2018 WCHA men's ice hockey tournament

2018 WCHA Men's ice hockey tournament
2018 WCHA Men's ice hockey tournament
Dates	March 2–17, 2018
Teams	8
Finals site	Berry Events Center; Marquette, Michigan
Champions	Michigan Tech (11th title)
Winning coach	Joe Shawhan (1st title)
Most Outstanding Player	Patrick Munson (Michigan Tech)
	WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournaments ← 2017 2019 →

The 2018 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was played between March 2 and March 17, 2018, on campus locations. By winning the tournament, Michigan Tech was awarded the Broadmoor Trophy and received the WCHA's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

Format

The first two rounds of the postseason tournament featured a best-of-three games format. The top eight conference teams participated in the tournament. Teams were seeded No. 1 through No. 8 according to their final conference standings, with a tiebreaker system used to seed teams with an identical number of points accumulated. The higher seeded teams each earned home ice and host one of the lower seeded teams.

The final was a single game held at the campus site of the highest remaining seed.

Conference standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against

2017–18 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings v t e
	Conference record								Overall record
	GP	W	L	T	SOW	PTS	GF	GA	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
#9 Minnesota State†	28	22	5	1	0	67	116	58	40	29	10	1	153	84
#20 Northern Michigan	28	19	7	2	2	61	85	64	43	25	15	3	130	108
Bowling Green	28	17	6	5	2	58	87	63	41	23	12	6	122	100
Bemidji State	28	13	9	6	4	49	77	63	38	16	14	8	103	95
#16 Michigan Tech*	28	12	11	5	2	43	82	75	44	22	17	5	134	117
Ferris State	28	11	16	1	0	34	68	86	38	14	23	1	87	122
Alabama–Huntsville	28	10	16	2	1	33	69	86	37	12	23	2	84	121
Alaska	28	9	17	2	1	30	74	85	36	11	22	3	97	118
Lake Superior State	28	8	17	3	0	27	59	90	36	10	22	4	76	121
Alaska Anchorage	28	4	21	3	3	18	55	102	34	4	26	4	65	124
Championship: March 17, 2018 † indicates conference regular season champion (MacNaughton Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Broadmoor Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 5, 2018

Bracket

Teams are reseeded after the first round

Quarterfinals March 2–4^[1]					Semifinals March 9–11					Championship March 17

1	Minnesota State	8	6	—

8	Alaska	2	2	—
					1	Minnesota State	2	2	1

					5	Michigan Tech	1	4	2*
2	Northern Michigan	7	2	5

7	Alabama-Huntsville	1	3	2
										5	Michigan Tech	2

										2	Northern Michigan	0
3	Bowling Green	2*	5	—

6	Ferris State	1	2	—
					2	Northern Michigan	6	0	3*

					3	Bowling Green	1	1	2
4	Bemidji State	3	4	—

5	Michigan Tech	5	5	—

Note: * denotes overtime periods

Results

Quarterfinals

(1) Minnesota State vs. (8) Alaska

March 2	Minnesota State		8–2	Alaska	Verizon Arena	Recap
(Rivera, Spooner) Brad McClure (10) - 02:18 (Spooner) Reggie Lutz (7) - 10:53 (Zmolek, Suess) Marc Michaelis (17) - GW - 15:58		First period		04:04 - Ross Heidt (7) (Staley, Leiter)
(Brickley, Gerads) Max Coatta (5) - 05:58 (Knutson, Hookenson) Jake Jaremko (13) - 06:16 (Spooner, Rivera) Brad McClure (11) - 08:04 (Suess) Parker Tuomie (9) - 10:34		Second period		05:29 - Tristan Thompson (5) (Staley, Frye)
(Tuomie, LaCouvee) C. J. Suess (22) - PP - 08:53		Third period		No scoring
( 19 saves / 21 shots ) Connor LaCouvee		Goalie stats		Anton Martinsson ( 16 saves / 22 shots ) / Niko DellaMaggiore ( 15 saves / 17 shots )

March 3	Minnesota State		6–2	Alaska	Verizon Arena	Recap
(Frye) Tayler Munson (8) - PP - 00:51 (Lutz, Scheid) Dallas Gerads (6) - PP - 15:21		First period		10:50 - Edwin Hookenson (2) (Rivera, Lewis)
No scoring		Second period		No scoring
(Lewis) Nick Rivera (8) - GW SH - 05:43 (Spooner, Brickley) Connor Mackey (6) - 06:08 (Knutson, Tuomie) Daniel Brickley (10) - PP - 07:36 (Tuomie, Knutson) Marc Michaelis (18) - PP - 10:38		Third period		18:03 - PP - Zach Frye (11) (Van Tetering, Woods)
( 22 saves / 24 shots ) Connor LaCouvee		Goalie stats		Niko DellaMaggiore ( 33 saves / 39 shots )

