NFL
By Jason Gulden
Welcome back, NCHC fans. This weekend features three conference matchups for our teams. We will also provide an overview of the NCHC Players of the Month for November, as announced earlier this week by the league. Additionally, a review of the current league standings will be included as we approach this weekend’s competition.
North Dakota visits St. Cloud State this weekend for their 153rd and 154th meetings. North Dakota leads the all-time series 84-49-19 and holds a 32-26-10 edge in games played at St. Cloud.
The Friendship Four champion, Miami (OH), will travel to Colorado to face the Denver Pioneers. Historically, Denver has maintained the advantage in this series, holding a 37-13-4 record against the Red Hawks. Notably, Miami has not secured a victory in Denver since February 2019.
The final game this weekend features Minnesota Duluth facing Western Michigan. Historically, this has been a close rivalry, with Minnesota Duluth leading the series 28-20-3. However, Western Michigan has come out on top in the last three encounters against the Bulldogs.
The Players of the Month for November were announced by the league earlier in the week. It featured 2 teams taking home the 4 awards we discuss every week.
North Dakota took home the Forward and Rookie of the Month, while Denver took home the Defenseman and Goaltender of the Month. Let’s look at which player won the awards.
Ben Strinden is the Forward of the Month after tallying seven goals and five assists in North Dakota’s seven games. He recorded points in six games, including three multi-point performances, helping the Fighting Hawks to a 6-1-0 record in November.
Will Zellers is Rookie of the Month, scoring seven goals (including three game-winners) and one assist. Five of his goals came on the Fighting Hawks’ Power Play. His seven goals tied for the NCHC lead with his teammate Ben Striden and Eric Pohlkamp from Denver. Both of which won NCHC Monthly honors. Will had three more goals than any other NCHC freshman and would tie all freshmen in the NCAA.
The Defenseman of the Month comes to us from Denver University. Eric Pohlkamp would have seven goals and three assists during the month. He tied for the league lead in points among defensemen and would tie for third in the NCAA. Eric would block eleven shots and would post a +10 plus/minus, which would tie for first among NCHC defenseman. During November, Eric would be named the NCHC Defenseman of the Week twice. Eric would also win the HCA National Defenseman of the Month.
Denver’s Quentin Miller earned Goalie of the Month, starting all 8 games with a 6-2-0 record—both losses in overtime. He posted a .932 save percentage, 2.08 goals against average (second among goalies with at least three games), and led the NCHC with 234 saves.
Before the weekend games, let’s review the NCHC standings. All records are conference records.
Here is also a refresh on how the points work. Each conference game is worth three (3) points in the standings. Teams are awarded three (3) points for each conference win in regulation, two (2) points for an overtime or shootout win, and one (1) point for an overtime or shootout loss. NCHC overtime wins and losses appear in both the conference record, as well as the OW and OL columns in a team’s conference record. Shootouts will only occur if a game ends in a tie after the 3-on-3 overtime, with the shootout winner (SW column) earning two points and the loser getting one point, the same as an overtime win and loss.
Denver leads the conference with 15 points in 6 games played. They have a 5-1-0 conference record and have a 1-1 record in overtime.
Western Michigan also has 15 points. However, they have played 8 games. They have a 5-3-0.
Minnesota Duluth has 14 points in 8 games played. They are 5-3-0 with a 2-1 overtime record.
North Dakota has 13 points in 6 games played. They are 4-2-0 with a 0-1 overtime record.
Arizona State has 10 points with 8 games played. They are 3-4-1 with a 1-0 overtime record, with that win coming in a shootout.
Omaha has 9 points with 8 games played. They are 3-5-0.
St. Cloud State has 8 points in 6 games. They are 2-4-0 and 0-2 in overtime.
Colorado College has 7 points in 8 games played. They are 2-5-1 record with a 1-1 overtime record.
Miami (OH) has 5 points in 6 games played. They are 2-4-0 record with a 1-0 overtime record.
Well, NCHC fans, that’s our weekend preview of games. We will be back next week with the recap and look ahead to the final weekend before the Christmas break. Talk to you all soon.
