Western Collegiate Hockey Association

Jan. 15, 2006

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MADISON, Wisc. - The No. 1-ranked University of Wisconsin Badgers, behind a goal and four assists from center Joe Pavelski, two goals and two assists from left wing Robbie Earl and a goal and three assists from defenseman Tom Gilbert, defeated host and No. 5-ranked Colorado College, 9-1, on Saturday (Jan. 14) night before a sellout crowd of 7,361 at the Colorado Springs World Arena to complete a weekend road sweep and open an eight-point lead in the race for the WCHA regular season championship and MacNaughton Cup. The victory enabled the Badgers (18-2-2, 13-1-2 WCHA) to remain unbeaten on the road this season (9-0-1) and gave them a 3-0-1 advantage in the season series against the Tigers (17-8-1, 9-6-1 WCHA).

Coach Mike Eaves' Badgers, who have held down the nation's top ranking for six consecutive weeks, have lost just once in their last 20 games at 17-1-2. Wisconsin opened the Saturday evening contest with four power-play goals on a five-minute checking from behind major against CC, and then closed the first period with a 6-0 advantage. Right winger Ryan MacMurchy's power-play goal at 8:56 of the first proved to the game-winner. Also for UW, center Andrew Joudrey had two goals and an assist, right winger Adam Burish had three assists, and goaltender Brian Elliott stopped 20 of 21 shots on goal. CC's lone goal came off the stick of reigning Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Marty Sertich at 8:28 of the second period.

At Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday night, the No. 10-ranked North Dakota Fighting Sioux (15-10-1, 8-8-0 WCHA) bounced back from a 6-1 defeat on Friday with two goals in the final 1:22 to earn a hard-fought 4-2 victory over No. 2-ranked Minnesota (14-6-4, 9-5-2 WCHA) and gain a split of that series before a sellout crowd of 10,269. Center Travis Zajac and left wing Rastislav Spirko each had a goal and an assist, with Zajac netting the winner at 18:38 of the third period, while Philippe Lamoureux completed a strong weekend between the pipes with 41 saves. Lamoureux, who also had 42 saves on Friday, surrendered just two even-strength goals in the series while making 83 stops overall. UND's win improved their road record to 10-4-1, snapped UM's seven-game winning streak, and kept the Sioux in sole possession of fifth place, just three points out of fourth and four out of second. The Gophers, who still claimed the season season from UND, 3-1-0, owned a 43-27 advantage in shots on goal in the game and had a goal and an assist from defenseman Chris Harrington.

In the Mile High City on Saturday night, the host and two-time defending national champion Denver Pioneers (12-10-2, 9-5-2 WCHA) bounced back from a 5-1 setback on Friday to hang a 5-2 defeat on St. Cloud State (10-9-3, 5-8-1 WCHA) and move into a share of second place in the conference race before 6,038 at Magness Arena. Defenseman Matt Carle led the way against the Huskies with a pair of goals and an assist, center Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist, right winger J.D. Corbin had the game-winner on a shorthanded effort, and goaltender Peter Mannino made 31 saves and earned a pair of assists, including one on Corbin's winner.

At the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center Saturday, the visiting Michigan Tech Huskies won for the second straight night, posting a 3-1 triumph over the Bulldogs with third period goals from center Brandon Schwartz and left wing Justin St. Louis. The Huskies (6-17-1, 5-10-1 WCHA) surrendered a first period goal to UMD's Matt McKnight then tied the game in the second on center Ryan Angelow's unassisted tally at 3:34. Michigan Tech, sporting a 4-2-0 over their last six conference games, also had 30 saves from goaltender Michael-Lee Teslak while taking the season series from UMD, 2-1-1. Michigan Tech is now tied for eighth in the WCHA standings, just two points out of sixth.

And at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center on Saturday evening, host Minnesota State (9-11-4, 5-8-3 WCHA) erupted for six goals in the final two periods, with center Rob Ranking scoring two goals, right winger Kurtis Kisio scoring the game-winner and setting up two others, and defenseman Kyle Peto adding a goal and two assists in a 7-2 win over Alaska Anchorage that completed a weekend sweep before 3,249. The Mavericks, who who are an impressive 9-5-4 since an 0-6 start to the 2005-06 season, have climbed into a share of sixth place -just three points out of fifth - and earned the season series tie-breaker against the Seawolves with a 3-0-1 advantage.

Looking ahead to next weekend - Jan. 20-21 - there will be another full slate of head-to-head WCHA matchups as Wisconsin hosts Denver, Minnesota entertains Colorado College, North Dakota hosts Minnesota State, Minnesota Duluth visits St. Cloud State, and Michigan Tech hosts Alaska Anchorage. All five of these series will mark the only times those teams meet during the 2005-06 regular season.

