2002 WCHA men's ice hockey tournament

The 2002 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the 43rd conference playoff in league history and 49th season where a WCHA champion was crowned. The 2002 tournament was played between March 8 and March 16, 2002, at five conference arenas and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, the home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. By winning the tournament, Denver was awarded the Broadmoor Trophy and received the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's automatic bid to the 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament.

Format

edit

The first round of the postseason tournament featured a best-of-three games format. All ten conference schools participated in the tournament with teams 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. 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

edit

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

Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#5 Denver†* 28 21 6 1 43 108 63 41 32 8 1 158 86
#10 St. Cloud State 28 19 7 2 40 117 65 42 29 11 2 179 99
#1 Minnesota 28 18 7 3 39 113 84 44 32 8 4 197 119
#7 Colorado College 28 16 10 2 34 95 74 43 27 13 3 147 97
Wisconsin 28 12 13 3 27 88 90 39 16 19 4 123 120
Minnesota State-Mankato 28 11 15 2 24 84 107 38 16 20 2 124 138
Alaska-Anchorage 28 10 14 4 24 79 96 36 12 19 5 99 125
North Dakota 28 11 15 2 24 103 100 37 16 19 2 134 136
Minnesota-Duluth 28 6 19 3 15 72 112 40 13 24 3 119 153
Michigan Tech 28 4 22 2 10 66 134 38 8 28 2 92 177
Championship: Denver
indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion
Final rankings: USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Poll Top 15 Poll

Bracket

edit

Teams are reseeded after the first round

First round[2]
March 8–9
Quarterfinal[3]
March 14
Semifinals
March 15
Championship
March 16
1Denver58
10Michigan Tech11
1Denver3
2St. Cloud State5*64Colorado College3*4Colorado College0
9Minnesota-Duluth435Wisconsin2
3Minnesota74*1Denver5
8North Dakota433Minnesota2
4Colorado College61
7Alaska-Anchorage102St. Cloud State1
3Minnesota4
5Wisconsin3*7
6Minnesota State-Mankato23

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

First round

edit

(1) Denver vs. (10) Michigan Tech

edit
March 8[4] Denver 5 – 1 Michigan Tech Magness Arena Recap  
(Fulghum, Bull) Greg Keith - 15:19
(Bull, MacKenzie) Jussi Halme - GW - 19:36
First period No scoring
(Adams) Chris Paradise - 19:05 Second period 15:10 - Frank Werner (Markham)
(James, Vines) Chris Paradise - 04:07
(Foster, Weber) David Neale - 17:16
Third period No scoring
Wade Dubielewicz ( 13 saves / 14 shots ) Goalie stats Cam Ellsworth ( 35 saves / 40 shots )
March 9[5] Denver 8 – 1 Michigan Tech Magness Arena Recap  
(Foster, Paradise) Connor James - 07:54
(Weber, Dubielewicz) David Neale - GW - 11:26
First period No scoring
(Ulanski, MacKenzie) Lukas Dora - 00:18
(Doell, James) Greg Barber - 04:31
(Caldwell, Foster) Chris Paradise - PP - 13:25
Second period No scoring
(Foster, Neale) Matt Weber - 08:53
(Foster) David Neale - 10:36
(Caldwell, Ulanski) Kevin Doell - PP - 19:56
Third period 18:39 - Colin Murphy
Wade Dubielewicz ( 18 saves / 18 shots ) / Andy Lemelin ( 0 saves / 1 shots ) Goalie stats Cam Ellsworth ( 23 saves / 31 shots )
Denver won series 2–0


