2016-17 WCHA Preview Capsules

by Christopher Boulay/CHN Writer

The WCHA had three teams finish within two points of the regular season title last year before Ferris State shocked them all and won the conference tournament. There was also just four points separating Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage and Alabama-Huntsville for the final playoff spot. This season could have a similar amount of excitement on both ends of the standings, with the regular season race possibly being even tighter.

Alabama-Huntsville

Head Coach: Mike Corbett (4th year)

2015-16 Record: 7-21-6, 5-17-6 WCHA (10th)

Changes: Much of last season’s roster is intact. The Chargers did lose their second-leading scorer, as Chad Brears graduated. Additionally, forward Jack Prince and defensemen Frank Misuraca and Anderson White also completed their eligibility.

Strength: The Chargers’ goaltending situation is both steady and familiar. Carmine Guerriero and Matt Larose should split time in net this season for Alabama-Huntsville. The duo helped the team to a save percentage of .906 last season, and Corbett will be relying on them to improve that figure this year.

“It’s one of those situations where you always have to worry about everything because [it’s] a new year,” Corbett said. “But, when you know you have [Guerriero and Larose] back there, you know the work that they’ve put in, you know that they’re going to be what they’ve been the past three years, and even better. Right now, those two guys are battling all the way through.”

Weakness: Penalties could get Alabama-Huntsville into trouble again this year. The Chargers averaged 13.5 penalty minutes per game last season, which was 10th-most in the country and fourth-most among WCHA teams. Cutting that number down can go a long way toward the team taking a step forward in a muddled bottom of the conference.

2016-17 Outlook: With the race for the final playoff spot expected to be tight, the Chargers will definitely be in the mix. And they're already off to a solid 2-0 start. However, a lack of scoring punch could keep them rooted to the conference basement. If they can score more than last season’s 2.15 goals per game with this more experienced group, there may be postseason hockey for the southernmost team in college hockey.

Prediction: 10th

Alaska

Head Coach: Dallas Ferguson (6th year)

2015-16 Record: 10-22-4, 8-16-4 WCHA (8th)

Changes: Alaska was one of the hardest-hit teams in the country regarding departures. Five of the top-six scorers for the Nanooks left due to graduation or transfer. Forwards Tyler Morely, Nolan Huysmans and Alec Hajdukovich all graduated, as did defenseman Josh Atkinson. Forward Peter Krieger transferred to Minnesota-Duluth during the summer.

Strength: Defense was a problem for the Nanooks last season. The team had a team save percentage of just .898 last year, but the tandem of Davis Jones and Jesse Jenks have another year of experience to improve. Also, most of the defense is still intact from last season, so Alaska should improve upon last season’s 3.25 goals allowed per game.

Weakness: It’s difficult to absorb losses when they constitute nearly 48 percent of a team’s point production. Ferguson’s team needs point production, and it’s unclear where it will come from. Three returning players from last year recorded double-digit points last season, so Zach Frye, Tayler Munson and Nick Hinz will be looked at to set up and capitalize on opportunities.

“We’ve gotta find a way to manufacture some offense with some younger bodies, and a group of forwards who aren’t that established type of offensive player like Morely, [Cody] Kunyk and a few names like that.” Ferguson said. “With our group, it’s going to take some time to establish those guys, but I don’t think it’s any different any other year.”

2016-17 Outlook: Alaska’s in a difficult spot here, especially considering the elephant in the room that is the institution’s financial troubles. That being said, the bottom of the WCHA shouldn’t be that far apart, and they still have a chance to steal the final spot in the conference tournament.

Prediction: 8th

Alaska-Anchorage

Head Coach: Matt Thomas (4th year)

2015-16 Record: 11-20-3, 8-18-2 WCHA (9th)

Changes: Top scorer Blake Tatchell graduated after last season, along with defensemen Blake Leask, Austin Sevalrud and Chris Williams. Backup goaltender Jared D’Amico left the program, as did forward Anthony Conti and defenseman Wyatt Ege.

