ECH midseason RECAP
written By Alex Berger - January 4th, 2023We have officially made it to the second half of the season, and after hundreds of games we are finally starting to see a clear pecking order across the rankings. This year has been the return of the blue bloods so far, as Boston College, Boston University, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Denver, Minnesota, and Michigan all currently rank in the top-20 of the ECH Rankings (those teams combine for 11 regular season games against each other still this season).
In this midseason recap you'll find everything from the current ECH and Pairwise rankings, the most surprising teams and players through the first half of the season, a look at some teams who haven't met their expectations so far in 2023-'24, some of the most important matchups still left on the schedule, and much more. As the second half of the season ramps up make sure to keep an eye on EverythingCollegeHockey.com for the latest rankings and articles, as we are now just 10 weeks away from the beginning of postseason play in some parts of the country.
ECH Midseason Top-20 Rankings
Most Surprising Teams
- Wisconsin Badgers
Record: 16-4-0 overall, 8-2-0 in conference play
Goals/Game: 3.45/game (T-12th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 1.55/game (1st)
Top Scorer: Cruz Lucius, Sophomore Forward; 8 goals - 10 assists - 18 total points
What an unbelievable turnaround by Wisconsin under new head coach Mike Hastings. The Badgers have already surpassed their total wins from a season ago and currently have the most in any team in the country. Led by a depth scoring (nine players with double-digit points) and a fantastic first half of the season from goaltender Kyle McClellan (1.62 GAA, .939 SV%, five shutouts), Wisconsin ranks second in the Big Ten with their only two loses coming on the road to first-place Michigan State.
Entering into the season unranked in the ECH rankings, Wisconsin shot up to #1 overall with six-straight wins over Michigan Tech, Minnesota, and Michigan. They rank #4 at the halfway point, and with the best defense (and arguably the best goalie in the country) are well on their way to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in three years.
- Maine Black Bears
Record: 12-3-1 overall, 5-2-1 in conference play
Goals/Game: 3.75/game (T-7th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.31/game (T-9th)
Top Scorer: Josh Nadeau, Freshman Forward; 10 goals - 15 assists - 25 total points
Another unranked team that is now in the top ten, Maine has already posted huge wins over #7 Quinnipiac, #1 Boston College, and #18 New Hampshire and rank third in the Hockey East. The Black Bears have been unbelievable at home, with their only loss coming in a shootout to BC. They've also been one of the better possession teams in the country, outshooting teams in 13 of their first 16 games, ranking 4th in Corsi For % in the country (57.8%) and T-16th in faceoff percentage (52.8%).
The Black Bears resurgence has been led by brothers Josh and Bradly Nadeau. The freshman forwards lead the team in points with a combined 22 goals and 26 assists through 16 games (combined 3.00 points/game). Maine could be a sneaky pick to contend for a Hockey East title this season. They've already played their games against Boston College and Boston University this season, and trail first-place BU by just seven points with a game in hand.
- Massachusetts Minutemen
Record: 11-5-2 overall, 4-3-1 in conference play
Goals/Game: 3.61/game (T-10th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.94/game (T-32nd)
Top Scorer: Scott Morrow, Junior Defenseman; 5 goals - 15 assists - 20 total points
One year removed from their iconic four-year run which included their first-ever NCAA title, two championship game appearances, and a Hobey Baker Award winner, Massachusetts has reset and is back near the top of the Pairwise rankings. Although they haven't played well in the conference so far, Massachusetts has gone 7-2-1 in nonconference play and ranks #14 in the ECH Rankings and #11 the Pairwise.
Junior defenseman Scott Morrow is well on his way towards his third-straight 30-point season, and ranks T-4th among all defenseman in the country in points. He leads UMass, and has tallied a point in 13 of 18 games so far this year. If they can continue their great play in one-goal games (6-2, 2-2-2 in OT) they'll be in a good spot to make this year's NCAA Tournament.
