Sunday's (10/16/94) St. Paul Pioneer Press had quite a bit of WCHA info. Gregg
Wong had two articles: "Woog flies coach, first class" (no, it's not exactly a
scathing criticism) and "St. Cloud veterans face new experience as favorites."
It also has predictions of the order of finish in the WCHA and team previews for
all 10 teams, which I'll enter here. (I gather the Pioneer Press is available
on AOL if any of you AOLers want to read the articles; I got more than enough
typing practice just typing these in!)
Pioneer Press Predictions:
1. St. Cloud State
2. Minnesota
3. Northern Michigan
4. Denver
5. Colorado College
6. Wisconsin
7. Minnesota-Duluth
8. Alaska-Anchorage
9. North Dakota
10. Michigan Tech
Previews:
Alaska Anchorage
Coach: Kelvin "Brush" Christiansen
1993-94 record: 15-19-2 (14-16-2 in WCHA, 6th place)
Outlook: After being picked to finish last in their first WCHA season in
1993-94, the Seawolves surprised the league with their play. "It will be a lot
tougher for us this year," Christiansen says. "I think we'll be a better team,
but I think other teams will be more prepared for us." With a veteran group of
defensemen and two solid goaltenders, the Seawolves' strength again should be
their defense. "They don't give you much space; they really play you tight,"
one opposing WCHA coach says. "They don't do anything really fancy; they just
play hard all the time."
Key players: G Lee Schill (13-15-2 record, 3.42 goals-against average, .892
save percentage); D Jason White (5-15-20); last year's No. 1 scoring line of C
Mark Stitt (15-17-32), RW Paul Williams (13-16-29) and LW Troy Norcross
(10-9-19); newcomers, F Jeff Edwards, F Rob Milliken and F Bobby Stewart.
Colorado College
Coach: Don Lucia
1993-94 record: 23-11-5 (18-9-5, 1st)
Outlook: Only six times since 1951 has a WCHA regular-season champion
successfully defended its title, and coach Don Lucia knows it will be difficult
for the Tigers to repeat. "We had a lot of intangibles go our way last season,"
Lucia admits. "One, we remained healthy, especially on defense. Two, we got
tremendous leadership from our seniors." Still, the Tigers return three veteran
goalies, five defensemen and seven of their top 10 forwards. Besides the onus
of trying to repeat, the Tigers must adjust to playing on the bigger Air Force
Academy rink for their home games while their new arena is being built.
Key players: G Ryan Bach (17-7-5, 3.63, .872); D Kent Fearns (11-19-30); C
Jay McNeill (25-19-44); C Peter Geronazzo (19-19-38); RW R. J. Enga
(15-23-38); C Colin Schmidt (14-22-36); LW Chad Remackel (10-21-31);
newcomers, D Calvin Elfring, D Geoff Herzog and D Trevor Putrah.
Denver
Coach: George Gwozdecky
1993-94 record: 15-20-3 (11-18-3, 9th)
Outlook: If the Pioneers can avoid injuries, their No. 1 problem last season,
they have the experience and offensive talent to rebound under a new coach,
Gwozdecky, from last year's disappointment. "They probably have more speed and
individual talent up front than anybody around," a WCHA coach says of the
Pioneers. "If they can stay healthy and play a little more defense, they will
be a factor." Of the 22 skaters on the roster, 16 have reputations as being
offensive players. If Gwozdecky can tighten up the defensive play, the Pioneers
should be a contender.
Key players: LS Jason Elders (26-18-44); C Angelo Ricci (13-29-42); C Erik
Andersson (10-20-30); G Sinuhe Wallinheimo (10-12-1, 3.93, .878); D Kelly
Hollingshead (4-15-19); newcomers, C Anders Bjork and RW Mike Dairon.
Michigan Tech
Coach: Bob Mancini
1993-94 record: 13-27-5 (8-19-5, 10th)
Outlook: The Huskies' regular-season disappointment last season was offset by
their playoff run that included upsetting Colorado College and Northern Michigan
before being eliminated by Minnesota. Mancini hopes to use that run as a
springboard to an improved 1994-95 season, although his team has a dozen
freshmen. The Huskies might have college hockey's best forward line of Pat
Mikesch, Randy Stevens and Brent Peterson. But to be a contender they will have
to overcome the departure of goalie Jamie Ram, their overall inexperience and a
lack of depth.
Key players: C Mikesch (14-36-50), LW B. Peterson (25-21-46); RW Stevens
(21-12-33); D Jason Wright (2-17-19); newcomers, G Pete Hamilton and F Andre
Savage.
Minnesota
Coach: Doug Woog
1993-94 record: 25-13-4 (18-10-4, 2nd)
Outlook: The Gophers, last season's WCHA playoff champions, have 19 returning
lettermen and several prized freshman recruits and should make a good run at
Woog's fourth WCHA regular-season title in his 10 years at his alma mater. The
goaltending and defense are solid, and there is depth at forward. However,
scoring could be a problem, especially up front, and the Gophers are not a
physical team, which could hurt on the smaller rinks. "A lot of our offense
will be generated by our defense," Woog said. "And we're not very big, so
we'll just have to play a little bigger."
