Oct. 13, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

MADISON, Wisc. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association officially launches it's 57th season of conference play during the upcoming weekend with four head-to-head series on Oct. 17-18, including defending MacNaughton Cup and pre-season league favorite Colorado College (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) hosting Michigan Tech (1-1-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) at Colorado Springs World Arena (7,343). The Tigers were chosen by the league's 10 head coaches to win their fourth WCHA title in seven seasons here in 2008-09 in the 38th Annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA Coaches' Pre-Season Poll.

Six other WCHA teams will also open their conference seasons as Denver (1-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) entertains Wisconsin (0-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) at Magness Arena (6,026), Minnesota State (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) hosts North Dakota (0-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) at Alltel Center (4,832), and St. Cloud State (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) and Minnesota (0-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) engage in a home-and-home series with Friday's contest at the Huskies' National Hockey Center (5,371) and Saturday's at the Golden Gophers' Mariucci Arena (10,000).

Outside the league this weekend, Minnesota Duluth (1-0-1) plays host to CCHA-member Western Michigan at the DECC (5,294) while Alaska Anchorage (1-1-0) takes on Maine (Hockey East Association) and Mercyhust (Atlantic Hockey Association) at the Alaska Goal Rush Tournament in Fairbanks, Ak.

In action on the opening weekend of the 2008-09 regular season, Oct. 10-11, WCHA-member teams combined for a 10-6-1 (.618) record in non-conference play. Colorado College, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State all won home-ice series, with the host Tigers downing Alabama-Huntsville (CHA), 1-0 and 5-3, the host Mavericks defeating Bemidji State (CHA) twice, 5-2 and 4-2, and the host Huskies knocking off Mercyhurst (AHA), 7-2 and 7-3. In Superior Cup competition, Minnesota Duluth went on the road and tied Lake Superior State (CCHA), 2-2 (ot) on Oct. 10 and blanked Northern Michigan (CCHA), 5-0, on Oct. 11, while Michigan Tech fell 5-2 at NMU (CCHA) last Friday before rebounding for a 3-2 victory at Lake Superior State (CCHA) last Saturday. In the Kendall Hockey Classic at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, host Alaska Anchorage won 6-2 over Connecticut (AHA) last Friday but suffered a 4-2 setback to Northeastern (HEA) last Saturday. Also last Saturday, Denver recorded a 5-2 triumph over visiting Notre Dame (CCHA) in the annual U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Magness Arena. And out east over the weekend, North Dakota lost 5-1 against host Boston University (HEA) and 3-2 against Massachusetts (HEA) in the annual IceBreaker Tournament while Wisconsin fell by a 5-4 count at defending national champion Boston College (HEA) last Friday and by a 5-1 count at New Hampshire (HEA) last Saturday.

In exhibition play this past week, Colorado College won 5-2 over visiting Univ. of Alberta on Monday, Oct. 6, host St. Cloud State blanked Univ. of British Columbia, 3-0, on Wednesday, Oct. 8, and Minnesota downed visiting British Columbia, 3-1, on Friday, Oct. 10.

Looking ahead to the weekend of Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, there will be two WCHA series contested as Alaska Anchorage hosts Minnsota Duluth and Wisconsin hosts Minnesota. Outside the league, St. Cloud State visits Bemidji State (CHA) for a two-game series, Colorado College heads to Clarkson (ECACHL) for a pair, Denver entertains Ohio State (CCHA) for a two-game series, and Michigan Tech hosts the U.S. Under-18 Team in a single exhibition on Oct. 24.

This Week in the WCHA
Games for Friday, October 17: *Maine vs Alaska Anchorage, 4:05 pm AT (nc); Minnesota at St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT (WCHA); Western Michigan at Minnesota Duluth, 7:07 pm CT (nc); Michigan Tech at Colorado College, 7:37 pm MT (WCHA); Wisconsin at Denver, 7:37 pm MT (WCHA); North Dakota at Minnesota State, 7:37 pm CT (WCHA). * Alaska Goal Rush (Fairbanks, AK)

Games for Saturday, October 18: *Mercyhurst vs Alaska Anchorage, 4:05 pm AT (nc); Michigan Tech at Colorado College, 7:07 pm MT (WCHA); Wisconsin at Denver, 7:07 pm MT (WCHA); St. Cloud State at Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT (WCHA); Western Michigan at Minnesota Duluth, 7:07 pm CT (nc); North Dakota at Minnesota State, 7:07 pm CT (nc). * Alaska Goal Rush (Fairbanks, AK)

Last Week in the WCHA
Results of Monday, Oct. 6: Univ. of Alberta 2 at Colorado College 5 (x).

Results of Wednesday, Oct. 8: Univ. of British Columbia 0 at St. Cloud State 3 (x).

Results of Friday, Oct. 10: Wisconsin 4 at Boston College 5 (nc); *Minnesota Duluth 2 at Lake Superior State 2 ot (nc); Mercyhurst 2 at St. Cloud State 7 (nc); Univ. of British Columbia 1 at Minnesota 3 (x); # North Dakota 1 at Boston University 5 (nc); * Michigan Tech 2 at Northern Michigan 5 (nc); Bemidji State 2 at Minnesota State 5 (nc); Alabama-Huntsville 0 at Colorado College 1 (nc); & Connecticut 2 at Alaska Anchorage 6 (nc). * Superior Cup; # Icebreaker (Boston, MA); & Kendall Hockey Classic (Anchorage, AK).

Results of Saturday, Oct. 11: * North Dakota 2 vs Massachusetts 3 (nc); Wisconsin 1 at New Hampshire 5 (nc); # Michigan Tech 3 at Lake Superior State 2 (nc); & Northeastern 4 at Alaska Anchorage 2 (nc); Mercyhurst 3 at St. Cloud State 7 (nc); Bemidji State 2 at Minnesota State 4 (nc); Alabama-Huntsville 3 at Colorado College 5 (nc); % Notre Dame 2 at Denver 5 (nc); # Minnesota Duluth 5 at Northern Michigan 0 (nc). * Icebreaker (Boston, MA); # Superior Cup; & Kendall Hockey Classic (Anchorage, AK); % U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game

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