McDonald19
03-12-2005, 01:37 AM
HF has a couple previews of the NCAA playoffs.
Thought I'd copy over the parts of the articles which deal with our prospects.
If any Mod can sticky this thread for use through the end of the playoffs please do!
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=7580&mode=threaded&order=0
CCHA
Brandon Rogers D-Man Michigan (2001 4th round 118th overall)
#1 Michigan vs. #12 Notre Dame – The Wolverines claimed their third CCHA regular season title in four years last weekend on top of a five-point effort by junior Jeff Tambellini (LA). The Wolverines have been one of the nation’s most explosive and balanced offensive teams all season, with 12 players on the roster registering 20 or more points this season. Among them are Tambellini, freshman Chad Kolarik (PHX) and senior Jason Ryznar (NJ). Tambellini, an All-CCHA First Team selection, ranks second on the team in scoring with 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists). His 29 assists lead the team. Kolarik is fourth on the team with 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists). Ryznar, despite missing games due to injury, is enjoying a career year with 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists).
Michigan will host struggling Notre Dame in the opening round of the CCHA playoffs. The Wolverines swept the Fighting Irish during the regular season, outscoring them a combined 29-6 in the four regular season meetings. After a stellar season last year, the Fighting Irish have had little go right this season. The main reason for Notre Dame’s woes has been the severe lack of scoring. Coming into the post-season, the Irish rank dead last in the nation in offense, averaging only 1.64 points per game. One of the few bright spots for Notre Dame has been the development of talented sophomore defenseman Wes O’Neill (NYI). O’Neill is second on the team in scoring with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists).
Dirk Southern Center Northern Michigan (2003 7th round 218th overall)
#3 Northern Michigan vs. #10 Western Michigan – The Wildcats come into the post-season as one of the nation’s hottest teams, riding an eight-game undefeated streak (6-0-2). They are coming off of a sweep of Lake Superior State last weekend. A big part of NMU’s success has been the stellar play of senior goaltender Tuomas Tarkki. Tarkki, an All-CCHA First Team selection, sports an 18-6-5 record that includes three shutouts. He ranks ninth in the nation in goals against average (2.00) and third in save percentage (.931). Sophomore Darin Olver (NYR) leads the team in scoring with 39 points (9 goals, 30 assists) and his 30 assists tie him for fifth in the nation. CCHA All-Rookie Team selection, freshman Mike Santorelli (NSH) is having an excellent season and leads the team’s rookies with 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists).
NMU will face tenth-seeded Western Michigan in the opening round of the conference playoffs. The Wildcats won and tied the Broncos in the two regular season meetings. WMU is coming off of a split to Ferris State last weekend. Team defense has been the biggest problem for WMU this season, despite some outstanding work by freshman Daniel Bellissimo. Offense has not been a problem. Junior Brent Walton, a likely Hobey Baker finalist and an All-CCHA Second Team selection, is enjoying a superb season for WMU, leading the team with 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) which puts him fourth in the nation. Junior Vince Bellissimo (FLA) is also having a stellar season, ranking second on the WMU squad with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists).
Drew Miller Left-Wing Michigan State (2003 6th round 186th overall)
Matt Christie Left-Wing Miami-Ohio (2004 8th round 236th overall)
#6 Michigan State vs. #7 Miami-Ohio – It almost looked like they were going to squander it, but the Michigan State Spartans would gain home ice for the first round of the conference playoffs, thanks to a sweep of Notre Dame in the final weekend along with some help. MSU comes into the post-season without sophomore defenseman A. J. Thelen (MIN), who was dismissed from the team last weekend. Senior Jim Slater (ATL) continues to move up the Spartans’ all-time scoring chart, now sitting in 24th place. In the last six games, Slater has been on a tear, notching 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in that stretch. Freshman Jim McKenzie (OTT) has a hot streak of his own going into the post-season. McKenzie has eight points (seven goals, one assist) in six games, including his first career hat trick.