- Michigan State Spartans
Record: 13-4-3 overall, 7-1-2 in conference play
Goals/Game: 4.15/game (3rd in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 3.00/game (T-35th)
Top Scorer: Joey Larson, Sophomore Forward; 11 goals - 11 assists - 22 total points
Shoutout to our own James Murray, who was the only one to pick Michigan State to win the Big Ten at the beginning of the season. That pick is looking very good at the midway point of the year, as the Spartans are leading the conference and have lost just one Big Ten game in regulation through their first ten.
So what's sparked Sparty's turnaround? Short answer; a combination of transfer talent and freshman goaltender Trey Augustine. Michigan State's top three scorers -- Joey Larson (NMU), Red Savage (Miami), and Isaac Howard (Duluth) -- are all transfer players and have at least 20 points through the first half of the season, leading the Spartans to the third-best offense in the country. In net, Trey Augustine has already proved himself as one of the best young goaltenders in the country. Michigan State is back and has a roster built to make some noise in March.
- St. Thomas Tommies
Record: 9-10-1 overall, 7-5-0 in conference play
Goals/Game: 2.80/game (T-33rd in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.75/game (T-25th)
Top Scorer: Lucas Wahlin, Sophomore Forward; 8 goals - 13 assists - 21 total points
For the first time in what feels like a decade, it feels as though there's a true opening in the WCHA/CCHA. St. Thomas has been one of the teams that's capitalized on the power struggle, as they sit just a point behind Bemidji State for second place in the conference standings.
Before solid CCHA wins over Northern Michigan, Lake Superior, Minnesota State, etc., St. Thomas started their season with a bang. They beat now #11 St. Cloud State on the road 6-5 OT and took at the time #2 Minnesota to overtime at the Xcel Energy Center just a week later. Despite sitting at #40 in the Pairwise, the Tommies have been surprisingly very impressive in-conference so far this season. It's a shame they aren't eligible to qualify for the tournament this season (this is year three of their mandated exclusion from the NCAA Postseason). A potential race to the CCHA Championship would be must-watch TV. Regardless, Rico Blasi has the Tommies heading in the right direction before next season's full-time status.
- ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
Record: 14-3-5 Overall
Goals/Game: 3.50/game (T-12th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.40/game (T-12th)
Top Scorer: Lukas Sillinger, Senior Forward; 6 goals - 21 assists - 27 total points
It’s no secret that the Sun Devils may have the most electric atmosphere in college hockey. Mullet Arena seats 5,000 people, and that’s about what is expected on any given night in Tempe. However, they had this same advantage last year + a few big time names like Josh Doan and Robert Mastrosimone, and struggled to find their stride.
They haven’t faced the strongest schedule yet, but the Sun Devils have beaten just about everyone that has come their way, including big wins over Providence and Denver. Key to their success has been capitalizing on the power play - Senior Forward Matthew Kopperud leads the NCAA in PPG with 10, and ASU is ranked 4th in the Nation overall with a 29% power play percentage. It also doesn’t hurt to have transfers like Lukas Sillinger lighting it up, the Senior forward has surpassed a career high in points already this season (27 points in 22 games) and we’re only at the halfway point. If the Sun Devils can continue to collect wins against their Independent-Conference opponents for the remainder of the season, we could be seeing another tournament appearance for Greg Powers and #ForksUp nation.
Most Disappointing Teams
- Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
Record: 6-9-4 overall, 2-5-1 in conference play
Goals/Game: 2.84/game (T-33rd in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 3.00/game (T-35th)
Top Scorer: Ben Steeves, Sophomore Forward; 14 goals - 7 assists - 21 total points
Heading into the season #12 in the ECH rankings, Minnesota-Duluth's roster depth has been rocked by injuries, as they are now down to their third top-line center in just three months. First, it was star junior Dominic James who was injured in just the second game of the season and is out for the year. Then to make matters worse., just last week Cole Spicer (who had been filling in for James on the top line) was declared academically ineligible and will miss the second half of the season.
A lone bright spot for the season has been that of star sophomore Ben Steeves. After posting 21 during his freshman campaign, the New Hampshire native has tucked 14 already this year, ranking second in the country and trailing Jack Devine by only one goal for the conference and NCAA lead. After a program-defining eight-year stretch of NCAA appearances, it would take a near miracle for Minnesota-Duluth to avoid their second-straight tournament miss.
