College Hockey   CC Tigers and USAFA Falcons Hockey

Former Tiger Jack Hillen, left, is getting close to returning from a concussion, perhaps as soon as Thursday against the Rangers.

Cody Lampl is back in the ECHL after a game in the AHL on Saturday (no points).

Derek Patrosso (concussion) has been put on the CHL’s 10-day injured reserve list.

The Daily Oklahoma reports that AHL defenseman Richard Petiot remains out of the Oklahoma City lineup: “Petiot went through limited drills Monday as he works back from an undisclosed injury. Petiot isn’t expected to accompany the team on this week’s trip to Texas and Canada.”

Here’s an injury report from a Texas Stars’ blog: ”Lots of injuries to report, unfortunately.  (Goalie) Brent Krahn is still day-to-day with a lower body issue.  Ondrej Roman was knocked out of the game last Sunday by Colton Gillies and has yet to return to a game since.  Scott McCulloch has missed several games as well. Tomas Vincour, who was out last week, has returned to the lineup for Texas.”

The injury to Krahn has given former Tiger Richard Bachman his chance to start and he has done quite well, getting AHL player of the week honors before Thanksgiving, as blogged before.

Brian Connelly says all the right things as the Rockford IceHogs try to find some offense.

Former Tiger Joey Crabb, left, was called up to play on the second line with the Maple Leafs against the Lightning on Tuesday. He finished with an assist (plus-1) in 15:30.

“He’s played very well for the Marlies and we think he can provide some energy,” Leafs coach Ron Wilson said of the 6-foot-1, 190-pound winger after the team’s morning skate in an interview with Slamsports.ca.

Colorado College freshman Archie Skalbeck, who scored the game-winner on Saturday, was nominated for WCHA rookie of the week. Here’s an edited version of the WCHA press release:

WCHA co-offensive players of the week
Jake Gardiner • Junior, Defenseman, Wisconsin
Drew Shore • Sophomore, Forward, Denver

    Gardiner, a 6-3, 193-pound junior from Minnetonka, Minn., and a draft choice of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks,  collected six points as Wisconsin logged a 4-4 (ot) tie against Michigan and 4-1 victory over Michigan State in the College Hockey Showcase last weekend in Madison. He scored two power-play goals and an assist against then-No. 8 Michigan last Friday. Last Saturday, Gardiner came back with three assists and four shots on goal over the visiting Spartans. Gardiner, who now has a five-game scoring streak with nine points (2g, 7a), ranks second in the nation in scoring among defensemen with 18 points (4g, 14a), trailing only blueline partner Justin Schultz.
    Shore, a 6-3, 190-pound sophomore from Denver and draftee of the Florida Panthers (NHL), was named the MVP of the Denver Cup Classic tournament over Thanksgiving weekend after leading the Pioneers to their second straight Denver Cup title and 15th overall. He led the tourney with six points on four goals and two assists, including his first collegiate three-goal hat trick and a career-best four points in a 6-3 win over Lake Superior State on Nov. 26. Shore then added the game-winning goal and another assist in the championship game on Nov. 27 as Denver clinched a 3-1 win over Air Force. Shore is tied for first in the WCHA in scoring overall with a career-best 22 points (12g, 10a). Shore was named the national player of the week by Inside College Hockey.
    Also nominated: Matt Bailey, F, UAA; Emil Billberg, F, BSU; Justin Jokinen, F, MSU; Jason Gregoire, F, UND.