MSU will meet Miami-Ohio in the opening round of the conference playoffs. The Spartans split the two regular season meetings with the RedHawks this season. Miami-Ohio is coming off of a disappointing loss and tie to in-state rival Ohio State this past weekend that resulted in the RedHawks losing home ice to their first round opponent. The outstanding sophomore tandem of Matt Christie (ANA) and Marty Guerin (LA) rank first and second respectively in team scoring. Christie leads the team with 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists), while Guerin is second with 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists). The player to watch on the team however is junior defenseman Andy Greene. Greene, who is enjoying a stellar season and is an early favorite for CCHA Offensive Defenseman of the Year, leads all CCHA defensemen in scoring with 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists).
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=7582&mode=threaded&order=0
WCHA
Kyle Klubertanz D-Man Wisconsin (2004 3rd round 74th overall)
Matt Auffrey Right-Wing Wisonsin (2004 6th round 172nd overall)
#4 Wisconsin vs. #7 Alaska-Anchorage – The Badgers are coming off of a disappointing tie and loss to Minnesota-Duluth last weekend that also saw them lose the third seed in the conference. After a great start to 2005, the Badgers struggled in the last nine games of the regular season, going 1-5-3 in that stretch. Wisconsin has gotten exceptional production from their underclassmen, particular the sophomores this season. Nearly 45 percent of the Badgers scoring has come from the sophomore class. Leading the way is the always-exciting Robbie Earl (TOR), who co-leads the team in points with 38 (17 goals, 21 assists). His linemate, freshman Joe Pavelski (SJ), also has 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists). Pavelski, a strong candidate for WCHA Rookie of the Year, has enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign. His 38 points currently rank tied for first in the conference and tied for second overall in the nation among rookies. Wisconsin is one of only two WCHA teams (Colorado College being the other) that not only rank in the top 15 in the nation on both offense and defense but on special teams as well. While the Badgers power play has slipped a bit in recent games, they still have a better than 20 percent efficiency rating. Equally as good, if not better, is the Badgers penalty kill, which ranks tied for fourth in the nation at 87.3 percent.
Wisconsin will meet seventh-seeded Alaska-Anchorage for the second consecutive season in the opening round of the conference playoffs, having swept the Seawolves in all four regular season meetings. Wisconsin outscored UAA 17-5 in the four meetings. Alaska-Anchorage is coming off of two losses to in-state rival Alaska-Fairbanks in the battle for the Governor’s Cup last weekend. There are few, if any team in the NCAA this season that has lost more man games due to injury than Alaska-Anchorage. Injuries have absolutely decimated the Seawolves, so much so that only three players have played in all 34 regular season games. Among them has been freshman defenseman Luke Beaverson (FLA). The imposing rookie has two points on the season (both assists). What has been remarkable about the Seawolves this season has been the fact that despite the overwhelming number of injuries and some off-ice incidents, the team has been able to put together a very respectable 11-17-3 regular season record. The record is almost identical to their record last season.
ECAC
Shane Hynes Right-Wing Cornell (2003 3rd round 86th overall)
The ECAC concluded the first round of their conference playoffs this past weekend. The top four teams (Cornell, Harvard, Colgate and Vermont) had first round byes.
Clarkson will meet top-seeded Cornell in the second round. Cornell swept Clarkson in both meetings this season. The Golden Knights will face the nation’s stingiest defense, top special teams unit and Ivy League Player of the Year in sophomore goaltender David McKee. In 29 regular season games this season, the Big Red has allowed just 38 goals against, best in the nation. McKee, a strong candidate for ECAC Player of the Year, ranks first in the nation in goals against average (1.27) and shutouts (8) and is second in save percentage (.943). McKee needs just one more shutout before Cornell’s season ends to break Ken Dryden’s career shutout record. Senior Mike Knoepfli (TOR) is the hottest player on the Cornell team going into the post-season. In the final eight regular season games, Knoepfli posted 12 points (five goals, eight assists). Sophomore defenseman Ryan O’Byrne (MON) has blossomed into one of Cornell’s top defensemen, logging upwards in the neighborhood of 25-30 minutes of ice time per game.
