Denver, Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota Win on the Road in WCHA Play Friday Night; Host Wisconsin Downs Minnesota
Chris VandeVelde had a Goal and Assist in UND's Win at MTU Nov. 6 |
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Nov. 7, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MADISON, Wis. – Pre-season WCHA favorite Denver, defending Red Baron WCHA Final Five champion Minnesota Duluth and defending MacNaughton Cup champion North Dakota all won on the road in conference play on Friday (Nov. 6) night while Wisconsin defeated visiting Minnesota. As a result, the Pioneers have moved into sole possession of first place in the league race while the Bulldogs and Fighting Sioux share second with Colorado College, just two points back of DU.
Denver (6-2-1, 4-0-1 WCHA) won 3-2 at Alaska Anchorage (3-6-0, 1-4-0 WCHA) to remain unbeaten in WCHA play, Minnesota Duluth (6-2-1, 3-1-1 WCHA) defeated host Colorado College (4-2-1, 3-1-1 WCH), 4-3, and North Dakota (5-1-1, 3-1-1 WCHA) claimed a 4-2 victory at Michigan Tech (2-5-0, 1-4-0 WCHA). Wisconsin (4-2-1, 2-2-1 WCHA), meanwhile, skated past visiting Minnesota (2-4-1, 2-4-1 WCHA), 4-2.
On Saturday, all four of those series continue as UAA hosts DU at Sullivan Arena at 7:07 pm AT, UMD plays at CC and the Colorado Springs World Arena at 7:07 pm MT, North Dakota plays at Michigan Tech at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Tech’s Hall of Fame Game at 7:37 pm ET, and Wisconsin hosts Minnesota at the Kohl Center at 7:07 pm CT.
Through games of Nov. 6, just four points separate the top seven teams in the WCHA standings, with Denver still unbeaten in five league outings and Colorado College, Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota all with just one loss in their first five contests.
Looking ahead to next weekend – Nov. 13 through Nov. 15 – there are four WCHA series on the docket as Alaska Anchorage visits Wisconsin (Fri/Sat), Minnesota Duluth entertains Michigan Tech (Fri/Sat), Minnesota State, Mankato hosts Colorado College (Fri/Sat), and North Dakota hosts St. Cloud State (Fri/Sat). In non-conference play, Minnesota takes on visiting Bemidji State of College Hockey America on Saturday and Sunday.
At Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Friday night, visiting Denver managed just 19 shots on goal but prevailed 3-2 over the host Seawolves before 2,875 as winger Rhett Rakhshani scored two goals, including the game-winner at 3:51 of the third period, and winger Joe Colborne had two assists. UAA opened the scoring on a goal from winger Sean Wiles at 6:38 of the second before DU center Jesse Martin tied the game on a shorthander just :50 seconds later.
At the World Arena in Colorado Springs, wingers Travis Oleksuk and Kyle Schmidt scored third period goals to lead visiting Minnesota Duluth to a 4-3 win over the CC Tigers before 6,962. After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, CC rattled off three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead after two, including a go-ahead tally from winger William Rapuzzi.
At John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton on Friday evening, visiting North Dakota received a goal and an assist each from center Chris VandeVelde and winger Danny Kristo while hitting on 3-of-7 power-play chances enroute to a 4-2 win over host Michigan Tech before 2,469. VandeVelde’s PPG at 18:11 of the second was the winner. For the Huskies, Kevin Genoe had 37 saves in nets while defenseman John Kivisto and center Eli Vlaisavljevich scored goals.
And before 12,508 at the Kohl Center in Madison on Friday, host Wisconsin received two goals from center Blake Geoffrion, including the eventual game-winner at 10:16 of period two, and two assists from winger and linemate Craig Smith in a 4-2 win over Minnesota. Geoffrion’s first goal of the game came just :24 into the first period. For UM, center Patrick White and winger Mike Hoeffel scored goals.
This Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, November 6: Denver 3 at Alaska Anchorage 2 (WCHA); North Dakota 4 at Michigan Tech 2 (WCHA); Minnesota 2 at Wisconsin 4 (WCHA); Minnesota Duluth 4 at Colorado College 3 (WCHA).
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
Next Week in the WCHA
Games for Friday, November 13: Alaska Anchorage at Wisconsin (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Michigan Tech at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Colorado College at Minnesota State (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT; St. Cloud State at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT.
Games for Saturday, November 14: Alaska Anchorage at Wisconsin (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Colorado College at Minnesota State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Michigan Tech at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; St. Cloud State at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Bemidji State at Minnesota (nc), 7:37 pm CT.
Games for Sunday, November 15: Bemidji State at Minnesota (nc), 6:07 pm CT.
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