Western Collegiate Hockey Association

HEADLINES

DU Signs 2nd Round NHL Draft Pick Wiercioch to NLI

Mannino Signs with New York Islanders

Pairings Set for First Round of WCHA Playoffs

MacNaughton Cup Champion Colorado College Hosts Alaska Anchorage, North Dakota Hosts Michigan Tech, Denver Hosts Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State Hosts Minnesota, St. Cloud State Hosts Wisconsin

March 8, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

MADISON, Wisc. - The first round of Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs, set for next Friday, March 14 thru Sunday, March 16 (if necessary), have been set. The five, best-of-3 first round post-season series will feature No. 1 seed and 2007-08 WCHA regular season champion and Colorado College hosting No. 10 seed Alaska Anchorage, No. 2 seed North Dakota hosting No. 9 seed Michigan Tech, No. 3 seed Denver entertaining No. 8 seed Minnesota Duluth, No. 4 seed Minnesota State hosting No. 7 seed Minnesota, and No. 5 seed St. Cloud State hosting No. 6 seed Wisconsin.

The No. 5-ranked Tigers (26-9-1) and Seawolves (7-19-8) will face-off at Colorado Springs World Arena. The No. 1-ranked Fighting Sioux (23-8-4) and MTU Huskies (13-18-5) will face-off at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. The No. 7-ranked Pioneers (22-13-1) and No. 18-ranked Bulldogs (13-15-6) will contest their series at Magness Arena in the Mile High City. The No. 9/10-ranked Mavericks (18-14-4) and No. 14-ranked Golden Gophers (15-14-9) will play at Alltel Center in Mankato. And the No. 11-ranked SCSU Huskies (17-14-5) and No. 13-ranked Badgers (15-14-7) will face-off at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

Following next weekend's first round of playoffs, the five winning teams will be re-seeded No. 1 through No. 5 depending on their regular season finish and advance to the 2008 Red Baron WCHA Final Five, set for March 20-22 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn. The winner of the Broadmoor Trophy at the Final Five will receive the WCHA's automatic berth into the NCAA Men's Div. 1 Tournament.

This Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, March 7: Minnesota Duluth 1 at Minnesota 4; Michigan Tech 2 at Minnesota State 5; St. Cloud State 1 at North Dakota 1 ot; Colorado College 5 at Denver 2.

Results of Saturday, March 8: Minnesota Duluth 3 at Minnesota 2; Michigan Tech 3 at Minnesota State 2; St. Cloud State 2 at North Dakota 2 ot; Denver 1 at Colorado College 3.

WCHA Playoffs - First Round - Best-of-3
Games for Friday, March 14: #10 Alaska Anchorage @ #1 Colorado College, 7:37 pm MT; #9 Michigan Tech @ #2 North Dakota, 7:37 pm CT; #8 Minnesota Duluth @ #3 Denver, 7:37 pm MT; #7 Minnesota @ #4 Minnesota State, 7:37 pm CT; #6 Wisconsin @ #5 St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT.

Games for Saturday, March 15: #10 Alaska Anchorage @ #1 Colorado College, 7:07 pm MT; #9 Michigan Tech @ #2 North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT; #8 Minnesota Duluth @ #3 Denver, 7:07 pm MT; #7 Minnesota @ #4 Minnesota State, 7:07 pm CT; #6 Wisconsin @ #5 St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT.

Games for Sunday, March 16 (if necessary): #10 Alaska Anchorage @ #1 Colorado College, 7:07 pm MT; #9 Michigan Tech @ #2 North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT; #8 Minnesota Duluth @ #3 Denver, 7:07 pm MT; #7 Minnesota @ #4 Minnesota State, 7:07 pm CT; #6 Wisconsin @ #5 St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT.