March 28, 2006

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MADISON, Wisc. - Two teams with a total of 12 national championships between them - the University of North Dakota and the University of Wisconsin - will be representing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association at the 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four, set for April 6-8 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. North Dakota and Wisconsin will join the University of Maine and Boston College from the Hockey East Association.

The Fighting Sioux, who have won seven national championships overall (1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000) to rank tied for second with Denver and behind Michigan's nine, are making their 16th appearance in the national championship round, and second straight. In addition to their seven NCAA titles, North Dakota has also finished as the national runner-up on five other occasions - in 1958, 1968, 1979, 2001 and 2005.

"We're excited to move on to Milwaukee and compete against some familiar competition in Boston College in a national semi-final," said UND head coach Dave Hakstol. "We've run into each other a good number of times over the last six-seven years and we expect a very competitive game.

"We came through a tough regional last weekend vs Michigan and a Holy Cross team that played very well. Our team is playing well right now and we seem to have pretty good chemistry going."

The Badgers, who have won five NCAA titles (1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990), are making their 10th appearance in the Frozen Four. In addition to their five championships, they have also finished as the national runner-up twice, in 1982 and 1992.

"To say we're excited about playing in the Frozen Four would be an understatement," said Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves. "Playing in our home state ... we've had some real success this season playing in Green Bay in the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic in February and then in the Midwest Regional this past weekend.

"We had a very exciting game against Cornell and we're very pleased for our young men that we're going to Milwaukee. We're playing well right now; we had our little dip earlier and we've come through that. We expect a terrific game against Maine."

North Dakota (29-15-1) won the West Regional championship at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks this past weekend with a 5-1 triumph over Michigan on March 24 and a 5-2 victory over Holy Cross on March 25. The Fighting Sioux, who also captured the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five and Broadmoor Trophy and currently lead the country in victories overall with 29, will take on Boston College in the first national semi-final on April 6 at the Bradley Center at 2:00 pm CT. The game will be televised live on ESPN 2. North Dakota finished as the national runner-up a year ago in Columbus, Ohio, dropping a 4-1 decision to the University of Denver in the 2005 NCAA Frozen Four championship game.

Wisconsin (28-10-3), the No. 1 overall seed for this season's national tournament, captured the Midwest Regional championship at Resch Center in Green Bay this past weekend with a 4-0 victory over Bemidji State on March 25 and a 1-0, triple overtime, win over Cornell on March 26. The game with Cornell, decided by Jack Skille's goal at 11:13 of the third overtime, was the second longest in NCAA tournament history at 111:13, behind the 123:53 contest between St. Lawrence (3) and Boston University (2) at the East Regional on March 26, 2000. The Badgers will faceoff against Maine in the second national semi-final on April 6 at the Bradley Center at 7:00 pm CT. The game will be televised live on ESPN 2. This will mark Wisconsin's first appearance in the Frozen Four since 1992.

The 2006 national championship game, which will be televised live by ESPN, is set for Saturday, April 8 at 6:00 pm CT at the Bradley Center.

Two other WCHA-member teams, Minnesota and Colorado College, fell short in their respective bids to reach the 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four. The WCHA regular season and MacNaughton Cup-champion Golden Gophers (27-9-5) were upset by Holy Cross, 4-3 (ot), in the West Regional in Grand Forks on Friday, March 24, while the Tigers (24-16-2) dropped a 3-2 decision to Cornell in the Midwest Regional in Green Bay on Saturday, March 25. Minnesota held a 3-2 lead over Holy Cross in the third period while Colorado College led the Red Raiders 2-0 after the first period and 2-1 after two.

Home to a collegiate record 35 national championship teams since it's founding in 1951, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association has won the past four straight NCAA Men's Frozen Fours and five of the past six. North Dakota won in 2000, Minnesota won in both 2002 and 2003, and Denver won in 2004 and 2005.

The 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four is sold out for the sixth consecutive year and eighth time in the last nine years.

