Goalie shuttle carries UMD past CC, into Final Five
Despite a particularly rugged week of playoff action, the top five teams in the WCHA standings — the five teams that finished with above-.500 records — all survived their first-round playoff series to gain the Final Five.
A year ago, UMD might have been sneaking up on foes when it won three games in three nights to capture a surprise playoff championship, but this year, nobody will be in position to sneak up on any opponent. Minnesota-Duluth and North Dakota, who tied for fourth and fifth places, meet in Thursday’s game. That winner advances to Friday’s semifinals, where top-seeded Denver awaits. Wisconsin and St. Cloud State will clash in the other semifinal, then on Saturday, the 2 p.m. third-place game is followed by the final at 7.
The third-place game is not universally popular, but it could be important in NCAA tournament selections and placement this year. The WCHA is top-loaded in the PairWise ratings, which mimic the NCAA’s 16-team selection criteria. Going into the Final Five, Denver ranks No. 1, Wisconsin No. 3, North Dakota No. 5, St. Cloud State No. 6, and UMD No. 11.
UMD was teetering at a tie for 16th in the PairWise after splitting the first two CC games, and that status indicated the Bulldogs would have to win the Final Five again to reach the NCAA field via the automatic berth. With upsets going on around the country, UMD jumped up to the 11th slot by winning Game 3. That offers no guarantee, because surprises in other conference playoffs can bump teams out of the PairWise slots, but 11th is far better than 16th, and the WCHA appears ready to have five teams make the NCAA’s select field.
Exactly one year ago, the University of Minnesota-Duluth was a distinct underdog at the WCHA Final Five. The Bulldogs had floundered near the end of the season, but rose up to sweep two games at Colorado College, then make league history by beating Minnesota, first-place North Dakota, and then Denver to become the first team to ever go from the play-in game to the league playoff crown. One imposing reason for the surge was the goaltending of Alex Stalock, who shut down CC, then allowed one goal in all three Final Five games, boosting UMD to an automatic slot in the NCAA tournament.
This is another season, and all the teams are different, including UMD, primarily because Stalock passed up his senior year for a pro contract. Still, the Bulldogs have made various ripples through the WCHA season, leading the league for a stretch from midseason with a pair of unheralded sophomores in Brady Hjelle and Kenny Reiter trying to fill Stalock’s very large skates. Their competence has been reinforced by explosive scoring and power-play efficiency from a quick and exciting forward crop and a rangy but unheralded defensive corps. Still, the Bulldogs fell from grace by going 4-6 in their last 10 WCHA games and allowed onrushing North Dakota to gain a tie for fourth, and the seeding edge based on winning three of the four games between the two.
The Bulldogs were one of three WCHA teams that had to go to a deciding third game in the best-of-three first round of playoffs, and bring a 22-16-1 record to the Final Five. While top-seeded Denver (27-7-4) disposed of Michigan Tech, and second-seeded Wisconsin (24-9-1) put Alaska-Anchorage away, North Dakota (22-12-5) had to win a third game after Minnesota came back from a 6-0 drubbing to win Game 2 at Grand Forks. And St. Cloud State (22-12-5) spotted all-sport arch-rival Minnesota State-Mankato the first game, then came back to squeak past the Mavericks in the second and third games.
In Duluth,
UMD coach Scott Sandelin had to make some goaltending decisions against Colorado College, which wasn’t anything different from what he’s done all season. Sandelin has spent the season alternating his goaltenders, but in unusual fashion, seeming to pick one as his regular starter, but then changing to the other for similar status. It has been an unusual roller-coaster for both netminders, but they’ve maintained positive and upbeat attitudes all season.
Sandelin started the season with Hjelle as the regular goaltender, but after three starts he was relieved by Reiter in the second game at St.Cloud, and the two alternated in goal for the next five weekends, while UMD rose to a 10-5-1 record. Perhaps with flashbacks to the luxury Stalock afforded him, Sandelin elected to go with one goalie, and Hjelle started three more games, beating North Dakota and splitting against Denver. Reiter beat Mercyhurst, but Hjelle lost to Vermont, with Reiter relieving him, earning a promotion.