(2) St. Cloud State vs. (9) Minnesota-Duluth

edit
March 8[6] St. Cloud State 5 – 4 OT Minnesota-Duluth National Hockey Center Recap  
No Scoring First period 18:15 - Drew Otten (Petruic, Nelson)
(Doyle, Iannazzo) Peter Szabo - 01:45
(DiCasmirro, Hartigan) Joe Motzko - PP - 11:23
(Cullen, Motzko) Mark Hartigan - PP - 11:56
Second period 04:20 - Drew Otten (Francisco, Geisler)
12:14 - Andy Reierson (Nelson, Anderson)
(Motzko, Eastman) Matt Gens - 11:02 Third period 16:52 - Mark Carlson (Geisler, Francisco)
(Malone, Cullen) Matt Gens - GW - 17:39 First overtime period No scoring
Dean Weasler ( 36 saves / 40 shots ) Goalie stats Rob Anderson ( 31 saves / 37 shots )
March 9[7] St. Cloud State 6 – 3 Minnesota-Duluth National Hockey Center Recap  
(Meyer, Brooks) Ryan Malone - 03:50
(Hartigan, Finger) Joe Cullen - PP - 06:09
(DiCasmirro, LaMere) Mark Hartigan - 17:07
First period 18:44 - Junior Lessard (Nelson, Geisler)
(Hartigan, Motzko) Joe Cullen - GW - 07:33 Second period No scoring
(Hartigan, Motzko) Nate DiCasmirro - PP - 10:26
(DiCasmirro, Gens) Mark Hartigan - PP - 15:17
Third period 08:40 - PP - Mark Carlson (Hambly, Geisler)
18:44 - PP - Judd Medak (Francisco, Reierson)
Jake Moreland ( 26 saves / 29 shots ) Goalie stats Rob Anderson ( 20 saves / 26 shots )
St. Cloud State won series 2–0


(3) Minnesota vs. (8) North Dakota

edit
March 8[8] Minnesota 7 – 2 North Dakota Mariucci Arena Recap  
(Anthony, Riddle) John Pohl - 02:17
(Anthony, Pohl) Troy Riddle - 04:57
First period No scoring
(Riddle, Pohl) Nick Anthony - GW - 00:18
(Koalska, Wendell) Barry Tallackson - 02:59
(Leopold, Martin) John Pohl - PP - 04:02
(Welch, Taffe) Keith Ballard - 06:08
Second period 11:28 - Tim Skarperud
(Potulny) Jeff Taffe - 10:42 Third period 16:45 - Rory McMahon (Hale)
Adam Hauser ( 21 saves / 23 shots ) Goalie stats Josh Siembida ( 24 saves / 30 shots ) / Andy Kollar ( 15 saves / 16 shots )
March 9[9] Minnesota 4 – 3 OT North Dakota Mariucci Arena Recap  
No Scoring First period 01:10 - SH - Rory McMahon (Hale)
(Martin) Dan Welch - 01:15
(Taffe, Welch) Jordan Leopold - 12:02
Second period 19:46 - Ryan Bayda
Jeff Taffe - 07:21 Third period 18:53 - EA PP - Chad Mazurak (Bayda, Lundbohm)
(Tallackson) Keith Ballard - GW - 18:36 First overtime period No scoring
Adam Hauser ( 30 saves / 33 shots ) Goalie stats Andy Kollar ( 48 saves / 52 shots )
Minnesota won series 2–0


(4) Minnesota State vs. (7) Alaska-Anchorage

edit
March 8[10] Colorado College 6 – 1 Alaska-Anchorage Colorado Springs World Arena  
(Preissing, Kim) Peter Sejna - PP - 17:59 First period No scoring
(Sejna, Preissing) Jesse Heerema - GW - 13:31
(Clarke, Liebel) Alex Kim - 15:36
Second period 10:11 - Ryan Young
(Cullen) Jesse Heerema - 00:39
Noah Clarke - 01:14
(Cullen, Clarke) Peter Sejna - 08:01
Third period No scoring
Jeff Sanger ( 21 saves / 22 shots ) Goalie stats Kevin Reiter ( 39 saves / 45 shots )
March 9[11] Colorado College 1 – 0 Alaska-Anchorage Colorado Springs World Arena  
(Kim, Clarke) Tom Preissing - GW - 10:51 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Jeff Sanger ( 16 saves / 16 shots ) Goalie stats Chris King ( 31 saves / 32 shots )
Colorado College won series 2–0


(5) Wisconsin vs. (6) Minnesota State-Mankato

edit
March 8 Wisconsin 3 – 2 OT Minnesota State-Mankato Alliant Energy Center Recap
March 9 Wisconsin 7 – 3 Minnesota State-Mankato Alliant Energy Center Recap
Wisconsin won series 2–0


Quarterfinal

edit

(4) Colorado College vs. (5) Wisconsin

edit
March 14[12] Minnesota 3 – 2 Wisconsin Xcel Energy Center Recap  
(Cullen) Colin Stuart - 17:35 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 03:49 - Rene Bourque (Leavitt, Boeser)
(Stuart, Cullen) Chris Hartsburg - 14:49 Third period 18:29 - Matt Doman (Davyduke, Wozniewski)
(Cullen) Peter Sejna - GW - 00:53 Overtime No scoring
Jeff Sanger ( 25 saves / 27 shots ) Goalie stats Scott Kabotoff ( 17 saves / 20 shots )


