Contact: Tom Nelson (320-255-2141)
March 12, 2001
St. Cloud State University Men's Hockey Release 3/12/01
Xcel Energy WCHA Final Five Championships:
March 16 - #4 St. Cloud State vs. #5 Minnesota, 7:05 p.m.
@ Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
March 17: Game time to be determined
UPCOMING GAMES: #4 St. Cloud State University (29-8-1, 20-8-0 WCHA) will
play #5 Minnesota (27-10-2, 18-8-2 WCHA) on March 16, at 7:05 p.m. in the
WCHA Final Five. The game will be played at the Xcel Energy Center in St.
Paul, Minn. The winner of the game will play in the title match on March 17
at 7:05 p.m., while the loser will play in the third place game on March 17,
at 2:05 p.m. On March 16, North Dakota and the winner of the March 15 game
between Wisconsin and Colorado College, will play at 2:05 p.m...For Final
Five Ticket information, please call 651-989-5151.
THE RESULTS: SCSU opened first round of the WCHA Playoffs with a strong 5-1
win at home over Alaska-Anchorage. St. Cloud State jumped to a quick lead
in the contest when Chris Purslow crossed the blue line and blasted a shot
past UAA's Chris King at 4:36 of the first period. Brandon Sampair added
his 10th goal of the season at 17:06 of the first to gain the game winner
with an assist from Tyler Arnason. In the second period, Mark Hartigan
added an insurance goal on the power play at 15:48 with an assist from
Arnason and Sampair. Purslow came back in the third period with his second
goal of the night with another unassisted blitz at 4:52. UAA changed
goalies at that point with Kevin Reiter replacing King. The Seawolves broke
Scott Meyer's shutout when Vladimir Novak posted a goal at 6:49 of the
third. To complete the scoring, Nate DiCasmirro scored at 11:11 with assists
from Arnason and Hartigan on the power play. In the contest, SCSU was an
impressive two-of-three on the power play while UAA was 0-of-2. SCSU also
outshot the Seawolves 25-21, with Meyer posting 20 saves in the contest...on
March 10, SCSU swept the series with an 8-2 win over UAA. Purslow started
the game with a goal at 1:16 of the first, followed by two goals by Joe
Motzko. Hartigan ended the period with another goal. UAA came back with
two goals in the second period before Sampair iced the game with a tally at
18:15 of the second. Hartigan and Malone confirmed SCSUıs reservations for
the Final Five with a pair of goals in the third period. Meyer was solid
once more with 25 saves and a team record 23rd victory of the year.
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 258-242-38 at SCSU and a 20-year career coaching mark of
334-329-40. Of note, Dahl won his 250th game at SCSU on Feb. 9, 2001 with a
2-0 win at Alaska-Anchorage...Dahl won his 300th career game on 2/19/00. 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).
ALL-TIME RECORD: The Huskies and Coach Dahl both own a 258-242-38 record
since the program went Division I in 1987-88. This is the first season that
the Huskies have gone above .500 with their overall record since going
Division I...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 Dahlıs
500th as a coach at SCSU.
SAMPAIRıS RECORD AND OTHER NOTES: Brandon Sampair hit his 34th assist of
the season on March 3, which breaks the team record for most assists that
was previously held by Jeff Saterdalen (1989-90). Sampair now has 36
assists this season and counting...On Jan. 19, SCSU hit a season-high and
national high with four pp goals...SCSU was named the USATODAY.com national
team of the week on Jan. 18 and March 8...SCSU received its highest national
ranking since going Division I in 1987-88 with a #3/4 ranking in both the
USCHO and USA TODAY/ American Hockey Magazine polls on Jan. 22...SCSU hit a
team season-high with eight goals during the win over UAA on March 10. SCSU
also equalled a season team-period high with four goals in the first period
against UAA on March 10...Joe Motzko and Mark Hartigan equalled a season
team-high with three points apiece in the first period vs. UAA on March 10.
A NEW TEAM RECORD: The Huskies hit a new team record on Jan. 20 by winning
their ninth consecutive game on Jan. 20. The previous best was seven
consecutive wins set last year from Jan. 14-Feb. 4. SCSU set a team record
with a 10-game unbeaten streak last year that included two ties during that
stretch.
THE NEWEST MEMBERS: Tyler Arnason and Brandon Sampair are now both members
of the 100 point club. On Jan. 12, Arnason scored a goal and an assist,
while Sampair had a goal and two assists. Aranson (57g/72a) and has 24g/25a
this season... Brandon Sampair (48g/78a). He has 11g/36a this season.
Sampair and Arnason are the 24rd and 25th players in team history (all
Divisions) to reach the 100-point level in their careers...of note, Arnason
is the 7th player in SCSU history to score 50 or more goals in his career.
Arnason is now 8th in the career scoring list at SCSU, while Sampair is 9th.
Arnason only needs one more point this season to become the third player in
team history to hit 50 points in a season. Last year, Arnason had 49 points
(19g/30a).
