Nov. 8, 2000

UPCOMING GAMES: The St. Cloud State men¹s hockey team (4-1-1, 1-1-0 WCHA) will travel to Colorado College (6-0-0, 6-0-0 WCHA) on Nov. 10-11, for games at 8:35 p.m. (Nov. 10) and 8:05 p.m. (Nov. 11) CST. In the last USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll (Oct. 30), SCSU was ranked 10th and CC was ranked 7th. In the last USCHO poll (Oct. 30), the Huskies were ranked 11th and CC was ranked 8th.

THE RESULTS: SCSU opened its WCHA season on Oct. 27-28, with a split at home against Denver. On Oct. 27, SCSU posted a 5-1 win over the Pioneers. Joe Motzko opened the attack with a goal at 5:23 of the first. DU responded with a goal at 16:32 on the power play before SCSU took command. In the third period, Keith Anderson scored the game winner with am assist from Nate DiCasmirro at 9:29. Mark Hartigan charted an insurance goal at 16:56. In the closing two minutes, Duvie Westcott added one more goal with an assist from DiCasmirro before Jon Cullen scored a shorthanded empty net goal at 19:38. Of note, DiCasmirro gained his third assist on the night on Cullen¹s tally. Scott Meyer was the keeper of record for the Huskies with 24 saves. DU outshot the Huskies 25-23 in the match, while a big total of 31 penalties (70 minutes) were called...on Oct. 28, DU snapped the Huskies¹ five-game unbeaten streak with a 3-1 win at the NHC. Motzko scored SCSU¹s only goal in the game at 1:42 of the first with assists from Hartigan and Ryan Malone. Meyer was solid in the nets with 32 saves and two goals allowed - the final DU goal was an empty netter. DU now leads the all-time series 24-19-3.

FINAL 1999-2000 RECORD: In 1999-2000, the Huskies continued their tradition of excellence with a 23-14-3 overall record and a 16-9-3 third place record in the always rugged WCHA. The Huskies advanced to the Final Five of the WCHA tournament last season, which included a 6-4 third place win over Minnesota. The icing on the cake was a trip to the 2000 NCAA Division I East Regional, and a number 12 ranking in the final Division I national poll. The 23 wins ties a school record for most wins in a season. The Huskies also had 23 wins during the 1997-98 campaign.

HEAD COACH: SCSU coach Craig Dahl (Pacific Lutheran, 1976) in his 14th season as head coach for the Huskies. He is the only coach that SCSU has had since moving to the NCAA Division I level in 1987-88. Dahl has a career record of 233-234-38 at SCSU and a 20-year career coaching mark of 309-322-40. Dahl won his 300th career game on 2/19/00. In 1997-98, Dahl was named the WCHA Coach of the Year. He has won more games than any SCSU hockey coach. In 2000-01, Dahl will be assisted by Doc DelCastillo (SCSU, 1992) in his third season and first year coach Brad Willner (Lake Superior State, 1995).

ALMOST EVEN: The Huskies and Coach Dahl both own a 233-234-38 record since the program went Division I in 1987-88. A pair of wins this weekend against CC would allow SCSU to go over the overall .500 mark for the first time since going Division I.

500th GAME AT SCSU: The Ferris State game on Oct. 13th was the 500th Division I hockey game in the history of the program at SCSU. The game was also Dahl¹s 500th as a coach at SCSU. SCSU.

TOUGH D: SCSU has been strong on defense this season. The Huskies currently lead the WCHA (overall games) with a 1.50 goals allowed average (9 in six games), while upcoming opponent CC is third with 250 goals allowed per game (10 in four games).

GREAT BEGINNINGS: The St. Cloud State University men's hockey team got off to its best start in the history of the program at the Division I level this year. Through five games, the Huskies charted a 4-0-1 record, stopped by a 3-1 loss to DU on Oct. 28. The previous best five-game start of 4-1 was charted in 1996-97.

SHORT-HANDED FRENZY: The Huskies have scored three shorthanded goals in six games this season, which is just one short of the team¹s season total of four in 1999-00. The SCSU team record for shorties is 14 in 1993-94.

