The Huskies were in far better spirits when they returned home Sunday, after they blew a 4-2 lead in the third period to force overtime, then nipped the Pioneers 2-1 in a shootout to come away with a victory, even though the rules note the game is counted as a tie in the standings. 

The game-one loss shows the disparity between national ratings and league standings, because St. Cloud State went into the series ranked No. 14 but led the NCHC with a 7-0-1 record. While Denver ranked No. 6 in the country. So, the Huskies flew home with a 7-1-2 league record, still good for first place. While Denver moved to 5-3-1, and the capacity for splitting NCHC series still alive and well.

St. Cloud State’s schedule doesn’t ease up at all, as the Huskies welcome North Dakota, which risked its 5-4 NCHC standing and No. 4 ranking in last weekend’s split against Omaha in Grand Forks.

More evidence of NCHC parity was obvious in last weekend’s visit by Colorado College to AMSOIL Arena to face UMD in a series that could have elevated one ahead of the other in the middle of the NCHC pack. Instead, the two teams split, and it couldn’t have been more equitable. UMD captured a 3-2 overtime victory Friday night, when Ben Steeves scored his 15th goal for the winner 1:06 into overtime. In the next game, Colorado College CC got the tying goal from Nicklas Andrews with 0:00.2 showing on the clock near the end of the second period. Noah Laba scored the winner for Colorado at 1:39 of overtime. The games also featured goaltending duels between UMD senior Zach Stejskal and CC sophomore Kaidan Mbereko.

Colorado College arrived in Duluth holding fifth place in the NCHC as a reward for coach Kris Mayotte’s rebuilding plan, while the Bulldogs were sixth. Friday night’s victory boosted the Bulldogs into a three-way tie for fifth with Colorado and Omaha.

The rest of the NCHC follows the rules of parity too, as Western Michigan split with Miami, and Omaha surprised North Dakota for a split.

Ohio State still dominates WCHA
Both UMD-CC games were part of a celebratory weekend in Duluth, with Friday’s dedicated to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Saturday night, both the UMD women’s and men’s games were part of the ceremonial tribute to Sophie’s Choice, a mental health foundation originated by UMD’s women’s star, Gabbie Hughes, who is now playing for PWHL Ottawa.

The UMD women made the best of the circumstances, playing Bemidji State through a tough first game Friday afternoon resulting in a 2-0 victory. 

The next night, it rained goals for UMD as the Bulldogs smothered Bemidji State 7-0. Reece Hunt, who transferred to UMD from Bemidji State for her final season, scored at 8:50 and 10:30 of the first period, then completed her hat trick at 8:50 off the second period to make it a 3-0 lead. Grace Sadura, Mannon McMahon and Danielle Burgen added second-period goals before Danielle Brunette added one more at 4:41 of the third period to complete the rout.

With a 10-6 record, UMD rises to fourth in the WCHA, behind Ohio State, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and leading St. Cloud State, Minnesota State-Mankato, Bemidi State and St. Thomas. A full WCHA slate is coming up this weekend, with UMD at Ohio State, Wisconsin at Mankato, Minnesota at Bemidji State and St. Thomas at St. Cloud State.

Last weekend’s series between WCHA leader Ohio State and the rebuilt Minnesota Golden Gophers was supposed to be some sort of showdown in Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. But Ohio State settled that issue with a 7-0 rout of the Gophers, followed up by a 6-1 hammering by the Buckeyes.

The high-flying Buckeyes are now 15-1 atop the WCHA, with Wisconsin second at 12-4, Minnesota third at 10-5-1, and UMD fourth at 10-6. St. Cloud State is hot on their heels at 9-6-1 in fifth place.

The post No Sweeps Allowed in Rugged NCHC appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Serratore no stranger to Robert Morris coach.

Minnesota senior forward Tom Serratore and Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley go way back – to the beginning.

“I played for his dad, Frank, in Omaha in the USHL and Tom was just a baby,” Schooley said.  “I saw Tom when he was still in diapers, and then I had a chance to work with Frank for five years and really got to know their family really well, working for Frank.  And Frank’s wife Carol and Tom’s mom, is the godmother of my oldest daughter.”

Schooley served as an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy under longtime Falcons coach Frank Serratore.  It helped launch Schooley into building up a young RMU Colonials program that will take on the top-seeded Golden Gophers today along with the son of his former boss.  The 6-0, 129-pound Gophers senior looks forward to it as well.

“It’s crazy,” Serratore said.  “It would be just as crazy if I played my dad again, which was a cool experience, and my uncle.  And now I get to play Derek.”

History favors the Gophers of late when Serratore laces up against a family member or family friend.  They beat the Falcons 4-0 last season at home.  The Gophers also went 4-0 overall against Bemidji State, where Serratore’s uncle, Tom Serratore, coaches.

Hockey ties run deep in Minnesota for the Serratore family as Tim, the twin brother of the Gopher senior forward, played at Augsburg College.  Their father, Frank, originally came from Coleraine, Minn. and played for Greenway High School in 1973-1975.  He went on to play collegiately at Bemidji State and Western Michigan.

“I’ve known Tom for a long time and have a tremendous amount of respect for the Serratore family from what they’ve accomplished from Tom at Bemidji to Frank at Air Force and what Tom has done at Minnesota,” Schooley said.

When the younger Tom Serratore went to Youngstown, Ohio to play junior hockey, Schooley met him since RMU sits only an hour away in Pittsburgh, Pa.  Serratore played for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL for 2009-2010 and led the team in goals with 17.

“I met him there, and he showed me around,” Serratore said.

Serratore moved on to play for the Gophers after that season.  He has appeared in 136 career games with the team.

This season, Serratore has seven points along with winning 58.5-percent of his face-offs, 31 of 53.  Serratore has 22 career points.

Schooley’s Colonials face off bi-annually with the elder Serratore’s Falcons since they both compete in the Atlantic Hockey Association.  The Colonials went 2-1 against the Falcons in the regular season.

“It’s always tough to play Air Force because I know so many people there and have such good relationship with their family,” Schooley said.

Schooley left the Falcons in 2003 to help build a new hockey program with the Colonials.  The Pittsburgh-based Division I school went 8-21-4 during their inaugural season 2004-2005.  Ten years later, Schooley has the team’s first conference tournament title and NCAA appearance.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for previous coaches in the past that I’ve had, but especially to Frank Serratore for giving me the opportunity and mentoring,” Schooley said.

The post From Friends to Foes appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

You read that right. Minnesota Hockey Magazine.com is present in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this weekend. Tara Tierney and Charlie Mitchell are on the ground and inside John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena, home of the Michigan Tech Huskies who host the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers tonight and tomorrow.

In addition to this blog, follow us on Twitter and connect with us on Facebook for updates, photos, and videos from the Gophers’ weekend in Houghton.

The post We are live in Houghton appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.