Strength: The Seawolves should see a more experienced forward corps than last season, with most of those who recorded big minutes set to return. Tad Kozun recorded 13 goals for the team lead last season, while Matt Anholt was the second-highest point scorer, as he earned 23 points. There should be an improvement in Alaska-Anchorage’s overall scoring from last season, when it averaged 2.38 goals per game.

“We had a huge offseason,” Thomas said. “We needed to grow up, we needed to mature, we needed to get stronger, we needed to understand our identity and we needed to be committed to our identity. I think that word ‘committed’ is something that I really saw out of our group this summer. Guys came in early on their own accord. A lot of guys were here for the entire summer, which is something that hasn’t happened a ton here over the years.”

Weakness: On-ice discipline could be an issue again for the Seawolves. Last season, the team finished with 15.3 penalty minutes per game, the highest in the country. If that figure doesn’t decline, it could put Alaska-Anchorage in a hole it can’t get out of, yet again.

2016-17 Outlook: It’s a difficult time to be a Seawolves fan on the ice and off, but if the team can block out the institutions’ financial distractions and concentrate on what’s in front of them, they may see a slightly improved product. Alaska-Anchorage should be fighting for a playoff spot.

Prediction: 9th

Bemidji State

Head Coach: Tom Serratore (16th year)

2015-16 Record: 17-16-6, 11-12-5 WCHA (6th)

Changes: Bemidji State lost four of its top-seven scorers from last season to graduation including Markus Gerbrandt, Graeme McCormack, Cory Ward and John Parker.

Strength: The Beavers have six defensemen returning this season, which should help the team improve upon last year. Bemidji State was 19th in scoring defense, giving up only 2.46 goals per game. Serratore’s defense is young, but with such a strong performance last year, it’s not farfetched to think they will continue on an upward trend.

“I really like where we’re at on the backline,” Serratore said. “I think those [four] sophomores have really picked it up. They’ve taken a step over the course of the past year.”

Junior goaltender Michael Bitzer’s .915 save percentage showed he was one of the better netminders in the conference last year, and further growth on his part could make the Beavers a tough out.

“He’s been our rock the last two years,” Serratore said. “I don’t think there’s any question. He’s going to be our rock again this year.”

Weakness: Losing so many important scorers is difficult to overcome, especially when the team was 38th in scoring offense nationally last year. Improving upon the team’s 2.46 goals per game could be a lot to ask, even if Brandon Harms and Gerry Fitzgerald surpass their 25 points a piece from last season.

2016-17 Outlook: An improving, but young defense certainly isn’t a bad thing, but it’s tough to think they can make up for the lack of firepower up front. If Bemidji State can score, they can push for a spot in the top half, but it’s tough to imagine.

Prediction: 7th

Bowling Green

Head Coach: Chris Bergeron (7th year)

2015-16 Record: 22-14-6, 16-7-5 (3rd)

Changes: Bowling Green will be without last year’s top two scorers. Forward Mark Cooper graduated, while Brandon Hawkins left the team in September. The Falcons didn’t lose a lot from last season, but these two departures will hurt, requiring some of the younger forwards to step up immediately.

Strength: Goaltending should be what powers the Falcons this season. Chris Nell is one of the top netminders in the country, and posted a .930 save percentage last season. If he pushes that figure any higher, Bowling Green could be tough to match in the conference race.

Weakness: Goal production could be a challenge this year. Without Hawkins and Cooper, the team will have to depend heavily upon forwards Matt Pohlkamp, Stephen Baylis and Kevin Dufour, along with defensemen Sean Walker and Mark Friedman. There’s no clear leader to take on the bulk of the scoring, but having five players that scored at least 22 points, continued improvement from these players could soften the blow.

2016-17 Outlook: Bowling Green hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament since 1990, but the drought may be on the verge of ending. With a great goaltender, a solid defensive corps and the ability to spread points out throughout the line chart, the Falcons should be near the top of the WCHA heap, if they stay healthy and Nell continues to play like a Mike Richter Award nominee.

