St. Cloud State University Men's Hockey Release 2/26/01
Upcoming Games:
March 2 - #6 SCSU at #4 Minnesota, 7:05 p.m.
March 3 - #4 Minnesota at #6 SCSU, 7:05 p.m.
PLAYOFF TICKETS: Tickets for the first round of the WCHA playoffs at the
National Hockey Center on March 9-11, will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Feb, 27,
at the SCSU Athletic Ticket Office and through Ticketmaster. Prices are $12
for adults and $7 for students K/12 and SCSU students with a validated ID.
Games each night will begin at 7:05 p.m. in the best of three series. The
winner will advance to the WCHA Final Five, which will be held on March
15-17, at the Xcel Center in St. Paul. For more information, please call
the Ticket Office at 320-255-2137 or 1-877-SCSUTIX or Ticketmaster at
320-253-3131. Of note, SCSU's first round opponent will be determined by
the results of this weekend's final regular season WCHA games.
UPCOMING GAMES: #6 St. Cloud State University (25-8-1, 18-8-0 WCHA) will
travel to #4 Minnesota on March 2, for a 7:05 p.m. game at Mariucci Arena
(cap. 9,700/200x100)...on March 3, SCSU will host Minnesota at 7:05 p.m. in
the National Hockey Center (cap. 5,763) in St. Cloud. As of 11 a.m. on Feb.
26, a limited number of standing room only tickets were still available for
the March 3 game at SCSU...the Huskies were ranked #6 in the last USA
TODAY/AHM poll and #6 in the last USCHO poll. In the last Pairwise Ranking,
SCSU is ranked 5th with 25 points and Michigan State is first with 30
(Minnesota is fourth with 27 pts). In the RPI ranking, SCSU is also ranked
5th with a 0.5751 rating.
THE RESULTS: The SCSU set a new team record by gaining their 24th victory of
the season with a big 6-2 win at home over MSU, Mankato on Friday, Feb. 23.
SCSU previous best for season wins was 23 in 1999-00 and 1996-97. For SCSU,
Jon Cullen put the Huskies up 1-0 with his 11th goal of the season at 3:10
of the first before Mankato hit a pair of goals to end the first period. In
the second period, Duvie Westcott charted an unassisted tally at 1:35 to tie
the game at 2-2. Westcott returned at 9:54 with a power play goal in the
second, which proved to be the game winner. SCSU poured it on with Joe
Motzko's power play tally at 15:21 of the second and Mark Hartigan ended the
period with a goal at 16:03. In the final period, Nate DiCasmirro scored
with a power play effort at 18:27. Brandon Sampair hit his 30th assist of
the season on DiCasmirro's goal. In the nets, Scott Meyer was impressive
with 31 saves as the Mavericks outshot the Huskies 33-31. On the power
play, SCSU shutout MSU 0-8 while posting a 3-of-7 rate on its own power play
chances...on Feb. 24, SCSU dropped Mankato 6-3. The Huskies charged to a
2-0 first period lead with goals by Arnason and DiCasmirro to set up a wild
second period. After MSU made it 2-1, SCSU made it 3-1 with a goal by
Sampair on the power play. MSU pushed it to 3-2 before Arnason hit the game
winner at 8:13 of the second. Chris Purslow and Keith Anderson also added
goals in the second period to close the scoring at 6-3. Meyer was the
goalie of record with 29 saves, while the Huskies outshot MSU 38-32.
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 254-242-38 at SCSU and a 20-year career coaching mark of
330-329-40. 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. In
1997-98, Dahl was named the WCHA Coach of the Year. 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 254-242-38 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.
HUSKY BITS: Brandon Sampair hit his 30th assist of the season on Fe. 23,
making him the sixth player in team history to gain 30+ assists in a season.
He now has 32 assists and only needs two more dishes to break the team
season record of 33, held by Jeff Saterdalen (1989-90)...Mark Hartigan
gained his 22nd goal of the season on Feb. 23. The total evens his 22 goals
from last year and places him fifth in the SCSU records for most goals in a
season. The current record is held by Fred Knipscheer with 34 in
1992-93...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. 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...in its last eight games, the Huskies have played
the nationıs #3 (UND), #8 (CC), #10 (UW) teams (and Mankato which received
votes in the last poll). SCSU will finish with games against #4 Minnesota.
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 (55g/65a) and has 22g/19a
this season... Brandon Sampair (46g/74a). He has 9g/32a 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 ranks 11th on the all-time scoring list and Sampair is 12th at SCSU.
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 254-242-38. The wins vs. MSU push Dahlıs overall career
record to above .500 at 330-329-40.
RECORDS ARE BEING BROKEN: SCSU broke a team record on Feb. 23, with a 6-2
win over Mankato. SCSU now has a 25-8-1 record, which is the most wins in a
season for the Huskies (since going Div. I) with 23 in 2000-01. The
previous team-highs were 23 wins in 1999-00 (23-14-3) and 1996-97 (23-13-4).
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. This marks the fifth season since going Division I that the
Huskies have won 20 or more games...with 18 wins, the Huskies have already
tied the team record for most WCHA wins in a season. SCSU also won 18 WCHA
games in 1996-97 (18-10-7). SCSU has also clinched third place in the WCHA
this season, which equals the teamıs best-ever finishes of 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.