- Michigan Wolverines
Record: 8-7-3 overall, 3-5-2 in conference play
Goals/Game: 4.00/game (T-4th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.94/game (T-32nd)
Top Scorer: Seamus Casey, Sophomore Defenseman; 4 goals - 19 assists - 23 total points
Another team impacted by injuries so far is the Michigan Wolverines, who have fallen a bit in the ECH Rankings from #4 in the preseason to #17 currently. Since first-round pick Rutger McGroarty went down after a hard hit against the boards at home against Penn State on November 17, Michigan has gone 2-2-1. The good news is that McGroarty is getting back to 100% and currently playing for Team USA at the World Junior's.
Being included on this list isn't a knock on the Wolverines (or any of these teams for that matter), it's just a way to show that not all expectations have been met. Michigan was a period away from advancing to the national championship game last season and had a lot of talent return to try to run it back. They're still a talented team, but just haven't found the magic that last year's group had. They may have a tougher time in conference this year with how loaded the Big Ten is, but they can still make some noise this season.
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 9-5-4 overall, 5-4-3 in conference play
Goals/Game: 3.33/game (T-18th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: (T-20th)
Top Scorer: Bryce Brodzinski, Graduate Senior Forward; 10 goals - 9 assists - 19 total points
Minnesota and Michigan share a lot of similarities from last season to this year. A talented returning group that hasn't quite lived up to lofty preseason expectations. The Gophers started out hot, reaching the #1 ECH ranking and beating North Dakota on the road, before dropping three-straight to the Fighting Hawks and Wisconsin. Since then they've gone 6-2-4 but have lost three shootouts to fall to third in the Big Ten standings.
The Gophers are still a top-ten team but still have some question marks. They only have three combined goals from defenseman, Jimmy Snuggerud has shown flashes but hasn't had sustained success during his sophomore year, and Justen Close's stats have dipped a bit from his All-Big-Ten second-team honors from a season ago. If Minnesota can continue their success in one-goal games (4-2-4 record) and get a little better at home (currently 4-3-1), things will be alright in Dinkytown.
- Michigan Tech Huskies
Record: 9-8-4 overall, 6-4-0 in conference play
Goals/Game: 2.67/game (T-40th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.86/game (T-32nd)
Top Scorer: Issac Gordon, Freshman Forward; 10 goals - 8 assists - 18 points
The Huskies dropped slightly down this list after a 6-2-1 stretch and last week's Great Lakes Invitational win, but they are still looking to reach their full potential. A near-unanimous choice to win the CCHA regular season, Michigan Tech started the season 0-4-3 and have scored just under 2.7 goals/game (T-40th in the country). That offense will hopefully jump with the addition of CCHA Co-Preseason Player of the year, Austen Swankler. Swankler transferred to Tech from Bowling Green in late September and had to sit out the fall semester to start the season.
A big key to the Huskies' struggles has been that lack of offense and a possible regression to the mean by star goaltender Blake Pietila. With eight underclassmen ahead of him, the five-year senior has played good, but not great. After 17 combined shutouts the last two seasons (74 total games), Pietila has none through his first 18 this season. With a 2.67 GAA (T-36th) and .913 SV% (T-31st) he's played middle of the pack so far this year. If the Huskies are going to make any noise this season he'll need to take a step back towards his All-American play.
- Cornell Big Red
Record: 6-4-3 overall, 3-4-1 in conference play
Goals/Game: 2.92/game (T-28th in NCAA)
Goals Against/Game: 2.23/game (T-4th)
Top Scorer: Gabriel Seger, Senior Forward; 9 goals - 7 assists - 17 total points
Another team that has dropped down the rankings this season is Cornell, who have posted some head-scratching results against the best and worst in college hockey this year. For starters, they lost at home 3-2 to Harvard, the Crimson's only win of the year (1-7-3 record). But then just two weeks later they faced off against now #2 overall Boston University at Madison Square Garden for 'Red Hot Hockey' and beat the Terriers with a comeback 3-2 win. Cornell also just tied #14 UMass and #13 Arizona State in back-to-back games at Adirondack Winter Invitational this past weekend (they lost to the Sun Devils in the championship game in a shootout).
