2015 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 2015 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was played between March 13 and March 21, 2015, at four conference arenas and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. By winning the tournament, Minnesota State was awarded the Broadmoor Trophy and received the WCHA's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.
2015 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament | |
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Dates | March 13–21, 2015 |
Teams | 8 |
Finals site | Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, Minnesota |
Champions | Minnesota State (2nd title) |
Winning coach | Mike Hastings (2nd title) |
MVP | Brad McClure (Minnesota State) |
WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournaments |
Format
The first round of the postseason tournament features a best-of-three games format. The top eight or ten conference teams participate in the tournament. Teams are seeded No. 1 through No. 8 according to their final conference standing, with a tiebreaker system used to seed teams with an identical number of points accumulated. The top four seeded teams each earn home ice and host one of the lower seeded teams.
The winners of the first round series advance to the Xcel Energy Center for the WCHA Final Five, a holdover from previous tournaments where it was used as the collective name of the quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship rounds. The Final Five uses a single-elimination format. Teams are re-seeded No. 1 through No. 4 according to the final regular season conference standings.[1]
Conference Standings
Note: GP = Games Played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against
2014–15 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings | ||||||||||||||
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Conference record | Overall record | |||||||||||||
GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | ||
#7 Minnesota State | 28 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 98 | 47 | 40 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 145 | 77 | |
#9 Michigan Tech | 28 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 103 | 48 | 41 | 29 | 10 | 2 | 144 | 74 | |
#18 Bowling Green | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 37 | 87 | 66 | 39 | 23 | 11 | 5 | 119 | 93 | |
Alaska^ | 28 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 30 | 75 | 69 | 34 | 19 | 13 | 2 | 92 | 81 | |
Bemidji State | 28 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 29 | 73 | 62 | 38 | 16 | 17 | 5 | 101 | 90 | |
Ferris State | 28 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 27 | 66 | 58 | 40 | 18 | 20 | 2 | 88 | 88 | |
Northern Michigan | 28 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 26 | 59 | 71 | 38 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 86 | 100 | |
Alabama–Huntsville | 28 | 7 | 20 | 1 | 15 | 44 | 95 | 38 | 8 | 26 | 4 | 62 | 121 | |
Lake Superior State | 28 | 7 | 20 | 1 | 15 | 44 | 91 | 38 | 8 | 28 | 2 | 60 | 131 | |
Alaska Anchorage | 28 | 5 | 21 | 2 | 12 | 52 | 94 | 34 | 8 | 22 | 4 | 70 | 107 | |
Championship: March 21, 2015 ^ indicates ineligible for postseason play due to NCAA sanctions Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 9, 2015 |
Bracket
Teams are reseeded after the first round
First round March 13–15 |
Semifinals March 20 |
Championship March 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
1 | Minnesota State | 9 | 4 | — | 1 | Minnesota State | 4 | |||||||||||||
8 | Lake Superior State | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | Ferris State | 0 | |||||||||||||
2 | Michigan Tech | 1*** | 3 | — | ||||||||||||||||
7 | Alabama–Huntsville | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | Minnesota State | 5 | |||||||||||||
2 | Michigan Tech | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
3 | Bowling Green | 3* | 4 | — | ||||||||||||||||
6 | Northern Michigan | 2 | 1 | — | ||||||||||||||||
4 | Bemidji State | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | Michigan Tech | 5 | |||||||||||||
5 | Ferris State | 4 | 3*** | — | 3 | Bowling Green | 2 |
Note: * denotes overtime periods
Results
First Round
All times are local.
