Feb. 18, 2008

Full MCHA Release for February 18, 2008

MCHA Regular Season in the Books

The 10th season of play in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association has come to a close and tournament play is about to begin. The season will go down as one of the most noteworthy in the history of the league. Newcomer Adrian claimed a league title in its first year and has gone on to become the first-ever MCHA team to be ranked in the Top 10 nationally. The Bulldogs continued their weekly rise up the polls with two more wins this week, moving from No. 9 to No. 8 in the USCHO.com poll that came out today. That, and they added a second first-place vote to their tally as well.

Plenty of records were broken, with one of the oldest and most visual standards in the book to fall: most points in a season. It was quite a race between teammates over the final weekend, but Adrian's Adam Krug (21G/35A) edged teammate Shawn Skelly (21G/34A) by a single point to establish the new season record at 56 points, breaking the former mark of 49 set by Marian's Dave Chipman back in the league's inaugural season of 1998-99.

The tournament seedings have now been set: Adrian had already clinched the one seed as the regular season champion, but assured its weekend opponent, Concordia, the eighth seed and a return trip next weekend with two victories.

Finlandia had also already secured the No. 2 seed when they claimed the Northern Division title, but kept Lawrence from moving up in the standings with a split. The Vikings posted a 3-2 win Friday, only to see the Lions defend their home ice with a 5-3 win Saturday.

Marian and MSOE split a home-and-home series, leaving the Sabres as the No. 3 seed and allowing the Raiders to wrap up the final spot with home ice for the playoffs as the No. 4 seed. Marian won, 4-1, Friday before MSOE rebounded with a 4-3 win at the Kern Center.

Minnesota-Crookston is the No. 6 seed, splitting its series with Northland. The Lumberjacks won, 8-6, Friday, only to see the Golden Eagles get the 4-2 win Saturday to take the sixth seed.

As stated before, the new league records set this season added up to an impressive list:
(Old standard in parentheses)
Season points: 56, Adam Krug, Adrian (49, Dave Chipman, Marian, 1998-99)
Career points: 130, Josh Paquette (99, Dan Odegard, Marian, 1999-2003)
Points by a freshman: 55, Shawn Skelly, Adrian (36, Pat Telford, Marian, 1998-99)
Points by a junior: 56, Adam Krug, Adrian (49, Dave Chipman, Marian, 1998-99)
Points by a Defenseman: 36, Quinn Waller, Adrian (32, Brent Somerville, Findlay, 1998-99)
Season goals: 28, Eric Miller, Adrian (27, Dave Chipman and CJ Koroll, Marian, 1998-99)
Career goals: 47 (tie), Josh Paquette, Finlandia (47, Dave Chipman, Marian, 1998-2000)
Goals by a freshman: 28, Eric Miller, Adrian (17, held by two players)
Power play season goals: 10 (tie), Ryan Sullivan, Finlandia (10, held by two players)
Shorthanded season goals: 5, Carl Bresser, Marian (4, held by four players)
Shorthanded career goals: 8, Carl Bresser, Marian (7; RG Flath, MSOE)
Assists in a game: 5 (tie), Adam Krug and Quinn Waller, Adrian (5, Darryl Somerville, Findlay vs. Benedictine in 1999)
Season assists: 35, Adam Krug, Adrian (24, Brian Soik, MSOE, 2006-07)
Career assists: 83, Josh Paquette, Finlandia (66, Brian Soik, MSOE, 2003-07)
Assists by a freshman: 34, Shawn Skelly, Adrian (21, Josh Paquette, Finlandia, 2004-05)
Assists by a junior: 35, Adam Krug, Adrian (22, Brian Soik, MSOE, 2005-06)
Assists in a game by a defenseman: 5; Quinn Waller, Adrian (4; held by three players)
Assists in a season by a defenseman: 31, Quinn Waller, Adrian (18, Brent Somerville, Findlay, 1998-99)
Goalie winning percentage: 1.000 (tie, 14-0-0), Brad Fogal, Adrian (1.000, 10-0-0, Terry Dunbar, Marian, 2001-02)
Most wins: 14, Brad Fogal, Adrian (13, Terry Dunbar, Marian, 2003-04)
Overall team unbeaten streak: 16 [current], Adrian (12, 12-0-0, 2001-02)
Most goals, season: 168, Adrian (156, Marian, 1998-99)
Power play percentage: .338, Adrian (.301, Marian, 1999-2000)

The chase for the Harris Cup starts this weekend with the first round of the playoffs Feb. 22-24. The opening round is a two-game series with possible mini-game. The winners will advance to the MCHA Tournament, hosted by MSOE at the Kern Center, March 1-2.

Players of the Week
-Adrian College Bulldogs junior forward Adam Krug (Livonia, Mich.) earns his league-best fifth MCHA Player of the Week award on the season for his record-breaking performance over the weekend. After recording an assist on Friday, he came up big with one goal and five assists Saturday to set a new record for season points at 56. His five assists Saturday also tied the league record for most assists in one game.
Other Nominees: Matt Hahn (Crookston), Nick Matson (Northland), Lee Swallow (MSOE), Ross Rouleau (Finlandia)

-Finlandia University Lions junior defenseman Tiger Marcotte (L'anse, Mich.) earns his second MCHA Defensive Player of the Week award this season. On Friday, he helped the FU defense shut down Lawrence, limiting them to an 0-for-7 showing on the power play. Then, on Saturday, he had two assists in the win while limiting Lawrence to a 1-for-8 showing on the power play.
Other Nominees: Brent Groenke (Crookston), Daniel McIntosh (Northland), Evan Johnson (Lawrence), Jason Woll (MSOE)

-Adrian College Bulldogs freshman forward Sam Kuzyk (Winnipeg, Manitoba) is recognized for his first MCHA Freshman of the Week award this season for his offensive fireworks over the weekend against Concordia. After a four-goal effort Friday, he topped that with six more points (three goals/three assists) in Saturday's victory for a league-best 10 points on the weekend.
Other Nominees: Nick Matson (Northland), Matt Jacobs (Lawrence), Ryan Donovan (Finlandia)