Minnesota State wins series 2–0

(2) Northern Michigan vs. (7) Alabama–Huntsville

March 2	Northern Michigan		7–1	Alabama–Huntsville	Berry Events Center	Recap
(Rockwood, Beaulieu) Troy Loggins (18) - SH - 01:59 (Heikkila, Paskaruk) Demico Hannoun (2) - GW - 04:47 (Diamantoni, Rockwood) Robbie Payne (21) - 05:35 (Beaulieu, Rockwood) Denver Pierce (10) - PP - 08:50		First period		No scoring
(Rockwood, Loggins) Denver Pierce (11) - 17:19		Second period		No scoring
(Klimek, Craighead) Philip Beaulieu (10) - 06:51 (Diamantoni, Tolvanen) Robbie Payne (22) - 07:20		Third period		18:58 - PP - Brandon Parker (1) (Dunn, Kestner)
( 13 saves / 14 shots ) Atte Tolvanen		Goalie stats		Jordan Uhelski ( 4 saves / 8 shots ) / Mark Sinclair ( 28 saves / 31 shots )

March 3	Northern Michigan		2–3	Alabama–Huntsville	Berry Events Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period		No scoring
(Klimek, Beaulieu) Troy Loggins (19) - 03:52 (Beaulieu, Rockwood) Mitchell Slattery (2) - 14:18		Second period		11:47 - Josh Kestner (22) (McHugh) 17:22 - Adam Wilcox (2) (Poulsen)
No scoring		Third period		19:31 - GW - Josh Kestner (23) (unassisted)
( 11 saves / 14 shots ) Atte Tolvanen		Goalie stats		Jordan Uhelski ( 22 saves / 24 shots )

March 4	Northern Michigan		5–2	Alabama–Huntsville	Berry Events Center	Recap
(Loggins, Beaulieu) Denver Pierce (12) - 02:45		First period		10:54 - Josh Kestner (24) (Poulsen)
(Nardi, Black) Mitchell Slattery (11) - 00:55 (Beaulieu, Rockwood) Troy Loggins (20) - GW PP - 13:11 (Loggins, Beaulieu) Denver Pierce (13) - PP - 14:58		Second period		06:41 - PP - Max McHugh (3) (Gosselin, Larson)
(Rockwood) Troy Loggins (21) - EH EN - 19:38		Third period		No scoring
( 16 saves / 18 shots ) Atte Tolvanen		Goalie stats		Jordan Uhelski ( 28 saves / 32 shots )

Northern Michigan wins series 2–1

(3) Bowling Green vs. (6) Ferris State

March 2	Bowling Green		2–1	OT	Ferris State	Slater Family Ice Arena	Recap
(McLain, Spezia) Brandon Kruse (7) - 15:38		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			15:50 - PP - Jason Tackett (2) (Rutkowski, Recktenwald)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
(McLain, Spezia) Brandon Kruse (8) - GW - 12:05		First overtime period			No scoring
( 34 saves / 35 shots ) Ryan Bednard		Goalie stats			Darren Smith ( 62 saves / 64 shots )

March 3	Bowling Green		5–2	Ferris State	Slater Family Ice Arena	Recap
(Reichert, Johnson) Sam Craggs (3) - 05:25 (Baylis, Rauhauser) Max Johnson (11) - PP - 14:22		First period		No scoring
(Pohlkamp, Ford) Alec Rauhauser (9) - GW - 04:11		Second period		07:44 - Jason Tackett (3) (Rutkowski, Recktenwald) 14:08 - Jasen Fernsler (3) (Killins, MacDougall)
(Wright, Baylis) Brett D'Andrea (9) - 02:25 (Johnson, Baylis) Mitchell McLain (17) - PP - 15:55		Third period		No scoring
( 33 saves / 35 shots ) Ryan Bednard		Goalie stats		Darren Smith ( 32 saves / 37 shots )

Bowling Green wins series 2-0

(4) Bemidji State vs. (5) Michigan Tech

March 2	Bemidji State		3–5	Michigan Tech	Sanford Center	Recap
(Harris) Hampus Sjödahl (3) - 06:46 (Bauman, Miller) Justin Baudry (8) - PP - 17:41		First period		07:20 - Gavin Gould (13) (L'Esperance, Meek)
(Miller, Baudry) Brendan Harris (4) - PP - 03:18		Second period		16:43 - PP - Jake Lucchini (14) (Reinke, Auk)
No scoring		Third period		13:19 - PP - Jake Lucchini (15) (Auk, Reinke) 18:30 - GW - Seamus Donohue (3) (Steman) 19:44 - EN - Jake Jackson (10) (Lucchini, L'Esperance)
( 27 saves / 31 shots ) Michael Bitzer		Goalie stats		Devin Kero ( 22 saves / 25 shots )

