2008 WCHA men's ice hockey tournament

2008 WCHA Men's ice hockey tournament
2008 WCHA Final Five logo
Dates	March 14–22, 2008
Teams	10
Finals site	Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, Minnesota
Champions	Denver (15th title)
Winning coach	George Gwozdecky (4th title)
MVP	Alex Kangas (Minnesota)
WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournaments ← 2007 2009 →

The 2008 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the 49th conference playoff in league history and 54th season where a WCHA champion was crowned. The 2008 tournament was played between March 14 and March 22, 2008, at five conference arenas and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. By winning the tournament, Denver was awarded the Broadmoor Trophy and received the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament.

Format

The first round of the postseason tournament featured a best-of-three games format. All ten conference teams participated in the tournament. Teams were seeded No. 1 through No. 10 according to their final conference standing, with a tiebreaker system used to seed teams with an identical number of points accumulated. ^[1] The top five seeded teams each earned home ice and hosted one of the lower seeded teams.

The winners of the first round series advanced to the Xcel Energy Center for the WCHA Final Five, the collective name for the quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship rounds. The Final Five uses a single-elimination format. Teams were re-seeded No. 1 through No. 5 according to the final regular season conference standings, with the top three teams automatically advancing to the semifinals.

Conference standings

Colorado College versus the University of Minnesota

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against

2007–08 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
#8 Colorado College†	28	21	6	1	43	95	52		41	28	12	1	136	88
#4 North Dakota	28	18	7	3	39	85	53		43	28	11	4	129	80
#9 Denver*	28	16	11	1	33	75	67		41	26	14	1	116	94
#15 Minnesota State	28	12	12	4	28	71	75		39	19	16	4	106	97
#14 St. Cloud State	28	12	12	4	28	79	74		40	19	16	5	118	94
#13 Wisconsin	28	11	12	5	27	68	68		40	16	17	7	114	102
#12 Minnesota	28	9	12	7	25	64	70		45	19	17	9	109	109
Minnesota–Duluth	28	9	14	5	23	55	76		36	13	17	6	74	91
Michigan Tech	28	9	15	4	22	55	77		39	14	20	5	78	99
Alaska–Anchorage	28	3	19	6	12	54	89		36	7	21	8	81	112
Championship: Denver † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Final rankings: USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Top 15 Poll

Tiebreakers

• Minnesota State and St. Cloud State each finished the regular season with 28 points. Minnesota State won the tiebreaker, having the better head-to-head record of the two teams. ^{[2] [3]}

Bracket

Teams are reseeded after the first round

	First round March 14–16, 2008							Quarterfinal March 20, 2008					Semifinals March 21, 2008					Championship March 22, 2008
	1	Colorado College	4	3*	—
	10	Alaska-Anchorage	1	2	—
													1	Colorado College	1
	2	North Dakota	4	2	2			5	St. Cloud State	2			7	Minnesota	2*
	9	Michigan Tech	0	3*	1			7	Minnesota	3
	3	Denver	6	1	—													3	Denver	2
	8	Minnesota-Duluth	3	0	—													7	Minnesota	1
	4	Minnesota State	1**	1	2
	7	Minnesota	0	2*	3**								2	North Dakota	1
													3	Denver	3
	5	St. Cloud State	3	4*	—
	6	Wisconsin	0	3	—

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

First round

(1) Colorado College vs. (10) Alaska-Anchorage

March 14	Colorado College		4 – 1		Alaska-Anchorage	World Arena	Recap
(Sweatt, Hillen) Mike Testwuide - 00:37		First period			No Scoring
(Hillen) Tyler Johnson - GW - 18:06		Second period			02:15 - PP - Brad McCabe (Lunden, Lafranchise)
(Johnson) Scott Thauwald - 02:47 (unassisted) Scott McCulloch - EN - 19:39		Third period			No scoring
( 27 saves / 28 shots ) Richard Bachman		Goalie stats			Jon Olthuis ( 16 saves / 19 shots )

March 15	Colorado College		3 – 2	OT	Alaska-Anchorage	World Arena	Recap
No Scoring		First period			06:05 - Kane Lafranchise (Parkinson, Lunden)
(Testwuide, Kilpatrick) Bill Sweatt - 04:22		Second period			16:37 - Josh Lunden (Crowder)
(Rau, Prosser) Mike Testwuide - 05:54		Third period			No scoring
(Sweatt, Hillen) Mike Testwuide - 02:58		First overtime period			No scoring
( 18 saves / 20 shots ) Richard Bachman		Goalie stats			Jon Olthuis ( 27 saves / 30 shots )