WCHA defensive player of the week

Justin Schultz • Sophomore, Defenseman, University of Wisconsin

Justin Schultz, who contributed five points and earned a +3 plus/minus rating while helping the host Badgers to a win and tie in the College Hockey Showcase last weekend, is the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Nov. 30, 2010.
    A 6-3,185-pounder from West Kelowna, B.C., Schultz’s five-point series included a three-goal hat trick and nine shots on goal.The Anaheim Ducks’ (NHL) draftee opened the weekend with a goal and an assist last Friday as the Badgers overcame 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 deficits for a 4-4 tie against then-No. 8 Michigan. Then on Saturday, Schultz became just the fifth UW defenseman and the first in exactly 18 years to post a hat trick, scoring the first, third and fourth Badger goals in a 4-1 victory over Michigan State. Schultz leads the nation’s defensemen with 19 points and has nine goals on the season, four more than the next closest defenseman in the country.
    Also nominated: Dan Bakala, G, BSU; David Makowski, D, DU; Alex Kangas, G, UM; Aaron Dell, G, UND.

WCHA Rookie of the Week
Chase Grant • Freshman, Forward, Minnesota State University

The 5-11, 195-pound left winger from Oklahoma City, Okla., Grant totalled four points on a goal and three assists as Minnesota State posted 8-3 and 3-2 victories over the host River Hawks on Nov. 26-27. .  The two wins at UMass-Lowell marked MSU’s first non-conference road sweep since downing Bemidji State twice on Dec. 11-12, 2009. Grant, who leads the Mavericks with a +5 on the year, is tied for second on MSU’s scoring charts with nine points (4g, 5a) in 12 games.
    Also nominated: Rob Gunderson, G, UAA; Archie Skalbeck, F, CC; Sam Brittain, G, DU.

The Badgers fan blog named an all-Wisconsin Division I team and CC junior Ted Behrend was named to the third defensive pairing.

Bemidji State shuffled its lines with good results.

The Notre Dame coach says the sports’ power brokers need to sit down and talk about what would be best for the sport and the inevitable Big Ten league.

No. 10 Denver plays at No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth in the final home series at the old DECC. You can expect a sellout.

The Minnesota freshmen are beginning to develop some confidence.

The Sioux are No. 7 in November, which means they may have shed their slow-starting ways. That’s all the more impressive considering the schedule difficulty. CC’s foe this weekend, Michigan Tech, has the No. 7 schedule.

The WCHA went 8-2-2 against nonconference this past holiday weekend with the only losses by Minnesota vs. Michigan State and Bemidji State vs. Northern Michigan.

Former Tiger Jack Hillen looks ready to return to the Islanders’ lineup.

Alex Kim scored twice in a recent win.

Colin Stuart is back with the AHL’s Portland Pirates after three games with the Sabres (no points, plus-1).

Colorado College freshman left wing Jaden Schwartz was picked to participate in Canada’s selection camp this December at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2010-Jan. 5, 2011, in Buffalo, N.Y.

“They called to tell me I was invited this (Monday) morning,” Schwartz said after practice. “It was a very special moment.”

“It’s the most prestigious under-20 tournament. You never know how many chances you’ll get to represent your country.”

Canada’s camp is Dec. 12-15 in Toronto, the day after CC’s series at St. Cloud State (Dec. 10-11). Schwartz, who is one of 39 players under the age of 20 vying for 22 roster spots, said he will miss that series to travel and report on Dec. 11.  Scrimmages begin the next day.

He would miss the Nebraska-Omaha home series (Dec. 18-19) and the Great Lakes Invitational Dec. 29-30 if selected for the national team, which would play exhibition games in southern Ontario before Christmas.

The St. Louis Blues’ 2010 first round pick (14^th overall) from Wilcox, Saskatchewan has 18 points (nine goals) in his first 14 college games. No other CC players are eligible for the U.S. camp roster, which will be announced in early December.

The 39 invitees were chosen based on their summer tryout camp performance and visits by national team coaches this season, according to a press release.

Other WCHA and CCHA players vying for a spot are Minnesota-Duluth defenseman Dylan Olsen, Notre Dame’s Riley Sheahan and Miami’s Reilly Smith. Former RPI forward Brandon Pirri is the only other non-Canadian major junior players invited. Current NHL players under 20 would be eligible if their team allows it before Dec. 12.