“We think at all three positions, we’re fairly deep,” Bergeron said. “We’ve got returning players everywhere. Guys that have got down to the last weekend of the regular season, fighting for a championship; guys that have been to the Final Five a couple years in a row. We feel like, from an experience standpoint, we have a lot of guys we can lean on.”

Prediction: 1st

Ferris State

Head Coach: Bob Daniels (25th year)

2015-16 Record: 20-15-6, 16-7-5 (4th)

Changes: Ferris State lost three of its defenseman during the offseason, as Brandon Anselmini, Sean O’Rourke and Zach Dorer all graduated. Daniels’ team will also be without forward Matt Robertson, who produced 19 points last season, as well as Kyle Schempp, who left early for the pros.

Strength: Scoring shouldn’t be much of an issue for Ferris State this season. Led by Gerald Mahew, who tallied 16-25-41 last year, the Bulldogs should be able to put the puck in the net. Chad McDonald, Corey Mackin and Andrew Dorantes also can push the Bulldogs’ offense to greater heights this year.

“We’re going to be front-end heavy,” Daniels said. “We return a lot of really good forwards. We feel we’re maybe one player shy of having a really quality top six. We’re not too far away and we’re hoping some players can emerge to fill that slot.”

Weakness: Losing three defenseman who logged major minutes last season will hurt Daniels’ side this year. Due to this, there may be extra pressure on sophomore goaltender Darren Smith. He will need to improve upon last year’s .919 save percentage, and unless there’s a lot of help from the offense, younger defenseman will need to step up.

2016-17 Outlook: Ferris State can cause problems in the top-half of the WCHA standings, but the losses absorbed in the offseason may be too much to overcome. It’s hard to see the Bulldogs repeat last year’s triumph, especially considering the talented competition.

Prediction: 4th

Lake Superior State

Head Coach: Damon Whitten (3rd year)

2015-16 Record: 14-22-5, 10-13-5 (7th)

Changes: The Lakers didn’t lose any major point producers in the offseason. Forwards Bryce Schmitt and Austin McKay, along with defenseman Peter Spratte, all were lost to graduation.

Strength: Goaltending is the strongpoint in Whitten’s team, and Gordon Defiel will be critical to any success the team has this season. Last year, Defiel had a .926 save percentage, and is one of the best netminders in the WCHA. His backup Nick Kossoff is also reliable, and solidifies the position for the Lakers.

“We’re very strong from the backend out, and I think that’s a good position to be starting off in,” Whitten said. “We were just outside the top 20 in team defense nationally. We would like to get in the top-15 nationally defensively.”

Weakness: It’s simple. Lake Superior can’t score, and that needs to change. The Lakers finished as the 59th scoring offense in the country last season, with just 74 goals and 1.8 goals per game. Just seven players had double-digit points last year. J.T. Henke, Gage Torrel and Mitch Hults all need to improve their roughly 0.5 points per game in order to challenge the top half of the league.

2016-17 Outlook: Defiel can keep this team in games, but without scoring, Lake Superior is not going to be a significant threat in the conference. However, with so few losses, there is room for improvement. The Lakers should take a small step forward this season.

Prediction: 6th

Michigan Tech

Head Coach: Mel Pearson (6th year)

2015-16 Record: 23-9-5, 18-7-3 (1st)

Changes: Two of last season’s most important players for the Huskies are gone, as both forward Alex Petan and goaltender Jamie Phillips will be sorely missed. Phillips produced a .922 save percentage, while Petan was the team’s highest scorer, finishing with 33 points. Forwards Malcolm Gould, C.J. Eick and Max Vallis also graduated, taking an additional 60 points with them.

Strength: Michigan Tech will rely on its defensive corps to keep the team competitive this season. Led by captain Cliff Watson, the Huskies should have one of the conference’s top defenses. Shane Hanna, Matt Roy and Mark Auk will also add to what is an experienced unit. Last season, Michigan Tech finished as the ninth-best defense in the country, allowing only 2.08 goals per game.

