North Dakota, Wisconsin to Represent WCHA at 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four, April 6-8 at Bradley Center in Milwaukee
Mike Prpich and the Fighting Sioux Take on BC Thursday in the Frozen Four |
 |
April 3, 2006
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
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 in a pre-Frozen Four press conference held on March 28. "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 11th 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. "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 on March 24-25 with a 5-1 triumph over Michigan and a 5-2 victory over Holy Cross. 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 ESPN2. 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 the national tournament, captured the Midwest Regional championship at Resch Center in Green Bay 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 ESPN2. This will mark Wisconsin's first appearance in the Frozen Four since 1992.
The 2006 national championship gameis set for Saturday, April 8 at 6:00 pm CT at the Bradley Center and will be televised live by ESPN, Two other WCHA-member teams participating in the national tournament, 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 in overtime, 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 consecutive NCAA Men's Frozen Fours and five of the past six. North Dakota won the national championship 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)
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 evening, 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.
2006 NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge Rosters Finalized
March 31, 2006/INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA announced Friday (March 31) the final rosters for the 2006 Frozen Four Skills Challenge, which includes two coaches for each side.
The Skills Challenge will begin at 7 pm CT on April 7 at the Bradley Center and be preceded by the Hobey Baker Memorial Award presentation at 6 pm and the Hockey Humanitarian Award presentation at 6:30 pm. The American Hockey Coaches Association RBK All-American Team will be released at 6:45 pm. The Skills Challenge and Hobey Baker will be televised live on ESPU and Nike Bauer Hockey will provide each participant with their equipment. The players will compete in an East vs West format in five competitions: hardest shot, fastest skater, puck control relay, penalty shot and rapid fire shootout.
Several additions had to be made as three of the original selections, Boston College's Chris Collins, Maine's Derek Damon and Adam Burish of Wisconsin will be playing in the Frozen Four with their teams. In addition, Jaime Sifers of Vermont and Colorado College's Marty Sertich will not be able to participate due to previous commitments.
The five additions include Torry Gajda of Providence College, Mike Ouellette of Dartmouth and Kyle Wilson of Colgate to the East team and Nick Anderson of Michigan Tech and Mike Walsh of Notre Dame to the West team.
Each team will have two coaches, a current coach and a retired coach. For the East team, Bill Cleary, retired men's coach from Harvard and Bob Deraney, the current head women's ice hockey coach will be the honorary coaches. For the West team, Jeff Sauer, retired men's coach from Wisconsin and Mark Johnson, the current women's coach at Wisconsin, will be the honorary coaches.
Tickets for the event are $10 and can be purchased at the Bradley Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 414/276-4545.
The entire final rosters are listed below.
Men's West Squad
Position Players: Nick Anderson, Michigan Tech, WCHA (Winthrop Harbor, IL); Colton Fretter, Michigan State, CCHA (Harrow, ON); Gabe Gauthier, Denver, WCHA (Winchester, CA); Brandon Kaleniecki, Michigan, CCHA (Livonia, MI); Mike Walsh, Notre Dame, CCHA (Northville, MI); James Shipley, MSOE, MCHA (Oak Park, IL). Goalies: Dave Caruso, Ohio State, CCHA (Atlanta, GA); Adam Hanna, St. John's, MIAC (Owatonna, MN). Honorary Coaches: Jeff Sauer, Wisconsin (retired); Mark Johnson, Wisconsin.
Men's East Squad
Position Players: Justin Cross, Niagara, CHA (Camarillo, CA); Torry Gajda, Providence, HEA (Westfield, MA); Matt Moulson, Cornell, ECACHL (Mississauga, ON); Mike Ouellette, Dartmouth, ECACHL (Kamloops, BC); T.J. Trevelyan, St. Lawrence, ECACHL (Mississauga, ON); Kyle Wilson, Colgate, ECACHL (London, ON). Goalies: John Daigneau, Harvard, ECACHL (Brookfield, WI); Brad Roberts, Army, AHA (Cassville, NY). Honorary Coaches: Bill Cleary, Harvard (retired); Bob Deraney, Providence.