MOVING UP ON THE CHARTS: Tyler Arnason ranks 32nd in the all-time scoring charts at SCSU with 86 career points (35g/51a), while Brandon Sampair is 38th with 82 points (39g/43a)...Sampair now ranks 11th in the Division I charts at SCSU with 39 goals, while Arnason is 14th with 35 career goals...Nate DiCasmirro is tied for 27th with 26 career goals and Mark Hartigan is make a quick climb with 25 career goals (28th place)...for assists, Arnason is 16th with 51 assists - only the 17th player in SCSU history to gain over 50 assists. Sampair now has 43 assists and ranks 21st, while Keith Anderson is next on the list with 37 assists (27th place). DiCasmirro¹s three assist night vs. Denver also moved him up quickly and he now has 35 career assists - 30th in the records...of note, Arnason ranks 15th among SCSU¹s Division I players for most career assists with 86. He is tied for that spot with Matt Cullen, who had 27 goals and 59 assists from 1995-97 and Eric Johnson, who had the same numbers from 1991-95. Jeff Saterdalen is the Huskies¹ all-time scoring leader with 179 career points (78g/101a) from 1988-92.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Huskies were 14-6-1 at home in 1999-00. SCSU has posted a 124-69-20 all-time record at the National Hockey Center. St. Cloud State was 8-6-2 on the road and 1-2-0 in neutral site games last winter...so far in 2000-01, the Huskies are 3-1-1 at the National Hockey Center. In the friendly confines of the NHC, the Huskies own an all-time win percentage of .629.

MEYER HONORED BY WCHA: For the second consecutive week, a SCSU player was named the WCHA¹s Defensive Player of the Week. Scott Meyer gained league honors on Oct. 30, while Duvie Westcott was honored on Oct. 23. Meyer charted 56 saves in two games against DU and allowed only three goals - one of which was a ppg on Oct. 27. This marks the third time that Meyer has gained WCHA POW recognition. Meyer leads the league with a 1.58 GAA and a .946 save percentage.

ON THE RADIO: Husky hockey can be heard on KNSI Radio 1450 AM during the 2000-01 season. The broadcasts will also be available on the web at www.1450knsi.com. Don Lyons will call the play-by-play and former SCSU All-American Dave Reichel will provide the color commentary for home gamesŠselected games this season will also be broadcast live by KVSC FM 88.1.

HUSKIES ON TV: A total of 18 Husky home games this season will be televised live on St. Cloud's Charter Communications cable channel 65 this season. Charter Communications are also slated to carry the games live on their systems in Alexandria, Willmar and Little Falls. KSTC channel 45 (Charter cable channel 17 in St. Cloud) out of the Twin Cities. Veteran announcer Wally Shaver will call the play-by-play along with color commentary from Doug Johnson. KSTC games slated for this season are Oct. 28 Denver, Nov. 17 Minnesota, Dec. 9 Wisconsin, Feb. 24 Mankato and Match 3 Minnesota.

ON THE NET: Can't get enough of Husky hockey news? Check out the Husky Home Page at www.stcloudstate.edu/~sports. The WCHA website is www.wcha.com For college hockey stats, please go to www.collegehockeystats.com.

TICKETS: For SCSU hockey ticket information, please call the Athletic Ticket Office at 320-255-2137 or 1-877-SCSUTIX.

HUSKY AUTOGRAPH DEN: SCSU fans can obtain autographs in the Husky Autograph Den after each home game this season. Players slated to appear in the autograph den after the game on Nov. 17 are Lee Brooks and Jon Cullen.

HUSKIES READING FOR FUN: Each year the St. Cloud Public Library and the SCSU hockey teams combine to present the Husky Reading for Fun program. This popular children¹s reading program at the St. Cloud Public Library in downtown St. Cloud, features SCSU players reading books on selected Saturday mornings prior to SCSU home games. The program continues on Dec. 9, and it will feature Jim McNamara and Jeff Finger. For more information, please call the Library at 251-7282.

