Who can win it all from the WCHA?

I wrote an article last week and kept it pretty clean so that my friends on the CC page would not get too made. I'll do the same today except that I will talk a little bit about the chances of the WCHA going back to the national championship and win it all.

As always, this post is subjective and I tend to lean towards the skilled teams.


Who can win it, and why:

1. Minnesota-Duluth: Honestly, Duluth caught me off guard last season making it as far as they did. I believe their first round loss in the WCHA Final Five was to Bemidji State. Kind of a rough way to start the post season and that really turned my attention away from them. This season is different. I don't see the super power team that I did last year. This does not appear to be the talent loaded team like last year, but a team that knows each other. I've always told my friends that a team with heart will always beat a team with skill. I believe this year's Duluth team is pure heart. However, I don't think Duluth will win it all. A giant hole in the defense left by Faulk is going to make the difference when the tournament comes a knockin'. My prediction: Second round loss in the NCAA tournament.

2. Minnesota: It appears that the type of team that lived in Duluth last year, now resides in Minneapolis. This team is 4 players short of an NHL team and they have the confidence of an all-star team. Nick Bjugstad has picked up the play and defense has played great. Problem with Minnesota is that they loaded up their beginning schedule with teams like Holy Cross and Sacred Heart. Being the power house that they are, it only seems like they were trying to get a head start on the good rankings. If Patterson can stay hot in net this team can go far. If he clunks out in the tourney, this team is toast. My prediction: Loss in the frozen four.

3. North Dakota: Injuries have plagued this team and made things downright horrible. The second half has proven to be good to the Sioux. If a dominant effort is maintained through the remainder of the season, UND just might make the tourney without having to win the Final Five. My prediction: 1st round lost in NCAA tourney.

4. Colorado College: I enjoy watching CC play. The fire, passion and emotion takes this team far. During the first part of the season, the defense played horrible and CC sunk. Now CC is in the bad position of having to play some good teams down the stretch to keep their tourney hopes alive. I'm not holding my breath for CC, so based on pure performance I don't think they will make the tourney. However, if the team plays like it has into the Final Five with Thorny in net I think this team is the 2012 bracket buster. My prediction with a bracket buster: Frozen four loss.

5. Nebraska-Omaha: Unless this team plans on winning some serious games in the next two months don't expect to see them in late March. My prediction: WCHA Playoff Loss.

6. Denver: I'm at odds with this team. Not because I am a CC fan but because Sam Brittain is returning. Sam is a good goalie but the team has made it's fortunes this season off of the work of Juho Olkinura. I just don't think that Sam will be able to gel with this team enough to make it far into the post season. Surely Juho is not capable of a national championship run. My prediction: WCHA Final Five Championship loss to CC.

7. Michigan Tech: Another team that will not go anywhere without a bracket buster. They played well in the beginning of the season and then lost some steam. They are not in an automatic pick for the tourney as it stands and I don't see them doing well in the WCHA playoffs. My prediction: Loss in the first round of the WCHA playoffs.

8. Bemidji State: Bemidji just doesn't have it this year. Not a contender and nobody notable who can carry this team past the first line. My prediction: WCHA first round loss.

9. St. Cloud State: SCSU has done well this season in the second half. Taking out Minnesota for a game and sweeping UND. I think SCSU can get into the Final Five but that's about it. My prediction: Loss in the Final Five.

10. Minnesota State: My prediction: First round WCHA playoff loss

11. Wisconsin: Nothing note worthy about this team. They need to grow and reload before they can get past the horrors of this season. My prediction: First Round playoff loss.

12. Alaska Anchorage: Really tough year for these guys. My prediction: first round wcha playoff loss.

Results:

Final Five Participants
UMD
UM
CC
DU
UND
SCSU

Teams from WCHA in Tourney:
CC
UM
UMD

All other things held equal, National Championship game:
Boston University Vs. Minnesota