North Dakota 4, Michigan Tech 2

HOUGHTON, Mich.–North Dakota once again relied on a tried and true formula on its way to a 4-2 WCHA win at Michigan Tech tonight at John MacInnes Ice Arena.

A balanced scoring attack? Check. Four different scorers accounted for UND’s four goals.

An opportunistic power-play? Check. Three of UND’s goals came with the man advantage.

A rock-solid defensive effort? Check. UND allowed only two goals and yielded just 23 MTU shots on goal.

It has turned out to be an effective recipe early in the season that has resulted in a 5-1-1 overall record and a 3-1-1 league mark for the third-ranked Fighting Sioux, who entered the night two points out of first place in the WCHA standings.

After a week off to absorb a one-goal loss at Alaska Anchorage in their last action, the Sioux came flying out of the gates tonight, dominating play territorially in the first period and outshooting the Huskies 13-5.

UND, however, had nothing to show for it until sophomore forward Jason Gregoire (Winnipeg, Manitoba) re-directed a Danny Kristo (Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) point shot on the power-play with 23 seconds left in the period.

The Sioux built a 2-0 lead 4:56 into the second period on an outstanding individual effort by sophomore forward Evan Trupp (Anchorage, Alaska).

With the two teams playing 4-on-4, Trupp created a turnover in front of the MTU, stickhandled through a Husky defenseman and got a shot off while falling to the ice. Trupp’s initial shot was stopped, but he was able to knock home his rebound out of mid-air while on his knees for his second goal of the season.

The Huskies cut the lead in half just over 10 minutes later while on the power-play when Drew Dobson blasted a point shot that eluded a heavily-screened Brad Eidsness (So., Chestermere, Alberta).

Dobson’s goal ended a MacInnes Arena shutout streak for Eidsness that spanned 115 minutes and 11 seconds.

UND regained its two-goal lead with another power-play tally with 1:49 left in the middle frame. Senior defenseman Chay Genoway (Morden, Manitoba) led a rush up the middle of the ice into the Husky zone before slipping a pass to Chris VandeVelde (Sr., Moorhead, Minn.), who was streaking up the left wing. VandeVelde cut in front of the net and went forehand to backhand to beat MTU goalie Kevin Genoe for what would prove to be the game-winning goal.

Although Michigan Tech was able to kill a 5-minute Sioux man advantage to start the third period, UND’s power-play eventually struck for a third time to effectively seal the win. Kristo, manning the point, ripped a one timer that beat Genoe upstairs for his first collegiate goal.

The Huskies would pull to within two on a late goal by Eli Vlaisavljevich but the lead was insurmountable by that point.

“We were able to find our way through the game and eventually build a game and close it out well,” said UND head coach Dave Hakstol.

Eidsness finished with 22 saves for UND while Genoe countered with 37 stops in a busy night.

UND went 3-for-7 on the power-play and killed all but one of Michigan Tech’s six chances with the man advantage.

The two teams will do battle again Saturday night, with the opening faceoff schedule for 7:37 p.m. Central time.

Wisconsin 4, Minnesota 2

MADISON, Wis.– Senior tri-captain Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn.) scored twice, including a goal 24 seconds into the contest, as Wisconsin men’s hockey (4-2-1, 2-2-1 WCHA) skated to a 4-2 victory over border-rival Minnesota (2-4-1, 2-4-1 WCHA) Friday night at the Kohl Center. UW scored once in the first, twice in the second, and once again in the third to skate to the team’s fourth victory of the season.

Wisconsin did not take long to strike first, 24 seconds, to be exact. Geoffrion deflected a slap shot of fellow tri-captain Ryan McDonagh (Arden Hills, Minn.) past the Minnesota goaltender Alex Kangas to give Wisconsin the first goal in a game for the sixth time in seven games this season. McDonagh’s shot, from just inside the blue line, soared towards the goal waist-high, and Geoffrion managed to send it off track just enough to put the Badgers up 1-0. Freshman forward Craig Smith (Madison, Wis.) was credited the secondary assist.

This concluded the scoring for the first period, with the Badgers on top by one. The Badgers were also outshooting the Gophers 12-6, heading into the second. The Gophers evened the game quickly in the second, only 1:31 into the period, on a back-hand goal by senior forward Mike Hoeffel.