Key players: G Jeff Callinan (14-5-3, 3.22, .875); G Jeff Moen (11-8-1, 3.33,
.884); C Brian Bonin (24-20-44); W Justin McHugh (15-21-36); D Brian LaFleur
(0-9-9); D Dan Trebil (1-21-22); newcomers, D Mike Crowley, D Jason Godbout, C
Casey Hankinson, W Ryan Kraft, D Jay Moser and W Joe Pankratz.
Minnesota-Duluth
Coach: Mike Sertich
1993-94 record: 14-21-3 (12-17-3, 7th)
Outlook: The young Bulldogs, with 13 freshmen on the roster, need someone to
step up and take over the goal scoring provided by last year's Hobey Baker Award
winner, Chris Marinucci (30-31-61). "Our biggest key is who is going to put the
puck in the net for us," Sertich says. "We didn't do that very well last year
as a team. We didn't get the kind of support we were looking for (behind
Marinucci)." The Bulldogs should be strong in goal and at defense. Sertich
went for speed among his recruits. With the bigger rinks, he says, "it's
imperative to try to quicken your team."
Key players: G Taras Lendzyk (13-17-2, 3.85, .884); W Brad Federenko
(13-23-36); C Rusty Fitzgerald (11-25-36); D Brett Larson (14-14-29); and D
Rod Aldoff (4-25-29); newcomers, F Brian Bolf, F Josh Arnold, F Paul Carey, D
Mike Peluso and D Laird Lidster.
North Dakota
Coach: Dean Blais
1993-94 record: 11-23-4 (11-17-4, 8th)
Outlook: Blais, a former Sioux and Gophers assistant and most recently coach at
hometown International Falls High School, plans to stress defense in his first
season. That's a good idea because last season the Sioux gave up the most goals
of any WCHA team, 164. Toby Kvalevog was last year's all-rookie goalie, and
Nick Naumenko leads the defense; they are among 18 returning lettermen, which
include only three seniors. Center Landon Wilson, last season's rookie of the
year, leads the forwards. Freshman Ryan Johnson, brother of former Sioux star
Greg Johnson, is supposed to be a phenom.
Key players: G Kvalevog (11-17-3, 3.97, .876); D Naumenko (4-22-26); C Wilson
(18-15-33); newcomers, F Ryan Johnson, D Jamie Byfuglien, F Tim Slukynsky, F
Matt Henderson.
Northern Michigan
Coach: Rick Comley
1993-94 record: 22-16-1 (17-14-1, 5th)
Outlook: With seven of their top nine scorers back, including three 40-point
men, the Wildcats should be one of the league's highest-scoring teams. And
there's experience, with five seniors who have played in at least 100 games.
"But in order to be successful," Comley says, "we'll have to have the right
combination of playing defense and offense at the right times." Another plus
for the Wildcats is they rarely lose at home. "For some reason, they have a
huge advantage on their home ice," a rival coach says. "That's become the
toughest road rink in the league to play in."
Key players: G Dieter Kochan (9-7-0, 3.46, .875); RW Mike Harding (24-25-49);
C Dean Seymour (12-29-41); LW Kory Karlander (20-20-40); RW Scott Green
(10-24-34); D Jason Hehr (11-26-37).
St. Cloud State
Coach: Craig Dahl
1993-94 record: 21-13-4 (16-12-4, 4th)
Outlook: Last season was the Huskies' best in their four years in the WCHA, and
they are the pick to win it all this season with all but two players back from
the WCHA playoff runner-up team. Among the returnees are the top six scorers
and top defenseman Kelly Hultgren. The only question is in goal, where freshman
Brian Leitza replaces the departed Grant Sjerven and the originally projected
starter, Neil Cooper, who is out for the season after being injured in an auto
accident. The Huskies also excel on special teams, ranking first last season on
the power play and second in penalty-killing.
Key players: G Leitza, D Hultgren (14-23-37); C Bill Lund (11-24-35); C Marc
Gagnon (22-13-35); F Brett Lievers (16-16-32); F Dave Holum (17-14-31); F
Eric Johnson (9-21-30); newcomers, G Leitza, F Rob Klasnick, F Jason Stewart, D
Andy Vicari, and F Mark Kotary.
Wisconsin
Coach: Jeff Sauer
1993-94 record: 26-15-1 (19-12-1, 3rd)
Outlook: The Badgers had the most victories and allowed the fewest goals in
league play last season but lost 11 regulars and are rebuilding. The key losses
were two underclassmen who turned pro -- last year's WCHA scoring leading, Kelly
Fairchild (20-44-64), and the league's top goaltender, Jim Carey (24-13-1, 3.04,
.902). The strength is at defense, where five of the 14 returning lettermen
play. "Our defensive system over the years has proven true," Sauer says,
knowing that defense likely will have to carry the team this season. It will
have to be good in front of untested goalie Kirk Daubenspeck.
Key players: G Daubenspeck (2-2, 4.07, .880); W Jamie Spencer (15-13-28); W
Max Williams (13-12-25); D Mark Strobel (7-12-19); D Brian Rafalski (6-17-23);
newcomers, F Joe Bianchi, F Rick Enrico, F Brad Englehart and F Erik Raygor.
Pam Sweeney Go Gophers!!!
[log in to unmask] 1993 & 1994 WCHA Playoff Champions!!!
1994 NC$$ PHinal PHour!!!
4 more days!!! Ski-U-Mah!!!
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