HUSKIES ON TV: A total of 18 Husky home games this season will be televised
live on St. Cloud's Charter Communications cable channel 65 this season.
Charter Communications are also slated to carry the games live on their
systems in Alexandria, Willmar and Little Falls. KSTC channel 45 (Charter
cable channel 17 in St. Cloud) out of the Twin Cities. Veteran announcer
Wally Shaver will call the play-by-play along with color commentary from
Doug Johnson. The last KSTC game slated for this season is on Match 3 vs.
Minnesota.
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.
HUSKY AUTOGRAPH DEN: SCSU fans can obtain autographs in the Husky Autograph
Den after each home game this season. Players slated to appear in the
autograph den after the game on March 3 are Jeff Finger and Ryan Malone.
ABOUT SCSU: The 1999-2000 season marked the 13th 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 has been third place, a
standing that was reached in 1996-97 and again in 1999-2000...since going
Division I, SCSU owns a 254-242-38 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 VS. SCSU: Earlier this season, UM defeated the Huskies 2-0
on 11/17 at the NHC and 4-3 at Mariucci on 11/18. Mark Hartigan scored two
goals in the loss at Mariucci, while goalie Jake Moreland suffered the loss
in relief of Scott Meyer (who left the game due to illness)...Erik Westrum
leads the Gophers with 51 points (23g/28a) and Jordan Leopold has 41 pts.
(11g/30a)...Adam Hauser is tops between the pipes with a 2.36 GAA and a .910
SV% (24-8-2)...UM coach Don Lucia is the former coach at CC and since moving
to UM, he is 3-4-1 against SCSU...SCSUıs Mark Hartigan has been tough
against the Gophers with 9 goals and four assists (13 pts.) in 7 career
games against UM...other SCSU players who have enjoyed success against their
in-state rivals are Lee Brooks with 3g/3a in 12 career games, Nate
DiCasmirro with 3g/5a in 8 games, Tyler Arnason with 1g/5a in 12 games,
Brian Gaffaney with 2g/3a in 12 games (which is almost 30% of his career
point total), Brandon Sampair with 2g/9a (including a team record five
assists during last yearıs WCHA playoff game), and Keith Anderson 3/4a
(including the OT game winner last year at the NHC on March 4...Scott Meyer
is 4-2-1 in eight games played against the Gophers.
TEAM NOTES: The WCHA Defensive Player of the Week was Duvie Westcott. He
also won the award back on 10/23...Westcottıs two goals on 2/23 were the
most scored by a SCSU defender in one game this season. His two goals in
one period also makes him the fourth player to accomplish that feat in
2000-01. His six points (2g/4a) vs. Mankato also ties a team series high
for this season...SCSU equalled season highs with four goals in the second
period during both Mankato games...Brandon Sampair (9g/32a) and Tyler
Arnason (22g/19a) both lead the Huskies with 41 points this year......MSU
has not won a game vs. SCSU since moving to the Division I level
(7-0-1)...SCSU been outshot 17 times by its opponents this season but the
Huskies are 11-6 in those games (including Feb. 23rdıs 33-31 advantage to
MSU)...in the latest NCAA stats, SCSU ranked second in the nation with a
25.3% power play rate and fifth in the nation with 2.31 goals allowed per
game. In goals scored per game, SCSU ranked 7th with 3.75 gpg...SCSUıs
winning rate of .734 is fourth in the nation...Hartigan was 9th in the
nation with .68 goals scored per game and Sampair was 11th with .94 assists
per game. Meyer ranked 5th among Division I players with a SV% of .924 and
was 11th with a 2.25 GAA. His winning rate of 70.0% placed him 7th among
Division I goalies...Meyer currently owns a .918 career SV% and a 2.41
career GAA. The current team career records in both the categories is .890
SV% by Brian Leitza from 1995-98 and 3.38 GAA by Leitza from
1995-98...Meyer is also on track to make a run at the single season records.
Last year, he set the SV% record at .920 and the GAA record at 2.37. He
currently stands at .924 SV% and 2.27 GAA...SCSUıs 8-of-8 on the penalty
kill vs. MSU, Mankato on Feb. 23 equals a team-high, which was also set on
11/17 vs. Minnesota...SCSU hit a two-game series high against MSU, Mankato
with a total of 12 goals scored. The previous best was 11 vs. UMD on Jan.
5-6.
REACHING THEIR GOALS: Mark Hartigan and Tyler Arnason each have a team
leading 22 goals for the Huskies this season. In the SCSU records, the pair
are now tied for fifth place for most goals in a season. Hartigan also had
22 goals as a sophomore in 1999-00. This marks the 13th and 14th time in
SCSU history that a player has scored over 20 goals in a season for the
Huskies.
BIG CROWDS: In home games this season, SCSU has an attendance total of
105,763 for an average of 5,875 per game (18 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, SCSU was at capacity for the first time in
2000-01 with a crowd of 6,685.
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.
UP NEXT: SCSU will host first round play in the WCHA tournament on March
9-11.
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)
2000-01 St. Cloud State
Hockey Results (25-8-1)
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* 7:05 pm
Mar. 3 MINNESOTA* 7:05 pm
Mar. 9-11WCHA First Round TBA
Mar. 15-18WCHA Playoff TBA
Mar. 23-25NCAA Quarterfinals TBA
Apr. 5-7NCAA Championship TBA
*WCHA game
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