{"id":35606,"date":"2011-03-08T17:56:46","date_gmt":"2011-03-08T23:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=35606"},"modified":"2011-03-08T17:56:46","modified_gmt":"2011-03-08T23:56:46","slug":"mens-d-iii-playoff-preview-wisconsin-superior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2011\/03\/08\/mens-d-iii-playoff-preview-wisconsin-superior\/","title":{"rendered":"Men’s D-III Playoff Preview: Wisconsin-Superior"},"content":{"rendered":"
Wisconsin-Superior<\/strong> In terms of drama, Wisconsin-Superior had it all this season.<\/p>\n First, there was an ice-making malfunction at the team’s Wessman Arena base, which led to a pair of home games against St. Norbert Jan. 20-21 being switched to Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minn.<\/p>\n Then was a five-game skid from late January to early February where the Yellowjackets were shutout three-straight times.<\/p>\n Lastly, there was the team’s at-large selection to the NCAA tournament this week, which was hardly a given due to its rather non-descript 16-12-1 overall record, punctuated by a 2-1 loss to St. Norbert in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association final on Saturday.<\/p>\n UW-Superior not only got in to the national tournament, it’s hosting the first-round matchup with No. 9 Hamline on Wednesday. The winner advances to face host and No. 1-ranked St. Norbert in the NCAA quarterfinals on Saturday.<\/p>\n “I know we had a tough schedule,” coach Dan Stauber says. “I never talked to anyone on the committee, but I’ve been on the committee in the past, and I know strength of schedule is part of it. That’s just my opinion from past experience.<\/p>\n “Obviously, playing at home, will be nice.”<\/p>\n As a result of the preceding events, the Yellowjackets coach describes his team as being on an “emotional rollercoaster.” UW-Superior scraped through the NCHA playoffs by sweeping St. Scholastica, 4-2 and 5-2, and then knocking off a rejuvenated Wisconsin-Stevens Point squad, 4-2, in the semis to get another crack at a Peters Cup.<\/p>\n Against No. 1 St. Norbert, the team was held scoreless for 59:45 of 60 minutes until Derek Stauber, nephew of coach Dan Stauber, scored an extra-attacker goal. The late tally prevented the Yellowjackets from being shutout for a sixth time this season.<\/p>\n The team’s power play was 0-for-3, which was not a good omen heading into the NCAA tournament. Overall, the Jackets’ power play is struggling at 20-of-126 for .159 percent.<\/p>\n A key member of the man-advantage unit, Kyle Leahy (6-5-11), is expected to miss Wednesday’s game against Hamline due to an upper body injury.<\/p>\n “We had a couple of chances, but (St. Norbert) took away a lot of second opportunities,” Stauber says. “This time of year, you need second opportunities and need to make them count.”<\/p>\n An at-large invite to the NCAA tournament is a second opportunity the Yellowjackets can’t afford to miss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wisconsin-Superior Record: 16-12-1 Ranking: No. 13 USCHO poll Leading scorer: Talon Berlando — 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points Starting goalie: Drew Strandberg — 10-9-1, 2.24 goals-against, .916 save pct. Coach: Dan Stauber (11th season) In terms of drama, Wisconsin-Superior had it all this season. First, there was an ice-making malfunction at the team’s Wessman […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":140328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nRecord:<\/strong> 16-12-1
\nRanking:<\/strong> No. 13 USCHO poll
\nLeading scorer:<\/strong> Talon Berlando — 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points
\nStarting goalie: Drew Strandberg — 10-9-1, 2.24 goals-against, .916 save pct.
\nCoach:<\/strong> Dan Stauber (11th season)<\/p>\n