Women's West Squad
Position Players: Nikki Burish, Wisconsin, WCHA (Madison, WI); Sharon Cole, Wisconsin, WCHA (Bloomington, MN); Devon Fingland, North Dakota, WCHA (Lundar, MB); Jana Harrigan, Ohio State, WCHA (Burlington, ON); Randie Jelinski, St. Cloud State, WCHA (Regina, SK); Kristy Oonincx, St. Cloud State, WCHA (Moose Jaw, SK). Goalies: Meghan Horras, Wisconsin, WCHA (Appleton, WI); Jill Luebke, Bemidji State, WCHA (Neenah, WI). Honorary Coaches: Jeff Sauer, Wisconsin (retired); Mark Johnson, Wisconsin.
Women's East Squad
Position Players: Lindsay Hansen, New Hampshire, HEA (Northport, NY); Allison Paiano, Colgate, ECACHL (Orleans, ON); Jennifer Raimondi, Harvard, ECACHL (Abbotsford, BC); Margaret Ramsay, Brown, ECACHL (Toronto, ON); Sam Shirley, Mercyhurst, CHA (Mississauga, ON); Karen Thatcher, Providence, HEA (Douglas, MA). Goalies: Marisa Hourihan, Northeastern, HEA (Hanover, MA); Sarah Love, Yale, ECACHL (Bayfield, ON). Honorary Coaches: Bill Cleary, Harvard (retired); Bob Deraney, Providence.
(Courtesy NCAA)
Denver's Matt Carle, Wisconsin's Brian Elliott, BC's Chris Collins Make Up 2006 Hobey Hat Trick
Winner to be Announced April 7 in Milwaukee
March 29, 2006/ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Hobey Baker Award Committee is proud to introduce the 2006 Hobey Hat Trick: Denver junior defenseman Matt Carle, Boston College senior forward Chris Collins and Wisconsin junior goaltender Brian Elliott. One of those three will win the 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which will be presented on Friday, April 7, at Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis.
Carle, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, became the first player in Western Collegiate Hockey Association history to be voted both the league's Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. A first team All-WCHA selection for the second year in a row, Carle leads the nation in assists (42) and leads all NCAA defensemen in points (53). In conference games, he led the WCHA in assists and finished second in points. Carle, who recently joined the NHL's San Jose Sharks, was a member of the 2004 and 2005 NCAA championship teams at Denver and was a co-captain of the Pioneers this year. A real estate and construction management major, he carries a 3.30 grade-point average and was a WCHA All-Academic Team honoree. He participates annually in the "Skate with the Pioneers" event for terminally ill children, and has volunteered at the Alaska Food Drive and a holiday children's charity drive.
Collins, a native of Fairport, N.Y., was the Hockey East Player of the Year and a first-team All-Hockey East selection. An alternate captain, he has led Boston College to the NCAA Frozen Four, and heads to Milwaukee with 61 points in 40 games (31 goals, 30 assists). He had 39 points in conference play, six more than any other Hockey East player, and won the Walter Brown Award as the top American-born player in New England. Collins ranks second nationally in points, points per game (1.52), goals and shorthanded goals (5). An NHL free agent, Collins is enrolled in BC's Carroll School of Management.
Elliott, a native of Newmarket, Ontario, leads the nation in nearly every goaltending category, including goals-against average (1.55), save percentage (.938), shutouts (8), wins (25) and winning percentage (.803). Elliott has posted three consecutive shutouts to lead the Badgers to the NCAA Frozen Four, and was named the All-Regional goaltender and the MVP at the Midwest Regional last weekend. He is currently in the midst of a WCHA record-setting scoreless minutes streak of 252:15, breaking the 52-year-old league mark of 249:41 set by North Dakota's Gerald `Spike' Schultz between Jan. 14 and Jan. 29, 1954. The second team All-WCHA goaltender, Elliott was the WCHA goaltending champion for 2005-06, leading the conference in goals-against average (1.80) and save percentage (.930). A business major with a 3.13 grade-point average, Elliott is a member of the All-WCHA Academic Team and is in his first year of studies at the prestigious UW School of Business. He makes frequent visits to the UW Children's Hospital.
The ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award are determined by vote of the nation's 59 Division I head coaches, along with the Preliminary results of the online Vote for Hobey. Joining Carle, Collins and Elliott in that group of finalists were Miami senior defenseman Andy Greene, Maine senior forward Greg Moore, Nebraska-Omaha junior forward Scott Parse, Minnesota junior forward Ryan Potulny, Colorado College senior forward Marty Sertich, Colorado College senior forward Brett Sterling, and St. Lawrence senior forward T.J. Trevelyan. Sertich won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2004-05 while Sterling was part of the Hobey Hat Trick.
The recipient is selected by the vote of a 25-member selection committee, along with the Final Voting results from Vote for Hobey. The presentation will be made at 6 pm CT at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Friday, April 7, and will be televised live on ESPNU. The ceremony precedes the Hockey Humanitarian Award presentation and the inaugural NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge. Admission for all three events is just $10, with tickets available at TicketMaster.
The Hobey Baker Memorial Award is celebrating its 26th season of honoring college hockey's top player. For more information visit the Hobey Baker Award web site at hobeybaker.com.
Finalists Announced for AHCA's Spencer Penrose Award
WCHA's Mike Eaves, Dave Hakstol, Don Lucia, Bob Motzko Named
March 30, 2006 - Eleven coaches who have enjoyed on-ice success in 2005-06 have been named finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the top NCAA Division One Men's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. To be a finalist for this award, you must either be voted Coach of the Year in your conference or take your team to the NCAA Frozen Four.
Noteworthy among this year's finalists:
The award is named in honor of the former Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first 10 NCAA Hockey Championships. It will be presented at the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Coach of the Year Banquet on Saturday, April 29, in Naples, Fla.
2005-06 AHCA Men's Ice Hockey Div. 1 Coach of the Year Finalists
Enrico Blasi, Miami *; Dave Burkholder, Niagara *; Mike Eaves, Wisconsin #; Bob Gaudet, Dartmouth *; Dave Hakstol, North Dakota #; Don Lucia, Minnesota *@; Bob Motzko, St. Cloud State *; Jack Parker, Boston University *@; Brian Riley, Army *; Tim Whitehead, Maine #@; Jerry York, Boston College #@.
* Conference Coach of the Year; # NCAA "Frozen Four" Participant; @ Previous Winner of the Spencer Penrose Award
WCHA Teams Have Won 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.
Wisconsin Goaltender Brian Elliott Sets 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 on March 25-26.
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.
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 (thru April 2) 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 April 2, 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 April 2, 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).
Team Notes • 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four
University of North Dakota
North Dakota (29-15-1 overall) will head to Milwaukee, Wis., this week for the 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four ... it is the second year in a row and 16th time in school history that UND will play in the Frozen Four ... the second-seeded Fighting Sioux will take on third-seeded Boston College (24-12-3 overall) at 2:05 pm CT on Thursday, April 6 ... top-seeded Wisconsin (28-10-3 overall) will face fourth-seeded Maine (28-11-2 overall) at 7:05 pm CT in the other semifinal matchup on Thursday ... North Dakota is the only team from the 2005 NCAA Frozen Four field to qualify again this season ... North Dakota has 13 freshmen on its roster, more than any other Frozen Four team in the 2000s (1999 and earlier Frozen Four rosters were not available at this writing) ... UND has played 10 freshmen in each of its last six games ... UND leads the nation with 29 wins, four more than the Sioux had last season (25), when the Sioux advanced to the national championship game ... North Dakota has a season-long six-game winning streak ... the six-game streak represents the longest current unbeaten streak in the nation ... UND has won eight out of its last nine games and 11 out of its last 13 games ... the Frozen Four appearance will be North Dakota's fourth appearance in the Frozen Four since 2000 ... in UND's 15 previous Frozen Four appearances, the Sioux have won seven national titles and finished as national runnerup on five