THE DAHL FILE: Coach Craig Dahl gained his 250th career win at SCSU with
the Huskiesı 2-0 victory at UAA on Feb. 9. His 14 year record in St. Cloud
now stands at 258-242-38. The wins vs. MSU push Dahlıs overall career
record to above .500 at 334-329-40.
29 IS MOST WINS EVER: With 29 wins, the Huskies have hit an all-time season
high since 1931-32. The previous single season top performances were 25
wins in 1986-87 and 1934-35. As a Division III program, SCSU collected a
25-10-1 record in 1986-87 under the leadership of coach Herb Brooks. SCSU
also charted a 25-2 record in 1934-35. The previous best Division I total
was 23 wins in 1999-00 (23-14-3) and 1996-97 (23-13-4). This marks the
fifth season since going Division I that the Huskies have won 20 or more
games...with 20 wins, the Huskies have also charted the most-ever WCHA wins
in a season. SCSU won 18 WCHA games in 1996-97 (18-10-7). SCSU gained 2nd
place in the WCHA this season, which is the teamıs best-ever league finish.
The previous top finishes were 3rd place in 1996-97 and 1999-00.
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
games selected games this season will also be broadcast live by KVSC FM
88.1...KNSI AM 1450 will also host the Craig Dahl Show each Monday at 5:05
p.m. during the season. The show will feature Coach Dahl, SC Times writer
Kevin Allenspach and host Don Lyons. The show is sponsored by Plaza Park
Bank/Investment Centers of America.
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.
ABOUT SCSU: The 2000-01 season marks the 14th 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 is 2nd place, a standing that
was reached in this season...since going Division I, SCSU owns a 258-242-38
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.).
NOTES ABOUT UM: The Huskies are 2-2 in games played against Minnesota this
season. On Nov. 17-18, the Huskies dropped a pair by scores of 2-0 (at NHC)
and 4-3 (at Mariucci). On March 2-3, the Huskies topped the Gophers 6-1 at
Mariucci and 5-2 at the NHC...UM leads the all-time series 27-15-6, which
started back in 1990. The first time these two teams played, SCSU and UM
skated to a 3-3 tie...at the 2000 Final Five, SCSU gained a 6-4 win over the
Gophers in the third place game. The victory helped seal an NCAA bid for
the Huskies to the 2000 tournament...senior forward Erik Westrum leads the
Gopher attack with 23g/32a for 55 points and junior defender Jordan Leopold
has 12g/32a for 44 points...goalie Adam Hauser has a 2.50 GAA and a .904
save percentage. He is 26-10-2 this season for UM...SCSU is 6-3-1 vs.
Minnesota in the two teamsı last 10 games.
MEYER BREAKS RECORD: SCSU senior goalie Scott Meyer set a new team record
on March 10, with his 23rd victory of the season. The old record of 22
goalie wins in a season was set by Brian Leitza in 1997-98. Meyer is 23-7-1
this season and has now charted 55 wins in his career. Leitza is the
current career win record holder with 66 from 1995-98. Meyer is on track to
break his team season records for best goals against (2.37 in 1999-00) and
save percentage (.920 in 1999-00). Meyer currently owns a 2.17 goals
against rate and a .928 save percentage through 33 games played this year.
In the always rugged WCHA, Meyer was the 2000-01 save percentage leader with
a .924 rate in league games. He ranked second in Goals Against Average with
a 2.37 league rate, while DUıs Wade Dubielewicz was first at 2.24.
Dubielewicz played in 1178:07 minutes, while Meyer saw action in 1390:23
minutes (over 3 games more)...Meyerıs win rate was .696 (3rd in the
league)...Scott Meyer was named the USCHOıs Defensive Player of the Week on
March 7, while teammate Duvie Westcott gained the same national honor on
Feb. 28.
TEAM NOTES: March 9ıs game was a quick 2:05 thanks to a season-low five
penalties called in the game. SCSU had just two penalties for four minutes,
while UAA had three penalties for six minutes...Tyler Arnason (24g/25a)
leads the Huskies with 49 points this year. Arnason could become only the
fourth SCSU player to score over 50 points in a season if he gets one more
point. The last Husky to hit +50 was Fred Knipscheer with a team-record 60
points in 1992-93...in the latest NCAA stats, SCSU ranked fourth in the
nation with a 24.9% power play rate and fifth in the nation with 2.28 goals
allowed per game. In goals scored per game, SCSU ranked 5th with 3.97 gpg
and it was second with a 1.69 scoring margin...SCSUıs winning rate of .764
is second in the nation...Hartigan was 10th in the nation with .66 goals
scored per game and Arnason with 9th with .67 gpg. Sampair was 5th with
1.00 assists per game. Meyer ranked 4th among Division I players with a SV%
of .927 and was 8th with a 2.22 GAA. His winning rate of 74.1% placed him
5th among Division I goalies...Chris Purslowıs has scored five of his
seasonıs seven goals in the last five games...Mark Hartigan takes over the
goal scoring lead on the team with 26. He ranks third in team records for
season goals behind Mark Parrish (27) and Fred Knipscheer (34)...Brandon
Sampair owns a team-high seven-game scoring streak and he has scored in 11
of the last 12 games...Hartigan leads the club with five game winning goals
this season... SCSU is listed fourth in the last PWR on March 12, behind #1
Michigan State, #2 Boston College and #3 North Dakota...in the March 12 RPI
rating, SCSU is 3rd, behind #1 MSU and #2 BC. UND is fourth in the RPI
poll.
WCHA PLAYOFF FACTS: SCSU is 16-11-0 in the first round of the WCHA
playoffs, and 10-4-0 when those games are played at home...the Huskies have
now made it to the WCHA Final Five six consecutive seasons, starting with
their trip in 1995-96. Since 1990-91, the Huskies have played made it to
the Final Five seven times. SCSU's best finish in the Final Five was a
second place ending in 1993-94. SCSU brings a 3-8 Final Five record into
this year's tournament...SCSU advanced to the final game in 1994, losing 3-2
in overtime to Minnesota...SCSU is 1-3 in WCHA playoff action against
Minnesota...SCSU is 5-1 in WCHA playoff games vs. UMD and 4-2 in WCHA
playoff action against UW, on the other side, UND owns a 6-1 WCHA playoff
lead over the Huskies and CC is 2-0 against SCSU...SCSU has gained third
place honors in the WCHA playoffs three times (1997, 1998 and 1999)...last
year, SCSU posted a 6-4 win over Minnesota in the third place game after
dropping a tough 7-3 loss against eventual national champ UND in the
semi-final match.
BIG CROWDS: In home games this season, SCSU has an attendance total of
123,199 for an average of 5,867 per game (19 home games)...this marks the
fifth consecutive season that SCSU has hit the 100,000 mark in home
attendance. The all-time season home attendance total (23 games) was
128,641 in 1997-98...On Nov. 17 and March 3, SCSU was at standing room only
capacity with a crowds of 6,686.
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 info. 651-989-5151.
SCSU Season Long Streaks (2000-01):
Win Streak 9 games (12/9 -1/20)
Unbeaten Streak 9 games (12/9 -1/20)
Losing Streak 3 games (1/26 -2/2)
Winless Streak 3 games (1/26 -2/2)
Home Win Streak 7 games (12/9- 1/20)
Home Losing Streak 3 games (10/28-12/8)
Home Winless Streak 3 games (10/28-12/8)
Home Unbeaten Streak 7 games (12/9-1/20 )
Road Win Streak 6 games (11/24-1/6)
Road Unbeaten Streak 6 games (11/24-1/6)
Road Losing Streak 2 games (1/26-1/27)
Road Winless Streak 2 games (1/26-1/27)
Current Win Streak 7 games (Feb. 17-Present)
2000-01 St. Cloud State
Hockey Results (29-8-1)
Date Opponent Time
10/13 FERRIS STATE W, 3-1
Oct. 14 FERRIS STATE T, 3-3
Oct. 20 @ Bemidji State W, 3-1
Oct. 21 BEMIDJI STATE W, 7-0
Oct. 27 DENVER* W, 5-1
Oct. 28 DENVER * L, 3-1
Nov. 10 @Colorado College * W, 6-3
Nov. 11 @Colorado College * W, 3-2 OT
Nov. 17 MINNESOTA* L, 2-0
Nov. 18 @Minnesota * L, 4-3
Nov. 24 @ Northeastern W, 4-1
Nov. 25 @ U Mass - Amherst W, 3-1
Dec. 1 @ Michigan Tech * W, 4-3 OT
Dec. 2 @ Michigan Tech * W, 4-3
Dec. 8 WISCONSIN * L, 3-1
Dec. 9 WISCONSIN* W, 5-0
Dec. 15 UAA* W, 3-1
Dec. 16 UAA* W, 4-3
Dec. 18 Russia Select (EX) W, 5-4
Jan. 5 @ Minnesota-Duluth * W, 6-3
Jan. 6 @ Minnesota-Duluth * W, 5-4
Jan. 12 MICHIGAN TECH * W, 5-2
Jan. 13 MICHIGAN TECH * W, 4-1
Jan. 19 BROWN W, 4-2
Jan. 20 BROWN W, 5-4
Jan. 26 @ North Dakota * L, 4-3
Jan. 27 @ North Dakota * L, 4-3
Feb. 2 Colorado College* L, 5-3
Feb. 3 Colorado College* W, 7-5
Feb. 9 @UAA* W, 2-0
Feb. 10 @ UAA * W, 4-1
Feb. 16 @Wisconsin * L, 3-2
Feb. 17 @ Wisconsin * W, 5-1
Feb. 23 MSU, MANKATO* W, 6-2
Feb. 24 MSU, MANKATO* W, 6-3
Mar. 2 @ Minnesota* W, 6-1
Mar. 3 MINNESOTA* W, 5-2
Mar. 9 UAA# W, 5-1
Mar. 10 UAA# W, 8-2
Mar. 23-25NCAA Quarterfinals TBA
Apr. 5-7NCAA Championship TBA
*WCHA game/# WCHA Playoffs
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