B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

[SJHovey]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

Michigan has had plenty of non-con away games outside the state of Michigan the past decade. At UNH in 2010, at BU and Alaska tournament in 2009, at BU in 2008, at Minnesota for Icebreaker in 2007, Lefty McFadden at Dayton in 2004, some showcase tourney in Buffalo in 2002. But I'd have to think North Dakota is pretty far down on the list of places Michigan would consider going to. Sure, it's a good opponent, but it doesn't really offer anything else. Doesn't get you bonus home games like when you play in Alaska. It's not an easy trip like Dayton (or arguably even places with major airports nearby). It's not a hotbed for hockey talent where you'd want to establish a presence like the Twin Cities/Buffalo/Boston/northeast in general. Regular games against Minnesota are going to give them more than enough presence in the West, so I imagine Michigan will continue to look east for non-conference travel.

There's a difference between playing tournaments and going in and playing a team back to back in it's own arena.

[streaker]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

There's a difference between playing tournaments and going in and playing a team back to back in it's own arena.

That didn't count the CHS at Minn and at Wis for two decades, either, which would certainly qualify. I didn't see anyone argueing the difference between playing a tourney in a neutral ice setting or a series in a hostile rink. The comment (or criticism) was, Michigan didn't travel for NC games. We're calling BS.

For instance, this season, they go to MSG for a game hosted by Cornell. It can safely be debated that fans from both schools could equally fill the arena, but Cornell is hosting and has the proximity to their advantage. That said, it is still a "travel" game for Michigan, much more so than going down the road 40 miles to JLA and playing in the GLI where they "co-host" that tournament.

[streaker]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

The sun shines on every Wolverine's butt every once in awhile.

Yeah, that's true. But you also have to WIN games in a tournament in order to advance. Like in the GLI, where a certain team went 0-2 the last time they played in that tournament and a certain team from A2 won it.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

Yeah, that's true. But you also have to WIN games in a tournament in order to advance. Like in the GLI, where a certain team went 0-2 the last time they played in that tournament and a certain team from A2 won it.

In the GLI:
Michigan is 15 for 42 (~36%)
North Dakota is 2 for 4 (50%)

Head to Head at the GLI, the teams have split their 2 matchups. Michigan won 6-5 in OT in 1989, while North Dakota won 5-4 in OT in 2002 (BTW, the worst North Dakota team in the last 15 years).

[Biddco]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

In the GLI:
Michigan is 15 for 42 (~36%)
North Dakota is 2 for 4 (50%)

Head to Head at the GLI, the teams have split their 2 matchups. Michigan won 6-5 in OT in 1989, while North Dakota won 5-4 in OT in 2002 (BTW, the worst North Dakota team in the last 15 years).

That 0-2 performance was pretty funny. Especially because Dirty made the trip.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

That 0-2 performance was pretty funny. Especially because Dirty made the trip.

It was sad. Didn't get to see either game, but the team sounded awful on the radio. Fortunately, they responded with a great second half and won the MacNaughton that year, which I hold as just slightly more prestigious than the GLI

[bigblue_dl]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

It was sad. Didn't get to see either game, but the team sounded awful on the radio. Fortunately, they responded with a great second half and won the MacNaughton that year, which I hold as just slightly more prestigious than the GLI

Eh, both of the tropies are ours.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

Eh, both of the tropies are ours.

Tech certainly does have nice trophies. Hopefully, they will get to hoist them up more often in the near future.

[SJHovey]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

That didn't count the CHS at Minn and at Wis for two decades, either, which would certainly qualify. I didn't see anyone argueing the difference between playing a tourney in a neutral ice setting or a series in a hostile rink. The comment (or criticism) was, Michigan didn't travel for NC games. We're calling BS.

For instance, this season, they go to MSG for a game hosted by Cornell. It can safely be debated that fans from both schools could equally fill the arena, but Cornell is hosting and has the proximity to their advantage. That said, it is still a "travel" game for Michigan, much more so than going down the road 40 miles to JLA and playing in the GLI where they "co-host" that tournament.

When people complain about Michigan not traveling for non-conference games, they are specifically referring to Michigan's refusal to go into another team's rink for a weekend series. Sure Michigan travels for non-con tournament games. Pretty much everyone travels for non-con tournament games.

And sure they've had the CHS. But saying that you'll agree to play in Wisconsin and Minnesota every other year, and only in Wisconsin and Minnesota every other year, doesn't exactly develop a reputation for a willingness to schedule non-conference games on the road.

[SCSU Euro]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

When people complain about Michigan not traveling for non-conference games, they are specifically referring to Michigan's refusal to go into another team's rink for a weekend series. Sure Michigan travels for non-con tournament games. Pretty much everyone travels for non-con tournament games.