Through games of Jan. 15, and with seven weeks remaining in the regular season, first place Wisconsin (28 pts) holds a eight-point lead over second place Denver and Minnesota (20 pts), a nine-point advantage over third place Colorado College (19 pts) and an 12-point bulge over fourth place fifth place North Dakota (16 pts). Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State are tied for sixth with 13 points each, St. Cloud State and Michigan Tech are tied for eighth with 11 points each, and Alaska Anchorage is 10th with nine points. WCHA-member teams will each play 28 conference games to determine the regular season champion, with four games (two home, two away) against five other conference member teams and two games (either home or away) vs four other conference member teams. In 2004-05, Denver and Colorado College tied for the title and were declared co-champions.

Through games of Jan. 15, six WCHA-member teams are sporting winning percentages overall. They are Wisconsin (18-2-2, .864), Colorado College (17-8-1, .673), Minnesota (14-6-4, .667), North Dakota (15-10-1, .596), Denver (12-10-2, .542), and St. Cloud State (10-9-3, .523).

In the most recent (Jan. 9-15) two Division 1 men's college hockey polls - the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Div. 1 College Hockey Poll and the USCHO.com/CSTV Div. 1 College Hockey Poll - the WCHA had four teams ranked among the nation's top 10 clubs, with Wisconsin at No. 1 for the sixth straight week, Minnesota at No. 2, Colorado College at No. 5, and North Dakota at No. 10. Two-time defending national champion Denver, meanwhile, was no. 18 in the USCHO.com/CSTV poll while two other league teams, Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State, also received votes. Last April (2005), eventual champion Denver, runner-up North Dakota, Colorado College and Minnesota made up the first-ever Frozen Four field from one conference, with the Pioneers claiming their second straight national championship and the WCHA marking a record 35th team championship since the league's founding in 1951.

In non-conference play thru Jan. 15th, WCHA-member teams are a collective 43-30-7 (.581) against outside Div. 1 competition this season. Over the past four seasons, WCHA-member teams have enjoyed oustanding success against non-conference Division 1 opponents. In 2004-05, WCHA-member clubs were 53-17-14 (.714) against outside Div. 1 competition. In 2003-04, WCHA teams were a combined 60-20-9 (.725) in non-conference play. In 2002-03, conference teams were 57-27-8 (.663) in non-conference play. And in 2001-02, WCHA-member teams were 56-24-2 (.695) outside the league circuit.

This Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, Jan. 13: Michigan Tech 4 @ Minnesota Duluth 2; North Dakota 1 @ Minnesota 6; Alaska Anchorage 1 @ Minnesota State 3; St. Cloud State 5 @ Denver 1; Wisconsin 3 @ Colorado College 2.

Results of Saturday, Jan. 14: Michigan Tech 3 @ Minnesota Duluth 1; North Dakota 4 @ Minnesota 2; Alaska Anchorage 2 @ Minnesota State 7; St. Cloud State 2 @ Denver 5; Wisconsin 9 @ Colorado College 1.

Games for Friday, Jan. 20: Alaska Anchorage @ Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET; Denver @ Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT; Colorado College @ Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota Duluth @ St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota State @ North Dakota, 7:37 pm CT.

Games for Saturday, Jan. 21: Colorado College @ Minnesota, 3:07 pm CT; Alaska Anchorage @ Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET; Denver @ Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota Duluth @ St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota State @ North Dakota, 7:37 pm CT.

Remaining 2005-06 Conference Schedules, by Team
Wisconsin (16 gp, 28 pts): Jan. 20-21 vs Denver; Jan. 27-28 vs Minnesota; Feb. 3-4 @ Minnesota Duluth; Feb. 17-18 @ Michigan Tech; Feb. 24-25 @ Minnesota State; March 3-4 vs St. Cloud State.

Minnesota (16 gp, 20 pts): Jan. 20-21 vs Colorado College; Jan. 27-28 @ Wisconsin; Feb. 10-11 @ Michigan Tech; Feb. 17-18 vs Denver; Feb. 24-25 @ Alaska Anchorage; March 3-4 vs Minnesota Duluth.

Denver (16 gp, 20 pts): Jan. 20-21 @ Wisconsin; Jan. 27-28 @ Alaska Anchorage; Feb. 10-11 vs Minnesota State; Feb. 17-18 @ Minnesota; Feb. 24-25 vs North Dakota; March 2 @ Colorado College; March 3 vs Colorado College.

