St. Cloud State University Men's Hockey Release 3/19/01
2001 NCAA Div. I West Regional:
March 25: SCSU vs. Winner of Michigan-Mercyhurst Game
@ 4:30 p.m. (CST) at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.
(Winner will advance to NCAA Frozen Four on April 5-7)
UPCOMING GAMES: St. Cloud State University (31-8-1, 20-8-0 WCHA) will play
in the 2001 NCAA Division I West Regional on March 25 at Van Andel Arena in
Grand Rapids, Mich. The number 2 seeded Huskies will play the winner of the
game between number 3 seed Michigan (25-12-5) and number six seed Mercyhurst
(22-11-2). The winner of the game will advance to the NCAA Frozen Four in
Albany, NY on April 5-7. Tickets for the upcoming NCAA West Regional can by
calling Ticketmaster at 616-456-3333.
SCSU WINS FINAL 5: SCSU claimed its first-ever WCHA trophy with a 6-5
overtime victory against North Dakota on March 17, at the Xcel Center in St.
Paul in the title game of the WCHA Final 5. Derek Eastman scored the game
winner at 11:33 of overtime with assists from Ryan Malone and Jon Cullen.
The game opened with Tyler Arnason scoring at 12:10 of the first period,
with assists from Duvie Westcott and Scott Meyer. UND came back to tie the
score in the second, before Eastman scored his first goal of the night at
8:10 of the second. Joe Motzko tallied on the power play at 15:06 before
Arnason carded his second goal of the night at 16:06. In the third period,
UND moved it to 4-2 before Arnason gained his second career hat trick with a
score at 12:24 on the power play. UND fired back with three unanswered
goals and tied the game with 11 seconds to play. SCSU was outshot in the
game 38-36, but Meyer had 33 saves in the win. SCSU also shut down the UND
power play at 0-4. Of note, Eastman tied a team season-high with four
points in the game (2g/2a)...on March 16, the Huskies gained entry to the
title game with a 3-0 win over Minnesota at the Xcel. Meyer was flawless
with 23 saves and his ninth career shutout. Chris Purslow posted the game
winner with his score at 5:07 with assists from Arnason and Sampair. Nate
DiCasmirro added another goal at 5:47 with assists from Arnason and
Westcott. The scoring ended when Arnason knotted a goal at 9:46 of the
second with an assist from Westcott. The goal was not called at first but
upon further video review after the first stoppage in play, the puck
actually went through a hole in the back of the net. At the game, 18,409
people packed into the Xcel to set a new single-game attendance record for
the WCHA Final Five.
HEAD COACH: SCSU coach Craig Dahl (Pacific Lutheran, 1976) is 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 260-242-38 at SCSU and a 20-year career coaching mark of
336-329-40. 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 260-242-38 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 held by Jeff Saterdalen (1989-90). Sampair now has 38 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 the USCHO and USA
TODAY/ American Hockey Magazine polls on Jan. 22 and on March 11...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.
NINE GAMES AND COUNTING: SCSU now owns a 9-game winning streak, which ties
the team record 9-game win streak (dating back to a 3-2 Feb. 16 loss at UW)
it posted from Dec. 9-Jan. 20 this season. SCSU has won 12 of its last 13
games. Brandon Sampair has a team-high nine-game scoring streak to match
the win streak. Before this year, 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.
MVP ARNASON: Tyler Arnason now ranks third in team history with 55 points
this season. Arnason, the WCHA Final Five MVP, charted the second hat trick
of his career (first of the season) during the Huskies' title win over UND.
Arnason now has 28g/27a this year and only trails Jeff Saterdalen
(24g/33a-57) and Fred Knipscheer (34g/26a-60). Arnason's 28 goals this year
now places him 2nd in team history behind Fred Knipscheer's 34 in 1992-93.
He moves ahead of New York Islander Mark Parrish, who had 27 from
1996-97...in career scoring, Arnason is now seventh in team history with 135
points (61g/74a). He trails UPN Channel 9 news anchor Jeff Passolt, who had
136 points from 1977-81. Of note, Arnason is the 3rd player in team history
to hit over 50 points in a season.
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 260-242-38.
29 IS MOST WINS EVER: With 31 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 and 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 (1st over 30 wins)...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.
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 260-242-38
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.).
SCSU IN THE NCAAs: This marks the second consecutive season that SCSU has
made it to the NCAA tournament, and the third time in team history. SCSU
also advanced to the NCAA tournament in 1988-89. SCSU is 0-3 in NCAA play,
with SCSU bowing out of tournament play last year with a 5-3 loss to Boston
University in first round play at Albany, NY. In 1988-89, SCSU lost a 6-3,
4-2 series against Lake Superior State...For SCSU, its opponent in the first
round of the regional will be a new one. SCSU has never played Mercyhurst
or Michigan during its entire
hockey team history - dating back to 1987-88 at the Division I level. Aside
from the five WCHA teams invited to the dance, SCSU has only played Maine,
St. Lawrence and Providence in regular season play during its history. SCSU
has never played against the other NCAA draws Boston College or Michigan
State...Last year, SCSU dropped to a 3-0 deficit in the first period against
Boston University during the NCAA regional. SCSU came back with two goals
in the second by Mike Pudlick and Ryan Malone to make it 4-2. In the final
period, Lee Brooks scored for the Huskies to make it 5-3. Scott Meyer
suffered the loss in the nets with 19 saves. SCSU outshot BU 26-24 in the
game.
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 25-7-1
this season and has now charted 57 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 2.18 goals
against rate and a .927 save percentage through 35 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.