Reiter started five straight games, which included sweeps against CC and Mankato, but he was relieved by Hjelle in the first of two losses to Bemidji State. Hjelle lost the second game, so Reiter returned, starting six straight games, including a 4-0 shutout over Wisconsin. But he was relieved by Hjelle when UMD lost twice at North Dakota, and Hjelle stayed in to start the next three games, including a 3-0 shutout for a split against Minnesota. UMD still had a chance to finish as high as third on the final weekend, but the Bulldogs lost 3-2 at Anchorage, with Hjelle the victim. Reiter played and won the second game.
That brought Colorado College to Duluth for the playoffs, and Reiter beat the Tigers 3-2 in Game 1. That required a decision by Sandelin, and he went with Reiter again. Colorado College overturned a 3-2 deficit and won an intense second game 5-3 on an open-net goal. Sandelin was asked if he considered starting Hjelle in Game 2, which would serve the dual purpose of getting both goalies sharp for the Final Five, and would allow Reiter to return fresh for Game 3, if necessary.
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“If I did, and we lost, everybody would ask why I changed goalies,” said Sandelin. Nonetheless, that created a situation where he had to go with Hjelle or try Reiter for a third game in three days. Sandelin chose to go with Reiter.
In an intense and somewhat hostile third game, Reiter was superb and UMD won 4-0.
“The team played really well to try to help me get the shutout,” Reiter said. “I don’t think I’ve ever played three games in three days, unless it might have been in some youth hockey tournament. But I felt better than in the first two days.”
Colorado College, which had risen to proper desperation in Game 2, played that way again in Game 3, but the Bulldogs matched them. All three UMD goals in the 5-3 Game 2 loss were on power plays, meaning CC had outscored the Bulldogs 4-0 at even-strength. In Game 3, the ‘Dawgs changed that. Kyle Schmidt’s backhander from the right edge eluded Joe Howe for an early 1-0 UMD lead, and Brady Lamb snapped in his 11th goal to make it 2-0 in the second. Both goals were at full strength, and gave the scrambling Reiter all he needed to win. Lamb’s strong play earned him some power-play time, and he assisted Rob Bordson’s goal for the second poewr-play unit with 17 seconds left in the second period for a 3-0 cushion, and he also assisted Mike Connelly on the first power-play unit at 0:46 of the third.
“It’s nice to have the puck bouncing my way,” said Lamb. “I think we were able to wear down CC all weekend, and our power play is clicking. I think we can go down to St. Paul and win. It’s great to have a chance to defend our title.”
Seven Bulldogs have scored 10 or more goals, and while none of them won the league scoring title, they contended for it all year, and their team-leading stats are competitive enough. Jack Connolly leads with 18-31–49, while Justin Fontaine — who had three assists in the 4-0 Game 3 against CC — has a team-leading 21 goals and 21-25–46 stats, while Mike Connolly stands 14-26–40.
“I’m happy we’re getting a chance to defend our playoff title,” said Sandelin. “For our young guys, it’s a great chance to gain valuable experience, and for our seniors, it’s great to get another chance. Our special teams have been good, and it helps to have two power-play units. Lamber was strong all weekend, and Kenny played great in goal. Our guys really tightened up and sacrificed to get him the shutout.”
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About the Author
John Gilbert is a lifetime Minnesotan and career journalist, specializing in cars and sports during and since spending 30 years at the Minneapolis Tribune, now the Star Tribune. More recently, he has continued translating the high-tech world of autos and sharing his passionate insights as a freelance writer/photographer/broadcaster. A member of the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year jury since 1993. John can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11am on 610 KDAL(www.kdal610.com) on the "John Gilbert Show," and writes a column in the Duluth Reader.
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