Wisconsin-Superior
doesn't have much of a drive this weekend, going on the road to open the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. The Yellowjackets will just head over the Blatnik Bridge on Friday afternoon to Mars Lakeview Arena.
Facing No. 5-ranked St. Scholastica, however, will be a task.
St. Scholastica (17-4-4) finished second in the league and has beaten UWS in all three meetings this season. UWS (9-11-3) was last in the league, its worst finish since 1987-88 after winning the 2009 regular-season championship.
"All of these are clichés, but they fit the situation. It is do-or-die for us and we're going to empty the tank," UWS coach Dan Stauber said Wednesday. "It's a new season; that's the only way we can approach it."
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If the Saints win the first-round series, they'd almost certainly be chosen for the 11-team Division III field. If the Yellowjackets win, they'd move on in their only avenue to the NCAA tournament, winning the NCHA playoff title. Regular season league champion St. Norbert has a bye this week.
In NCHA play, St. Scholastica was second in scoring (3.33 goals a game) and second in defense (2.11 allowed), while UWS was sixth among seven teams in scoring (2.50) and last in defense (3.50). The Yellowjackets will pin much of their hopes on forwards Chris Wilson (30 points), Talon Berlando (21) and Logan Isley (14).
"We haven't been in this position very often, going on the first round of the playoffs, and St. Scholastica
hasn't been in the position very often of being a favored home team in the playoffs," Stauber said.
St. Scholastica outscored UWS 13-4 in three wins this season. In 2007, St. Scholastica went to Wessman Arena and upset UWS in the first round of the NCHA tournament.
UMD men getting healthy
No. 9 Minnesota Duluth will have three of four injured players available for duty Friday and Saturday in a key Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against No. 13 North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D.
Winger Kyle Schmidt has recovered from what he labels a stunned nerve in an arm. The team's fourth-
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leading goal-scorer has been sidelined since Jan. 15. Also back are defenseman Scott Kishel (hip flexor), injured in UMD's last game, Feb. 6 at Michigan Tech, and defenseman Chad Huttel (concussion), hurt Jan. 29. Freshman center Dan DeLisle injured a leg, also Feb. 6, and hopes to be ready for a Feb. 26-27 home series with Minnesota.
"With six games left there's no reason to look ahead or behind, we have to be concerned about the games right in front of us," said UMD coach Scott Sandelin.
UMD (18-11-1) is tied for third in the WCHA, three points behind Denver. North Dakota (14-11-5) is sixth, eight points behind UMD. The Fighting Sioux split games at No. 4 St. Cloud State last weekend, outshooting the Huskies 87-51.
UMD women have shot at title
Entering the final two games of the regular season, the No. 3 UMD women have a shot at the WCHA title.
The Bulldogs (22-8-2), second in the league, are at Bemidji State (9-15-7) on Friday and Saturday. First-place Minnesota, leading by two points, is home with defending NCAA champion Wisconsin.
If UMD wins twice and Minnesota splits games, there would be title tie. For league playoff seedings, UMD would be No. 1 by virtue of more league victories.
"I've told our team that this has been an unbelievable year so far, so why not finish the league season off the best way we can," said UMD coach Shannon Miller. "This will be all about pride."
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UMD and Minnesota are assured of being chosen for the eight-team NCAA field next month. Wisconsin, ranked No. 8, may need to do well in its remaining games to earn an invitation.
UMD linemates, senior Emmanuelle Blais and junior Laura Fridfinnson, are among 45 players nominated for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which goes to the top woman player in Division I. Blais leads UMD's scoring with 43 points and Fridfinnson is second with 41.
A coaches committee will name 10 finalists March 2 and a 13-member selection committee will name three finalists March 9. The award will be presented March 20 in Minneapolis, site of the Frozen Four.