Here’s the WCHA’s weekly preview release:

MADISON, Wis. – The month of December launches with the first of two consecutive weeks featuring all 12 Western Collegiate Hockey Association men’s member teams engaged in league play, highlighted by a key matchup in Duluth this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3-4, between No. 1-ranked, league-leading and host Minnesota Duluth (11-1-2, 8-1-1 WCHA) against defending WCHA champion, No. 10-ranked and second place Denver (10-4-2, 7-2-1 WCHA). Currently the nation’s two hottest Div. 1 teams, DU has won six straight games while UMD’s win streak stands at five.
    The series between the Bulldogs and Pioneers, with face-offs set for 7:07 pm CT both evenings, will be the only regular season match ups between the two contenders this regular season and will also mark the final two UMD home games at the 5,303-seat Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center (DECC), as Minnesota Duluth prepares to open the new 6,732-seat AMSOIL Arena on Dec. 30 in a U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game against North Dakota.
    In Grand Forks, pre-season conference favorite and No. 7-ranked North Dakota (9-5-2, 7-3-0 WCHA) will entertain St. Cloud State (5-7-2, 3-4-1 WCHA) at Ralph Engelstad Arena (11,634) on Friday at 7:37 pm CT and Saturday at 7:07 pm CT. The Sioux are currently one point back of DU in third place and three back of UMD. The return engagement between the Sioux and the Huskies will occur on Feb. 18-19 in St. Cloud.
    In Mankato, host Minnesota State (4-6-4, 2-6-2 WCHA) engages No. 17-ranked Minnesota (8-5-1, 5-4-1 WCHA) at Verizon Wireless Center (4,832) at 7:37 pm CT Friday and 7:07 pm CT Saturday. These will be the only two regular season meetings between the two clubs.
    In Houghton, Michigan Tech (3-6-2, 1-6-1 WCHA) welcomes Colorado College (6-7-1, 3-5-0 WCHA) to the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena (4,128). Games times for the only two regular season meetings between the Huskies and the Tigers are 7:07 pm ET both Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.
    Up in Anchorage, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (4-8-2, 3-6-1 WCHA) play host to 15th-ranked Wisconsin (7-6-3, 3-5-2 WCHA) in a pair of contests at Sullivan Arena (6,251). Face-offs are 7:07 pm AT both nights and these too, will be the only two meetings between UAA and the UW during the 2010-11 regular season.
    And in another intriguing match up this week, Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha play each other for the first time as new WCHA members. The Beavers (3-8-1, 2-7-1 WCHA) will host the No. 4-ranked Mavericks (9-2-1, 6-1-1 WCHA) at the new Sanford Center (4,258) Friday at 7:37 pm CT and Saturday at 7:07 pm CT. They play again on Jan. 14-15 in Omaha.
    In the lone conference series contested over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, host Colorado College and Alaska Anchorage split, with the Seawolves prevailing 4-3 (ot) on Nov. 26 and the Tigers winning 2-0 on Nov. 27.
