There it is ... the College Hockey News Tale of the Tape for this weekends UAA/UMD series. (click it to enlarge or follow the link). Everything you could possibly need to know about the upcoming matchup. Ok well not quite everything. The Seawolves have a 7-9-5 record against UMD since the 02-03 season. Duluth's last win in the series came on February 24th, 2007. The Bulldogs have 12 upperclassmen. For anyone that thinks it matters ... they have 5 NHL draft picks.There are lots of highlights for the Bulldogs this season. Most notably I'd say has been the play of the freshman Connollys. Though unrelated they share some commonalities in their play. One of em has 11 goals and the other has 7. Good numbers for any WCHA freshman.
One disappointment must be the continuing slide of senior Michael Gergen. After a 14 goal freshman season Gergen only scored 19 goals in his final three years. Defenseman Josh Meyers has good looking numbers on the surface. Of his 8 goals none have come at even strength and Kevin Clark owns him. Senior MacGregor Sharp isn't disappointing. He just had a hatty versus the Gophers. Nice. He did however finish a -2 in that game.
I've never been impressed with defenseman Trent Palm. Somehow he looks like a football player on skates to me. Maybe it's the stupid #54 he wears. The teams two best defenseman are both sophomores. Chad Huttel and Evan Oberg. None of the blueliners should give anyone on the Seawolves any nightmares about Bobby Orr.
The Bulldogs generate some of their offense off the cycle. UAA fans should be familiar with that tactic. I watched the Bulldogs and the Gophers last weekend. The Bulldogs were cheating more than any cycling team in hockey history. The number of basketball style picks was amazing. Want to bet they take a few penalties for interference in the UAA zone this weekend? The Bulldog forwards can skate and they will present some challenges on transition. They have some creativity in the lineup and some strength.
The Bulldogs will rely on Alex Stalock. They count on him being the 3rd defenseman. UAA will have to make good changes on the PK or Stalock will burn them with a long pass. With his wanderings there is always a chance for a mistake ... the Seawolves will have to pounce on those if they come. And oh yeah ... there's no point shooting high on his glove side. That'll just help his save percentage.
There'll be no big changes in the Seawolves game plan. It is most effective on a small sheet of ice so expect our forwards to try to get the puck in deep and possess it along the walls working for a chance to break to the net. Obviously it will be important for UAA to cash in on it's power play chances. We've seen some strong 4-on-4 play from the Seawolves so that may be something they can utilize successfully this weekend. The guys will have to continue to play tight in their own end as they did against UAF last weekend. A blocked shot can't go in the net ya know.
And in case you hadn't noticed. No TV this weekend. I understand that B2 Networks has it available.
23 comments:
all the best this weekend seawolves, finally all the team together. Start of a playoff run.
Bryce great goaltending, clark and crowder on the powerplay, robinson end to end rushes. Have fun guys, show they how it is done.
seawolve fan
I'll be at the game this sat. to see the Wolves kick some bulldog butt. It's old, but the DECC does have a cool hockey history, and the rink seems even smaller than the old Boston Garden. The view of the game is awesome. I hate Olympic hockey rinks- they suck the excitement out of the game. Lets go Seawolves!!!!
Big Sheet = More Skating ... More Skating = Better Hockey
The NHL has reached a point where the players are sooo big that with the small rinks it's hardly distinguishable from pinball.
I guess that if I really look at a NHL game these days, I would have to agree. The players are all huge, and scary fast. I really like the intensity, and hard hitting action in a smaller rink, but it does seem that the puck is constantly being batted around. It just seems to me that the Olympic ice is too big.
The big ice/little ice argument is like abortion or whether god exists. It doesn't matter what you say people on either side don't change their mind.
GOOD LUCK SEAWOLVES!!!!
The team is almost back together (? Sean and Curtis?) So kick butt and bring back a couple of wins. We'll be suffering here having to watch it on B2 while wishing we could be there cheering you on. (Let's hope the filming will be better than it is for junior A hockey.)
Wiles & Leinweber did not make the trip due to injury,
Btw Donald, what do u know bout the new arena, i just heard that the university has scrapped the hockey part of it is that true
Sid
They allocated money for a new sports facility that does not include hockey. This was quite some time ago.
There are hopes for something to happen on the arena front but I discount them all.
UAA won't be getting an on campus arena at any time in the near future.
Without a arena on campus for the future, the other wcha teams will continue to draw top end recruits.
Seawolve fan
Your welcome for the B2 Networks info Donald Dunlop. GO SEAWOLVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B2 link:
http://www.b2livetv.com/upcoming_events.asp
Hook your laptop to your big screen TV and enjoy!
GO WOLVES!!!
crowder's had a hat trick in Duluth, do it again Paul.
UMD, where they say: "I've from Dulute, I ain't bery smart, but I lift heaby tings"
Go Wolves,
Dan
Clarkie has scored more goals against duluth than any other wcha team. Go get them clarkie, crowder, grant and lunden. Fill the net and sweep duluth.
Fan
Wii the Peanut Farm do B 2 for us fans...
they should. Give them a call.
I'm on B2 network but no video just audio. Is this because it is between periods or is something wrong on my end?
Dan
Dan,
We had the B2 tonight as well, and in between periods the camera was focused on the scoreboard and center ice.
Gutsy win Wolves! Way to fight back when you were down by 2!!
Great win SEAWOLVES!!!!!!!! great power play!!!!!!! Great comeback!!!! Go get those Bulldogs again tomorrow for the SWEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!
great game clarkie, he loves playing against minnesota-duluth.
One more win and go after denver next.
Fan
First it was HOPE, then COURAGE, then BELIEVE. It's now your time, Seawolves! DOMINATE, DOMINATE, DOMINATE! Great game, great win! Repeat tomorrow night. You are our heroes.
I almost forgot, and GREAT PENALTY KILLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
umpty, dumpty, dee!
Way to go wolves!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dan
"Umpty dumpty dee" is quite possibly the fruitiest comment I have ever seen on a message board anywhere, and that includes Lavender Magazine. Hello, Miss O'Hara!
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