Nov. 25, 2007

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MADISON, Wisc. - The No. 3-ranked Denver Pioneers, on the strength of three unanswered goals in the second and third periods - including the eventual game-winner from right winger Tom May at 12:07 of the final stanza - overcame visiting and No. 4-ranked Colorado College, 3-2, on Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 6,083 at Magness Arena in the Mile High City. The Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory snapped the league-leading Tigers' six-game winning streak and elevated the second place Pioneers' to within four points of the lead.

Trailing 1-0 after a first period power-play goal from CC right winger Jimmy Kilpatrick, Denver (9-3-0, 6-2-0 WCHA) surged to a 3-1 advantage after second period tallies from center Tyler Ruegsegger at 18:09 and left winger Rhett Rakhshani at 18:56 and May's marker midway through the third. Colorado College (8-4-0, 8-2-0 WCHA) did close to within one at 3-2 on a goal off the stick of right winger Eric Ealsky at 19:16. In goal, Peter Mannino had 20 stops for DU while Richard Bachman had 24 for the Tigers.

In the one other WCHA series played over the Thanksgiving weekend, visiting Minnesota Duluth broke a 2-2 third period tie with goals from center Drew Akins (game-winner) at 11:37 and right winger Matt McKnight (empty-netter) at 19:10 to overcome host North Dakota, 4-2, before a sellout crowd of 11,674 at Ralph Engelstad Arena, gain a split, and move into sole possession of third place. The No. 12/15-ranked Bulldogs (6-4-2, 5-4-1 WCHA) were outshot, 22-18, but had other goals from center MacGregor Sharp in the first period and center Drew Akins - his first of the season - in the second for a 2-1 lead. For the No. 5/6-ranked Fighting Sioux (6-4-1, 4-4-0 WCHA), goals came from center Rylan Kaip for a 1-0 lead in the first period and left winger Andrew Kozek for a 2-2 tie at 4:56 of the third. In goal, Alex Stalock had 20 saves for UMD while Jean-Philippe Lamoureux had 14 stops for UND.

Outside the WCHA on Nov. 24, league-member teams went a combined 0-2-1, moving the league's 2007-08 non-conference record to 23-8-6 (.703). No. 10/11-ranked St. Cloud State (7-3-2), dropped a 3-2 decision at No. 7-ranked Clarkson on Saturday evening, despite twice holding leads. The Huskies led 1-0 on defenseman John Swanson's shorthander at 1:27 of the second and then 2-1 on center Garrett Roe's power-play tally at 10:54 of the second. The game-winner for the host Golden Knights came from Nick Dodge at 14:32 of the third.

In a College Hockey Showcase matchup in East Lansing on Saturday night, No. 12/14-ranked Wisconsin (5-6-1) received third period goals from left winger John Mitchell at 10;53 and left winger Ben Street (game-tying) at 14:03 to earn a 4-4 overtime draw against defending national champion and No. 5/6-ranked Michigan State before 5,164 at Munn Arena. The Badgers also tied the game at 1-1 on defenseman Ryan McDonagh's goal at 13:08 of the first and at 2-2 following center Blake Geoffrion's tally at 19:54 of the second. In goal, Scott Gudmundson had 23 saves for the UW, while MSU had a pair of goals from winger Bryan Lerg and 33 saves from Jeff Lerg.

And in the other College Hockey Showcase game in Ann Arbor on Nov. 24, No. 13/15-ranked Minnesota (7-6-1), fell to host and No. 2-ranked Michigan by a 5-1 count at Yost Ice Arena. Scoring the lone goal for the Golden Gophers was left winger Ben Gordon, whose second period tally made the score 3-1.

Through games of Nov. 24, Colorado College leads the WCHA race with a 8-2-0 record and 16 points, Denver is second at 6-2-0 for 12 points, Minnesota Duluth (5-4-1 WCHA) is third with 11 points, Michigan Tech (4-5-1 WCHA) is fourth with nine points, and North Dakota (4-4-0 WCHA) is fifth with eight points. Colorado College, Minnesota Duluth and Michigan Tech have played the most league games to date with 10 each, while St. Cloud State, Alaska Anchorage and Wisconsin have played the fewest at six apiece.

Looking at the upcoming week, there will be a full slate of five Western Collegiate Hockey Association series on the schedule for Nov. 30-Dec. 1. League-leading Colorado College will travel to Alaska Anchorage, second place Denver will host fifth place North Dakota, Minnesota entertains Michigan Tech, St. Cloud State heads to Wisconsin, and Minnesota State hosts third place Minnesota Duluth.

This Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, November 23: Minnesota Duluth 3 at North Dakota 8; Denver 1 at Colorado College 5; St. Cloud State 4 at Clarkson 1 (nc); Minnesota 3 at Michigan State 3 ot (nc); Wisconsin 2 at Michigan 3 (nc).

Results of Saturday, November 24: Minnesota Duluth 4 at North Dakota 2; Colorado College 2 at Denver 3; St. Cloud State 2 at Clarkson 3 (nc); *Wisconsin 4 at Michigan State 4 ot (nc); *Minnesota 1 at Michigan 5 (nc). *College Hockey Showcase

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