Thought I'd copy over the parts of the articles which deal with our prospects.
If any Mod can sticky this thread for use through the end of the playoffs please do!
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=7580&mode=threaded&order=0
CCHA
Brandon Rogers D-Man Michigan (2001 4th round 118th overall)
#1 Michigan vs. #12 Notre Dame – The Wolverines claimed their third CCHA regular season title in four years last weekend on top of a five-point effort by junior Jeff Tambellini (LA). The Wolverines have been one of the nation’s most explosive and balanced offensive teams all season, with 12 players on the roster registering 20 or more points this season. Among them are Tambellini, freshman Chad Kolarik (PHX) and senior Jason Ryznar (NJ). Tambellini, an All-CCHA First Team selection, ranks second on the team in scoring with 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists). His 29 assists lead the team. Kolarik is fourth on the team with 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists). Ryznar, despite missing games due to injury, is enjoying a career year with 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists).
Michigan will host struggling Notre Dame in the opening round of the CCHA playoffs. The Wolverines swept the Fighting Irish during the regular season, outscoring them a combined 29-6 in the four regular season meetings. After a stellar season last year, the Fighting Irish have had little go right this season. The main reason for Notre Dame’s woes has been the severe lack of scoring. Coming into the post-season, the Irish rank dead last in the nation in offense, averaging only 1.64 points per game. One of the few bright spots for Notre Dame has been the development of talented sophomore defenseman Wes O’Neill (NYI). O’Neill is second on the team in scoring with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists).
Dirk Southern Center Northern Michigan (2003 7th round 218th overall)
#3 Northern Michigan vs. #10 Western Michigan – The Wildcats come into the post-season as one of the nation’s hottest teams, riding an eight-game undefeated streak (6-0-2). They are coming off of a sweep of Lake Superior State last weekend. A big part of NMU’s success has been the stellar play of senior goaltender Tuomas Tarkki. Tarkki, an All-CCHA First Team selection, sports an 18-6-5 record that includes three shutouts. He ranks ninth in the nation in goals against average (2.00) and third in save percentage (.931). Sophomore Darin Olver (NYR) leads the team in scoring with 39 points (9 goals, 30 assists) and his 30 assists tie him for fifth in the nation. CCHA All-Rookie Team selection, freshman Mike Santorelli (NSH) is having an excellent season and leads the team’s rookies with 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists).
NMU will face tenth-seeded Western Michigan in the opening round of the conference playoffs. The Wildcats won and tied the Broncos in the two regular season meetings. WMU is coming off of a split to Ferris State last weekend. Team defense has been the biggest problem for WMU this season, despite some outstanding work by freshman Daniel Bellissimo. Offense has not been a problem. Junior Brent Walton, a likely Hobey Baker finalist and an All-CCHA Second Team selection, is enjoying a superb season for WMU, leading the team with 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) which puts him fourth in the nation. Junior Vince Bellissimo (FLA) is also having a stellar season, ranking second on the WMU squad with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists).
Drew Miller Left-Wing Michigan State (2003 6th round 186th overall)
Matt Christie Left-Wing Miami-Ohio (2004 8th round 236th overall)
#6 Michigan State vs. #7 Miami-Ohio – It almost looked like they were going to squander it, but the Michigan State Spartans would gain home ice for the first round of the conference playoffs, thanks to a sweep of Notre Dame in the final weekend along with some help. MSU comes into the post-season without sophomore defenseman A. J. Thelen (MIN), who was dismissed from the team last weekend. Senior Jim Slater (ATL) continues to move up the Spartans’ all-time scoring chart, now sitting in 24th place. In the last six games, Slater has been on a tear, notching 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in that stretch. Freshman Jim McKenzie (OTT) has a hot streak of his own going into the post-season. McKenzie has eight points (seven goals, one assist) in six games, including his first career hat trick.