occasions ... only Michigan's nine national titles are more than UND's seven championships ... UND's 15 Frozen Four appearances are fifth-most all-time ... North Dakota's 21 Frozen Four wins are second only to Michigan's 24 ... the Sioux have a 36-15 NCAA tournament record ... UND's .706 tournament winning percentage is best in the country ... UND is 11-7 all-time against Boston College, including a 3-3 mark in the NCAA tournament ... the last meeting between the teams was on March 26, 2005, in the East Regional in Worcester, Mass. ... UND won that game, 6-3 ... North Dakota's records against the other Frozen Four teams are 55-76-10 all-time against Wisconsin and 12-3-1 all-time against Maine ... the Sioux were 1-2 this season against Wisconsin ... the Badgers swept UND, 4-2 and 4-1, on Nov. 4-5 in Grand Forks, and then the Sioux beat Wisconsin, 4-3, on March 17 in the semifinals of the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn. ... the last time UND played Maine was on Oct. 8-9, 2004, in Orono ... North Dakota swept that series, 4-3 (ot) and 3-1 ... UND is coming off an NCAA West Region championship in Grand Forks ... the Sioux beat Michigan, 5-1, on Friday (March 24) and then defeated Holy Cross, 5-2, on Saturday (March 25) ... the Sioux are now 6-0 all-time in NCAA tournament games on their home ice ... Jonathan Toews led all players at the West Regional with five points (2g,3a), a total that also leads all players in the 16-team tournament field ... Toews was named the most outstanding player of the regional for his efforts ... he was joined on the all-tournament team by Toews, Duncan, Smaby and Parise ... UND improved its record when scoring four or more goals in a game to 21-0-0 ... attendance at the West Regional was a West Region-record 11,153 on March 24 ... that attendance figure was broken with an attendance of 11,492 on Saturday, March 25 ... the total tournament attendance of 22,645 was a West Regional record ... UND is 20-of-68 (29.4%) on the power play in the last 15 games ... Sioux opponents are 13-of-82 (15.9 percent) on the power-play in that same stretch ... UND goalie Jordan Parise (Jr, Faribault, MN) stopped 33 of 34 Michigan shots on goal on March 24 and then 17 of 19 Holy Cross shots on March 25 for a weekend total of 50 saves on 53 shots on goal (.943 save percentage) ... Parise upped his career NCAA tournament mark to 6-2, and his six NCAA tournament wins are more than any other active Div. 1 goaltender in the nation ... his six tournament wins are tied for sixth-most in NCAA tournament history ... Parise's 33 saves on March 24 were a personal best for him in an NCAA game ... Parise has a career NCAA tournament goals-against average of 1.51 (fourth all-time) and a career NCAA tournament save percentage of .939 (sixth all-time) ... Parise got his 55th career win on Saturday, moving him past Mike `Lefty` Curran (1965-68) and into sole possession of second place on UND's all-time career list ... only Karl Goehring (1997-01) (80 career wins) has more career wins at UND ... forward T.J. Oshie (Fr, Warroad, MN) scored his nation-leading ninth game-winning goal of the season on March 24 ... Oshie's nine game-winners are a single-season school record ... Oshie's 24 goals rank ninth all-time in a single season by a UND freshman ... Oshie was named to the INCH All-Rookie Team for 2005-06 ... forward Drew Stafford (Jr, Faribault, MN), who was named to the INCHA All-American Third Team, scored his nation-leading seventh shorthanded goal of the season on March 24 ... Stafford is one shy of the school single-season record for SHGs (8) shared by Tony Hrkac (1986-87) and Doug Smail (1979-80) ... five different UND players scored on March 24, including Oshie, Stafford, forward Ryan Duncan (Fr, Calgary, AB), forward Jonathan Toews (Fr, Winnipeg, MB) and forward Travis Zajac (So, Winnipeg, MB) ... there were five goal scorers on March 25 as well, with Toews, Duncan, defenseman Matt Smaby (Jr, Minneapolis, MN), Zajac and forward Matt Watkins (Fr, Wilcox, SK) lighting the lamp ... UND is the only team in the nation to have three 20-goal scorers this season (Stafford 24, Oshie 24, Toews 21) ... Zajac now has seven goals in six career NCAA tournament games ... he needs two goals to break into the NCAA tournament top 10 goal list ... Oshie and Toews are one goal short of the school record for combined power-play goals by two Sioux freshmen ... Oshie (11 ppg) and Toews (8 ppg) have a combined 19 power-play goals, second only to the school record for combined power-play goals by rookies (20) by current assistant coach Cary Eades (11 ppg) and Kevin Maxwell (9 ppg) in 1978-79 ... Oshie (24g), Toews (21g) and freshman forward Ryan Duncan (Calgary, AB) (16g) give UND their first trio of freshman double-digit goal scorers since 2003-04, when Brady Murray (19g), Drew Stafford (11g) and Chris Porter (10g) all reached double figures in goals ... forward Mike Prpich (Sr, Kenaston, SK) has played in 163 career games, tying him for seventh on the all-time school list ... one more game would move Prpich into a tie for fifth place and two more games would move him into a tie for fourth place in the school record book ... defenseman Brian Lee (Fr, Moorhead, MN) has 25 points (3g,22a), moving him into eighth place on the school single-season list for points by a freshman defenseman ... Lee's total of 22 assists ties him for fifth-most in a single season by a freshman defenseman ... the 2004-05 Sioux played 45 games, and the 2005-06 Sioux have played 45 games going into the Frozen Four ... last season UND scored 136 goals in 45 games, and this year the Sioux have scored 159 goals in 45 games ... last season UND gave up 103 goals in 45 games, and this year the Sioux have given up the same number of goals (103) in 45 games ... defenseman point scoring this season is up slightly (13g, 74a, 87 points) from last season (19g, 62a, 81 points), while forward point scoring this season (146g, 170a, 316 points) is up significantly (117g, 161a, 278 points) from last season.
University of Wisconsin
Wisconsin (28-10-3) goes in search of its sixth NCAA title beginning with a contest against Maine (28-11-3) on Thursday, April 6 at 7 pm CT at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee ... the winner of that game meets the winner of the other semifinal between North Dakota (29-15-1) and Boston College (25-12-3) on Saturday, April 8 at 6 pm CT for the NCAA championship ... the Badgers advanced to their 11th Frozen Four and first since 1992 after a three overtime, 1-0 victory over Cornell in the NCAA Midwest Regional on Sunday, March 26 at Resch Center in Green Bay ... Wisconsin won its first-round Midwest Regional game, 4-0 against Bemidji State, on Saturday, March 25 ... Wisconsin enters the Frozen Four without having allowed a goal in over three games ... it has been over 12 periods, a total of 252:49, since the UW last allowed a goal ... the last goal against was scored in the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five semifinals at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul at 18:24 of the second period by North Dakota's Ryan Kaip ... for the first time in the modern era of Wisconsin men's hockey (since 1963), the team has three-straight shutouts ... junior goaltender Brian Elliott, a Hobey Baker "Hat Trick" Finalist, has been in goal for all three contests, save :34 seconds when he was pulled for an extra attacker and during delayed penalty calls ... Elliott was named to the INCH All-American First Team ... sophomore Joe Pavelski had the UW's first hat trick of the season and sixth in NCAA play with three goals against Bemidji State ... the goals gave him 98 career points through 82 career games ... Pavelski was named to the INCH All-American Second Team ... the Badgers have five shutouts in their last eight games, allowing just six goals over that span ... their nine shutouts this season are a UW school record, eclipsing the mark of six set in 2004-05 and 1981-82 ... Badger shutouts this season include two over the nation's second-ranked offense Minnesota (4.12 goals per game), the only two against the Gophers all season ... others included then-No. 1 Colorado College, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State, Cornell and three against Michigan Tech ... Wisconsin is perfect on its last 25 penalty-kills ... freshman forward Jack Skille scored the game-winning goal in the third overtime in the UW's 1-0 win over Cornell on Sunday, March 26 in the Midwest Regional Final ... his goal at 111:13 of the game was his second career game-winning tally ... both have come in overtime ... he scored the winning overtime goal in the UW's first game this season against St. Lawrence on Oct. 7 ... senior Tom Gilbert was named to the INCH All-American Second Team ... Wisconsin has 28 victories so far this season, setting a new high during the Mike Eaves' era ... the Badgers have improved their win total in each of Eaves' four seasons behind the bench, winning 13 in 2002-03, 22 during 2003-04, and 23 last season ... Wisconsin Hobey Baker finalist Brian Elliott is 13-1-1 against ranked foes, and has a 1.19 goals-against average, a .956 saves percentage, and five shutouts in those games ... Wisconsin's 138 goals scored are the most since the team collected 166 goals in 1999-2000.
|
|
 |