If there's been one thing consistent about the Big Red this year, it's been the continued play of goaltender Ian Shane. The junior is second in the country with a 1.85 GAA this year and is once again playing behind one of the best defensive corps in college hockey (22.9 shots against/game, 3rd in NCAA). If Cornell is to catch Quinnipiac in the ECAC standings they'll have to rely heavily on their star goaltender to steal some games.
Most Surprising Players
- Kyle McClellan, G, Wisconsin
Record: 14-4-0 (1st in NCAA)
GAA: 1.62 (1st)
SV%: .939% (2nd)
Shutouts: 5 (1st)
Total Saves: 449 (T-13th)
After two decent seasons at Mercyhurst and a season as the backup at Wisconsin, Kyle McClellan has emerged as one of the most lockdown goaltenders in college hockey this season. The senior leads the country in wins (14), GAA (1.62), shutouts (5), and is second in the country in save percentage (.939%).
McClellan has allowed more than three goals in a game just once so far this year and has two weekends with multiple shutouts (including this past weekend at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off). If there's any knock against his game so far, it's the fact that the Badgers are allowing just 26.5 shots on goals/game, 14th best in the country. However, he's still making the saves that he's being asked to make. Through the first half of the season, he's our leading candidate for the Mike Richter Award and is playing himself into Hobey Baker contention as well.
- Bradly/Josh Nadeau, F, Maine
Goals (Bradly/Josh): 12/10 (T-6th/T-22nd in NCAA)
Assists: 11/15 (N.A./T-13th)
Points: 23/25 (T-13th/T-4th)
Points/Game: 1.44/1.56 (9th/T-4th)
+/- Rating: +14/+13 (T-13th/T-19th)
It may be cheating to choose two players for one spot, but it's just too difficult to separate the brothers who have helped revitalize the Maine program. Amid plenty of talent in the Hockey East, Bradly and Josh Nadeau have been just as electric as the other high-end freshman in the conference (Celebrini, Smith/Perrault/Leonard, etc.).
The most ridiculous stat showcasing the brother's chemistry happened back in early December. Josh scored his first-career hat trick in a game against rival New Hampshire, with Bradly getting the primary assist on all three goals. Just two days later against Connecticut, Bradly scored his first hat trick with all three primary assists coming from Josh. Along with senior center Lynden Breen, the Nadeaus make up one of the best lines in college hockey this year. You can read more about how dominant that trio has been later on in this recap.
- Zeev Buium, D, Denver
Goals: 5
Assists: 20 (T-4th in NCAA)
Points: 25 (T-4th)
Points/Game: 1.39 (10th)
+/- Rating: +13 (T-19th)
Amid all of the deserved attention on Massimo Rizzo and Jack Devine so far this season, freshman Zeev Buium may be the most underrated player in college hockey. He leads all defenseman in assists, points, points per game, and ranks tied for fourth in the country in total points. He was named the NCHC player of the month in November, and earned a spot with Team USA in this year's World Junior's tournament.
After a slow start to his career, Buium enters the second half of the season on a 12-game point streak. To put it in perspective, the freshman is already outpacing Lane Hutson's freshman season, which ended with a Hobey Baker Award finalist nomination and 48 total points. Buium also gets the luxury of playing with the NCAA-leading goal and point scorers as he continues to work towards a likely first-round pick in next year's NHL Draft.
- Gabe Perreault, F, Boston College
Goals: 5
Assists: 20 (T-4th in NCAA)
Points: 25 (T-4th)
Points/Game: 1.47 (8th)
+/- Rating: +6
From the U.S. Under-18 Team to Boston College to the World Juniors, the freshman line of Gabe Perreault, Will Smith, and Ryan Leonard sure has gotten a lot of ice time together. The three first-round picks combined for 353 points in 63 games for the U.S. Under-18's last season, and already have 66 combined points in the NCAA's this year.