March 3	Bemidji State		4–5	Michigan Tech	Sanford Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period		00:41 - Mitch Reinke (3) (L'Esperance, Lucchini) 04:13 - SH - Jake Lucchini (16) (L'Esperance)
(Whitecloud, Brady) Gerry Fitzgerald (7) - PP - 11:03		Second period		No scoring
(G. Fitzgerald, Whitecloud) Jay Dickman (15) - EA - 17:48 (L. Fitzgerald) Justin Baudry (9) - EA - 18:47 (Brady, Whitecloud) Charlie Combs (13) - EA - 19:04		Third period		13:01 - PP - Justin Misiak (7) (Auk, Reinke) 12:24 - Joel L'Esperance (9) (Lucchini, Birks) 18:32 - GW EN - Mark Auk (8) (Steman)
( 20 saves / 24 shots ) Michael Bitzer		Goalie stats		Devin Kero ( 33 saves / 37 shots )

Michigan Tech wins series 2–0

Semifinals

(1) Minnesota State vs. (5) Michigan Tech

March 9	Minnesota State		2–1	Michigan Tech	Verizon Arena	Recap
(Rivera, Brickley) Jared Spooner (4) - 18:26		First period		No scoring
(Tuomie, Scheid) Jake Jaremko (14) - GW PP - 01:22		Second period		No scoring
No scoring		Third period		09:19 - Joel L'Esperance (10) (Gould, Lucchini)
( 18 saves / 19 shots ) Connor LaCouvee		Goalie stats		Devin Kero ( 26 saves / 28 shots )

March 10	Minnesota State		2–4	Michigan Tech	Verizon Arena	Recap
(Brickley) Jake Jaremko (15) - 12:57		First period		09:19 - Justin Misiak (8) (unassisted) 15:20 - Mark Auk (9) (Jackson, Beretta)
(Jaremko, Scheid) Dallas Gerads (7) - PP - 13:13		Second period		12:04 - GW - Raymond Brice (4) (Gould, L'Esperance)
No scoring		Third period		19:53 - EN - Dylan Steman (7) (unassisted)
( 17 saves / 20 shots ) Connor LaCouvee		Goalie stats		Patrick Munson ( 31 saves / 33 shots )

March 11	Minnesota State		1–2	OT	Michigan Tech	Verizon Arena	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No scoring
(Tuomie) Zeb Knutson (14) - PP - 10:30		Second period			06:09 - Jake Jackson (11) (Baltus, Donohue)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
No scoring		First overtime period			15:07 - GW - Jake Jackson (12) (unassisted)
( 26 saves / 28 shots ) Connor LaCouvee		Goalie stats			Patrick Munson ( 41 saves / 42 shots )

Michigan Tech wins series 2–1

(2) Northern Michigan vs. (3) Bowling Green

March 9	Northern Michigan		6–1	Bowling Green	Berry Events Center	Recap
(Rockwood, Pierce) Troy Loggins (22) - PP - 14:30		First period		01:49 - PP - Max Johnson (12) (Baylis, Rauhauser)
(Rockwood, Beaulieu) Robbie Payne (23) - GW PP - 02:20 (Loggins, Rockwood) Philip Beaulieu (11) - 09:17 (Hannoun, Beaulieu) Anthony Paskaruk (1) - 09:44		Second period		No scoring
(Craighead) Mitchell Slattery (4) - 10:28 (Diamantoni) Robbie Payne (24) - 16:55		Third period		No scoring
( 19 saves / 20 shots ) Atte Tolvanen		Goalie stats		Ryan Bednard ( 23 saves / 29 shots )

March 10	Northern Michigan		0–1	Bowling Green	Berry Events Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period		No scoring
No scoring		Second period		No scoring
No scoring		Third period		03:05 - GW PP - Connor Ford (8) (Schilling, Wright)
( 19 saves / 20 shots ) Atte Tolvanen		Goalie stats		Ryan Bednard ( 23 saves / 23 shots )

March 11	Northern Michigan		3–2	OT	Bowling Green	Berry Events Center	Recap
(Payne) Zach Diamantoni (6) - 18:55		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			00:52 - Max Johnson (13) (McLain, Baylis)
(Black, Diamantoni) Joseph Nardi (9) - 10:53		Third period			19:52 - EA - Mitchell McLain (18) (Rauhauser, Baylis)
(Black, Vermeulen) Troy Loggins (23) - GW - 15:53		First overtime period			No scoring
( 30 saves / 32 shots ) Atte Tolvanen		Goalie stats			Ryan Bednard ( 39 saves / 42 shots )

Northern Michigan wins series 2–1

Championship

(2) Northern Michigan vs. (5) Michigan Tech

March 18	Northern Michigan		0–2	Michigan Tech	Berry Events Center	Recap
No Scoring		First period		No scoring
No scoring		Second period		05:36 - GW - Greyson Reitmeier (5) (Misiak, Meek)
No scoring		Third period		19:13 - EN - Joel L'Esperance (11) (Lucchini, Birks)
( 19 saves / 20 shots ) Atte Tolvanen		Goalie stats		Patrick Munson ( 21 saves / 21 shots )

Tournament awards

Most Outstanding Player

Patrick Munson (Michigan Tech)

References

^ "Field Is Set For 2018 WCHA Postseason Tournament". wcha.com. February 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2018.

[1] "Field Is Set For 2018 WCHA Postseason Tournament". wcha.com. February 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2018.

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