Hello everyone! Well, the WCHA Final Five is here and it looks like it
will be a lot of fun. Five quality teams fighting for one automatic bid
into the NCAA Tournament. To start off, I'll look at each team and
comment on their chances of winning it all.
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NORTH DAKOTA.
Record: 26-10-2
WCHA Finish: T1 (With UM).
How they got here: Swept Michigan Tech at home 2-0.
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The Sioux have an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament wrapped up. Now,
they have to perform well at the Final Five for the #2 seed in the
Regional and the first round bye that comes with it. With some injuries
to key players, the Sioux will have to get strong goaltending from Aaron
Schweitzer and a solid defensive effort from everyone.
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MINNESOTA.
Record: 26-11-1
WCHA Finish: T1 (With UND).
How they got here: Swept Alaska-Anchorage at home 2-0.
Main Goals in Final Five: Gain Automatic bid; get #2 seed in Regional.
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The Gophers have been on fire as of late. They swept Wisconsin to end
the season, and swept UAA at home in the playoffs. The Gophers will have
to keep it up this weekend to win the tournament and keep the #2 Regional
Seed which they would get if the season would end today.
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ST. CLOUD.
Record: 23-11-4
WCHA Finish: 3rd
Main Goal in Final Five: Win the tournament, secure NCAA bid.
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The Huskies have had a great season, and are in position to get an NCAA
bid. To guarrantee this, they'll have to win the tournament. In order
to accomplish this goal, players like Matt Cullen, Mark Parrish, and
Brian Leitza will have to step it up and provide leadership.
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DENVER.
Record: 23-11-4
WCHA Finish: T4
Main Goals in Final Five: Win first game; win tournament.
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The Pioneers have overcome a terrible start to get back into the hunt for
an NCAA Tournament spot. Denver faces a rocky road, having to play CC in
Thursdays 4 vs. 5 game. This means having to play and win 3 games in 3
days to get the automatic bid. If any team can, however, it's the
Pioneers. They have been hot as of late, and are capable of doing it.
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COLORADO COLLEGE.
Record: 21-13-4
WCHA Finish: T4
How they got here: Swept Wisconsin at home in playoffs 2-0.
Main goals at Final Five: win first game; win at least one more game.
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The Tigers have perhaps the toughest road of the five teams. They are
coming off a grueling four overtime game against Wisconsin last Saturday,
and will have to play in the 4 vs. 5 game against red-hot DU. If they
lose on Thurday, the season is likely over. If Juddd Lambert can come up
big this weekend, and the rest of the team plays hard, they'll have a
shot of making the Big Dance again this year.
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There is my short-but-sweet preview of the teams in the Final Five. I
think that the Thursday matchup between DU and CC will determine an NCAA
Tournament Bid, so even the play-in game offers some suspense. I'll be
back on Monday with a recap of the Final Five and a preview of the NCAA
Tournament. Later.
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