Colorado College (16 gp, 19 pts): Jan. 20-21 @ Minnesota; Feb. 3-4 vs North Dakota; Feb. 10-11 @ St. Cloud State; Feb. 17-18 vs Alaska Anchorage; Feb. 24-25 @ Minnesota Duluth; March 2 vs Denver; March 3 @ Denver.

North Dakota (16 gp, 16 pts): Jan. 20-21 vs Minnesota State; Jan. 27-28 vs St. Cloud State; Feb. 3-4 @ Colorado College; Feb. 17-18 vs Minnesota Duluth; Feb. 24-25 @ Denver; March 3-4 vs Michigan Tech.

Minnesota Duluth (16 gp, 13 pts): Jan. 20-21 @ St. Cloud State; Jan. 27-28 vs Minnesota State; Feb. 3-4 vs Wisconsin; Feb. 17-18 @ North Dakota; Feb. 24-25 vs Colorado College; March 3-4 @ Minnesota.

Minnesota State (16 gp, 13 pts): Jan. 20-21 @ North Dakota; Jan. 27-28 @ Minnesota Duluth; Feb. 3-4 vs Michigan Tech; Feb. 10-11 @ Denver; Feb. 17-18 vs St. Cloud State; Feb. 24-25 vs Wisconsin.

St. Cloud State (14 gp, 11 pts): Jan. 20-21 vs Minnesota Duluth; Jan. 27-28 @ North Dakota; Feb. 3-4 vs Alaska Anchorage; Feb. 10-11 vs Colorado College; Feb. 17-18 @ Minnesota State; Feb. 24-25 vs Michigan Tech; March 3-4 @ Wisconsin.

Michigan Tech (16 gp, 11 pts): Jan. 20-21 vs Alaska Anchorage; Feb. 3-4 @ Minnesota State; Feb. 10-11 vs Minnesota; Feb. 17-18 vs Wisconsin; Feb. 24-25 @ St. Cloud State; March 3-4 @ North Dakota.

Alaska Anchorage (18 gp, 9 pts): Jan. 20-21 @ Michigan Tech; Jan. 27-28 vs Denver; Feb. 3-4 @ St. Cloud State; Feb. 17-18 @ Colorado College; Feb. 24-25 vs Minnesota.

WCHA Game summaries

Saturday, Jan. 14

North Dakota 4 @ Minnesota 2
1st: G1 UM - Alex Goligoski 6 (Phil Kessel, Chris Harrington), PPG, 5:53; G2 UND - Andrew Kozek 4 (Kyle Radke), 15:54. 2nd: G3 UND - Jonathan Toews 8 (Travis Zajac, T.J. Oshie), PPG, 0:42; G4 UM - Harrington 2 (Kessel), PPG, 5:42. 3rd: G5 UND - Zajac 8 (Rastislav Spirko, Zach Jones), GWG, 18:38; G6 UND - Spirko 8 (Drew Stafford), ENG, 19:35. Score by Periods: UND 1-1-2 = 4; UM 1-1-0 = 2. Pen: UND 17-45; UM 13-26. PP: UND 1-5; UM 2-9. Saves: Philippe Lamoureux (UND), 16-14-11 = 41 (60:00); Jeff Frazee (UM), 7-6-10 = 23 (59:20). Att: 10,269 (sellout). Time: 2:18.

Michigan Tech 3 @ Minnesota Duluth 1
1st: G1 UMD - Matt McKnight 8 (Steve Czech, Jay Cascalenda), 3:08. 2nd: G2 MTU - Ryan Angelow 3 (unassisted), 3:34. 3rd: G3 MTU - Brandon Schwartz 8 (Peter Rouleau), GWG, 7:18; G4 MTU - Justin St. Louis 2 (Mike Batovanja), 7:40. Score by Periods: MTU 0-1-2 = 3; UMD 1-0-0 = 1. Pen: MTU 10-20; UMD 6-12. PP: MTU 0-3; UMD 0-7. Saves: Michael-Lee Teslak (MTU), 8-12-10 = 30 (60:00); Isaac Reichmuth (UMD), 9-8-5 = 22 (58:18). Att: 5,041. Time: 2:13.