Upcoming in the WCHA
2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four • Thursday, April 6
Semi-Final: North Dakota (29-15-1) vs Boston College (25-12-3), 2:00 pm CT (TV: ESPN 2)
Semi-Final: Wisconsin (28-10-3) vs Maine (28-11-2), 7:00 pm CT (TV: ESPN 2)

2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four • Saturday, April 8
National Championship Game: 6:00 pm CT (TV: ESPN)

Frozen Four Team Press Conferences
The NCAA will conduct press conferences with the four teams that will participate in the 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four on Wednesday afternoon, April 5 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

The schedule is as follows:
1:15 pm to 1:45 pm: Boston College
2:30 pm to 3:00 pm: North Dakota
3:45 pm to 4:15 pm: Maine
5:00 pm to 5:30 pm: Wisconsin

2006 NCAA Regional Results
NCAA West Regional • Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, ND
March 24
No. 4 Holy Cross 4 vs No. 1 Minnesota 3 (ot)
No. 3 Michigan 1 vs No. 2 North Dakota 5
March 25
North Dakota 5 vs Holy Cross 2 (championship)

NCAA Northeast Regional • DCU Center, Worcester, MA
March 24
No. 4 Nebraska-Omaha 2 vs No. 1 Boston University 9
No. 3 Boston College 5 vs No. 2 Miami 0
March 25
Boston College 5 vs Boston University 0 (championship)

NCAA East Regional • Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
March 25
No. 4 New Hampshire 0 vs No. 1 Michigan State 1
No. 3 Maine 6 vs No. 2 Harvard 1
March 26
Maine 5 vs Michigan State 4 (championship)

NCAA Midwest Regional • Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
March 25
No. 4 Bemidji State 0 vs No. 1 Wisconsin 4
No. 3 Colorado College 2 vs No. 2 Cornell 3
March 26
Wisconsin 1 vs Cornell 0 (3 ot) (championship)

NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge Tickets Continue on Sale to Public; April 7 Ticket Also Includes Admission to Hobey Baker, Hockey Humanitarian Award Announcements Tickets for the inaugural Frozen Four Skills Challenge at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Friday, April 7, continue on sale to the general public.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Bradley Center ticket office, at all Ticketmaster Outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or can be charged by phone at 414/276-4545. Groups of eight or more should call 414/227-0893. Tickets cost $10 and include admission to the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and the Hockey Humanitarian Award presentations as well as the Skills Challenge.

"Friday night's slate of events will add even more excitement to college hockey's premiere event," said Tom Jacobs, NCAA director of championships. "Many people have dedicated a lot of time and effort to ensure this will be a first-class, can't-miss event."

The Skills Challenge, which will be televised live by ESPNU, will be held, Friday, April 7 starting at 7:00 pm CT.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award presentation will begin at 6:00 pm CT and be followed by the Hockey Humanitarian Award ceremony at 6:30 pm CT.

The Men's Frozen Four is sold out for the sixth consecutive year and eighth time in the last nine years.

WCHA Owns Record 35 National Championships Since 1951
Since it's founding in 1951-52, national (NCAA) championships have been become a hallmark of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and its member teams.

Over the past 54 seasons, teams representing the WCHA have earned a collegiate record 35 NCAA hockey championships, including the past four consecutive titles won by Minnesota in St. Paul in 2002 and in Buffalo in 2003, and by Denver in Boston in 2004 and in Columbus in 2005. WCHA-member teams have also finished as the national runner-up on 27 other occasions, including North Dakota in 2005.

National Championships
9 - Michigan; 7 - Denver, North Dakota; 5 - Minnesota, Wisconsin; 4 - Boston University; 3 - Michigan Tech, Lake Superior State; 2 - Colorado College, Cornell, Rensselaer, Michigan State, Maine, Boston College

Frozen Four Appearances
22 - Michigan (1948-2003); 20 - Boston University (1950-97); 19 - Minnesota (1953-2005); 19 - Boston College (1948-2006); 16 - North Dakota (1958-2006); 13 - Denver^ (1958-2005); 12 - Harvard (1955-94); 10 - Colorado College (1948-2005), Michigan Tech (1956-81), Michigan State (1959-2001); 10 - Wisconsin^ (1970-2006), Maine (1988-2006; 9 - St. Lawrence (1952-2000).