Colorado College won series 2–0

(2) North Dakota vs. (9) Michigan Tech

March 14	North Dakota		4 – 0		Michigan Tech	Ralph Engelstad Arena	Recap
(Oshie, Genoway) Ryan Duncan - GW - 05:25		First period			No scoring
(Duncan, VandeVelde) T. J. Oshie - 08:21 (Marto, Genoway) Darcy Zajac - 09:10		Second period			No scoring
(Miller, Martens) Andrew Kozek - 06:58		Third period			No scoring
( 14 saves / 14 shots ) Jean-Philippe Lamoureux		Goalie stats			Michael-Lee Teslak ( 27 saves / 31 shots )

March 15	North Dakota		2 – 3	OT	Michigan Tech	Ralph Engelstad Arena	Recap
(Frattin, Martens) Brad Miller - 04:19		First period			No scoring
(Miller) Matt Frattin - 16:58		Second period			No scoring
No scoring		Third period			01:19 - PP - Jimmy Kerr (Kinrade, Kattelus) 19:54 - SH - Tyler Shelast (Kerr, Baker)
No scoring		First overtime period			01:59 - GW PP - Tyler Shelast (Kinrade, Rouleau)
( 23 saves / 26 shots ) Jean-Philippe Lamoureux		Goalie stats			Michael-Lee Teslak ( 24 saves / 26 shots )

March 16	North Dakota		2 – 1		Michigan Tech	Ralph Engelstad Arena	Recap
(Duncan, Genoway) T. J. Oshie - 14:09		First period			11:27 - Tyler Shelast (Gagne)
(Bina, Chorney) T. J. Oshie - 00:19		Second period			No scoring
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
( 10 saves / 11 shots ) Jean-Philippe Lamoureux		Goalie stats			Michael-Lee Teslak ( 22 saves / 24 shots )

North Dakota won series 2–1

(3) Denver vs. (8) Minnesota–Duluth

March 14	Denver		6 – 3		Minnesota–Duluth	Magness Arena	Recap
(Vossberg, Thomas) Dustin Jackson - 02:15 (May, Testwuide) Dustin Jackson - 04:58		First period			No scoring
(Jackson) Matt Glasser - 09:29 (Ostrow) Tyler Bozak - GW PP - 13:39		Second period			08:23 - PP - Andrew Carroll (Curry, Akins) 14:24 - Mike Curry (Bordson, Greer)
(Testwuide) Tyler Bozak - 00:23 (unassisted) Cody Brookwell - 07:50		Third period			05:55 - PP - Josh Meyers (Bordson, McKnight)
( 24 saves / 27 shots ) Peter Mannino		Goalie stats			Alex Stalock ( 22 saves / 28 shots )

March 15	Denver		1 – 0		Minnesota–Duluth	Magness Arena	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No scoring
(unassisted) Anthony Maiani - GW - 07:44		Second period			No scoring
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
( 25 saves / 25 shots ) Peter Mannino		Goalie stats			Alex Stalock ( 14 saves / 15 shots )

Denver won series 2–0

(4) Minnesota State vs. (7) Minnesota

March 14	Minnesota State		1 – 0	2OT	Minnesota	Verizon Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
(Kalinski) Trevor Bruess - 17:36		Second overtime period			No scoring
( 34 saves / 34 shots ) Mike Zacharias		Goalie stats			Alex Kangas ( 44 saves / 45 shots )

March 15	Minnesota State		1 – 2	OT	Minnesota	Verizon Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period			06:07 - Justin Bostrom (Pohl, Wehrs)
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
(Irwin, Hanson) Andrew Sackrison - 11:09		Third period			No scoring
No scoring		First overtime period			07:33 - Mike Carman (Peltier)
( 35 saves / 37 shots ) Mike Zacharias		Goalie stats			Alex Kangas ( 27 saves / 28 shots )

March 16	Minnesota State		2 – 3	2OT	Minnesota	Verizon Center	Recap
(Davis, Irwin) Mick Berge - 08:38		First period			18:12 - Jay Barriball (Wheeler, Gordon)
No scoring		Second period			13:51 - Patrick White (Howe, Lucia)
(Bruess, Youds) Kael Mouillierat - 03:20		Third period			No scoring
No scoring		Second overtime period			16:59 - Tony Lucia (Kaufmann, Flynn)
( 47 saves / 50 shots ) Mike Zacharias		Goalie stats			Alex Kangas ( 44 saves / 46 shots )

Minnesota won series 2–1

(5) St. Cloud State vs. (6) Wisconsin

March 14	St. Cloud State		3 – 0		Wisconsin	National Hockey Center	Recap
(Nödl, Roe) John Swanson - GW PP - 19:29		First period			No scoring
(Borgen) Ryan Lasch - 17:42		Second period			No scoring
(Dey, Roe) Andreas Nödl - 10:03		Third period			No scoring
( 24 saves / 24 shots ) Jase Weslosky		Goalie stats			Shane Connelly ( 28 saves / 31 shots )