MSU will meet Miami-Ohio in the opening round of the conference playoffs. The Spartans split the two regular season meetings with the RedHawks this season. Miami-Ohio is coming off of a disappointing loss and tie to in-state rival Ohio State this past weekend that resulted in the RedHawks losing home ice to their first round opponent. The outstanding sophomore tandem of Matt Christie (ANA) and Marty Guerin (LA) rank first and second respectively in team scoring. Christie leads the team with 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists), while Guerin is second with 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists). The player to watch on the team however is junior defenseman Andy Greene. Greene, who is enjoying a stellar season and is an early favorite for CCHA Offensive Defenseman of the Year, leads all CCHA defensemen in scoring with 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists).
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=7582&mode=threaded&order=0
WCHA
Kyle Klubertanz D-Man Wisconsin (2004 3rd round 74th overall)
Matt Auffrey Right-Wing Wisonsin (2004 6th round 172nd overall)
#4 Wisconsin vs. #7 Alaska-Anchorage – The Badgers are coming off of a disappointing tie and loss to Minnesota-Duluth last weekend that also saw them lose the third seed in the conference. After a great start to 2005, the Badgers struggled in the last nine games of the regular season, going 1-5-3 in that stretch. Wisconsin has gotten exceptional production from their underclassmen, particular the sophomores this season. Nearly 45 percent of the Badgers scoring has come from the sophomore class. Leading the way is the always-exciting Robbie Earl (TOR), who co-leads the team in points with 38 (17 goals, 21 assists). His linemate, freshman Joe Pavelski (SJ), also has 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists). Pavelski, a strong candidate for WCHA Rookie of the Year, has enjoyed an outstanding rookie campaign. His 38 points currently rank tied for first in the conference and tied for second overall in the nation among rookies. Wisconsin is one of only two WCHA teams (Colorado College being the other) that not only rank in the top 15 in the nation on both offense and defense but on special teams as well. While the Badgers power play has slipped a bit in recent games, they still have a better than 20 percent efficiency rating. Equally as good, if not better, is the Badgers penalty kill, which ranks tied for fourth in the nation at 87.3 percent.
Wisconsin will meet seventh-seeded Alaska-Anchorage for the second consecutive season in the opening round of the conference playoffs, having swept the Seawolves in all four regular season meetings. Wisconsin outscored UAA 17-5 in the four meetings. Alaska-Anchorage is coming off of two losses to in-state rival Alaska-Fairbanks in the battle for the Governor’s Cup last weekend. There are few, if any team in the NCAA this season that has lost more man games due to injury than Alaska-Anchorage. Injuries have absolutely decimated the Seawolves, so much so that only three players have played in all 34 regular season games. Among them has been freshman defenseman Luke Beaverson (FLA). The imposing rookie has two points on the season (both assists). What has been remarkable about the Seawolves this season has been the fact that despite the overwhelming number of injuries and some off-ice incidents, the team has been able to put together a very respectable 11-17-3 regular season record. The record is almost identical to their record last season.
ECAC
Shane Hynes Right-Wing Cornell (2003 3rd round 86th overall)
The ECAC concluded the first round of their conference playoffs this past weekend. The top four teams (Cornell, Harvard, Colgate and Vermont) had first round byes.
Clarkson will meet top-seeded Cornell in the second round. Cornell swept Clarkson in both meetings this season. The Golden Knights will face the nation’s stingiest defense, top special teams unit and Ivy League Player of the Year in sophomore goaltender David McKee. In 29 regular season games this season, the Big Red has allowed just 38 goals against, best in the nation. McKee, a strong candidate for ECAC Player of the Year, ranks first in the nation in goals against average (1.27) and shutouts (8) and is second in save percentage (.943). McKee needs just one more shutout before Cornell’s season ends to break Ken Dryden’s career shutout record. Senior Mike Knoepfli (TOR) is the hottest player on the Cornell team going into the post-season. In the final eight regular season games, Knoepfli posted 12 points (five goals, eight assists). Sophomore defenseman Ryan O’Byrne (MON) has blossomed into one of Cornell’s top defensemen, logging upwards in the neighborhood of 25-30 minutes of ice time per game.