Frozen Four Wins
24 - Michigan (1948-2001); 21 - North Dakota (1958-2005); 19 - Minnesota (1953-2005); 18 - Denver^ (1958-2005), Boston University (1950-97); 13 - Wisconsin^ (1970-90); 11 - Michigan Tech (1956-81); 10 - Boston College (1948-2004); 8 - Maine (1988-2004), Michigan State (1959-2001); 7 - Colorado College (1948-97), Cornell (1967-80), Lake Superior State (1988-94)

Frozen Four Winning Percentage
.875 - Lake Superior State, 1988-94 (7-1-0); .750 - Bowling Green, 1978-84 (3-1-0); .722 - Wisconsin^, 1970-90 (13-5-0); .700 - North Dakota, 1958-2005 (21-9-0); .692 - Denver^, 1958-2005 (18-8-0); .667 - Michigan, 1948-2002 (24-12-0); .600 - Rensselaer, 1958-85 (6-4-0); .550 - Michigan Tech, 1956-81 (11-9-0); .543 - Minnesota, 1953-2005 (19-16-0).

NCAA Tournament Appearances
30 - Minnesota (1953-2006); 29 - Boston University (1950-2006), Michigan (1948-2006); 26 - Boston College (1948-2006); 24 - Michigan State (1959-2006); 21 - North Dakota (1958-2006), Wisconsin^ (1970-2006); Harvard (1955-2005); 18 - Clarkson (1957-99), Colorado College (1948-2006); 17 - Denver^ (1958-2005).

NCAA Tournament Wins
49 - Minnesota (1953-2005); 44 - Michigan (1948-2005); 36 - North Dakota (1958-2006); 34 - Boston University (1950-2006); 31 - Wisconsin^ (1970-2006); 29 - Boston College (1948-2006); 28 - Maine (1987-2006); 25 - Denver^ (1958-2005); 25 - Michigan State (1959-2006).

NCAA Tournament Winning Percentage
.706 - North Dakota, 1958-2006 (36-15-0); .667 - Michigan, 1948-2006 (44-22-0); .658 - Denver^, 1958-2005 (25-13-0); .641 - Lake Superior State, 1985-96 (20-11-1); .627 - Wisconsin^, 1970-2006 (31-18-2); .622 - Maine, 1987-2004 (28-17-0); .6125 - Minnesota, 1953-2005 (49-31-0); .591 - Michigan Tech, 1956-81 (13-9-0); .526 - Northern Michigan (1980-99) (10-9-0); .523 - Boston University, 1950-2006 (34-31-0). ^ does not include vacated years

Most Outstanding Players - NCAA Championship (Frozen Four)
(Note: only WCHA winners listed.)
1952 - Ken Kinsley, G, CC; 1953 - John Matchefts, F, Michigan; 1955 - Phil Hilton, D, CC; 1956 - Lorne Howes, G, Michigan; 1957 - Bob McCusker, F, CC; 1958 - Murray Massier, F, Denver; 1959 - Reg Morelli, F, UND; 1960 - Lou Angotti, F, MTU (tri-); 1961 - Bill Masterton, F, Denver; 1962 - Lou Angotti, F, MTU; 1963 - Al McLean, F, UND; 1964 - Bob Gray, G, Michigan; 1965 - Gary Milroy, F, MTU; 1966 - Gaye Cooley, G, Michigan State; 1968 - Gerry Powers, G, Denver; 1969 - Keith Magnuson, D, Denver; 1973 - Dean Talafous, F, UW; 1974 - Brad Shelstad, G, UM; 1975 - Jim Warden, G, MTU; 1976 - Tom Vannelli, F, UM; 1977 - Julian Baretta, G, UW; 1979 - Steve Janaszak, G, UM; 1980 - Doug Smail, F, UND; 1981 - Marc Behrend, G, UW; 1982 - Phil Sykes, F, UND; 1983 - Marc Behrend, G, UW; 1987 - Tony Hrkac, F, UND; 1990 - Chris Tancill, F, UW; 1991 - Scott Beattie, F, NMU; 1997 - Matt Henderson, F, UND; 2000 - Lee Goren, F, UND; 2002 - Grant Potulny, F, UM; 2003 - Thomas Vanek, F, UM; 2004 - Adam Berkhoel, G, Denver; 2005 - Peter Mannino, G, Denver.

