March
22, 2009
NCAA Tournament
West Regional Capsules | Minneapolis, Minn.
Mariucci Arena
Friday, March 27
5:30 p.m. ET: No. 1 Denver vs. No. 4 Miami
(ESPN2 HD)
9 p.m. ET: No. 2 Minnesota Duluth vs. No.
3 Princeton (ESPNU HD)
Saturday, March 28
9 p.m. ET: Regional Final (ESPNU HD)
NO.
1 SEED DENVER PIONEERS
Location:
Denver, Colo.
Record: 23-11-5 overall (16-8-4 WCHA, second)
Qualified: At-large berth
NCAA Championships: Seven (1958, 1960,
1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005)
NCAA Appearance: 19th (most recent, 2008)
Head Coach: George Gwozdecky
Key Players: Anthony Maiani, F, So. (39
GP, 11-30—41); Rhett Rakhshani, F, Jr. (37 GP, 15-21—36);
Patrick Wiercioch, D, Fr. (35 GP, 12-21—33); Marc
Cheverie, G, So. (23-11-5, 2.30, .923)
What You Need to Know: The Pioneers have
been dealing with injuries, especially in the second half
of the season. The good news is that Tyler Bozak is expected
to return to the lineup, giving DU a much-needed boost at
center. Tyler Ruegsegger is out for the season. Even when
players are missing, there is sufficient, talented depth
to make a difference for the Pioneers. Freshman Joe Colborne
really came on in the second half of the season.
How They'll Advance: You don't win 23 games
in a year, including 16 in the WCHA, by accident. The Pioneers
are a very good skating team and are the best suited team
of the four in the Minneapolis regional to playing on the
huge ice at Mariucci Arena, although they'll be taking that
particular surface for the first time this year (and were
0-3-1 in four games on big sheets at Colorado College and
St. Cloud State). Freshman defenseman Patrick Wiercioch
has 12 goals and is a difference maker from the blue line.
What Might Trip Them Up: The Pioneers were
6-5-1 against NCAA Tournament teams this season, but just
1-4-1 in those games in the second half of the year. Consistency
in taking care of the wins you're supposed to get is a key
to success in the regular season, but there has to be some
concern about how Denver plays when good teams start to
push back at this time of the year.
| Most
Recent Denver Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| 27-Brandon Vossberg |
22-Brian Gifford |
8-Dustin Jackson |
Keep an eye on the line with
Ostrow, Colborne and Salazar — three breakthrough
players this year for DU. |
| 9-Rhett Rakhshani |
14-Jesse Martin |
16-Anthony Maiani |
| 19-Kyle Ostrow |
12-Joe Colborne |
18-Luke Salazar |
| 17-Matt Glasser |
6-Chris Nutini (extra def.) |
26-Julian Marcuzzi |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| 11-J.P Testwuide |
7-Patrick Mullen |
1-Marc Cheverie |
Sophomore goalie Marc Cheverie
has four shutouts on the year. |
| 28-Patrick Wiercioch |
5-John Lee |
35-Lars Paulgaard |
| 24-John Ryder |
25-Cody Brookwell |
30-Eddie Guinn |
NO.
2 SEED MINNESOTA DULUTH BULLDOGS
Location:
Duluth, Minn.
Record: 21-12-8 overall (10-11-7 WCHA,
seventh)
Qualified: WCHA tournament champions
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Sixth (most recent,
2004)
Head Coach: Scott Sandelin
Key Players: MacGregor Sharp, F, Sr.
(41 GP, 25-22—47); Justin Fontaine, F, So. (41 GP,
15-32—47), Josh Meyers, D, Sr. (41 GP, 10-18—28);
Alex Stalock, G, Jr. (20-12-8, 2.10, .916)
What You Need to Know: The Bulldogs are
one of the hottest teams in the nation and have won five
straight postseason games, including a sweep at Colorado
College in the first round and victories over Minnesota,
North Dakota and Denver in the Final Five.
How They'll Advance: UMD shored things
up at the defensive end of the rink. They allowed just
three goals in the conference playoffs and posted back-to-back
shutouts in the semifinal and championship games. Senior
center MacGregor Sharp is red hot and they've got two
strong lines, with the second being anchored by standout
sophomore Justin Fontaine.
What Might Trip Them Up: Alex Stalock's
talent has never been questioned, but consistency and
over-aggressiveness have caused concern at times. The
Bulldogs have been one of the nation's streakiest teams
all year long. They've got two three-game losing streaks
since the start of January and have also rattled off an
eight-game unbeaten streak in November and December and
four straight wins in January. When does this current
run of good play turn in the other direction?
| Most
Recent Minnesota Duluth Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| 22-Mike Connolly |
18-MacGregor Sharp |
19-Nick Kemp |
MacGregor Sharp, who tied
for second in the WCHA in points, enters the NCAA
Tournament with 11 goals and 16 points in the Bulldogs'
last nine games. |
| 23-Jordan Fulton |
12-Jack Connolly |
37-Justin Fontaine |
| 13-Travis Oleksuk |
10-Michael Gergen |
20-Andrew Carroll |
| 21-Cody Danberg |
7-Drew Akins |
16-Matt Greer |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| 17-Josh Meyers |
24-Mike Montgomery |
32-Alex Stalock |
UMD defensemen have combined
to score 18 goals this season. All but two of them
have come on the power play. |
| 4-Evan Oberg |
2-Brady Lamb |
30-Brady Hjelle |
| 14-Jay Cascalenda |
26-Chad Huttel |
|
NO.