THE HONOR ROLL: Tyler Arnason was named the WCHA Final 5 MVP after posting
four goals and two assists over the weekend. He was joined on the All-WCHA
Final Five team by defender Duvie Westcott and goalie Scott Meyer... Meyer
also gained All-WCHA First Team honors, while Duvie Westcott was named
Second Team All-WCHA. Brandon Sampair and Mark Hartigan were listed as
Third Team All-WCHA award winners...WCHA All-Academic award recipients this
season were Keith Anderson, Jon Cullen, Scott Meyer, Brandon Sampair and
Duvie Westcott...in the latest NCAA stats, SCSU ranked first in the nation
with a 26.3% power play rate and fourth in the nation with 2.24 goals
allowed per game. In goals scored per game, SCSU ranked 2nd with 4.11 gpg
and it was second with a 1.87 scoring margin...SCSUıs winning rate of .776
is second in the nation...Hartigan was 7th in the nation with .70 goals
scored per game and Arnason with 15th with .63 gpg. Sampair was 7th with
.97 assists per game. Meyer ranked 4th among Division I players with a SV%
of .927 and was 5th with a 2.17 GAA. His winning rate of 75.8% placed him
5th among Division I goalies (all NCAA Stats thru 3/11 only)...Chris
Purslowıs has scored six of his seasonıs eight goals in the last seven
games...Tyler Arnason is the team scoring and goal leader with 28 goals and
55 points. He has the second most goals in a single-season in team
history...Brandon Sampair owns a team-high nine-game scoring streak and he
has scored in 13 of the last 14 games...Duvie Westcott is +30 on the
plus/minus to lead the team and Derek Eastman is +28...SCSU is closing in
the team record for most goals in a season: The current team record of 170
goals was set in 1990-91. This year, SCSU has 164 goals...SCSU has allowed
only 85 goals this season, which is far less than the team record 103 goals
allowed last winter...SCSU has already set a new team record for most
assists this year at 265. The old record of 255 assists was set in 1999-00.
The team record for most points stood at 411 (1999-00) and it has fallen in
front of the Husky scoring machine this winter. At present, SCSU now has a
school record
430 points.
WCHA PLAYOFF FACTS: SCSU won its first-ever WCHA Final Five title this year
with a 6-5 win over UND on March 17...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 brings a 5-8 in Final Five
tournament games and 2-0 in the new Xcel Center...SCSU also advanced to the
final game in 1994, losing 3-2 in overtime to Minnesota - its only other
Final Five title game appearance.
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 SRO with 6,686.
SCSU Season Long Streaks (2000-01):
Win Streak 9 games (12/9 -1/20 & 2/17-Present)
Unbeaten Streak 9 games (12/9 -1/20 & 2/17-Present)
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 9 games (Feb. 17-Present)
NCAA Division I Menıs Hockey:
The 2001 Tournament
Regional Play-In Dates:
at Worcester, Mass. on March 23:
Colorado College (26-12-1) vs. St. Lawrence (20-12-4) 5 p.m.
Minnesota (27-12-2) vs. Maine (19-11-7) at 7:30 pm
at Grand Rapids, Mich. on March 24:
Wisconsin (21-14-4) vs. Providence (22-12-5) at 1 p.m.
Mercyhurst (22-11-2) vs. Michigan (25-12-5) at 4:30 p.m.
Regional Quarterfinal Dates:
at Worcester, Mass. on March 24:
Winner CC/St. Lawrence vs. North Dakota (27-7-9) at 4 p.m.
Winner UM/Maine vs. Boston College (30-8-2) at 7:30 p.m.
at Grand Rapids, Mich. on March 25:
Winner UW/Providence vs. Michigan State (32-4-4) at 2 p.m.
Winner Mich./Mercyhurst vs. SCSU (31-8-1) at 4:30 p.m.
SCSU Scoring
in the NCAA Tournament
G-A-P PIM
Keith Anderson 0-1-1 0
Tyler Arnason 0-0-0 0
Lee Brooks 1-0-1 1-2
Nate DiCasmirro 0-0-0 0
Derek Eastman 0-0-0 0
Brian Gaffaney 0-0-0 0
Mark Hartigan 0-0-0 1-2
Ryan Malone 1-0-1 1-2
Joe Motzko 0-1-1 0
Brandon Sampair 0-0-0 0
Mike Walsh 0-1-1 0
Duvie Westcott 0-1-1 0
Goalies
Scott Meyer 19 Saves, 5 GA
Dean Weasler DNP
Jake Moreland DNP
NCAA East Regional at Albany, NY in 2000
3/25/2000: Boston University 5, SCSU 3
NCAA NEWS AND NOTES: Michigan State (32-4-4) is the only team this season
in the country with more wins then the Huskies (31-8-1)...SCSU is one of
only three teams in the nation this season with 30 or more wins. Boston
College (30-8-2) rounds out the top three...SCSU is the #2 seed in the West
Regional - its highest NCAA Regional Seed in team history...Michigan State
is number one in the West, while Boston College is number one in the East
Regional at Worcester, Mass. and North Dakota is the number two seed in the
East. The other teams in the East Region are #3 Colorado College, #4
Minnesota, #5 Maine and #6 St. Lawrence... The West seeds are #1 MSU, #2
SCSU, #3 Michigan, #4 Wisconsin, #5 Providence and #6 Mercyhurst...of note,
SCSU assistant coach has a few NCAA tournament ties. He was an assistant
coach at Providence (another West Region participant) last year and was also
a player at Lake Superior State during that schoolıs NCAA title years in
1992 and 1994.
TICKETS AND TRAVEL: For advance purchase tickets for the NCAA West
Regional, please call Ticketmaster in Grand Rapids, Mich. at 616-456-3333.
For travel packages to the Regional Tournament, please call Bursch Travel in
St. Cloud at 320-251-3180.
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