North Dakota's Jonathan Toews, Wisconsin's Brian Elliott Named Most Outstanding Players at NCAA Regionals University of North Dakota freshman center Jonathan Toews and University of Wisconsin junior goaltender Brian Elliott were named the Most Outstanding Players at their respective NCAA regionals over the March 24-26 weekend.

Toews (Winnipeg, MB), who led the 2006 NCAA West Regional at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks in scoring with five points on two goals and three assist, had a goal and an assist in UND's 5-1 win over Michigan on March 24 and a goal and two assists, including one on teammate Matt Smaby's game-winner, in the 5-2 victory over Holy Cross on March 25.

Elliott (Newmarket, ON), meanwhile, posted back-to-back shutouts in the 2006 NCAA Midwest Regional at Resch Center in Green Bay. He had a 15-save, 4-0 win over Bemidji State on March 25 and then came back with a 40-save, 1-0 triple overtime shutout over Cornell in the 111:13 game on March 26. Elliott's total of 111:10 minutes played in that game is second in WCHA history, behind the 129:30 total of Wisconsin's Kirk Daubenspeck and Colorado College's Judd Lambert in a WCHA playoff game at CC on March 8, 1997.

WCHA players named to the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team were North Dakota goaltender Jordan Parise, defenseman Matt Smaby, and forwards Ryan Duncan and Jonathan Toews.

WCHA players named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team were Wisconsin goaltender Brian Elliott, defenseman Tom Gilbert and forwards Joe Pavelski and Jack Skille.

2006 NCAA Regional Game Summaries
Friday, March 24
NCAA West Regional @ Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, ND
No. 4 Holy Cross 4 vs No. 1 Minnesota 3 ot
1st: No scoring. 2nd: G1 HC - Dale Reinhardt 11 (Blair Bartlett, Tyler McGregor), 8:49; G2 UM - Mike Howe 13 (Gino Guyer), SHG, 13:15; G3 HC - McGregor 25 (James Sixsmith, Jon Landry), PPG, 13:46; G4 UM - Phil Kessel 18 (Evan Kaufmann, Chris Harrington), 15:45. 3rd: G5 UM - Alex Goligoski 11 (Blake Wheeler), 2:17; G6 HC - Pierre Napert-Frenette 16 (Sean Nappo, Landry), 7:53. OT: G7 HC - McGregor 26 (Matt Burke), GWG, 0:53. Score by Periods: HC 0-2-1-1 = 4; UM 0-2-1-0 = 3. Pen: HC 8-16; UM 11-22. PP: HC 1-10; UM 0-7. Saves: Tony Quesada (HGC), 13-12-10-0 = 35 (60:46); Kellen Briggs (UM), 10-4-9-1 = 24 (60:53). Att: 11,153. Time: 2:45.

NCAA West Regional @ Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, ND
No. 3 Michigan 1 vs No. 2 North Dakota 5
1st: G1 UND - Ryan Duncan 15 (Jonathan Toews, Kyle Radke), PPG, 5:01; G2 UND - T.J. Oshie 24 (Rastislav Spirko, Brian Lee), PPG/GWG, 7:28. 2nd: G3 UND - Drew Stafford 24 (Travis Zajac), SHG, 4:08; G4 MICH - Chad Kolarik 12 (Brandon Kaleniecki, Matt Hunwick), PPG, 4:30; G5 UND - Toews 20 (Duncan), 14:39. 3rd: G6 UND - Zajac 16 (Oshie), 14:42. Score by Periods: MICH 0-1-0 = 1; UND 2-2-1 = 5. Pen: MICH 7-14; UND 9-18. PP: MICH 1-6; UND 2-4. Saves: Noah Ruden (UM), 3-12-13 = 28 (60:00); Jordan Parise (UND), 9-14-11 = 34 (60:00). Att: 11,153. Time: 2:26.

