NFL
By Jason Gulden
Hello again, NCHC hockey fans. We have completed the first-round best-of-3 series from last weekend and are now moving on to the NCHC semifinals.
Let’s take a look at the results from last weekend’s games, the rankings, some awards, and look ahead to this weekend’s two games.
Last Weekend
Heading into the weekend, Colorado College had beaten Western Michigan in its last two playoff matchups in Kalamazoo. Unfortunately for Colorado College fans like me, our season ended with a 2-0 series loss. On Friday night, Western Michigan won 5-2. The next night, Western Michigan benefited from a questionable call in overtime to secure a 2-1 victory.
Just like Colorado College’s season coming to an end, Miami (OH) would see its magical season end as well. They would fall to Denver 2-0 in the best-of-3 series. Friday night, Denver would win 3-0, and on Saturday, it would win 6-2.
The Penrose Cup Champs, North Dakota, would welcome Omaha to Grand Forks. They had no issue with them as they won the series 2-0 with 5-3 and 5-1 victories on the weekend.
The series of the weekend, even though it ended in a 2-0 series, would have to be between St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. Both nights, St. Cloud State was leading after 59 minutes of action. Both nights, Zam Plante of Minnesota Duluth would play hero. Not only did he have the game-tying goals during the last minute both nights to force overtime, but he also had the game-winning goals in overtime both nights.
Rankings
Following all four ranked teams earning sweeps last weekend, the only team that didn’t move in the rankings was Western Michigan. They stand pat at #4. North Dakota moved up one spot to number #2. Denver also moved up one spot to #6. Minnesota Duluth would move up 2 spots to number #8.
With the updated rankings, the NCAA tournament projection on the USCHO Bracketology website is as follows. Minnesota Duluth would be the #2 seed in the Albany region. Western Michigan would be the #1 seed and #4 overall in the Worcester region. With Denver as the host in the Loveland region, the Loveland region is currently the #2 seed. North Dakota is the #1 seed overall in the Sioux Falls region.
With all 4 of those teams winning last weekend, they will be the only 4 NCHC teams in the running for an NCAA tournament berth.
Awards
Following the regular season, the NCHC announced its all-conference teams and its all-rookie team.
First Team
- F: Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth, So.
- F: Tyson Gross, St. Cloud State, Jr
- F: Cruz Lucius, Arizona State, Sr
- D: Eric Pohlkamp, Denver, Jr.
- D: Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, Jr.
- G: Jan Špunar, North Dakota, Fr
Second Team
- F: Bennett Schimek, Arizona State, Sr.
- F: Ben Strinden, North Dakota, Sr.
- F: Austin Burnevik, St. Cloud State, So.
- D: Abram Wiebe, North Dakota, Jr.
- D: Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth, So.
- G: Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, So.
Third Team
- F: Zam Plante, Minnesota Duluth, So
- F: Grant Slukynsky, Western Michigan, Jr.
- F: Ellis Rickwood, North Dakota, Sr.
- D: Boston Buckberger, Denver, Jr.
- D: Samuel Sjolund, Western Michigan, Sr.
- G: Matteo Drobac, Miami, So.
All-Rookie Team
- F: Cole Reschny, North Dakota
- F: Will Zellers, North Dakota
- F: David Deputy, Miami
- D: Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota
- D: Eric Jamieson, Denver
- G: Jan Špunar, North Dakota
Some individual awards have also been handed out so far.
The NCHC Three Stars Award goes to Western Michigan goaltender Hampton Slukynsky. In the season, he would be named one of the three stars eight times in conference games. 4 times the #1 Star, two times the second star, and two times the third star of the game.
The Sportsmanship Award goes to Miami (OH) Blake Mesenburg. Blake, who is a senior, helped Miami with a 15-win improvement from last season.
The Goaltender of the Year goes to North Dakota’s Jan Spunar. He is the first freshman to win the award in conference history. He would go 12-3-1 on the season with a 2.15 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in conference games. Overall, he would go 16-3-1 with a 1.93 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage with 4 shutouts.
The Offensive Defenseman of the Year goes to Denver’s Eric Pohlkamp. The Defensive Defenseman of the Year goes to Minnesota Duluth’s Adam Kleber. Eric would have 17 goals and 19 assists on the season. Adam would have 3 goals and 7 assists on the season so far.
The winners of the remaining awards will be announced by the NCHC by March 19th. I will fill you guys in on the winners in next week’s article.
Weekends Games
For the first time in Conference history, we got a change in the playoff location. Previously, this round and the championship game were scheduled for Thursday and Saturday this week, up in Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center.
This year, the semi-finals and the Championship games are coming to campus. The higher-seeded team in the matchup will host. Unlike the first-round last weekend, the rest of the games this year are a win-and-move-on type of game.
The first game this weekend features Minnesota Duluth traveling to North Dakota. This season, these teams have met four times. During Halloween weekend, they played in Grand Forks. Minnesota Duluth won in overtime on Halloween. Conversely, North Dakota won on Saturday night. In early February, they faced off again in Duluth, with Duluth winning once more in overtime on Friday night, and North Dakota winning on Saturday night.
The other matchup will take place in Denver between Western Michigan and Denver. Just like the other series, these two teams faced off 4 times this season. Early November, they faced off in Kalamazoo, and Denver would sweep the series. In mid-January, they would face off again in Denver, and Western Michigan would sweep Denver that weekend.
Closing
It is only fitting that at the end of the year, the top 4 teams in the NCHC are the last 4 standing. Who will be the final 2 standing after this weekend? Consequently, there is only one way to find out. Grab your favorite snack, favorite beverage, and sit in your comfy chair and watch all the action unfold.
I will be back with you guys with the full recap of both games, the updated rankings, the rest of the award winners, and a preview of next week’s championship game. Talk to you all then.