UW didn’t let the game stay tied for long, as junior defenseman Cody Goloubef (Oakville, Ontario) regained the lead for the Badgers just 42 seconds later on a back-hand goal from straight on. Goloubef gained control of a loose puck just inside the Minnesota blue line, charged at the Minnesota goaltender and flicked the puck to the back of the net. Freshman forward Derek Lee (North Vancouver, B.C.) and senior forward John Mitchell (Neenah, Wis.) were credited with assists on the play.

With 9:44 remaining in the period, Geoffrion added his second goal of the game, giving the Badgers a 3-1 advantage. His slap shot, from inside the blue line, sped past Kangas for Geoffrion’s fifth goal of the season. Craig Smith was credited with the assist, also his second of the game.

Heading into the third, the score was in favor of the Badgers, 3-1. About halfway through the final period, Minnesota inched a little closer, after senior forward Patrick White scored for the Gophers with 11:13 remaining. This brought the score to a 3-2 UW advantage.

With 1:51 remaining in the third period, senior tri-captain forward Ben Street (Coquitlam, B.C.) cemented the Badgers’ victory, as he took a pass from fellow senior forward Michael Davies (St. Louis) to put the Badgers up 4-2. On a three-on-two break, sophomore forward Jordy Murray (Fairbault, Minn.) advanced the puck to Davies, who then found an open Street behind the Gophers’ defense. Street flicked in a top-shelf shot and solidified the victory.

Badger goalie Brett Bennett notched 16 saves, and raised his season record to 3-1-0. Gopher goaltender Alex Kangas fell to 2-3-0 on the year after stopping 28 Badger shots.

The Badgers are now 4-2-1 overall, with a 2-2-1 WCHA record. The Gophers fell to 2-4-1 overall and in conference.

The puck drops tomorrow, November 7, at 7 p.m. The Badgers look to sweep Minnesota and extend their modest winning streak over the Gophers to four games.

Denver at Anchorage, LATE

Minnesota State, St. Cloud, idle

Post from: Eye of The Tigers

One of the most valuable players on the Colorado College hockey team’s roster isn’t even on it.

Bernie Horowitz, a senior from New York City studying history and political science, was back in a Tigers’ practice jersey earlier this week after freshman goalie Hudson Stremmel left the program to play juniors in Canada.

His role is unheralded, but important. As the third goalie, Horowitz rests the other two goalies, freshman Joe Howe and junior Tyler O’Brien, as part of a rotation during the near-continuous drills of a 90-minute practice.

“If you have just two goalies you really can’t go past an hour in practice,” senior captain Mike Testwuide said. “A third enables the other guys to take breaks and keep the practice going.”

Mental and physical fatigue from too many drills involving the 23 skaters would be detrimental during the weekend games. Fatigue can also lead to injuries.

“Two goalies would have faced so many shots it would be like playing an entire game on a Tuesday,” coach Scott Owens said.

“The wear and tear of just two goalies would really add up,” O’Brien said.

Owens said the coaching staff is looking to bring in a third goalie on scholarship after the winter break.

For the time being, Horowitz is enjoying the chance to be part of the program. He understands his role even if he struggles at times to handle Division I shooting.

“I’m doing all right,” he said. “I know I’m not challenging Howe or O’Brien for playing time. I just want to help the team however I can.”

It’s the second time Horowitz has helped. He stepped in last season when then-senior Drew O’Connell had season-ending shoulder surgery. He plays on CC’s club team and has been friends with some of the Tigers since his freshman year, when he took part in some spring captain’s practices when a second goalie was needed. He’s a good fit in the locker room too.

“He gets razzed like any new guy on the team does and he gives it right back,” O’Brien said.

“He’s a great fit,” Testwuide said.

Post from: Eye of The Tigers

The Bulldogs (6-2-1, 3-1-1) scored twice with the game-winner coming at 4:52 left, silencing the announced crowd of 6,962 Tiger fans.

CC gave the fans something to get loud about late when the first penalty of the third period was called with 2:24 remaining, on Minnesota-Duluth’s Scott Kishel. Another penalty on Jordan Fulton gave the Tigers a 5-on-3 advantage, becoming a 6-on-3 with a minute left when CC goalie Joe Howe was pulled for an extra attacker.

The resulting 6-on-3 just proved frustrating for the Tiger fans as shots sailed wide or were deflected away by Bulldogs defenders. The game ended as a 6-on-4 before the Bulldogs celebrated their fourth win in World Arena in a row. Duluth is 4-0-1 in their last five in Colorado Springs, including last season’s playoff sweep.

