Big Implications
After a disappointing loss to St. Cloud, the Sioux matchup against No. 3 Denver and a look back at their 'interesting' series history.
Scott Stone
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Sports
|
Not only big in national poll implications, four important, early-season WCHA conference points are on the line when these two teams face of.
Both teams have started the season off on the right foot with UND bringing a 7-2-1 overall record and a 5-2-1 WCHA record into this weekend and Denver carrying a 6-3-1 overall record and 4-1-1 WCHA record.
The Fighting Sioux are two points ahead of the Pioneers in the WCHA standings heading into this weekend with the surprising Colorado College Tigers leading the conference by two points over UND.
The last meeting between these two teams on January 23rd and 24th from the Ralph Engelstad Arena erupted into a bit of a sideshow. The Fighting Sioux throttled the Pioneers in Friday night's matchup by an 8-3 score. Four different Sioux players notched at least four points in the game.
Saturday night's matchup ended in a 3-3 overtime tie but the score was the least of the story. With 10:30 to go in the second period, a skirmish broke out leading to Denver head coach George Gwozdecky standing on the dasher in front of the Pioneer bench.
After receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Gwozdecky continued his tirade and eventually was ejected from the game.
Gwozdecky then proceeded to walk across the ice stating later that he forgot that the locker room was behind the bench.
Despite the odd circumstances, the three points paced UND to quick second half start en route to the MacNaughton Cup title.
You may remember:
This season, both are contenders for the WCHA title and this weekend could give either team a boost early in the season. Leading the way for the Pioneers this season has been senior captain Rhett Rakhshani who has netted seven goals and five assists to lead the team.
In between the pipes has been a simple story. When junior netminder Marc Cheverie is in net, the team is 4-0. When either junior Lars Paulgaard or freshman Adam Murray are in net, the Pioneers are a combined 2-3-1. Cheverie's status for this weekend's series is still up in the air as he missed the last two series for Denver.
Be the first to comment on this story