    Heading into the first week of December, Minnesota Duluth continues to hold down first place in ther ace for the WCHA regular season championship MacNaughton Cup with 17 points in 10 games on an 8-1-1 mark, followed by defending WCHA and MacNaughton Cup champion Denver in second with 15 points (10 gp, 7-2-1), pre-season league favorite North Dakota in third with 14 points (10 gp, 7-3-0) and first-year league member Nebraska Omaha in fourth with 13 points (6-1-1) in eight games. Minnesota (5-4-1, 11 points) is fifth, Wisconsin (10 gp, 3-5-2, 8 points) is sixth, and St. Cloud State (8 gp, 3-4-1) and Alaska Anchorage (10 gp, 3-6-1) are tied for seventh place with seven points each. Sharing ninth this week at six points are Colorado College (8 gp, 3-5-0) and Minnesota State (10 gp, 2-6-2), Bemidji State (10 gp, 2-7-1) is 11th with five points and Michigan Tech (8 gp, 1-6-1) is 12th with three. UNO, SCSU, CC and MTU have played just eight league games to date while the other eight members have all played 10. The chase for the WCHA regular season championship and MacNaughton Cup consists of 168-games, with each of the league’s 12-member teams playing 28 WCHA games.
    Outside the league over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, WCHA-member teams went a combined 8-2-2 in non-conference play, led by double-victors Denver and Minnesota State. The host Pioneers claimed the Denver Cup Classic crown with a 6-3 win over Lake Superior State on Nov. 26 and a 3-1 triumph over Air Force on Nov. 27. Minnesota State, meanwhile, swept on the road at UMass-Lowell by scores of 8-3 and 3-2. Host North Dakota won 6-3 last Friday and tied 2-2 (ot) last Saturday against Notre Dame in Subway Holiday Classic action. In the College Hockey Showcase, host Wisconsin tied Michigan (4-4 ot) last Friday before defeating Michigan State (4-1) last Saturday while Minnesota fell 5-2 to visiting Michigan State last Friday before rallying for a 3-1 victory over Michigan on Sunday. And in Bemidji, the host BSU Beavers split a two-game set with Northern Michigan, 0-4 and 3-0. Through games of Nov. 29, WCHA-member teams now own a combined record of 28-14-9 (.637) in 51 Division 1 non-conference games.
    In this week’s (Nov. 29) USCHO.com Men’s Div. 1 Hockey National Poll, the WCHA again has six member teams ranked among the top 20, led by the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at No. 1. Nebraska Omaha is at No. 4, North Dakota is up to No. 7, Denver is up to No. 10, UW is up to No. 15 and UM is at No. 17. Also receiving votes was Colorado College.
    In the Nov. 29 USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men’s Div. 1 Poll, UMD is No. 1, UNO is No. 4, UND is No. 7 and DU is No. 10. Receiving votes were UW and UM.
    Looking ahead to the second week of December, there will again be a full slate of WCHA series scheduled for Dec. 9-11. Nebraska Omaha hosts Michigan Tech on Thursday and Friday, while Friday and Saturday two-game sets have Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota, Minnesota State hosting North Dakota, Bemidji State at Wisconsin, Denver at Alaska Anchorage, and St. Cloud State hosting Colorado College.
    Home to a record 36 national championship teams since it’s founding in 1951, the WCHA marks it’s 59th season of on-ice competition in 2010-11 with 12 men’s member teams. Joining the Association family this season are Bemidji State University (a member of the women’s WCHA) and the University of Nebraska Omaha.

