FYI -- The NCHA newsletter is published weekly during the hockey season
and originates in the office of Terry Owens, NCHA Director of
Information.  In his alleged real life, Terry is the Sports Information
Director at UW-Stevens Point.
 
And now the newsletter ...
 
 
NCHA DROPS THE PUCK FOR 13TH SEASON
 
THIS WEEK:  The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association opens its 13th
season with three league series and all the teams in action.  The
season-opening weekend is also the debut of the new divisional lineup, as
well as a new team in St. Norbert College and an old friend rejoining the
fold in the College of St. Scholastica.
 
NCAA Division II Champion Bemidji State opens defense of its back-to-back
national titles by hosting St. Scholastica while NCAA Division III Champ
UW-River Falls travels west to take on the Air Force Academy in a
weekend series.  League Champion UW-Superior opens defense of its title
by hosting the Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire while newcomer St. Norbert
College is at the Rochester Institute of Technology Tournament.
UW-Stevens Point is at Lake Forest to wrap up the first weekend of the
94-95 season.
 
THE DIVISIONAL OUTLOOK:  The eight NCHA teams are split into a North and
South Division this season, mainly for scheduling purposes.  The teams
will play each team in their division four times and the teams in the
other division twice, for a total of 20 league games for each squad.  As
in the past, the overall standings will be used for post-season seeding.
Both the divisional and overall standings will be listed each week.
 
SEASON-OPENING NCHA TILTS (93-94 final record)
UW-Eau Claire (6-19-2) at UW-Superior (22-7-4):  The Yellowjackets are
looking for a repeat of last season, when they won their first NCHA
regular season and playoff championships and advanced to the NCAA III
title game, which they hosted.  The Bluegolds are looking to make a move
up from two straight fifth place finishes.  Both teams started well in
93-94, with UWS winning eight of their first 11 and UWEC going 5-5-1 in
the first two months of the season.
 
St. Scholastica (7-16-2) at Bemidji State (21-9-3):  The Saints mark
their return to the NCHA with an unenvious task - playing the two-time
defending NCAA II Champions in their home opener.  But CSS is ready for
the challenge.  The Beavers are hoping to make a push for three straight
crowns and that push begins here.  Despite a slow start, CSS enjoyed a
5-2-1 stretch in January and had a good recruiting season.
 
UW-Stevens Point (17-9-3) at Lake Forest (5-18-2):  Not making the NCAA
III Championship Game for the first time in six seasons is all the fuel
the Pointers need.  Memories of the post-season disappointments are
erased and the squad is looking ahead.  The Foresters look to be stronger
and are determined to move up from their sixth place finish.
 
 
[Future issues will have overall standings and divisional standings]
 
GAMES THIS WEEK:
11/4    UW-Eau Claire at UW-Superior
        St. Scholastica at Bemidji State
        UW-Stevens Point at Lake Forest
        UW-River Falls at Air Force
        St. Norbert at RIT Tournament
11/5    UW-Eau Claire at UW-Superior
        St. Scholastica at Bemidji State
        UW-Stevens Point at Lake Forest
        UW-River Falls at Air Force
        St. Norbert at RIT Tournament
 
UPCOMING GAMES:
11/9    Augsburg at Bemidji State
11/11   Hamline at St. Scholastica
        Mankato State at UW-Superior
        Bethel at St. Norbert
        St. Thomas at UW-Eau Claire
        Bemidji State at Concordia-Moorhead
        St. Mary's at Lake Forest
11/12   St. Scholastica at Hamline
        Mankato State at UW-Superior
        Bethel at St. Norbert
        UW-Eau Claire at St. Olaf
        Concordia-Moorhead at Bemidji State
        St. Mary's at Lake Forest
 
 
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Debbie Somers                                NCAA Div III National Champs
UW-Stevens Point                        1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91,1992-93
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