The WCHA Playoff Picture Explained

The WCHA Playoff Picture Explained

Expansion for the WCHA now means six teams as opposed to five earn home ice for the first round. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the fluidity of the playoff matchups in the final weekend as only one playoff seeding (#12 Michigan Tech) has been assured. With that squared away, let’s illustrate the WCHA playoff picture going into the weekend:

Four teams (North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, Denver, and Nebraska-Omaha) have clinched home ice. North Dakota has already clinched a share of the WCHA championship. A win at McInnis this weekend gives the Sioux the MacNaughton Cup outright. The Pioneers look to defend up the MacNaughton with a sweep over St. Cloud and a sweep by Tech. I put it in here because it’s possible, I’m not saying a two win Michigan Tech team will go out and sweep the #1 team in the country, but I’ve been wrong before. Meanwhile, up in Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and Minnesota-Duluth look to go as high as second in the conference as they scrap at AMSOIL Arena.

Three additional teams (Minnesota, CC, and Wisconsin) have a shot at the final two home ice spots this weekend.
o Minnesota gets the 5th seed with at least three points this weekend against Bemidji State. They get the 6th seed with anything less than a three point weekend and a three point weekend from the Tigers moving CC to the 5th seed.
o 6th seed is also straightforward; CC stays put with a split with Wisconsin in Madison. The Badgers can host a playoff series at Kohl Center with at least a three point weekend over CC.

Your next question might be: Who fills spots 8-11? This is where things get more complicated as teams 8-11 can hypothetically end up in any combination. Here’s how it shakes out team by team in order of WCHA standing:

St. Cloud State
Current Standing: 8th
This weekend’s opponent: at Denver
What they need to do to maintain their spot: Attain at least two points at Magness this weekend.
How to improve: They can’t. The highest they can go is 8th.

Alaska-Anchorage
Current Standing: 9th
This weekend’s opponent: at MSU-Mankato
What they need to do to maintain their spot: Split with MSU-Mankato
How to improve: Get a three point weekend in Mankato and root for Denver.

Bemidji State
Current Standing: 10th
This weekend’s opponent: vs. Minnesota
What they need to do to maintain their spot: Split with the Gophers
How to improve: Root for Denver and MSU. The Beavers, although tied with the Mavericks in the standings, hold the tiebreaker over the Mavericks.

Minnesota State
Current Standing: 11th
This weekend’s opponent: vs. Alaska Anchorage
What they need to do to maintain their spot: Have anything less than a split against the Seawolves.
How to improve: At least split against Anchorage, and swallow a tough pill for many Maverick fans and root for the Gopher sweep or three point weekend. As stated before, Bemidji holds the tiebreaker over MSU, so if the Mavericks want the 10th spot, they need to outpoint the Beavers this weekend.

It’s going to be another great weekend of WCHA hockey; enjoy the games and I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of the Seawolves/Mavericks series.

-Andy Sorensen, College Hockey Weekend Blogger