Looking Ahead: UND vs. WMU
• Two NCHC teams face non-conference foes this weekend with Minnesota Duluth at WCHA foe Northern Michigan and No. 3/3 St. Cloud State at the North Star College Cup, where they’ll face WCHA and possibly Big Ten foes. NCHC teams are a combined 44-24-10 in non-conference play this season with the .628 win percentage tops among all conferences. NCHC teams are 15-2-2 against WCHA foes this season and 14-1-1 against the Big Ten, including a combined 9-1-1 against the other three teams at the North Star College Cup. SCSU is 4-0-0 against teams at the tournament so far this season.
• The NCHC is home to the only two teams in the country with 20 wins so far this season as both No. 2/2 North Dakota and No. 3/3 St. Cloud State reached 20 wins last Saturday. UND has topped the 20-win plateau each of the last 14 seasons, which is the longest active streak in the NCAA, while SCSU hit the 20-win mark for the fourth straight season.
• NCHC teams have played some of the toughest schedules in the country, led by Minnesota Duluth, which has played the toughest slate to date. Miami, Western Michigan and SCSU all rank in the top five for toughest schedules while seven NCHC teams rank in the top 11 for toughest schedules this season.
• Six active NCHC players have over 100 career points (out of 25 nationally), while two more are within striking distance. Minnesota Duluth senior forward Austin Farley has 97 career points (42g, 55a), as does Denver junior forward Trevor Moore (39g, 58a). Each needs three points to join the century club.
• SCSU senior forward Joey Benik was named NCAA First Star of the Week on Tuesday for the second time this season after a seven-point weekend. Seven different NCHC players have earned an NCAA Star this season a combined nine times (Farley has also earned a star twice), including four First Stars.
• No. 13/14 Denver heads to Miami this weekend riding an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3), which is tied for the second-longest active unbeaten streak in the NCAA. That game is part of a doubleheader on CBS Sports Network with No. 12/11 Omaha at Colorado College the nightcap. The #FFTrophyTour continues in those locations as well as the Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy will be on display at both Steve Cady Arena and the Broadmoor World Arena this weekend.
• Two of the highest scoring blue lines call the NCHC home as SCSU leads the nation with 88 points (74 assists) from defensemen while UND is fourth with 73 points (14g, 59a). SCSU’s 113 goals and 318 points overall also lead the NCAA