While the Western Collegiate Hockey Association kicked off some conference play last weekend, the conference schedule gets into full swing this weekend. PowerPlay takes a look at how the teams in the WCHA might shake down this season.
Michigan Tech (0-2-0, 0-2-0)
Chris Conner, Chris Conner, Chris Conner. There is reason for hope this season in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It rides on the small 5'8' frame of the extremely talented winger. In the vote for preseason MVP of the WCHA, Conner finished only one vote behind Wisconsin's star senior goalie Bernd Br??ckler. Conner leads a talented group of forwards, including Colin Murphy, who has 99 points in his first 3 years, that can score with anyone. Defense and goaltending will again be the issue for Tech. Neither was particularly good last year, and neither seems to be much improved. With some decent play from both, Tech could sneak up this year into the top half of WCHA, which is not nearly as strong as it has been in past years.
Minnesota State-Mankato (0-1-1, 0-1-1)
After two years of taking huge steps forward in establishing a very strong program in the WCHA, Minnesota State-Mankato fell apart last year, falling into ninth place due to goaltending that made the word \sieve"" seem extremely appropriate. Mankato allowed the most goals per game in Division I college hockey last season. However, Mankato won its fair share of high-scoring games last year and returns with a young and talented offensive club. The key cog-forward Shane Joseph is gone, but most WCHA teams lost some top-flight offensive talent with the NHL lockout mess. Sophomore David Backes, who scored 16 goals and 37 points in his freshman season, will be a dynamic force in WCHA for as long as he decides to stay in college. If Mankato's defense, which was decimated by injuries, can recover from last year, they could challenge for a spot in the top half of the league.
North Dakota (1-0-1, 3-0-1)
It's the end of an era, as former Head Coach Dean Blais had a very prolific 10-year run in Grand Forks, N.D., winning two national championships. In his tenure, he compiled a 262-115-33 record, which was good enough for a .679 winning percentage, the best in college hockey. During Blais' tenure, North Dakota reloaded rather than rebuilt. Blais is gone to the NHL now as an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets, along with two bright former stars, Brandon Bochinski and Zach Parise. However, North Dakota reloaded on offense, along with returning two stars in the making in sophomore forwards Drew Stafford and Brady Murray.The Fighting Sioux returns its entire defensive corp along with two talented goaltenders. North Dakota likely will be back in national championship contention this year, but they will win a few more games with defense and goaltending rather than offense, something they have done very rarely in recent years.
Alaska-Anchorage (0-0-0, 1-0-1)
Perhaps the team hurt most by the off-season, Alaska Anchorage Seawolves lost two extremely talented goaltenders to graduation. Last year marked a huge coming-out party for the program, which came dangerously close to stealing the WCHA playoff title and sneaking into the NCAAs. The only major positive for Alaska-Anchorage is they return their entire defensive corps. Along with the goaltending losses, Alaska also lost its only top-flight scorers, including rising star Curtis Glencross, who tallied 34 points last season. Alaska will have a baptism by fire in net and will need a strong step up from its returning forwards. If both come through Alaska could continue its rise in the WCHA.
Minnesota-Duluth (2-0-0, 3-0-1)
If North Dakota lost some star talent, Minnesota Duluth lost perhaps the best player in college hockey last year, forward Junior Lessard. However, Duluth returns with a lot of strength from a team that finished only two goals away from a national championship last season. Duluth is arguably the league's strongest team, as senior forward Evan Schwabe, who racked 57 points last year, leads this potent group. In net, Duluth returns one of the league's best goaltending tandems in senior Issac Reichmuth, who won 23 games last year, compiling a 2.64 GAA and sophomore Josh Johnson. If this team can find a way to replace Lessard's production, they could again be primed for an NCAA run.