Alaska Anchorage 2 @ Minnesota State 7
1st: G1 MSU - Kyle Peto 6 (David Backes, Kurtis Kisio), PPG, 15:33. 2nd: G2 MSU - Travis Morin 14 (Backes, Peto), PPG, 8:46; G3 MSU - Kurtis Kisio 4 (Ryan Carter, Peto), 10:37; G4 UAA - Charlie Kronschnabel 4 (Justin Bourne, Shea Hamilton), PPG, 14:06; G5 MSU - Rob Rankin 5 (Kisio), 16:44. 3rd: G6 MSU - Rankin 6 (Ryan McKelvie, Austin Sutter), 5:20; G7 UAA - Merit Waldrop 6 (Daron Underwood, Justin Johnson), 10:48; G8 MSU - Sutter 3 (Jeff Marler, Jon Kalinski), 12:47; G9 MSU - McKelvie 2 (Kalinski), 16:35. Score by Periods: UAA 0-1-1 = 2; MSU 1-3-3 = 7. Pen: UAA 6-15; MSU 6-12. PP: UAA 1-5; MSU 3-6. Saves: John DeCaro (UAA), 11-11-x = 22 (40:00); Nathan Lawson (UAA), x-x-9 = 9 (20:00); Dan Tormey (MSU), 5-6-11 = 22 (60:00). Att: 3,249. Time: 2:03.

St. Cloud State 2 @ Denver 5
1st: G1 Denver - Matt Carle 10 (Paul Stastny, Peter Mannino), 15:43; G2 Denver - T.J. Fast 1 (unassisted), 16:56. 2nd: G3 Denver - J.D. Corbin 3 (Mannino), SHG/GWG, 5:08. 3rd: G4 SCSU - Justin Fletcher 4 (Brock Hooton, Billy Hengen), PPG, 0:57; G5 Denver - Stastny 6 (Carle, Patrick Mullen), PPG, 2:46; G6 SCSU - Andrew Gordon 10 (unassisted), 3:26; G7 Denver - Carle 11 (Adrian Veideman, Mullen), PPG/ENG, 18:42. Score by Periods: SCSU 0-0-2 = 2; Denver 2-1-2 = 5. Pen: SCSU 13-26; Denver 11-44. PP: SCSU 1-7; Denver 2-8. Saves: Bobby Goepfert (SCSU), 6-9-8 = 23 (59:52); Peter Mannino (Denver), 13-4-14 = 31 (60:00). Att: 6,038. Time: 2:31.

Wisconsin 9 @ Colorado College 1
1st: G1 UW - Andrew Joudrey 4 (Joe Pavelski, Tom Gilbert), PPG, 7:24; G2 UW - Ryan MacMurchy 6 (Kyle Klubertanz, Gilbert), PPG, 8:56; G3 UW - Gilbert 6 (Robbie Earl, Pavelski), PPG, 10:18; G4 UW - Joudrey 5 (Pavelski, Gilbert), PPG, 11:17; G5 UW - Jack Skille 7 (MacMurchy), 14:35; G6 UW - Earl 10 (Pavelski, Adam Burish), 16:17. 2nd: G7 CC - Marty Sertich 11 (Joey Crabb), 8:28; G8 UW - Ross Carlson 6 (Nick Licari, Joudrey), 9:10. 3rd: G9 UW - Earl 11 (Burish, Jeff Likens), 10:17; G10 UW - Pavelski 14 (Earl, Burish), 15:33. Score by Periods: UW 6-1-2 = 9; CC 0-1-0 = 1. Pen: UW 13-26; CC 10-31. PP: UW 4-6; CC 0-6. Saves: Brian Elliott (UW), 5-7-8 = 20 (60:00); Matt Zaba (CC), 4-x-x = 4 (11:17); Chris Kawano (CC), 5-6-9 = 20 (48:43). Att: 7,361 (sellout). Time: 2:15.

2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five Tickets Continue on Sale
Season ticket packages for the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five, set for March 16-18 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn., continue on sale to the public. Five-game reserved seat championship packages are available through Ticketmaster at 651 989-5151, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or at Xcel Energy Center Box Office.

On November 1, 2005, Xcel Energy Center and the WCHA announced a contract extension that will keep the Red Baron WCHA Final Five championship tournament at Xcel Energy Center from 2007 through 2011. In addition, Red Baron® Pizza, currently in the third year of a title sponsorship agreement with the WCHA, has renewed it's title sponsorship for the Final Five for five more years.

This year's tournament is titled the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five. The schedule is: Thur., March 16: Quarterfinal, 7:30 pm CT; Fri., March 17: Semi-Finals, 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm CT; and Sat., March 18: Third Place Game, 2:30 pm & Broadmoor Trophy Championship Game, 7:30 pm CT.

Final Five Ticket Information
How to Buy Final Five Tickets: Packages: In person at Xcel Energy Center Box Office, by phone thru Ticketmaster at 651 989-5151, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Single Game (if available): March 6, 2006, in person at Xcel Energy Center Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet, by phone thru Ticketmaster at 651 989-5151, or online at ticketmaster.com.