“We’ll go as our upperclassmen go,” Pearson said. “We’re led by a really strong corps of defensemen. We’ve got all six of our defensemen who were starters for us. That should be the strength of our team.”

Weakness: Goaltending is a big question mark to start the year after Phillips’ departure. Pearson has a decision to make, and at this early juncture, it could be any of the three on the roster. Matt Wintjes, a senior, is the most tenured goaltender, but he will face competition from sophomore Devin Kero and freshman Angus Redmond.

“Everybody here in the Copper Country wants to know who our starting goaltender is,” Pearson said. “At this point, we’re not sure who that’s gonna be. But that’s going to be important for us to make sure that we find a guy, or two guys, that we can go to and get the job done. We feel good with all three of them.”

2016-17 Outlook: Pearson’s team absorbed a number of losses, and both the points and goaltending success could be difficult to make up. However, there’s still plenty to be happy about with Tyler Heinonen and Joel L’Esperance leading the attack. The defensive corps can help the goaltending transition, as well.

The Huskies will still cause problems for teams, and a deep run in the WCHA tournament is not out of the question.

Prediction: 3rd

Minnesota State

Head Coach: Mike Hastings (5th year)

2015-16 Record: 21-13-7, 16-5-7 (2nd)

Changes: The Mavericks lost their top two scorers from last season to graduation. Both Bryce Gervais and Teddy Blueger were the most significant offensive departures after last season’s second-place finish. Blueger produced 35 points, while Gervais added another 26 points. On the defensive side, Casey Nelson left for the NHL, while Jon Jutzi also signed a professional contract.

Strength: Upperclassmen leadership, especially on the front-end of the ice, will be critical for Minnesota State’s success this year. Zach Stepan, Zeb Knutson, C.J. Franklin and Michael Huntebrinker will fill in to some of the most important scoring roles. If these players show what they’re capable of, the losses of Gervais and Blueger will be less of an issue.

Weakness: Despite only getting a team save percentage of .907 last year, Minnesota State should had solid defending. The team had the fifth-best defense in the country in 2015-16, allowing just 1.95 goals per game. However, without Nelson and Jutzi, this may expose the goaltending, unless Hastings can plug those holes in the defensive corps. The goaltending needs to be stronger, and senior Cole Huggins could be the one that pulls the team together.

“Cole has been here with some great support previously, with the guys in the front and back of the blue line,” Hastings said. “He’s had some support early in his career, as far as some competition between the posts with Stephon Williams. He’s going to have to be the guy that carries the ball for us out of the gate.”

2016-17 Outlook: Minnesota State lost some key players, but if the goaltending strengthens, the departures may not be as damaging. The Mavericks have a strong roster, and they can certainly compete with the top teams in the conference.

Prediction: 2nd

Northern Michigan

Head Coach: Walt Kyle (15th year)

2015-16 Record: 15-16-7, 12-11-5 (5th)

Changes: The Wildcats had three notable losses following last season. Top scorer Darren Nowick graduated, along with forward Cohen Adair and defenseman Barrett Kaib.

Strength: Defense should be the strongpoint of the Wildcats’ game again this year. The team was 25th in the country defensively last season, with just 2.61 goals per game. Most of the defensive corps returns, and Atte Toivanen is back between the pipes. The netminder registered a .929 save percentage in 25 games last year. He is backed up by Mathias Israelsson, a sophomore who should play a bigger role this year.

“Our strength will be in goal,” Kyle said. “We think Atte gained a ton of experience a year ago. We also believe that Mathias Israelsson, who got some experience a year ago, is going to compete for that job, and is really a strong contender there, as well.”

Weakness: Scoring could prove to be problematic this season for Northern Michigan. Losing Nowick and his 32 points hurt a team that finished with the 47th-ranked offense in the country last season. Dominik Shine should be the Wildcats’ main scoring threat this season, but it could take a lot to improve upon last year’s 2.34 goals per game.

2016-17 Outlook: Kyle’s team should be knocking on the door of the top tier of the WCHA, but without enough scoring, they may not be able to do better than last year’s finish.

Prediction: 5th