However it's been Gabe Perrault, the last on his line to be drafted, that's been arguably the most impressive at the next level. The 23rd-overall pick leads his team in assists and points, and ranks top-5 in the country in both stats as well. Granted, it helps passing the puck to the other high draft picks on the Eagles this season, but it's been a pleasant surprise that Perreault has been leading the charge on his line.
- Jared Westcott, F, Lake Superior State
Goals: 12 (T-6th in NCAA)
Assists: 12 (T-42nd)
Points: 24 (T-10th)
Points/Game: 1.14 (35th)
+/- Rating: 5
Amid all of the future NHL talent and returning college hockey superstars, it was Lake Superior State forward Jared Westcott who led the country in points in mid-November. From October 13 to November 18 the senior forward went on a tear, registering 22 of his 23 points during a ten-game stretch. He tallied three or more goals in five of those games, including a hat trick on the road against St. Lawrence to jumpstart his month-long run.
Despite cooling off since his 'Pucks in Deep' appearance on November 24th, Westcott still leads the CCHA in points, and ranks tied for sixth in the entire country with 12 tucks. He's already surpassed his career point total (19 combined points in 53 total games) in just 20 games this year. After a rough end to the first half of the season, Westcott will be looking to bounce back during a loaded conference schedule.
Important Second-Half Games
- #1 Boston College vs. #2 Boston University; Jan. 26/27, Feb. 5
It seems as though the 'Battle of Comm. Ave' is set up for a collision course this season between the current #1 and #2 teams in the country. Boston College and Boston University are absolutely loaded with offensive talent, highlighted by the Smith/Perrault/Leonard line for the Eagles and Macklin Celebrini for the Terriers.
The two teams are scheduled to play three times in 11 days starting at the end of this month. First at Agganis Arena, then at the Conte Forum the next night, capped off with a nonconference showdown in the Beanpot semifinal at the TD Garden. Those three games will have massive implications across the board; in the Hockey East standings, Pairwise, ECH Rankings, and for just pure bragging rights. With the way these two teams are playing however, those will likely not be the only games of the season between the bitter rivals.
- #4 Wisconsin vs. #3 Michigan State; March 1/2
The lone (current) top-five matchup of the schedule will have to wait until the very last weekend of the regular season. Michigan State and Wisconsin currently lead the rest of the Big Ten by a considerable margin, but only have one more series against each other this year. The two teams first met in mid-November, when 'Sparty' came away with a big home sweep against the at-the-time #1 Badgers.
Although all of these other important second-half matchups have big conference implications, they may not be the deciding factor in a title like this one may be. With just a point separating these teams, it may come down to their very last series of the season.
- #5 North Dakota vs. #6 Denver; January 26/27
Just a few weeks ago, North Dakota traveled to Denver and played one of the most entertaining series of the season so far. The Fighting Hawks won game one 7-5 with a three-goal comeback, with Denver winning the next night 3-2 in overtime. Now in just a few weeks, the two teams will meet again, as both NoDak and the Pioneers look to keep pace with St. Cloud State in the NCHC standings.
The last time the Pioneers visited Grand Forks they came away with a series sweep, snapping a seven-game losing streak at the Ralph (including the 2021 Frozen Faceoff semifinal game). They'll be looking for a similar result, as they sit just 4th in the NCHC conference standings despite ranking 8th in the Pariwise. Meanwhile, North Dakota will be coming off of another big series on the road against #13 St. Cloud State. They won't be able to overlook the Huskies preparing for a top-ten matchup.
- #2 Boston University vs. #9 Providence; Feb. 16/17, March 7
A current top-10 matchup, Boston University and Providence will have to wait until mid-February for a home-and-home series. Just weeks later, the two teams will play again for their penultimate game of the regular season. With two teams in the top four of the Hockey East, these games will surely be decisive in rankings.
After starting just 4-3-2 in conference play, the Friars still have a long way to go if they want to make a push for the regular season title. They still have to play Boston College twice, Maine twice, and Boston University three more times. All three of their conference losses so far this season have come to top-ten teams, so Providence fans hope that trend does not continue in those seven matchups.