Saturday, March 25
NCAA Midwest Regional @ Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
No. 4 Bemidji State 0 vs No. 1 Wisconsin 4
1st: G1 UW - Joe Pavelski 21 (Andrew Joudrey, Adam Burish), PPG/GWG, 17:07. 2nd: G2 UW - Pavelski 22 (unassisted), 0:26; G3 UW - Jake Dowell 5 (Burish), 17:30. 3rd: G4 UW - Pavelski 23 (Tom Gilbert, Joudrey), PPG, 6:38. Score by Periods: BSU 0-0-0 = 0; UW 1-2-1 = 4. Pen: BSU 8-16; UW 5-21. PP: BSU 0-4; UW 2-8. Saves: Layne Sedevie (BSU), 8-21-12 = 41 (60:00); Brian Elliott (UW), 2-4-9 = 15 (60:00). Att: 7,859. Time: 2:31.

NCAA Midwest Regional @ Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
No. 3 Colorado College 2 vs No. 2 Cornell 3
1st: G1 CC - Brian Salcido 8 (Marty Sertich, Scott McCulloch), PPG, 4:57; G2 CC - Jack Hillen 4 (Sertich, Brett Sterling), PPG, 16:49. 2nd: G3 CU - Topher Scott 6 (Matt Moulson, Jared Seminoff), PPG, 16:44. 3rd: G4 CU - Moulson 18 (Mitch Carefoot), 4:50; G5 CU - Jon Gleed 1 (Raymond Sawada, Chirs Abbott), GWG, 9:20. Score by Periods: CC 2-0-0 = 2; CU 0-1-2 = 3. Pen: CC 4-8; CU 3-6. PP: CC 2-3; CU 1-4. Saves: Matt Zaba (CC), 1-11-8 = 20 (59:04); David McKee (CU), 9-5-6 = 20 (60:00). Att: 7,859. Time: 2:28.

NCAA West Regional @ Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, ND
No. 4 Holy Cross 2 vs No. 2 North Dakota 5 (championship)
1st: G1 UND - Jonathan Toews 21 (Ryan Duncan, Drew Stafford), 1:18; G2 UND - Duncan 16 (Toews, Matt Smaby), PPG, 15:16. 2nd: G3 HC - Matt Werry 1 (Jim Tselikis), 3:07; G4 UND - Smaby 4 (Stafford, Toews), PPG/GWG, 17:23. 3rd: G5 HC - Blair Bartlett 13 (Tyler McGregor, Dale Reinhardt), PPG, 5:21; G6 UND - Travis Zajac 17 (Brian Lee, T.J. Oshie), PPG, 6:48; G7 UND - Matt Watkins 5 (Chris Porter), 9:03. Score by Periods: HC 0-1-1 = 2; UND 2-1-2 = 5. Pen: HC 5-10; UND 5-10. PP: HC 1-5; UND 3-5. Saves: Tony Quesada (HC), 11-11-5 = 27 (60:00); Jordan Parise (UND), 6-6-5 = 17 (59:51). Att: 11,492 (sellout). Time: 2:15.

NCAA Midwest Regional @ Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
No. 2 Cornell 0 vs No. 1 Wisconsin 1 (3 ot) (championship)
1st: No scoring. 2nd: No scoring. 3rd: No scoring. 1st OT: No scoring. 2nd OT: No scoring. 3rd OT: G1 UW - Jack Skille 13 (Josh Engel), GWG, 11:13. Score by Periods: CU 0-0-0-0-0-0 = 0; UW 0-0-0-0-0-1 = 1. Pen: CU 7-14; UW 3-6. PP: CU 0-1; UW 0-5. Saves: David McKee (CU), 10-8-19-10-6-6 = 59 (111:13); Brian Elliott (UW), 4-8-6-7-8-7 = 40 (111:10). Att: 8,086. Time: 4:40.