This Week in the WCHA Colorado College at Michigan Tech (WCHA), 7:07 pm ET; Denver at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Wisconsin at Alaska Anchorage (WCHA), 7:07 pm AT; Minnesota at Minnesota State (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT; St. Cloud State at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT; Nebraska Omaha at Bemidji State (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT.

Games for Friday, December 3:

Games for Saturday, December 4: Colorado College at Michigan Tech (WCHA), 7:07 pm ET; Denver at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota at Minnesota State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; St. Cloud State at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Nebraska Omaha at Bemidji State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Wisconsin at Alaska Anchorage (WCHA), 7:07 pm AT.

Last Week in the WCHAMinnesota State 8 at UMass Lowell 3 (NC)
* Michigan 4 at Wisconsin 4 ot (NC)
* Michigan State 5 at Minnesota 2 (NC)
# Lake Superior 3 at Denver 6 (NC)
Alaska Anchorage 4 at Colorado College 3 ot (WCHA)
& Notre Dame 3 at North Dakota 6 (NC)
Northern Michigan 4 at Bemidji State 0 (NC)
* College Hockey Showcase; # Denver Cup Classic (Denver, CO); & Subway Holiday Classic (Grand Forks, ND)

Results of Saturday, November 27
Minnesota State 3 at UMass Lowell 2 (NC)
Alaska Anchorage 0 at Colorado College 2 (WCHA)
* Air Force 1 at Denver 3 (NC)
# Notre Dame 2 at North Dakota 2 ot (NC)
Northern Michigan 0 at Bemidji State 3 (NC)
& Michigan State 1 at Wisconsin 4 (NC)
* Denver Cup Classic (Denver, CO); # Subway Holiday Classic (Grand Forks, ND); & College Hockey Showcase

Results of Friday, November 26

Results of Sunday, November 28
* Michigan 1 at Minnesota 3 (NC)
* College Hockey Showcase

CC garnered one point in the U.S. College Hockey online weekly poll, down from five last week, after splitting at home against Alaska-Anchorage. The Tigers (6-7-1, 3-5 WCHA) were shut out of the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings. The Tigers’ next two league foes, Michigan Tech this weekend and St. Cloud State the next, were shut out of both.

Yale moved into a tie for second with Boston U. in the USCHO poll and took second outright in the USA Hockey list. Minnesota-Duluth remains  No. 1 in both.

USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll

Team(1st-place votes)  Record Pts. Prev.

1.      Minnesota-Duluth(49)        11-1-2 999      1

2.      Boston U. (1)         7-1-5   901      2

2.     Yale                        8-1-0   901                  3

4.   Nebraska-Omaha    9-2-1   845      4

5.   New Hampshire      7-2-4   775      6

6.   Miami                      9-4-3   731      5

7.   North Dakota          9-5-2   689      9

8.   Boston College        9-5-0   640      7

9.   Maine                      6-3-3   598      10

10.  Denver                  10-4-2 550      12

11.  Michigan               8-4-4   546      8

12.  Notre Dame          9-4-2   455      11

13.  Union                    7-2-3   404      13

14.  Alaska-Fairbanks              8-5-3   324      14

15.  Wisconsin              7-6-3   254      16

16.  RPI                       7-3-3   231      17

17.  Minnesota             8-5-1   230      15

18.  Merrimack            5-3-4   178      18

19.  Western Michigan  7-4-3   124      19

20.  Ferris State            7-5-3   75        20

Others receiving votes: Dartmouth 21, Brown 15, Robert Morris 8, Clarkson 2, Niagara 2, Colorado College 1, Michigan State 1

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll

Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts. Prev.

1. Minnesota-Duluth (34)          11-1-2 510      1

2. Yale             8-1-0   454      3

3. Boston U.     7-1-5   448      2

4. Nebraska-Omaha     9-2-1   405      4

5. New Hampshire       7-2-4-  368      6

6. Miami           9-4-3   325      5

7. North Dakota           9-5-2   299      10

8. Boston College         9-5-0   256      7

9. Maine           6-3-3   233      9

10. Denver       10-4-2 195     13

11. Michigan    8-4-4   194      8

12. Notre Dame           9-4-2   132      11

13. Union         7-2-3   126      12

14. Alaska-Fairbanks   8-5-3   70        14

15. RPI            7-3-3   20        NR

Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 17, Merrimack 13, Minnesota 13, Dartmouth 1, Robert Morris 1.

Good sign for former Tiger Joey Crabb: Toronto columnists are mentioning him as a potential boost for the Leafs.

Derek Patrosso is out with a concussion. Brian Connelly is quoted after his team is shut out at home.

Bill Sweatt assisted the game-winner for Manitoba against the Abbotsford Heat, which now includes Cody Lampl. The short story also includes a short radio interview with the Moose assistant coach.

Here’s some game notes on Brian Swanson from the Anchorage Daily News: “Veteran wing Wes Goldie’s seven-game point streak was snapped. His center, veteran Brian Swanson, assisted on both goals to run his point streak to five games. He has furnished 1-8–9 totals in that span. Swanson, who owns 6-15–21 totals in 17 games, moved past Goldie for the team lead in points. Goldie is second with 11-9–20 totals in 17 games.”