- #1 Boston College vs. #14 Massachusetts; February 16/18
Outside of their games against Boston University, the Eagles have seven matchups remaining against teams in the top half of the Hockey East standings. Arguably the most important are the ones against Massachusetts in mid-February, with the series coming just days after the Beanpot Championship/Third-Place game.
The home-and-home series is just as important for UMass, who are #14 in the Pairwise right now and may be a bubble team by the time of this matchup. This series against Boston College kicks off a brutal stretch to end the season, which includes three-straight home-and-homes and a set on the road against #8 Maine to end the year. For both teams, this matchup could be the jumpstart of momentum needed towards that final push to the postseason.
Top Lines In College Hockey
- Boston College: Ryan Leonard, Will Smith, Gabe Perrault
Combined Goals: 23 goals
Combined Assists: 43 assists
Combined Points: 66 points
Combined Points/Game: 3.88 points/game
As just freshman, Boston College's top line of Ryan Leonard, Will Smith, and Gabe Perrault are already on pace to beat last season's top line in the country (Cooley/Snuggerud/Knies combined for 3.84 points/game). The trio of first-round picks has plenty of chemistry from last year when they played on the U.S. Under-18 Team together, and have sparked instantly at the next level. With half of a season already under their belts, this group should only get better with more ice time.
- Denver: Massimo Rizzo, Jack Devine, McKade Webster
Combined Goals: 29 goals
Combined Assists: 47 assists
Combined Points: 76 points
Combined Points/Game: 4.22 points/game
It helps having the country's top goal scorer (Devine, 15) and assister (Rizzo, 24) on the same line, as Denver currently leads the NCAA with 5.2 goals/game. The two rank in the top-two in the entire country in points, and paired with winger McKade Webster, are posting a staggering 4.22 combined points/game. As more teams focus on Devine and Rizzo, Webster may start to heat up the second half of the season after averaging under a point/game to begin 2023'-'24.
- Maine: Josh Nadeau, Bradly Nadeau, Lyden Breen
Combined Goals: 28 goals
Combined Assists: 39 assists
Combined Points: 67 points
Combined Points/Game: 4.19 points/game
Led by the Nadeau brothers, Maine's top line has scored nearly half of all goals for the Black Bears this season (29 of 60) and 41% of their total points (67 of 165). With just 16 games played the trio may not rank among the top in total points, but all rank top-50 in points/game (Josh and Bradly both rank in the top 20). The line will need to continue scoring at its torrent pace, or get some depth help, if they wish to keep pace in a loaded Hockey East.
- Western Michigan: Alex Bump, Luke Grainger, Dylan Wendt
Combined Goals: 23 goals
Combined Assists: 37 assists
Combined Points: 60 points
Combined Points/Game: 3.75 points/game
Another year, another top line tallying points for Western Michigan. Two years ago it was Worrad/Frank/Gallant (2.84 points/game). Last year it was McAllister/Sasson/Polin (3.58/game). Now, it looks like Bump/Grainger/Wendt are poised to fill the void for yet another year as one of the country's best lines. Grainger and Wendt are leading the way and are both top-ten in the country in points so far this year. The lone underclassmen on the line, freshman forward Alex Bump, has the talent to soon start scoring as often as his linemates. The former-Vermont recruit has just 11 points in 16 games.
- North Dakota: Jackson Blake, Cameron Berg, Riese Gaber
Combined Goals: 26 goals
Combined Assists: 27 assists
Combined Points: 53 points
Combined Points/Game: 2.94 points/game
The talent is there for the Fighting Hawks' top line, but it just hasn't fully clicked yet. That’s partially due to some line changes by head coach Brad Berry, and partially due to the fact that after two-straight 37 point seasons, Riese Gaber has had a slow start to the year. The senior captain has just eight goals and 6 assists through 18 games, ranking tied for fourth on his own team. Luckily, Blake (11-11-22) and Berg (7-10-17) both look great on the top line so far this year. If and when Gaber gets it going, this line will start putting more points on the scoresheet.