(1) Minnesota State vs. (8) Lake Superior State
March 13, 2015 7:00 pm CDT | (8) Lake Superior State | 2 – 9 (1–2, 1–4, 0–3) | (1) Minnesota State | Verizon Wireless Center, Mankato, MN Attendance: 3,325 |
Game reference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gordon Defiel (40:00) Aaron Davis (20:00) | Goalies | Stephon Williams | Referees: Keith Sergott Kevin Langseth Linesmen: Matt Anderson Rick Nelson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30 min | Penalties | 6 min | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | Shots | 59 |
March 14, 2015 7:00 pm CDT | (8) Lake Superior State | 2 – 4 (0–1, 1–1, 1–2) | (1) Minnesota State | Verizon Wireless Center, Mankato, MN Attendance: 3,685 |
Game reference | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gordon Defiel | Goalies | Stephon Williams | Referees: Keith Sergott Kevin Langseth Linesmen: Matt Anderson Rick Nelson | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
12 min | Penalties | 6 min | ||||||||||||||||||
22 | Shots | 36 |
(2) Michigan Tech vs. (7) Alabama–Huntsville
March 13, 2015 7:00 pm EDT | (7) Alabama–Huntsville | 0 – 1 (3OT) (0–0, 0–0, 0–0, 0–0, 0–0, 0–1) | (2) Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena, Houghton, MI Attendance: 3,038 |
Game reference | |||||
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Carmine Guerriero | Goalies | Jamie Phillips | Referees: Brad Albers Brett Klosowski Linesmen: Dan Juopperi Jamie Grace | ||
| |||||
29 min | Penalties | 12 min | |||
32 | Shots | 77 |
March 14, 2015 7:00 pm EDT | (7) Alabama–Huntsville | 0 – 3 (0–1, 0–1, 0–1) | (2) Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena, Houghton, MI Attendance: 3,629 |
Game reference | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carmine Guerriero | Goalies | Jamie Phillips | Referees: Brad Albers Brett Klosowski Linesmen: Dan Juopperi Jamie Grace | ||||||||
| |||||||||||
14 min | Penalties | 6 min | |||||||||
18 | Shots | 45 |
(3) Bowling Green vs. (6) Northern Michigan
March 13, 2015 7:00 pm EDT | (6) Northern Michigan | 2 – 3 (OT) (0–0, 1–0, 1–2, 0–1) | (3) Bowling Green | BGSU Ice Arena, Bowling Green, OH Attendance: 1,475 |
Game reference | |||||||||||||||||
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Michael Doan | Goalies | Tommy Burke | Referees: Chris Perrault Tony Czech Linesmen: Paul Tunison Erik Froberg | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
20 min | Penalties | 19 min | |||||||||||||||
40 | Shots | 52 |
March 14, 2015 7:00 pm EDT | (6) Northern Michigan | 1 – 4 (0–0, 1–2, 0–2) | (3) Bowling Green | BGSU Ice Arena, Bowling Green, OH Attendance: 1,915 |
Game reference | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Doan | Goalies | Tommy Burke | Referees: Chris Perrault Tony Czech Linesmen: Paul Tunison Erik Froberg | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
49 min | Penalties | 8 min | |||||||||||||||
20 | Shots | 42 |
(4) Bemidji State vs. (5) Ferris State
March 13, 2015 7:30 pm CDT | (5) Ferris State | 4 – 1 (1–0, 2–0, 1–1) | (4) Bemidji State | Sanford Center, Bemidji, MN Attendance: 2,218 |
Game reference | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C. J. Motte | Goalies | Michael Bitzer | Referees: Butch Mousseaux Pete Friesema Linesmen: Matt Tyree Matt Ulwilling | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
6 min | Penalties | 6 min | |||||||||||||||
19 | Shots | 22 |
March 14, 2015 7:00 pm CDT | (5) Ferris State | 3 – 2 (3 OT) (1–0, 0–1, 1–1, 0–0, 0–0, 1–0) | (4) Bemidji State | Sanford Center, Bemidji, MN Attendance: 2,279 |
Game reference | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C. J. Motte | Goalies | Michael Bitzer | Referees: Butch Mousseaux Pete Friesema Linesmen: Matt Tyree Matt Ulwilling | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
14 min | Penalties | 6 min | |||||||||||||||
44 | Shots | 50 |
Semifinals
All times are local (UTC−5).
(3) Bowling Green vs. (2) Michigan Tech
March 20, 2015 4:00 pm CDT | (3) Bowling Green | 2 – 5 (1–2, 0–0, 1–3) | (2) Michigan Tech | Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN Attendance: 6,844 |
Game reference | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tommy Burke | Goalies | Jamie Phillips | Referees: Butch Mousseaux Pete Friesema Linesmen: Paul Tunison Eric Froberg | ||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 min | Penalties | 6 min | |||||||||||||||||||||
24 | Shots | 32 |
(5) Ferris State vs. (1) Minnesota State
March 20, 2015 7:30 pm CDT | (5) Ferris State | 0 – 4 (0–1, 0–2, 0–1) | (1) Minnesota State | Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN Attendance: 6,844 |
Game reference | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C. J. Motte | Goalies | Stephon Williams | Referees: Kevin Langseth Chris Perrault Linesmen: Matt Ulwelling Matt Tyree | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
10 min | Penalties | 8 min | ||||||||||||
25 | Shots | 25 |
Championship
All times are local (UTC−5).
(2) Michigan Tech vs. (1) Minnesota State
March 21, 2015 6:00 pm CDT | (2) Michigan Tech | 2 – 5 (1–1, 1–0, 0–4) | (1) Minnesota State | Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN Attendance: 8,204 |
Game reference | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jamie Phillips | Goalies | Stephon Williams | Referees: Kevin Langseth Chris Perrault Linesmen: Matt Ulwelling Matt Tyree | ||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
14 min | Penalties | 6 min | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | Shots | 28 |
Tournament awards
All-Tournament Team
- F Tyler Heinonen, So. (Michigan Tech)
- F David Johnstone, Sr. (Michigan Tech)
- F Brad McClure*, Fr. (Minnesota State)
- D Zach Palmquist, Sr. (Minnesota State)
- D Brett Stern, Sr. (Minnesota State)
- G Stephon Williams, Jr. (Minnesota State)
* Most Valuable Player[2]
References
- "WCHA playoff central". U.S. College Hockey Online. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- "Final Five MVP McClure Scores Three as Minnesota State Repeats as Broadmoor Trophy Champions". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. March 21, 2015. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.