at 3-0-3

North Dakota 4-0-1 Over Last Five

Bemidji State Unbeaten Over Last Three

Nebraska Omana is 9-3-0 Over Last 12 Games

After starting 9-1, Denver is slumping and winless in their last 8 games (including 4 ties)

For Minnesota, Erik Haula leads Minnesota in points (22) and assists (14) this season and is tied for first on the team with Nick Bjugstad in goals (eight). Nate Schmidt’s 15 points (2g, 13a) are tied for the most in the nation among defensemen this year. Rookie goaltender Adam Wilcox (10-2-3) ranks sixth in the nation and second in the WCHA with a 1.78 GAA this year and his .767 winning percentage is sixth in the NCAA and second in the conference. Minnesota boasts the WCHA’s best defense at 2.00 goals against per game (tied for seventh in the NCAA). The Gophers also feature a national top-10 offense with 3.35 goals/game (10th in the NCAA, fourth in the WCHA). The Gophers also feature the league’s top penalty-kill at .895 (51-for-57), which ranks eighth in the nation this season.

Minnesota is on a 20-day break before returning to action with the Mariucci Classic on Dec. 29-30 when they meet Air Force on Dec. 29 before hosting defending national champion Boston College on Dec. 30 in a rematch of last year’s Frozen Four semifinal. WCHA Hits, Highlights & Headlines

St. Cloud State In First Place, including 3 straight wins

Three Points Separate Top Six Clubs

Minnesota State Enters Break with Seven Wins in Last Eight
Wisconsin Unbeaten Over Last Six at 3-0-3

North Dakota 4-0-1 Over Last Five

Bemidji State Unbeaten Over Last Three

Nebraska Omana is 9-3-0 Over Last 12 Games

After starting 9-1, Denver is slumping and winless in their last 8 games (including 4 ties)

For Minnesota, Erik Haula leads Minnesota in points (22) and assists (14) this season and is tied for first on the team with Nick Bjugstad in goals (eight). Nate Schmidt’s 15 points (2g, 13a) are tied for the most in the nation among defensemen this year. Rookie goaltender Adam Wilcox (10-2-3) ranks sixth in the nation and second in the WCHA with a 1.78 GAA this year and his .767 winning percentage is sixth in the NCAA and second in the conference. Minnesota boasts the WCHA’s best defense at 2.00 goals against per game (tied for seventh in the NCAA). The Gophers also feature a national top-10 offense with 3.35 goals/game (10th in the NCAA, fourth in the WCHA). The Gophers also feature the league’s top penalty-kill at .895 (51-for-57), which ranks eighth in the nation this season.

Minnesota is on a 20-day break before returning to action with the Mariucci Classic on Dec. 29-30 when they meet Air Force on Dec. 29 before hosting defending national champion Boston College on Dec. 30 in a rematch of last year’s Frozen Four semifinal. The Classic is sold out with the exception of Standing Room Only tickets. Minnesota is on at 7 pm both games, and will be broadcast by FSN North.  

Make sure to catch some of the great hockey action at the World Junior Championship which will be broadcast on the NHL Network. All of the game times, rosters and information can be found here: http://worldjuniors.usahockey.com/.

Two Gophers are on the roster, Mike Reilly and Brady Skjei. Mario Lucia is the third Minnesotan on the team.

Happy Holidays to everyone!