The Usual Suspects Lead Their WCHA Teams In Opening Weekend
The Usual Suspects Lead Their WCHA Teams In Opening Weekend
Some WCHA teams saw their teams off to a great start — others did not. But either way, the usual suspects are taking the helm.
Starting a new season off on the right foot can build confidence and momentum, which is exactly what a few regular culprits did for their respective WCHA teams during the opening weekend of the 2018-19 NCAA season.
With just nine WCHA games on opening weekend — split between five teams — a handful of the conference’s top players won’t start their season until the upcoming weekend, but the action was still packed on Saturday and Sunday.
Alabama Huntsville got off to a rocky start, dropping their first game 5-1 before being shut out by a 4-0 margin, dropping their first two games by a steep margin. The Alaska Nanooks found themselves in similar territory, losing the opening series by a total of 8-0 in the form of 3-0 and 5-0 losses to a rising Arizona State now full force into Division I hockey.
Last season, Nicolas Erb-Ekholm finished second in team scoring for Alaska Anchorage with 15 points (8 G, 7 A) in 27 games as the Seawolves’ offense continued to be a weak point of the program. The senior returned as and the highest scorer from last season.
Erb-Ekholm doubled his goals and points from his sophomore year totals and, with his experience, he’s the driving force in Fairbanks this season. He can hold his own with a 6-foot-2 frame and scored one of the Seawolves two goals in an ugly 10-2 season-opening loss to Colorado College.
Seawolves win! UAA wins tonight's match 4-3 against Colorado College! UAA plays at Ferris State on October 26-27. pic.twitter.com/FMngc0M1nD
— UAA Hockey (@UAAHockey) October 8, 2018
Seawolves freshman Drayson Pears began his collegiate career with a pair of assists in the second game, helping to lead his team to a 4-3 answer to the thrashing a day prior. Erb-Ekholm added an assist, getting off to a fast start with a three-point opening weekend.
After three consecutive seasons of dropping win totals, the Lake Superior State Lakers were lifted to an opening series sweep of Merrimack thanks to Max Humitz, who FloHockey named a "Player to Watch" for the Lakers this season.
The junior scored in each game over the weekend, including the lone goal Sunday, leading LSSU to a 1-0 victory and its first sweep since defeating Alaska Anchorage last February to start a four-game winning streak.
Freshmen Jacob Nordqvist and Pierre-Luc Veillettte each came away with two assists over the weekend, supporting the notion that the team could best its 10-22-4 record from 2017-18.
Last but certainly not least there’s the Bowling Green Falcons. The Falcons began to build on their potential with an eye-opening 8-2 win over Mercyhurst. Senior Stephen Baylis posted a hat trick and an assist.
FINAL: Your Bowling Green Falcons open the 2018-19 season with a 8-2 VICTORY over Mercyhurst! Baylis nets a Hat Trick as the Falcons go 4 for 5 on power plays. Consider this year's campaign STARTED.#AyZiggy
— Bowling Green Hockey (@BGFalconHockey) October 7, 2018
Junior defenseman Alec Rauhauser, who finished second in defensive scoring last season, was outplayed by a handful of his own teammates, which will often happen for a team capable of another winning season similar to last year’s 23-12-8 record.
Sophomores Max Johnson and Brando Kruse each participated in the four goals. Johnson had two goals and two assists. Kruse posted four helpers. Three other freshmen combined for a goal and two assists.
The Falcons take on the No. 19-ranked Western Michigan Broncos on Tuesday, when they’ll look to make another statement.
Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @Jacob_Messing.
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