Huskies Play Host to NCHC Rival Pioneers in College Hockey Game of the Week
NCHC powerhouses St. Cloud State and Denver are facing off for a second time this season and the games will mostly be just as electric as the first series was.
On Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 the Huskies and Pioneers clashed at Magness Arena, resulting in a win for both squads. St. Cloud stole the first game with a 4-3 overtime victory, and Denver bounced back in game two winning 3-2 in regulation.
St. Cloud State under head coach Brett Larson are solid year after year, but this weekend has major implications on NCHC standings if his team can steal all six points. If his squad sweeps the series, they will jump to first place in the NCHC.
Jami Krannila, Grant Cruikshank and Zach Okabe will be pivotal players in the series for the Huskies. The three forwards lead the team in points and spark the offense night in and night out.
Krannila has 11 goals, 14 assists and 25 points leading the team in total points. Cruikshank and Okabe both have 24 points on the season, and Cruikshank leads the team with 15 goals. All three will need to be clicking if the team wants to steal both games.
Dylan Anhorn has been the top defensemen for Larson’s squad. He has 18 points and 23 assists in 22 games. Jack Peart has also been solid for the Huskies, he has 13 assists and 15 points in 22 games, earning him a chance to play for the USA World Junior team.
Jaxon Castor and Dominic Basse have split action this season and have very comparable statistics. Castor, the senior netminder, has a .923 save percentage and 2.01 goals against average. Basse’s stats are a bit better, but he has played two less games. He has a .937 save percentage and 1.61 goals against average on the season in 10 games played.
The Huskies have put together a solid season thus far, earning them the No. 4 spot in this week's USCHO poll. If they win two this weekend they could jump ahead of divisional opponent Denver.
The Pioneers want to prevent that from happening while building on the National Championship they secured last season. Last week Denver banged bodies with Miami and came away with two victories.
Massimo Rizzo has been a star all season in the mile high city. He has tallied 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points on the season. He is a force on the ice for Denver and creates all kinds of offense with Casey Dornbach and Carter Mazur.
Dornbach is averaging 1.08 points per game with 11 goals and 15 assists. Mazur has 17 goals on the season leading the team in goals, but only has a meager 6 assists.
The backend is spearheaded by Mike Benning and Sean Behrens. Behrens looked stellar at the World Juniors and is looking to continue that play into the second half of the college season. Behrens has 11 assists on the season and Benning has 15 assists to lead all defensemen.
Magnus Chrona will most likely start between the iron both games. He has a .918 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average on the season, using his pillows to kick aside puck after puck.
The series should be tight checking and competitive for the full 120 minutes and if fans are lucky, they might get some additional free hockey on the weekend. Expect close games and exciting hockey from the Huskies and Pioneers.
Hayden Lewis is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email lewis1818hayden@gmail.com.