Semifinals

edit

(1) Denver vs. (4) Colorado College

edit
March 15[13] Denver 3 – 0 Colorado College Xcel Energy Center Recap  
(Ulanski, Dora) Chris Paradise - GW - 08:38 First period No scoring
Greg Keith - 14:10 Second period No scoring
(Ulanski) Chris Paradise - 12:10 Third period No scoring
Wade Dubielewicz ( 26 saves / 26 shots ) Goalie stats Jeff Sanger ( 26 saves / 29 shots )


(2) St. Cloud State vs. (3) Minnesota

edit
March 15[14] St. Cloud State 1 – 4 Minnesota Xcel Energy Center Recap  
No Scoring First period 00:55 - Jordan Leopold (Riddle, Pohl)
No scoring Second period 19:43 - GW - Troy Riddle (Pohl, Fleming)
(Szabo, Eastman) Ryan Malone - PP - 11:32 Third period 00:35 - Jeff Taffe (DeMarchi, Leopold)
07:03 - PP - Matt Koalska (Riddle, Tallackson)
Jake Moreland ( 22 saves / 26 shots ) / Dean Weasler ( 7 saves / 7 shots ) Goalie stats Adam Hauser ( 26 saves / 27 shots )


Third Place

edit

(2) St. Cloud State vs. (4) Colorado College

edit
March 16[15] St. Cloud State 1 – 2 Colorado College Xcel Energy Center Recap  
(Hendricks, Cullen) Colin Peters - 05:02 First period 06:39 - Richard Petiot (Sejna, Heerema)
No scoring Second period 03:48 - GW PP - Chris Hartsburg (Stuart, Canzanello)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Dean Weasler ( 23 saves / 25 shots ) Goalie stats Jeff Sanger ( 35 saves / 36 shots )


Championship

edit

(1) Denver vs. (3) Minnesota

edit
March 16[16] Denver 5 – 2 Minnesota Xcel Energy Center Recap  
(Caldwell, Paradise) David Neale - PP - 03:32 First period No scoring
(Cook, Dora) Kevin Ulanski - 01:29
Max Bull - GW - 04:03
Second period 02:29 - Keith Ballard (Tallackson, Koalska)
13:38 - Troy Riddle (Angell, Tallackson)
(James, Doell) Greg Barber - 08:11
(Barber) Kevin Doell - EN - 19:15
Third period No scoring
Wade Dubielewicz ( 38 saves / 40 shots ) Goalie stats Adam Hauser ( 22 saves / 26 shots )


Tournament awards

edit

* Most Valuable Player(s)

[17]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Denver Men's Team History". Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  2. ^ "WCHA men's Hockey 2001-02 Week 24". USCHO.com. March 9, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  3. ^ "WCHA men's Hockey 2001-02 Week 25". USCHO.com. March 16, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  4. ^ "Denver 5, Michigan Tech 1". USCHO.com. March 8, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  5. ^ "Denver 8, Michigan Tech 1". USCHO.com. March 9, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  6. ^ "St. Cloud State 5, Minnesota-Duluth 4". USCHO.com. March 8, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  7. ^ "St. Cloud State 6, Minnesota-Duluth 3". USCHO.com. March 9, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  8. ^ "Minnesota 7, North Dakota 2". USCHO.com. March 8, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  9. ^ "Minnesota 4, North Dakota 3". USCHO.com. March 9, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  10. ^ "Colorado College 6, Alaska-Anchorage 1". USCHO.com. March 8, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  11. ^ "Colorado College 1, Alaska-Anchorage 0". USCHO.com. March 9, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  12. ^ "Colorado College 3, Wisconsin 2". USCHO.com. March 14, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  13. ^ "Denver 3, Colorado College 0". USCHO.com. March 15, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  14. ^ "Minnesota 4, St. Cloud State 1". USCHO.com. March 15, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  15. ^ "Colorado College 5, St. Cloud State 4". USCHO.com. March 16, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "Denver 5, Minnesota 2". USCHO.com. March 16, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "2009-10 WCHA Yearbook 129-144" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
edit