WCHA has Five of Ten Finalists for the 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award
Matt Carle, Brian Elliott, Ryan Potulny, Marty Sertich, Brett Sterling Named; Hobey Hat Trick (Three Finalists) to be Announced March 29

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Five of the 10 finalists for the 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, announced on March 16 by the Hobey Baker Foundation, are from Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member Teams. They are Matt Carle, defenseman from the University of Denver, Brian Elliott, goaltender from the University of Wisconsin, Ryan Potulny, forward from the University of Minnesota, Marty Sertich, forward from Colorado College, and Brett Sterling, forward from Colorado College.

The other five finalists are Chris Collins of Boston College, Andy Greene of Miami University, Greg Moore of University Maine; Scott Parse, of University of Nebraska Omaha, and T.J. Trevelyan of St. Lawrence University.

The finalists are selected by vote of the nation's 59 Division I head coaches, along with the Preliminary Voting results in Vote for Hobey, the award's online fan balloting. Criteria for the award, which is celebrating its 26th season of honoring college hockey's top player, include strength of character on and off the ice, along with scholastic achievements and sportsmanship.

The award's winner will be determined from among the finalists by the Hobey Baker Selection Committee, a group of coaches, scouts, media and a representative from USA Hockey. Fans also contribute to the final decision through Vote for Hobey's Final Voting phase, which will run through Monday, March 27.

The top three finalists will be announced as the Hobey Hat Trick on March 29. The 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced April 7 in Milwaukee, Wis., the day before the championship game at the NCAA Frozen Four. The ceremony will take place at the Bradley Center beginning at 6:30 pm CT. The ceremony precedes the announcement of the Hockey Humanitarian Award winner and the inaugural NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award is celebrating its 26th season of honoring college hockey's top player. For more information, visit www.hobeybaker.com.

Wisconsin Goaltender Brian Elliott Sets New WCHA Record for Consecutive Scoreless Minutes University of Wisconsin junior goaltender Brian Elliott (Newmarket, ON) has set a new Western Collegiate Hockey Association goaltending record for consecutive scoreless minutes after his back-to-back shutouts at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Green Bay last weekend.

Elliott's consecutive scoreless minutes streak has now reached 252:15, eclipsing the previous mark of 249:41 set by North Dakota netminder Gerald `Spike' Schultz during the 1953-54 season. The last goal surrendered by Elliott occurred at 18:24 of the second period on March 17, when North Dakota's Rylan Kaip scored the game-winner in a 4-3 Sioux win over the Badgers at the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five. Since that time, he blanked UND in the third period on March 17 (game total = 21:05), shutout Minnesota, 4-0, in the WCHA Final Five third place game on March 18 (60:00), shutout Bemidji State, 4-0, in the NCAA Midwest Regional on March 25 (60:00), and then shutout Cornell, 1-0, in triple overtime in the NCAA Midwest Regional championship game on March 26 (111:10). Elliott also now has a UW record eight shutouts this season.

Schultz's four consecutive shutouts from Jan. 14 to Jan. 29, 1954 were both UND and national records. His scoreless streak was snapped at 249:41 when John Mayasich scored at 6:01 of the first period on Feb. 4, 1954 in a 5-3 Gopher win.

Wisconsin, North Dakota Run 1-2 in Latest USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Div. 1 Men's Hockey Poll Five/Six WCHA Teams Ranked Nationally In the most recent two Division 1 men's college hockey polls - the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Div. 1 College Hockey Poll for March 28 and the final USCHO.com/CSTV Div. 1 College Hockey Poll for 2005-06 - the Western Collegiate Hockey Association had five and six member teams ranked among the top teams in the country.

In the latest USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, Wisconsin is No. 1, North Dakota is No. 2, Colorado College is No. 11 and St. Cloud State is No. 15. Also receiving votes was Denver.

In the final USCHO.com/CSTV Poll for 2005-06, Wisconsin was No. 2, Minnesota was No. 3, North Dakota was No. 6, Colorado College was No. 12, St. Cloud State was No. 14, and Denver was No. 16.

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.

9, Minnesota State 5, Providence 5, Minnesota Duluth 4, Vermont 3, St. Lawrence 2.

Six WCHA-Member Teams Sport Winning Records Overall
Six Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member teams had winning records overall in 2005-06 and six won at least 21 games.