March 15	St. Cloud State		4 – 3	OT	Wisconsin	National Hockey Center	Recap
(Lasch, Swanson) Aaron Brocklehurst - 00:26 (Brocklehurst, Marvin) Matt Stephenson - GW - 17:17		First period			05:24 - Blake Geoffrion (Turris, Davies)
(Roe, Nödl) John Swanson - PP - 14:58		Second period			00:51 - Davis Drewiske (Klubertanz, Geoffrion) 06:02 - Aaron Bendickson (McBain, Turris)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
(Raboin) Ryan Lasch - GW - 03:57		First overtime period			No scoring
( 46 saves / 47 shots ) Jake Weslosky		Goalie stats			Shane Connelly ( 7 saves / 9 shots ) / Scott Gudmandson ( 10 saves / 12 shots )

St. Cloud State won series 2–0

Quarterfinal

(5) St. Cloud State vs. (7) Minnesota

March 20	St. Cloud State		2 – 3		Minnesota	Xcel Energy Center	Recap
(Lasch, Brocklehurst) Garrett Raboin - PP - 07:33		First period			00:25 - Tony Lucia (Kaufmann, Peltier)
No scoring		Second period			04:35 - PP - Evan Kaufmann (Wheeler, Fairchild)
(Peltier, Fischer) Mike Howe - GW - 19:47		Third period			15:34 - Tony Mosey (Lasch, Raboin)
( 26 saves / 29 shots ) Jase Weslosky		Goalie stats			Alex Kangas ( 25 saves / 27 shots )

Semifinals

(1) Colorado College vs. (7) Minnesota

March 21	Colorado College		1 – 2	OT	Minnesota	Xcel Energy Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No scoring
(Hillen, Prosser) Andreas Vlassopoulos - 00:39		Second period			01:38 - Mike Hoeffel (Barriball)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
No scoring		First overtime period			04:47 - Mike Hoeffel (Carman, Wehrs)
( 33 saves / 35 shots ) Richard Bachman		Goalie stats			Alex Kangas ( 37 saves / 38 shots )

(2) North Dakota vs. (3) Denver

March 21	North Dakota		1 – 3		Denver	Xcel Energy Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			05:58 - PP - Rhett Rakhshani (Mullen, Bozak)
(Zajac, Marto) Taylor Chorney - 06:16		Third period			18:40 - GW - Anthony Maiani (unassisted) 19:54 - EN - Matt Glasser (Ruegsegger)
( 29 saves / 35 shots ) Bobby Goepfert		Goalie stats			Philippe Lamoureux ( 25 saves / 27 shots )

Third Place

(1) Colorado College vs. (2) North Dakota

March 22	Colorado College		2 – 4		North Dakota	Xcel Energy Center	Recap
(Testwuide) Chad Rau - 07:56		First period			19:20 - PP - T. J. Oshie (Chorney, VandeVelde)
(Connelly, Lowery) Jimmy Kilpatrick - PP - 16:36		Second period			05:01 - PP - Chris VandeVelde (Chorney, Oshie) 10:27 - GW PP - Chay Genoway (Marto, Malone)
No scoring		Third period			10:02 - Darcy Zajac (Radke, Marto)
( 31 saves / 35 shots ) Richard Bachman		Goalie stats			Jean-Philippe Lamoureux ( 33 saves / 25 shots )

Championship

(3) Denver vs. (7) Minnesota

March 22	Denver		2 – 1		Minnesota	Xcel Energy Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No scoring
(Rakhshani) Tyler Bozak - 09:10 (Maiani, Martin) Tom May - GW - 19:34		Second period			05:39 - Ryan Flynn (Bickel, Fairchild)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
( 34 saves / 35 shots ) Peter Mannino		Goalie stats			Alex Kangas ( 32 saves / 34 shots )

Tournament awards

Members of the Denver Pioneers celebrating their tournament victory

All-Tournament Team

• F Mike Hoeffel (Minnesota)
• F Tom May (Denver)
• F T. J. Oshie (North Dakota)
• D Chris Butler (Denver)
• D Taylor Chorney (North Dakota)
• G Peter Mannino (Denver)

^[4]

MVP

Alex Kangas, (Minnesota)

See also

• Western Collegiate Hockey Association men's champions

References

General

"2008 WCHA Tournament". Inside College Hockey. Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2008.

Specific

1. "First Round WCHA Playoffs Set for March 14-16; Colorado College Reigns as 2007-08 WCHA Champion". WCHA. March 10, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2008.^{[ dead link ]}
2. "Minnesota Earns Back-to-Back WCHA Championships as Golden Gophers Down MTU". WCHA. March 7, 2007. Archived from the original on June 18, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
3. "Minnesota State Mavericks: 2007-2008 Men's Hockey Schedule/Results". USCHO. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
4. "2009-10 WCHA Yearbook 129-144" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved June 1, 2014.

External links

• Official website