Exhibition Game: US Under 18 at UMD

Not sure if we'll get line charts for the Under 18s or not. It's always hit and miss when we play exhibition games.

Either way, here is UMD's line chart for this afternoon affair. If I get one for the Under 18s, I'll update this post to pass it along.

UMD
Farley - Cameranesi - Seidel
Crandall (Justin) - Herbert - Krause
Sampair - Hendrickson - Basaraba
DeLisle - Tardy - Flaherty
Decowski -

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Challenging Exhibition Game Awaits UMD

Normally, an in-season exhibition game provides an opportunity to work on a few things. An exhibition game in late January can be quite beneficial, allowing a team like UMD to tinker with line combinations and special teams personnel without penalty of losing a game that counts.Of course, all of that is assuming that it's an exhibition game your team wins.Saturday at Amsoil Arena, UMD will take

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Duluth Clydesdales Franchise Revoked

Sad news for the local hockey community, as the Duluth Clydesdales have had their franchise revoked.

The third year franchise has been playing in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, a conglomerate based in Canada but with three Minnesota teams. The other Minnesota franchises are based on the Iron Range and in Cloquet.

Here is the league's official statement, circulated to media

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Game 24: UMD at Colorado College

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The wild WCHA season continues, and UMD hopes a win here can propel it into an improbable five-way tie for first place in the league standings.

Colorado College coach Scott Owens voiced his displeasure with his top players after Friday's game, so expect a lot of jump from CC early.

If UMD can weather that storm, a sixth straight WCHA win is very much within reach.

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2013 NHL Season Predictions

I'm sure this will go well, eh? It always does.

My division winners, Stanley Cup pick, and awards picks posted on SB Nation Friday. Here are the rest of my guesses on a season that is sure to be exciting to watch. As much as the shortened season was a win for the NBA last season, I believe firmly that the NHL can win here, if it plays its cards right.

And, yes, that's a big "if."

Anyway, here

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Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: UMD Keeps Climbing Up Crazy WCHA Ladder

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Were it not for the Florida follies, the UMD men's hockey team would be one of the nation's hottest right now.

Instead, the Bulldogs have to settle for being one of the WCHA's hottest. After giving up a tying goal with 2:45 left, Caleb Herbert scored on a rebound with 1:43 to go, lifting UMD to a 3-2 win over Colorado College Friday night in front of over 7,000 at

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Game 23: UMD at Colorado College

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Greetings from 6,230 feet above sea level, where we hope the Bulldogs don't suffer from altitude sickness.

(That would be news if it happened, but not necessarily good news.)

UMD is trying to extend a run of 6-1-1 over eight WCHA games and perhaps make a move up the league ladder. Standing in the way is a Colorado College team that hasn't been home since the Bush

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End of Minnesota-North Dakota A Loss For College Hockey

One of the enduring things with college sports has to be the rivalries that exist.

In football, we have a multitude of great traditions, including Michigan-Ohio State, Alabama-Auburn, Cal-Stanford, Harvard-Yale, Amherst-Williams, and so many others.

In basketball, there's Duke-North Carolina, Michigan-Michigan State, Kentucky-Louisville, Syracuse-Georgetown, and the list goes on.

Hockey has

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League Title Still Realistic Goal for UMD, But Colorado College Series Vitally Important

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- When UMD started its 2012-13 WCHA schedule 0-4-2 and sat tied for last place with two points, no one was thinking about the Bulldogs making a run for the MacNaughton Cup title in their last season in the league.

You can't win the league in October/November, but getting two points in six games is usually not a recipe for future success.

However, this WCHA isn't quite

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Alabama-Huntsville Program Saved With Membership to WCHA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Greetings from the home of National Collegiate Hockey Conference headquarters, where news from the league UMD and Colorado College are leaving after this season is making waves throughout college hockey.

I'll have more on the UMD-CC series later, and you can check here Friday for lines and throughout the weekend for notes and things.

Thursday, the WCHA announced it

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Game 22: Michigan Tech at UMD

This is going to be quick. Lots going on, so no time to chat.

Lines?

Lines.

UMD
Farley - Cameranesi - Seidel
Crandall - Herbert - Krause
Sampair - Hendrickson - Basaraba
Danberg - Tardy - Flaherty

Olson - Welinski
Smith - Casto
Bergman - Johnson

McNeely - Fons

MTU
Johnstone (David) - Khaira - Petan
Furne - Holmberg - Hietala
Pietila (Blake) - Kero - Gould
Eick - Rix - Pietila (Chad)

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Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Bulldogs Get the Goaltending to Win Close Game

For UMD, the season's first 20 games featured some solid goaltending, some not-as-good goaltending, and never a performance that was good enough to completely hold a team off the scoreboard.

Until now.

Freshman Matt McNeely was outstanding when called upon Friday, making 28 saves in a 1-0 win over Michigan Tech. The win keeps UMD very much in the thick of the WCHA's jumbled home ice race. After

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Game 21: Michigan Tech at UMD

For UMD, it's the start of a key stretch of games. If the Bulldogs are to make any kind of a run, it has to begin here.

This Michigan Tech team isn't quite the same as the one UMD took three points from Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Houghton. The Huskies have confident goaltending with Pheonix Copley, and the mission starts with trying to get in his kitchen and shake the confidence that comes with 70 saves

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UMD's Home Ice Quest Starts With Michigan Tech

The season is far from over, but the UMD men's hockey team is in an interesting position.

Though only two points back of a home-ice spot in the WCHA playoffs, the Bulldogs have a sub-.500 RPI, and barring a serious run in the second half, are not likely to be in position to attain an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, thanks in large part to a 2-4 non-conference record.

Hurting the UMD cause

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Random Rabble: Packers End Vikings Season

It probably went a week longer than even the biggest Vikings diehard could honestly have predicted, and it was relevant a good month-plus longer than expected, but the Minnesota Vikings saw their season end Saturday in Green Bay.

It probably didn't help much that Christian Ponder didn't play for Minnesota. I'm guessing that Bill Musgrave's inexplicable decision to have Joe Webb stand in the

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WCHA Mid-Season Awards

Halfway through the WCHA season, it's time for my annual look back at what we've seen so far, complete with a look at what my All-WCHA ballot would look like if I had to fill it out now.

(Which, thankfully, I do not.)

We'll start with all-league teams.

FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Corban Knight, North Dakota
Ryan Walters, Omaha
Nic Dowd, St. Cloud State

Defensemen 
Nick Jensen, St. Cloud State
Joey

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