Denver Earns Three Points vs MSU to Move into Share of First Place in WCHA; St. Cloud State Gains Split at MTU; Minnesota, Alaska Anchorage Face-Off Sunday
Defenseman Brendan Smith had Three Assists in UW's Win over UNH on Oct. 31 |
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Nov. 1, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MADISON, Wis. – The Denver Pioneers claimed three of four points from visiting Minnesota State, Mankato over the Halloween weekend to remain unbeaten in league play and move into a share of first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with idle Colorado College. After a 4-3 victory over the visiting Mavericks on Friday, the Pioneers rallied for a 4-4 (ot) tie on Saturday.
In the one other league game played on Saturday night, visiting St. Cloud State bounced back from a 3-1 loss at Michigan Tech on Friday to down the host Huskies by an identical 3-1 count on Saturday. And in the one other league series being contested this weekend, Minnesota hosts Alaska Anchorage on Sunday afternoon at 4:07 pm CT. The Golden Gophers won 5-1 over the Seawolves in the series opener on Friday.
In non-conference play on Saturday evening, both Minnesota Duluth and Wisconsin completed home-ice sweeps, with the Bulldogs knocking off Clarkson, 4-2, and the Badgers thumping New Hampshire, 6-1. Those two wins on Oct. 31 give WCHA member teams a combined 16-9-1 mark (.635) in non-conference play so far this season.
Looking ahead to next weekend – Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7 – there are four WCHA series on the schedule as Michigan Tech hosts North Dakota, Minnesota travels to Wisconsin, Colorado College hosts Minnesota Duluth, and Denver journeys to Alaska Anchorage. Both Minnesota State and St. Cloud State will be idle.
At Magness Arena in Denver on Saturday night, the host DU Pioneers overcame deficits of 2-0 and 4-3 as right winger Kyle Ostrow netted a game-tying goal at 14:57 of the third period to forge a 4-4 (ot) tie against Minnesota State before 5,311. The Mavericks, who hit on 3-of-6 power-play chances, had goals from defenseman Joe Schiller and center Tyler Pitlick in the opening 9:38 of the game, three assists from defenseman Ben Youds, and a 40-save effort from goaltender Kevin Murdock. Also for DU, defenseman Patrick Wiercioch had two assists and Adam Murray had 30 saves.
At John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton on Oct. 31, visiting St. Cloud State used a game-winning power-play goal from center Nick Oslund at 19:29 of the first period and a 30-18 advantage in shots on goal to skate past host MTU, 3-1, before 1,444. Also for SCSU, center Garrett Roe had two assists while for the host Huskies, winger Malcolm Gwilliam scored the line goal in the second period.
At the DECC in Duluth on Saturday night, host Minnesota Duluth completed the non-conference sweep of Clarkson before 3,581 as left winger Rob Bordson had a goal and three assists and center Mike Connolly scored the game-winner on a power-play at 16:08 of period two. The Bulldogs outshot CU, 44-22, and hit on 4-of-15 power-play chances.
And at Kohl Center in Madison on Oct. 31, host Wisconsin powered past New Hampshire, 6-1, to earn a non-conference series sweep as four players had multiple-point games. Leading the way were winger Jordy Murray (2g, 1a), defenseman Brendan Smith (3a), center Sean Dolan (1g, 1a) and defenseman John Ramage (1g, 1a). Scoring the game-winner was winger Ben Grotting at 4:35 of the second. UW outshot the Wildcats, 44-22.
This Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, October 30: Clarkson 1 at Minnesota Duluth 4 (nc); Alaska Anchorage 1 at Minnesota 5 (WCHA); St. Cloud State 1 at Michigan Tech 3 (WCHA); New Hampshire 1 at Wisconsin 4 (nc); Minnesota State 3 at Denver 4 (WCHA).
Results of Saturday, October 31: Clarkson 2 at Minnesota Duluth 4 (nc); Minnesota State 4 at Denver 4 ot (WCHA); St. Cloud State 3 at Michigan Tech 1 (WCHA); New Hampshire 1 at Wisconsin 6 (nc).
Games for Sunday, November 1: Alaska Anchorage at Minnesota (WCHA), 4:07 pm CT.
Next Week in the WCHA
Games for Friday, November 6: Denver at Alaska Anchorage (WCHA), 7:07 pm AT; North Dakota at Michigan Tech (WCHA), 7:07 pm ET; Minnesota at Wisconsin (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota Duluth at Colorado College (WCHA), 7:37 pm MT.
Games for Saturday, November 7: Denver at Alaska Anchorage (WCHA), 7:07 pm AT; Minnesota Duluth at Colorado College (WCHA), 7:07 pm MT; Minnesota at Wisconsin (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; *North Dakota at Michigan Tech (WCHA), 7:37 pm ET. *Hall of Fame Game
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