NCAA/USHS

Acadia University Axemen 2 @ Quinnipiac Bobcats 5
Exhibition

F Matthew Peca, QUI: 0-0-0, Even, 0 PIM, 1 SOG

Quinnipiac won their preseason match up with Acadia University out of Nova Scotia. The Bobcats open the season this coming weekend against Ohio State.

University of Windsor Lancers 1 @ #2 Miami Redhawks 4
Exhibition

F James Mullin, MIA: 0-0-0, Even, 0 PIM, 3 SOG

#2 Miami rolled over the University of Windsor in their lone exhibition game.

University of Toronto Varsity Blues 2 vs #13 Western Michigan Broncos 7
Exhibition, Muskegon, MI

D Luke Witkowski, WMU: 0-0-0, +1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG

Western opened their 2011 preseason in impressive fashion scoring four powerplay goals against University of Toronto.

University of Regina Cougars 1 @ #3 North Dakota Fighting Sioux 8
Exhibition

F Brendan O'Donnell, UND: 0-2-2, +2, 2 PIM, 3 SOG

Freshman, Brendan O'Donnell recorded two helpers in his first preseason game at the NCAA level as #3 North Dakota easily handled Regina.

(Tampa Bay Lightning press release) The Tampa Bay Lightning will open their 2011 Rookie Camp with fitness testing and physicals at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum on Friday, September 9, the team announced today. The prospects will hit the ice in Brandon the following day, Saturday, September 10.

For the first time in franchise history the Lightning prospects will travel to the Saveology.com Iceplex in Coral Springs, Florida for a three-team rookie tournament which begins Sunday, September 11. The tournament will also feature prospects from the Florida Panthers and
Nashville Predators. The camp and tournament schedule is as follows:

National Tournament – Regional Semifinals

MW No.2 Denver Pioneers 3 vs. MW No.3 Western Michigan Broncos 2 (OT)
D Luke Witkowski, WMU: 0-0-0, +1, 2 PIM (hitting after the whistle), 1 SOG
Season Totals: 41 GP, 1-8-9, +14, 54 PIM

This is going to hurt for a while. WMU had the higher ranked Pioneers down 2-0 with five minutes left in the third period headed for an upset win when Denver scored twice in under two minutes to send the game to overtime. Jason Zucker (Minnesota Wild) scored the game winner in the extra session for Denver, who will move on to play North Dakota for the right to represent the Midwest Region in the Frozen Four.

Witkowski’s sophomore season comes to an end in disappointing fashion, but the big rearguard made great strides in his second year with WMU. He was one of the Broncos’ leaders on defense and played big minutes. Witkowski tied for the team lead in penalty minutes and was tops in plus/minus. He’s got a great future ahead of him.

The 2011 NCAA Tournament has been set. Luke Witkowski and the Western Michigan Broncos (19-12-10) received the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Regional and will face No. 2 seed Denver (24-11-5). The Tournament begins this coming Friday, March 25 with the regional semifinals. Each round is single elimination.

This is the fourth appearance for the Broncos in the NCAA tournament and first since 1996. Western Michigan has a 2-2-0 record all-time against the Pioneers.

Cornell was not selected for the tournament meaning Kirill Gotovets and the Big Red's season has come to an end. Gotovets finishes his freshman season playing in 34 games, recording one goal and six assists for seven points. He finished with 32 penalty minutes and a plus-8, good for third overall on the team and the highest of any freshman on the roster.