Mar 6, 2011 12:19:25 - by Brian Schultz
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Omaha Preview...and All-WCHA Team Thoughts
First off, I just realized that I didn't have a single UNO player on my All-WCHA ballot.  Hard to think that a third place team wouldn't have representation.

Not that scoring was my determining factor in how I voted, but UNO didn't have a single player in the top 15 in scoring (but they had six from spots 17-36).  That just means that they're a balanced team.  Balanced teams are usually good teams.  Eric Olimb was the highest defenseman on the scoring list for Omaha.  He went 3-24=27 on the year...how the heck did I leave him off the list?!?!?!

here were my defenseman picks...Gardiner and Schultz from Wisconsin were on my first team.  Both were top ten in overall scoring...and they're on a team that only gave up 91 goals all year (4th best in the league).  Great two-way players.

 Matt Donovan (Denver) and Chay Genoway (North Dakota) were on my second team.  Chay has been hurt again this season...but when he's on the ice, he's one of the most special defenseman in the league.  As for Donovan, he went 7-19-26 on the year...and as a group, I feel that Denver's D-core is the best in the league...that's why he was on my second team.

My third team D...Cade Fairchild (Minnesota) and Ben Blood (North Dakota).  Blood is on there solely based on his performance against BSU.  He caused BSU fits all four games.  Blood finished the season with the highest +/- in the league...he was plus 28!  Fairchild has just scored too much lately to keep him off the list.  Fifty-two percent of his 23 points this year were scored in the month of February.  I'm a big believer of "what have you done for me lately"...so that's why Olimb didn't find his way on my ballot.

As for the Omaha weekend...I think it's safe to say that the UNO fans aren't happy to see us.  This was posted after BSU played in Omaha earlier in the year.



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