After this weekend, the conclusion is still… that the NCHC can play hockey at a high level. They have 5/8 teams ranked in the Top 20, and would have more if those teams did not face the Elite’s every weekend. The Elite’s list of the NCHC includes the top 3 teams in the nation, #1 Denver Pioneers, #2 St. Cloud State Huskies, and #3 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (Sioux).
The Denver Pioneers and the St. Cloud State Huskies are two of the finest in all of the Cawlidge Hawkey land. They were on display this weekend in Denver for a potential Frozen Four or National Championship preview. The two teams are some of the deepest, fastest, and most skilled teams, not just in the NCHC, but in the country.
#2 St. Cloud State Huskies (7-2-0) @ #1 Denver Pioneers (6-2-2)
The Pioneers that hail from Denver were rolling this weekend after being swept last weekend at Western Michigan. They won 4-2 on Friday and 5-1 on Saturday, which was quite the statement after St. Cloud had the honor of being ranked number 1 for a single weekend.
After this showing this weekend from Henrik Borgström, Troy Terry, and a great hawkey name, Jarid Lukosevicius (Loo-Ko-Savages* *really fast), they are the undisputed best team in the nation. Borgström and Lukosevicius did all of the scoring on Friday night, Adam Plant scored 2 on Saturday, and outscored the Huskies by himself. Bucci still loves Clarkson, so I still love Clarkson.
Borgström had an absolutely filthy geno (goal) this weekend.
absolutely ridiculous
thx @punanen5 pic.twitter.com/SDMCyU8LzK
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 11, 2017
The kid has hands softer than Mike Gundy’s mullet, or for non-football enthusiasts, softer than Charmin, which just so happens to be ultra soft.
The Huskies look to bounce back this weekend as they host a much improved Colorado College team that is 7-5 overall with impressive series splits with North Dakota, Miami (OH), and Omaha. I think the Huskies will sweep CC at Herb Brooks Arena this weekend in response to the grueling weekend in Denver.
The Pioneers host the #3 ranked team in the nation, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (Sioux). North Dakota hosted Miami (OH) and won and tied for a solid weekend.
#15 Western Michigan Broncos (6-4-1) @ #14 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (5-5-2)
This series started out as most would expect with the Bulldogs of Duluth dominating Friday night with a dominating 3-0 win. Where Duluth outshot the Western Michigan Broncos 38-22.
Saturday night rolled around, and Western turned on the jets that were firin’ last week versus the Pios. They PUMPED Duluth five – rip (0), thanks in large part to tendy, Ben Blacker.
Western, as well as CC, look like teams that could give teams some fits down the stretch when every weekend matters. The Broncos had 5 different skaters light the lamp in a true defensive effort due to 8 penalties for 19 minutes, killing 6 Man-Advantages.
Western hosts Nebraska-Omaha (4-3-1) this weekend.
Duluth travels to Miami (OH) (4-5-1) this weekend.
Rankings
Here is a link to the USCHO Top 20 rankings. Cornell received 4 first place votes as an overall 6 seed which is interesting.
http://www.uscho.com/rankings/
Bucci’s Top 10
New BucciMane Top 10:
1 Denver
2 StCloud
3 NDakota
4 MinnSt
5 Cornell
6 Notre Dame
7 Northeastern
8 Minnesota
9 Clarkson
10 Western Michigan pic.twitter.com/GbivWTPuFz— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) November 12, 2017
Bucci still loves Clarkson, so I still love Clarkson. WMU getting some love as well creeping into the 10 spot.