Let's cut right to the chase this week with the "Unvarnished
Truth" WCHA Poll:
UNVARNISHED TRUTH WCHA POLL (1/22/98).
TEAM (FIRST PLACE VOTES) POINTS PREVIOUS RANKING
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1. North Dakota (7) 63 1
2. Wisconsin 54 3
3. Colorado College 47 4
4. St. Cloud 42 2
5. Minn-Duluth 39 5
6. Michigan Tech 27 6
7. Alaska-Anchorage 18 8
8. Denver 14 9
9. Minnesota 11 7
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POLL ANALYSIS:
St. Cloud's disasterous weekend cost them dearly as they fell from second
to fourth. North Dakota cleaned up, gaining all 7 first place votes.
Wisconsin and CC each moved up one, and Denver gets out of the cellar
with a split at Minnesota.
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THIS WEEKEND'S MATCH-UPS
NORTH DAKOTA (12-3-1, 16-3-1) AT ST. CLOUD (11-4-1, 14-6-2)
This is the big one. The Sioux have won 8 in a row and 13 of 14. Their
only loss was against St. Cloud at home. The Huskies are coming off a
terrible weekend at Duluth where they were swept, which put North Dakota
in first place. The Sioux can take control of the league with a sweep
while the Huskies can regain their position of two weeks ago with a
sweep. Look for a split instead. PREDICTION: SPLIT (SCSU wins 3-1, UND
wins 5-2).
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MINN-DULUTH (7-8-1, 12-11-1) AT MINNESOTA (4-10-0, 8-14-0)
The Bulldogs travel to Marriucci to take on the struggling Gophers.
Duluth is coming off a sweep of St. Cloud and is playing well. Minnesota
is coming off a disappointing home split with fellow WCHA doormat
Denver. The Dogs look like the overwhelming favorites, but they have had
problems winning at Minnesota. The Gophers need a sweep to have any
realistic chance at home ice. Don't count on it. PREDICTION: SPLIT
(Duluth wins 5-1, Gophers win 3-2).
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WISCONSIN (10-3-1, 15-6-1) AT COLORADO COLLEGE (9-6-1, 14-7-2)
The Badgers will play CC in the brand new Colorado Springs World Arena in
an important WCHA series. The Tigers swept UAA in Anchorage to regain a
solid spot in the top 5. The Badgers swept non-conference opponent
Neb.-Omaha and is in the race for the McNaughton Cup with North Dakota
and St. Cloud. Wisconsin is playing well right now, and the Tigers will
be emotional about opening their new home. Both teams should win one.
PREDICTION: SPLIT (CC wins 4-2, Badgers win 5-1).
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DENVER (4-12-0, 5-17-0) AT VERMONT (6-12-2)/DARTMOUTH (6-7-3)
The struggling Pioneers take their game out east for a couple of
non-conference games with ECAC Opponents Vermont and Dartmouth. Based on
their won-loss records, these two schools are not very good this year.
But neither are the Pioneers, so don't expect the suffering for Denver
fans to end anytime soon. PREDICTION: DENVER LOSES TWO (3-1 to Vermont
and 2-1 to Dartmouth).
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MANKATO STATE (11-9-3) AT ALASKA-ANCHORAGE (5-11-2, 5-15-3)
The Mavericks of Mankato State travel to Sullivan Arena in Anchorage to
take on the Seawolves. Mankato has done well in their first season
playing a full D-I schedule. The Seawolves are having another tough
season, but are making some progress. Mankato lacks overall talent and
Anchorage plays very conservatively. The deciding factor will be the
home-ice advantage, which belongs to the Seawolves. PREDICTION: UAA
SWEEPS (3-1, 2-0).
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That's all for this week. Later everyone!
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