Around the WCHA Jan 16 & 17

The first full week of WCHA action for 2009 was not a disappointment last weekend. W/ the Badgers playing late, I caught parts of three other WCHA games on Friday. Out in Grand Forks, the gophers were embarrassed by the Sioux, super sieve Wangas gave up 11 goals on the weekend. While I enjoy a Wisconsin victory above all things, seeing minnesota get rocked by anyone is a remotely close second.

Wisconsin swept UAA
North Dakota swept minnesota
Denver swept Michigan Tech – Friday night went to OT, w/ Tech leading much of the game
CC split w/ Mankato
St. Cloud swept Duluth

Here are the WCHA standings, DU gives themselves a little cushion out ahead, but things are still close 1st through 9th. Should be another great finish. Todd at TCT discusses the Badgers chances at home ice (and finishing higher) based on past WCHA standings. 31 points has been the average amount of pts needed for 5th place over the past 5 or so years. Wisconsin currently has 20 pts w/ 12 games left to play.

Denver and is off this weekend, but everyone else is in action:

CC @ Wisconsin – I’m hoping for a sweep, but would take a split
North Dakota @ Michigan Tech – Tech gets a tie one of the nights
UAA @ Mankato – Split, lets cheer for the Seawolves to become a TUC in the pairwise
St. Cloud/minnesota home and home – Split, each win at home
Bemidji @ Duluth – Split, I’d have no problem allowing Bemidji to join the WCHA