ABOUT SCSU: The 1999-2000 season marked the 13th year that SCSU has been a member of NCAA Division I hockey. SCSU joined the Division I hockey ranks in 1987-88 and became a member of the WCHA in 1990-91. That first year in the league, SCSU finished fifth with a 12-16-4 league record and an 18-19-4 overall record. SCSU's highest league finish has been third place, a standing that was reached in 1996-97 and again in 1999-2000...since going Division I, SCSU owns a 233-234-38 overall record.

2000-01 TEAM CAPTAINS: The 2000-01 team captain is senior forward Brandon Sampair (Mahtomedi). Assistant captains are senior forward Keith Anderson (Thief River Falls) and senior defenseman Ritchie Larson (Winnipeg, Mant.).

LAST YEAR VS. CC: The Huskies made the trip to Colorado Springs and posted a 2-2 tie on Feb. 25 and a 4-3 loss on Feb. 26. In the series opener, Mark Hartigan and Tyler Arnason each tallied goals, while Scott Meyer had 36 saves in the match. Arnason tied the game at 13:42 of the third with an assist from Geno Parrish... In another over affair on Feb. 26, the Tigers gained the win with a OT goal by Colgan at 1:15. SCSU led 3-2 before CC tied the game at 5:27 of the third. Brandon Sampair scored the first and third goal of the game, while Nate DiCasmirro notched the middle goal. Meyer had 32 saves in the game.

TEAM NOTES/STREAKS: The loss to DU on Oct. 28, snapped a six-game unbeaten streak at home for the Huskies...Colorado College is 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings with the Huskies...Senior Brandon Sampair has been tough on the Tigers. Sampair has six goals and two assists for a total of eight points against CC during his collegiate career. Both Keith Anderson and Nate DiCasmirro each have three points (2g/1a) posted vs. CC during their careers ...in the latest Division I hockey polls, SCSU was ranked 10th in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Poll and 11th in the US College Hockey Online poll (released on Oct. 30). SCSU had previously been ranked 8th by the polls prior to the DU loss...Mark Hartigan continues to produce on offense and has a team leading eight points (3g/5a)...Joe Motzko leads the team with four goals (4g/2a). while Duvie Westcott (2g/4a) amd Tyler Arnason (2g/4a) each have six points. The line of Hartigan, Motzko and Ryan Malone has been very productive with 17 total points (7g/10a) - the team¹s top line...the trip to Colorado College will be the first time this season that SCSU plays out of Minnesota...SCSU enjoyed an early season break with no games last weekend. SCSU¹s next break will come during the holiday, when the Huskies are off from Dec. 19 through a Jan. 5 game at Duluth. SCSU will play a full slate of games from that point until the end of the regular season on March 3.

THE GOPHER GAME: SCSU¹s games at home against the University of Minnesota are always a big draw. Of note, a limited number of standing room only tickets are still available for the upcoming SCSU-UM game at 7:05 p.m. on Nov. 17. If you would like to purchase tickets for this exciting game, please call the SCSU ticket office at 1-877-SCSUTIX or 320-255-2137.

BIG CROWDS: For the fifth straight year, Husky Hockey averaged over 5,000 fans per home game. 123,504 people attended SCSUhome games in 1999-2000, an average of 5,881 per game. The attendance figure reflects a steady incline as SCSU averaged 5,736 in 1998-99, 5,593 in 1997-98, 5-473 in 1996-97 and 5,004 in 1995-96...in five games this season, SCSU has an attendance total of 28,061 for an average of 5,612 per game.

WCHA FINAL FIVE: The 2001 WCHA Final Five tournament will be held on March 15-17 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. For ticket information, please call 651-989-5151...St. Cloud State made its fifth straight WCHA Final Five appearance and sixth in the last seven years. SCSU is 3-8 overall in Final Five games. SCSU reached the WCHA Final Five Championship game in 1994 after beating Wisconsin 3-2 in overtime in the semifinal. SCSU's other Final Five win was a 4-3 overtime win over Minnesota-Duluth in 1998 in the play-in game.

UP NEXT: The Huskies will host the University of Minnesota on Nov. 17, followed by a trip to Minnesota on Nov. 18. Both games start at 7:05 p.m.

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