SCSU is in the tourney...but will they win?

As every WCHA fan knows, SCSU has never won a game in the National Tourney. In fact, their 0-8 in their attempts. In they're most recent appearance, in 2008, they took on Clarkson in Albany, NY where they took their first lead ever in tourney play. That lead lasted all of ten minutes before Clarkson tied the score at one. They put the game winning goal in with fifteen minutes to play in the game, and the Huskies couldn't get the equalizer. St. Cloud had had success against Clarkson that season in a split at Clarkson. Unfortunately, their familiarity with Golden Nights didn't prove to be useful.

This year, the Huskies drew Northern Michigan, a team they haven't played since the 2005-2006 season in a pair of games at Northern. There are no current Huskies that have played Northern Michigan, so both teams aren't familiar with one another. St. Cloud should have a leg up on Wildcat's, as the game will be played at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. The Huskies will have a "home ice" advantage for this game. Not only because they have the last change, but because the crowd should undecidedly be in the Huskies favor.

I'm hoping they'll finally be able the get the proverbial monkey off their backs that have plagued them in the tourney. They have a match-up that is very even. In looking at the team comparison's, they're very equal. The keys for the Huskies are getting out to an early lead and special teams. On paper, the teams look pretty even, with a slight advantage to NMU in scoring defense and an advantage to SCSU in scoring offense.

It should be a good game. I'll have more on this match-up, and the rest of the WCHA teams, as the week progresses.

Garrett Roe update: Bob Motzko told Kevin Allenspach that there was no way Roe was playing in last night's championship game against the Sioux. When asked about whether or not he'll play next weekend, Motzko said, "There's no question he'll play next week, unless there's a setback. Your emotions are high when any of your players get injured. We were trying to figure it out (Saturday). But he'll see the proper people and, from what we know right now, he'll be back next weekend."

That is great news for the Huskies. Roe is one of the most dynamic players for the Huskies. His speed and skill are at the top of the national pool of players. His penalty killing abilities would've been nice last night during the Sioux's 5-on-3 power play. His play making ability was sorely missed in the third period last night. With that said, the Huskies did show a lot of heart in the third last night, and played, what I think, is one of their best, if not the best, periods of the season.