3 SEED PRINCETON TIGERS
Location:
Princeton, N.J.
Record: 22-11-1 overall (14-8-0 ECAC
Hockey, third)
Qualified: At-large berth
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Third (most recent,
2008)
Head Coach: Guy Gadowsky
Key Players: Zane Kalemba, G, Sr. (22-9-1,
1.74, .935); Dan Bartlett, F, Jr. (34 GP, 16-11—27);
Brett Wilson, F, Sr. (34 GP, 10-15—25); Lee Jubinville,
F, Sr. (34 GP, 10-11—21)
What You Need to Know: The Tigers are
making their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Their style is aggressive and they have a balanced offense
that can get offensive contributions from a number of
sources – 11 players have scored at least nine goals
on the year. Junior forward Cam MacIntyre is back in the
lineup after missing two-thirds of the season due to injury.
His line with Dan Bartlett and Sam Sabky is Princeton's
most dangerous offensive trio right now.
How They'll Advance: While they didn't
win the ECAC Hockey regular season or playoff titles this
year, a veteran group can call on last year's experiences
to prepare for the big tournament this time around. Only
defenseman Mike Moore was lost from last year's Tiger
team. Goalie Zane Kalemba gets the credit and has spectacular
numbers, but last year's Hobey finalist, Lee Jubinville
centers a very strong defensive group of forwards that
can also chip in offensively.
What Might Trip Them Up:
Over-aggressiveness can get Princeton into trouble in
its defensive end. They are a puck-pursuit team, and will
run around at times when under pressure, including defensemen
leaving their skates to slide to block shots and passes.
Patient plays and diagonal passes can open up the Tigers
and leave Kalemba vulnerable on the back door.
| Most
Recent Princeton Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| 25-Marc Hagel |
17-Kevin Kaiser |
19-Brandan Kushniruk |
The Hagel-Kaiser-Kushniruk
group has good size and can make things difficult
at both ends of the ice. |
| 16-Brett Wilson |
6-Lee Jubinville |
21-Mike Kramer |
| 12-Kevin Lohry |
14-Mark Magnowski |
26-Matt Arhontas |
| 27-Cam MacIntyre |
9-Dan Bartlett |
8-Sam Sabky |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| 2-Brad Schroeder |
15-Matt Godlewski |
32-Zane Kalemba |
Kalemba, who has a portrait
of Princeton alum Hobey Baker on his mask, is a finalist
for the Hobey. |
| 3-Jody Pederson |
4-Taylor Fedun |
34-Alan Reynolds |
| 5-Derrick Pallis |
7-Cam Ritchie |
|
NO.
4 SEED MIAMI REDHAWKS
Location:
Oxford, Ohio
Record: 20-12-5 overall (17-7-4 CCHA, tied
for second)
Qualified: At-large berth
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Seventh (most recent,
2008)
Head Coach: Enrico Blasi
Key Players: Carter Camper, F, So. (36
GP, 20-19—39); Pat Cannone, F, So. (37 GP, 11-24—35);
Andy Miele, F, So. (37 GP, 14-14—28); Chris Wideman,
D, Fr. (35 GP, 0-25—25);
What You Need to Know: After a 6-0-1 stretch
that put the Redhawks in a great position to finish at least
second in the regular season, Miami finished the year 2-4-1,
including a 3-game CCHA quarterfinal loss to Northern Michigan.
Having played well most of the year, the Redhawks have to
be alarmed that they’re not exactly on a roll headed
into the national tournament.
How They'll Advance: Miami has a very productive
offense and two freshmen goaltenders who have been reliable
for most of the year. With player like Carter Camper, Justin
Mercier and Andy Miele taking the reins, the Redhawks have
the ability to outscore anyone that they come across.
What Might Trip Them Up:
Over the past few years it seems like the RedHawks complete
great regular seasons but are incredibly inconsistent in
the postseason. The team hasn’t shown that they have
learned from past losses and suffered an early exit from
the CCHA Tournament. Until they prove they can win in the
postseason, you have to wonder if they'll ever make a dent
in the national tournament.
| Most
Recent Miami Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| 15-Brian Kaufman |
17-Andy Miele |
9-Tommy Wingels |
The RedHawks outshot foes
by an average of 10.8 SOGs per game. That includes a
Feb. 21 game in which they outshot Northern Michigan,
47-7. |
| 22-Justin Vaive |
10-Alexandre Lacombe |
28-Bill Loupee |
| 16-Justin Mercier |
20-Pat Cannone |
23-Alden Hirschfeld |
| 12-Gary Steffes |
11-Carter Camper |
19-Jarod Palmer |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| 5-Cameron Schilling |
14-Vincent LoVerde |
30-Cody Reichard |
Wideman has 25 points, all
of them assists. He's got more points than any other
goalless player in the country. |
| 4-Will Weber |
27-Matt Tomassoni |
31-Connor Knapp |
| 6-Chris Wideman |
24-Kevin Roeder |
32-Jon Whitacre |
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