Hobey Baker Award Watchlist
1. Jack Devine, Jr. Forward, Denver; 15 goals (1st in NCAA), 13 assists (T-32nd), 28 points (2nd), six power play goals (T-3rd), +14 plus/minus rating (T-13th).
2. Macklin Celebrini, Fr. Forward, Boston University; 10 goals (T-22nd), 15 assists (T-13th), 25 points (T-4th), 1.67 points/game (3rd), 52% on faceoffs.
3. Collin Graf, Jr. Forward, Quinnipiac; 11 goals (T-13th), 14 assists (T-23rd), 25 points (T-4th), 1.92 points/game (1st).
4. Massimo Rizzo, Jr. Forward, Denver; 7 goals, 24 assists (1st), 31 points (1st), 1.72 points/game (2nd), +19 plus/minus rating (1st).
5. Seamus Casey, So. Defenseman, Michigan; 4 goals, 19 assists (6th), 23 points (T-13th), 3rd among NCAA defenseman in points, 1.28 points/game (T-15th), +10 rating.
Honorable Mentions: Zeev Buium (Denver), Gabe Perrault (Boston College), Kyle McClellan (Wisconsin), Dylan Wendt (Western Michigan), and Scott Morrow (Massachusetts).
Mike Richter Award Watchlist
1. Kyle McClellan, Sr., Wisconsin; 14-4-0 record (1st in NCAA in wins), 1.62 GAA (1st), five shutouts (1st), and .939 SV% (1st).
2. Ryan Bischel, Gr., Notre Dame; 10-8-2 record (T-11th), 2.27 GAA (18th), three shutouts (T-2nd), and .932 SV% (2nd).
3. Jacob Fowler, Fr., Boston College; 13-3-1 record (2nd), 2.16 GAA (12th), one shutouts (T-15th), and .925 SV % (6th).
4. Jake Sibell, So., St. Thomas; 5-4-0 record (T-38th), 1.93 GAA (4th), zero shutouts (T-46th), and .929 SV% (3rd).
5. Ludvig Persson, Sr., North Dakota; 12-5-1 record (T-3rd), 2.21 GAA (T-17th), three shutouts (T-2nd), and .909 SV% (T-39th).
Honorable Mentions: Trey Augustine (Michigan State), Justen Close (Minnesota), Jakob Hellsten (New Hampshire), Cameron Rowe (Western Michigan), and Ian Shane (Cornell).
Current Top-20 Pairwise (As Of Jan. 4)
Credit: College Hockey News
Bracketology 1.0 (As of Jan. 4)
If you've made it this far through our recap, here's a little preview at one of our favorite recurring pieces of the year. ECH will put out a 'Bracketology' article every week or so as we ramp up closer to postseason play. You'll be able to check in on the most current Pairwise rankings, as we use those to project what a NCAA tournament will look like. As more games are played the top of the Pairwise becomes more concrete, showing trends on where each team is likely to end up on regional weekend.
There are a few key things that go into putting together the NCAA Tournament Bracket. You have to take into account conference postseason winners, Pairwise rankings, hosting teams, avoiding intra-conference matchups, attendance, flying vs. driving, and trying to maintain bracket integrity. Last season we were 13-for-16 in our final Bracketology of the season, getting only the #3 seeds wrong. We'll get more detailed in our bracket articles next week and throughout the second half of the season, but for now here is how the NCAA Tournament would look if you took the current conference standings and Pairwise rankings at the midway point of the 2023-'24 season.
-- Providence, RI: #1 Maine vs. #16 Bemidji State, #8 Denver vs. #9 Providence
-- Springfield, MA: #2 Boston University vs. #15 RIT, #5 Wisconsin vs. #11 Massachusetts.
-- Sioux Falls, SD: #3 Quinnipiac vs. #13 New Hampshire, #6 North Dakota vs. #12 Minnesota.
-- Maryland Heights, MO: #4 Boston College vs. #14 St. Cloud State, #7 Michigan State vs. #10 Western Michigan.
