This week in the WCHA featured a number of teams looking to build on hot starts and a trio of non-conference match-ups before conference season kicks into full gear next weekend.

In non-conference play, the WCHA went 3-2-1 or 3-1-0, depending on whether or not you want to count the “non-conference” series between Northern Michigan and Alabama-Huntsville.

In the “match-up of the week” that I highlighted on Friday, No. 17 Michigan Tech trounced No. 15 Michigan, 4-1 and 6-2, in a statement-making sweep. The Huskies have been one of college hockey’s best surprises this season and, Ivy League teams notwithstanding, are the nation’s lone remaining undefeated team (6-0-0).

Elsewhere, No. 14 Ferris State managed a split on the road against Michigan State, despite its continued offensive woes. Bulldogs senior goaltender C.J. Motte pitched a 36-save shutout in a 1-0 win on Friday, before the Spartans got its own sputtering offense going Saturday in a 4-1 FSU loss.

In the weekend’s last “non-conference” series, WCHA members Northern Michigan battled Alabama-Huntsville to a 1-1 tie on Friday, before NMU triumphed, 4-1, in the finale to remain unbeaten (5-0-1) on the year. Sophomore forward Brock Maschmeyer lit the lamp twice to lift the Wildcats to Saturday’s win and sophomore goaltender Mathias Dahlstrom continued his strong start to the season, stopping 40 shots on the weekend to remain the leagues leader in goals against average (0.82) and save percentage (.964).

In WCHA league play, Bemidji State broke its three-game losing streak with a sweep of Alaska in its conference opener. The Beavers offense exploded for a 6-1 win on Friday, before junior forward Cory Ward played hero on Saturday, scoring the overtime winner in a 4-3 BSU win.

As they have each time they’ve played as conference foes, Minnesota State and Bowling Green split their series. Led by a hat trick from junior forward Bryce Gervais, the Mavericks took the opener, 5-2, before the Falcons salvaged the split on Saturday with two third period goals in a 3-1 win.

Finally, after falling 3-2 on Friday to start the season 0-9-0 – the program’s worst start in 15 years – Lake Superior State finally got into the win column, and split with Alaska Anchorage, with a 3-2 win courtesy of an overtime goal from junior forward Bryce Schmitt.

(After the jump: My WCHA Three Stars of the Week and three thoughts on what went down)

WCHA Three Stars of the Week (Oct. 31-Nov. 1)

1.) Tanner Kero, Michigan Tech senior forward

Led the way for the Huskies’ sweep of Michigan with two goals and three points, including the game-winning tally in Friday night’s contest.

2.) Bryce Schmitt, Lake Superior State junior forward

Helped the Lakers snap their winless start to the season with two goals on Saturday, including the overtime winner, against Alaska Anchorage.

3.) Mathias Dahlstrom, Northern Michigan sophomore goaltender

Ensured the Wildcats remained unbeaten on the season (5-0-1) by stopping 40-of-42 shots on the weekend against Alabama-Huntsville.

Three Thoughts:

Michigan Tech looks like it’s for real

With a big name, ranked opponent visiting, this weekend was the Huskies’ opportunity to make a statement, and boy did they ever. Tech demolished Michigan, its second sweep of a ranked opponent this season, and put the rest of the country on notice that it’s capable of doing some damage this season in the process.

MTU head coach Mel Pearson said before the season he believes this year’s team is the best he’s had during his time behind the bench in Houghton and it’s easy to see why.

Michigan Tech’s deep group of returning, talented forwards have produced like they were expected to and they are spreading the production around well. Nine different players, including eight forwards, scored the Huskies’ ten goals versus the Wolverines. Overall, MTU ranks in the top-five in the country in scoring offense through six games.

Their defense has been as advertised as well, giving up just over a goal per game. The emergence of junior goaltender Jamie Phillips, who stopped 54-of-57 shots this weekend and ranks in the top-ten nationally in both goals against average and save percentage, certainly hasn’t hurt either.

This is going to be a fun team to watch this season if what we’ve seen through six games continues.

Ferris State needs to find some offense

While Michigan Tech has been a nice surprise in the WCHA this season, the defending MacNaughton Cup champions, Ferris State, have been one of its bigger disappointments, primarily due to its languishing offense.

Last season, the Bulldogs prided themselves on ranking second in the WCHA in scoring offense, despite not having any bonafide superstar forwards. After losing four of last year’s top six scorers, Ferris State has been unable to find players capable of stepping up to fill those roles and its offense by committee approach is failing as a result.

The Bulldogs got off to a fast start, tallying seven times in its first two games against Michigan and St. Lawrence, but have cooled off significantly since then. In its last five games, in which FSU is 1-4, Ferris has averaged under a goal per game and has been shut out twice – matching its total from all of last season.

The team’s league-best defense has been carrying Ferris State on its back so far this year, but the offense needs to improve significantly if the Bulldogs hope to sniff the success they did a season ago.

I’m not quite sure what to make of Bemidji State

Apparently all Bemidji State needed was a weekend at home. After losing three-straight (admittedly against two of the top teams in the country) the Beavers got back on track with a sweep of a good No. 16 Alaska team.

The Beavers looked more like the team that upended then-No. 2 North Dakota, 5-1, on the road a few weeks ago against the Nanooks, tallying 10 goals, from seven different players, in the two games. Offense certainly hasn’t been Bemidji’s problem this season, as the Beavers are averaging 3.50 goals per game – a mark that ranks top-ten nationally.

However, if Bemidji is going to become a contender in the WCHA this year, it will have to improve on defense and in goal, both of which rank in the bottom half of the league through six games.

We’ll learn more about whether the Beavers are a contender or a pretender over their next eight games, which come at Minnesota State, against Michigan Tech, at Bowling Green and against St. Cloud State – teams that, combined, have a .685 win percentage. I will say this though, BSU has opened the season against three top-20 teams and come away with a .500 record, indicating they may just be able to surprise some people this season.

Monday, November 3rd, 2014 - 2:02 pm | Blogs, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings, WCHA