If You Want to See the Best in the Nation...This is the Place to Be

Another weekend means another key WCHA men's hockey showdown for the Mavericks. Those who come to Midwest Wireless Civic Center Friday and Saturday night will see one of college hockey's best teams and two of its best players

by Dan Myers
Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Mens Sports

Each time the Minnesota State men's hockey team faces off with North Dakota, Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green could give the post-game press conference.

In the case of both teams, their opponent is who they think they are.

The Mavericks (2-2-0 overall, 1-1-0 WCHA) head into action this weekend on the heels of a split last week against St. Cloud State. After falling 4-2 to the Huskies at Midwest Wireless Civic Center Friday, MSU returned the favor by the same score Saturday in St. Cloud. And although the home-and-home with the Huskies was a challenge, this weekend's opponent ­- North Dakota - has the ability to present a slew of other problems.

Chief among them, two of college hockey's best players in forwards T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews.

While the Mavericks know what they're up against personnel-wise, they also know what to expect from the Fighting Sioux (3-3-0 overall, 1-1-0 WCHA) strategically. And why not? In many ways, they play the same game.

"They just play extremely hard," said MSU head coach Troy Jutting. "At times they will get involved in the rough stuff, they're not opposed to it by any means. But that's a style we tend to play ourselves. I think that we tend to have really good series against one another because both teams play really darn hard."

MSU and UND faced off five times last season, all at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. The Mavericks went 1-4 in those games, with the lone win coming in Game 1 of the WCHA playoffs. Needing two wins in two games to move onto the Final Five, the Sioux won a pair of three-goal games to end MSU's season.

Fast forward to this season, where UND began 2006-07 with three straight wins. Since their win over defending national champion Wisconsin Oct. 13, the Fighting Sioux have lost three straight: one to the Badgers the following night and a pair last weekend against college hockey's new No. 1, Maine.

"They aren't going to be happy coming off a weekend sweep at home," Jutting said. "I expect we are going to get the very best of North Dakota this weekend."

The Mavericks, meanwhile, are 2-2 after their split at SCSU. MSU didn't win its second game last season until mid-November; a curious statistic for a team that dresses nine freshmen.

"No. 1, I think our goaltending has been much better in our two wins than in any of those losses last year," said Jutting, referring to MSU's 0-6 start. " Danny (Tormey) has an extra year under his belt and that has been a huge thing for us so far."

It will be Tormey's responsibility this weekend, and that of the Maverick defensive core, to shut down college hockey's best line.

Combined with Ryan Duncan, Oshie and Toews ­- both sophomores - are coming off sensational freshman seasons. Toews scored 22 goals and added 17 assists and finished second to Minnesota's Phil Kessel in WCHA Rookie of the Year voting. Oshie, meanwhile, scored 24 goals with 21 helpers in his maiden campaign. North Dakota lost five players to the National Hockey League this season, placing a great deal of scoring pressure on Toews and Oshie to carry the load on offense.

"They are two of the best," Jutting said. "We have to do a good job against them and limit their time with the puck. If we do that, great players aren't great players. But if they have the puck on their stick, they will make plays."

But UND's NHL talent doesn't stop there.

Besides Oshie (a first round pick for St. Louis in 2005) and Toews (the thrid overall pick this past year by Chicago), UND has one of the best defenseman in the WCHA in Taylor Chorney (a second round pick of Edmonton in 2005) and fellow top-defender Brian Lee (property of the Ottawa Senators). In all, 11 players on the Fighting Sioux roster belong to a NHL club, compared to the Mvericks' two.

"Obviously, they have a very good hockey team," Jutting said. "They've got some big, tough, strong kids there. We are going to have to penetrate and gain some quality opportunities on net."

Dan Myers is the Reporter Sports Editor