MacNaughton Cup-champion Minnesota (27-9-5, .720) and NCAA Frozen Four qualifier Wisconsin (28-10-3, .720) led the way, followed by Broadmoor Trophy-champion North Dakota (29-15-1, .656), Colorado College (24-16-2, .595), Denver (21-15-3, .577), and St. Cloud State (22-16-4, .571).

WCHA Owns Strong Non-Conference Record in 2005-06
Through 87 non-conference games played heading into the 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four, Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member teams have compiled a collective 48-32-7 (.592) against outside Div. 1 competition.

The best non-conference records this season are owned by Wisconsin at 8-1-0 (.889), North Dakota at 9-2-1 (.792), Colorado College at 8-3-0 (.727), Minnesota at 5-2-2 (.667), St. Cloud State at 5-1-2 (.750), and Minnesota State at 4-3-1 (.563).

WCHA Team Leaders
All Games • thru March 27, 2006
Scoring Offense: Minnesota, 4.12 G/GM
Scoring Defense: Wisconsin, 1.85 G/GM
Penalty Minutes: North Dakota, 23.0 PIM/G
Power-Play: Colorado College, 22.7% (57-of-251)
Penalty-Kill: Wisconsin, 87.9% (188-of-214)
Combined Special Teams: North Dakota, 54.7% (281-of-514)
Special Teams Net: Minnesota, +27
Scoring by Periods: Minnesota (57-70-42-0 = 169)
Goals Allowed by Periods: Wisconsin (25-30-20-1 = 76)

Conference Games • Final
Scoring Offense: Minnesota, 3.82 G/GM
Scoring Defense: Wisconsin, 2.14 G/GM
Penalty Minutes: North Dakota, 25.9 PIM/G
Power-Play: Denver, 25.4% (45-of-177)
Penalty-Kill: St. Cloud State, 86.8% (112-of-129)
Combined Special Teams: Denver, 53.1% (180-of-339)
Special Teams Net: Denver, +21
Scoring by Periods: Minnesota (33-50-24-0 = 107)
Goals Allowed by Periods: Wisconsin (19-24-17-0 = 60)

WCHA Individual Leaders
All Games • thru March 27, 2006
Point Scoring: 63 - Ryan Potulny, F, UM (38g,25a)
Goal Scoring: 38 - Ryan Potulny, F, UM
Assist Scoring: 42 - Matt Carle, D, Denver
Power-Play Points: 34 - Marty Sertich, F, CC (5g,29a)
Shorthanded Points: 8 - Drew Stafford, F, UND (7g,1a) Game-Winning Goals: 9 - T.J. Oshie, F, UND
Defenseman Scoring: 53 - Matt Carle, D, Denver (11g,42a)
Freshman Scoring: 51 - Phil Kessel, F, UM (18g,33a)
Goals-Against Average: 1.55 - Brian Elliott, UW (2,008:19 min)
Save Percentage: .938 - Brian Elliott, UW (783 saves, 52 ga)
Winning Percentage: .803 - Brian Elliott, UW (25-5-3)

Conference Games • Final
Point Scoring: 44 - Paul Stastny, F, Denver (15g,29a)
Goal Scoring: 23 - Ryan Potulny, F, UM
Assist Scoring: 33 - Matt Carle, D, Denver
Power-Play Points: 24 - Paul Stastny, F, Denver (5g,19a)
Shorthanded Points: 4 - Chris Conner, F, MTU (3g,1a); Drew Stafford, F, UND (3g,1a)
Game-Winning Goals: 6 - Ryan Dingle, F, Denver
Defenseman Scoring: 42 - Matt Carle, D, Denver (9g,33a)
Freshman Scoring: 33 - Phil Kessel, F, UM (12g,21a)
Goals-Against Average: 1.84 - Brian Elliott, UW (1,237:18 min)
Save Percentage: .930 - Brian Elliott, UW (503 saves, 38 ga)
Winning Percentage: .786 - Kellen Briggs, UM (15-3-3); Brian Elliott, UW (15-3-3).

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