 “We didn’t have much puck luck,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said. “With the way our power play has been, you’d think we’d have gotten a goal in the final two minutes.”

CC (4-2-1, 3-1-1 league) came into the Western Collegiate Hockey Association game with a 10-3 scoring edge at home in the third period and with the nation’s best power play (32.4 percent). Both teams went 1 for 6 with the man advantage on the night.

It had looked like another comeback win for the Tigers.

Freshman William Rapuzzi scored off a rebound off a hard shot by Bill Sweatt to give CC a 3-2 lead headed into the third period. Rapuzzi reached in behind goalie Kenny Reiter to tap the loose puck in. His goal was only 19 seconds after a power play goal by Kris Fredheim, who fired a hard shot over Reiter’s right shoulder through traffic to make it 2-2 with 10:50 left.

CC had a chance to go ahead 4-2 on a penalty shot by Stephen Schultz, but Reiter made the pad save to keep the game close.

“That would have been big but there was a lot of time left and we still up 3-2 headed into the third period,” Owens said. “This was disappointing.”

Post from: Eye of The Tigers

Minnesota-Duluth         2          0          2          – 4

Colorado College         1          2          0          – 3

First period – 1, Minnesota-Duluth, Lamb (J. Connolly, Bordson), 3:41 (pp); 2. Minnesota-Duluth, Seidel (Olsen, Montgomery), 16:45; 3. Colorado College, Testwuide (Schultz, Prosser), 19:24. Penalties – CC, Fredheim (interference), 2:52; CC, Fredheim (holding), 4:27; CC, Testwuide (checking from behind) 5:57; UMD, Olsen (tripping) 7:23; CC, Fredheim (tripping), 11:13.

Second period – 4. Colorado College, Fredheim (Johnson, Schultz), 9:10 (pp); 5, Colorado College, Rapuzzi (Sweatt, Overman), 9:29. Penalties – CC, Sweatt (tripping), 2:07; UMD, Fulton (interference), 5:17; UMD, DeLisle (holding), 8:41; CC, Fredheim (kneeing), 9:38; UMD. J. Connolly (tripping), 14:11.

Third period – 6, Minnesota-Duluth, Oleksuk (Montgomery, Danberg), 10:09; 7, Minnesota-Duluth, Schmidt (Bordson, Fontaine), 15:08. Penalties – UMD, Kishel (hooking), 17:36; UMD, Fulton (cross checking), 18:35.

Power play – Minnesota-Duluth 1-6; Colorado College 1-6. Shots on goal – Minnesota-Duluth 5-7-8—20; Colorado College 6-13-11- 30. Saves-minutes – Minnesota-Duluth, Reiter 5-11-11 – 60:00; Colorado College, Howe 3-7-6-58:55. Attendance – 6,962.

Post from: Eye of The Tigers

The first period featured more big hits (3) and penalties (4) than shots (6) by CC as the Tigers looked to stand up to the Bulldogs’ notoriously physical play. Duluth blocked seven shots while the Tigers stopped six to keep the goalies from dealing with many shots.

Duluth went up 2-0 when freshman Mike Seidel redirected a slap shot by Dylan Olsen with 3:15 left. The Bulldogs went ahead 1-0 on a power-play goal from Brady Lamb 3:41 into the Western Collegiate Hockey Association game.

Post from: Eye of The Tigers

Post from: Eye of The Tigers

Center Marty Sertich is dealing with a sore groin. (Coach David) Quinn said he would be surprised if Sertich played tonight.

Post from: Eye of The Tigers

Post from: Eye of The Tigers

LW-C-RW

Bordson-J. Connolly-Fontaine

Fulton-M. Connolly-Danberg

Schmidt-Akins-Flaherty

Oleksuk-DeLisle-Seidel

Defense

Left-Right

Olsen-Montgomery

Kishel-Lamb

Olson-Huittel

Goalies

Hjelle

Reiter (starter)

Colorado College

LW-C-RW

Schultz-Civitarese-Testwuide

Sweatt-Overman-Rapuzzi

Hall-Schwartz-Johnson

DeBoer-Dineen-McMillin

Defense

Left-Right

Guentzel-Prosser

Lowery-Leaverton

Fredheim-Marciano

Goalies

Howe (starter)

O’Brien

Post from: Eye of The Tigers