The 2010 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament – The Definitive Preview

It’s time once again for the Battle for the Broadmoor Trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Western College Hockey Association (WCHA) tournament. Because college hockey is a decidedly regional sport, the WCHA may be the best sports league you’ve never heard of.  To help foster an understanding of this league, consult this article comparing the league’s  members to a better-known college football team and a representative character from The Simpsons.

Now that you have an understanding of what these teams are all about, it’s time to move on to a preview of this weekend’s best-of-three matchups.

#10 Comic Book Guy (Michigan Tech) at #1 Frank Grimes (Denver)

Denver has lived up to the pre-season expectations, capturing the MacNaughton Cup (awarded to the team with the best regular-season record) and generally dominating the league. Michigan Tech also fulfilled expectations, securing what is becoming it’s traditional spot at the bottom of the table. MTU is the only #10 seed in the history of this tournament to knock off a #1 when they upset Colorado College in 1994, but the Huskies are as close to a sure bet as there is to go down whimpering this time.

Advances to Final Five: #1 Denver Pioneers

#9 Nelson Muntz (Alaska-Anchorage) at #2 Homer Simpson (Wisconsin)

In my opinion, Wisconsin has defined the term “overachiever” this year, but that doesn’t change the fact they have played solidly throughout this season. Coupled with the fact they destroyed UAA twice at home earlier this year, the odds are pretty long against Wisconsin dropping two games in Madison.

Advances to Final Five: #2 Wisconsin Badgers

#8 Carl Carlson (Minnesota State) at #3 Lisa Simpson (St. Cloud State)

Time for a comparison to this past NFL season. Much like the Philadelphia Eagles blew their final regular season game in Dallas costing themselves a bye and a home playoff game, these two teams faced each other in the regular-season finale last weekend, with St. Cloud State gagging on an opportunity to clench the #2 seed. Almost all the numbers point to St. Cloud State advancing (like Minnesota State can’t win the close ones, going 0-4-2 in overtime games). However, the one that doesn’t bodes badly for the St. Cloud State – Minnesota State owns them, to the tune of a 7-1-1 mark in their last nine games in St. Cloud. Even though the Mavericks are the lower seed, expect them to dominate the Huskies who will continue their annual tradition of being stocked with talent and going home early. Sort of like the Minnesota Vikings.

Advances to Final Five: #8 Minnesota State Mavericks 

#7 Barney Gumble (Minnesota) at #4 Mr. Burns (North Dakota)

 While Monty Burns and Barney don’t really much care about each other, the same cannot be said for the UND Sioux and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Their rivalry is college hockey’s answer to Michigan-Ohio State or the Yankees-Red Sox. Forget the standings, fuck the statistics and just make sure your chin strap is buckled when these two teams take the ice.  The aptly named Fighting Sioux come into this series feeling disrespected due to their slow start, but they are also bringing their long tradition of “Hanson Brothers“-type play (as evidenced here, here, here, here, here, and most like “Slap Shot” here), meaning they will both outskate Minnesota and leave the ice littered with Gopher buck teeth.  

Advances to Final Five: #4 North Dakota Fighting Sioux 

#6 Ned Flanders (Colorado College) at #5 Lenny Leonard (Minnesota-Duluth)

Not too long ago, both these squads found themselves at the top of the league standings and were looking very much like teams headed for an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. However, that was before both of these teams dissolved, with UMD going 4-8-0 in their last 12 games. while CC sputtered to a second-half mark of 6-10-0. Home ice will likely prove to be the difference, as Colorado College’s “okely-dokely” style of play tends to get their lack of depth exposed on the road. 

Advances to Final Five: #5 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs

About J-Dub

What your view of sports would be if you had too many concussions

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