And sure they've had the CHS. But saying that you'll agree to play in Wisconsin and Minnesota every other year, and only in Wisconsin and Minnesota every other year, doesn't exactly develop a reputation for a willingness to schedule non-conference games on the road.

Bingo. That's like if Michigan fans point to NCAA regionals and Frozen Fours as "traveling."

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

When people complain about Michigan not traveling for non-conference games, they are specifically referring to Michigan's refusal to go into another team's rink for a weekend series. Sure Michigan travels for non-con tournament games. Pretty much everyone travels for non-con tournament games.

And sure they've had the CHS. But saying that you'll agree to play in Wisconsin and Minnesota every other year, and only in Wisconsin and Minnesota every other year, doesn't exactly develop a reputation for a willingness to schedule non-conference games on the road.

Exactly. Now, I don't necessarily blame Michigan for not wanting to travel to play away series, as it may not be advantageous for a variety of reasons, but I think we all kind of chuckled at the thought of Michigan being willing to schedule a 2 for 2 contract with North Dakota (as was suggested).

Here are just a few interesting facts about Michigan's scheduling of road series against former conference members:

Last Road Series at:
Colorado College - January 1981 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 18-26-2 at CC)
Denver - February 1980 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 11-28-0 at DU)
Michigan Tech - November 1983 (while both were members of the CCHA) (Michigan is 29-51-2 at Tech)
Minnesota Duluth - February 1981 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 10-11-1 at Duluth)
North Dakota - February 1980 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 9-25-2 at UND)

Teams Michigan has played, but has never played a road non-conference series against (only current D-1 teams):
Air Force
Alabama Huntsville
Alaska-Anchorage
Bemidji State
Bentley
Boston College
Boston University
Brown
Clarkson
Colgate
Connecticut
Cornell
Dartmouth
Harvard
Maine
Massachusetts Lowell
Mercyhurst
Merrimack
Niagara
Northeastern
Princeton
Providence
Quinnipiac
SCSU
Union
Yale

Last time Michigan played a road non-conference series against (not including current CCHA members):
Colorado College - February 1951
Denver - February 1951
Michigan Tech - February 1959
Minnesota - December 1986
Minnesota Duluth - January 1964
New Hampshire - November 1984
North Dakota - December 1949
Rensselaer - January 1985
St. Lawrence - November 1959
Wisconsin - November 1968

So, it appears that the last time Michigan played a road non-conference series was December of 1986. I'm not going to hold my breath until they schedule another.

[Happy]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

Exactly. Now, I don't necessarily blame Michigan for not wanting to travel to play away series, as it may not be advantageous for a variety of reasons, but I think we all kind of chuckled at the thought of Michigan being willing to schedule a 2 for 2 contract with North Dakota (as was suggested).

Here are just a few interesting facts about Michigan's scheduling of road series against former conference members:

Last Road Series at:
Colorado College - January 1981 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 18-26-2 at CC)
Denver - February 1980 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 11-28-0 at DU)
Michigan Tech - November 1983 (while both were members of the CCHA) (Michigan is 29-51-2 at Tech)
Minnesota Duluth - February 1981 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 10-11-1 at Duluth)
North Dakota - February 1980 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 9-25-2 at UND)

Teams Michigan has played, but has never played a road non-conference series against (only current D-1 teams):
Air Force
Alabama Huntsville
Alaska-Anchorage
Bemidji State
Bentley
Boston College
Boston University
Brown
Clarkson
Colgate
Connecticut
Cornell
Dartmouth
Harvard
Maine
Massachusetts Lowell
Mercyhurst
Merrimack
Niagara
Northeastern
Princeton
Providence
Quinnipiac
SCSU
Union
Yale

Last time Michigan played a road non-conference series against (not including current CCHA members):
Colorado College - February 1951
Denver - February 1951
Michigan Tech - February 1959
Minnesota - December 1986
Minnesota Duluth - January 1964
New Hampshire - November 1984
North Dakota - December 1949
Rensselaer - January 1985
St. Lawrence - November 1959
Wisconsin - November 1968

So, it appears that the last time Michigan played a road non-conference series was December of 1986. I'm not going to hold my breath until they schedule another.

great collection of data. does put it in perpective.

[bigblue_dl]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

Exactly. Now, I don't necessarily blame Michigan for not wanting to travel to play away series, as it may not be advantageous for a variety of reasons, but I think we all kind of chuckled at the thought of Michigan being willing to schedule a 2 for 2 contract with North Dakota (as was suggested).

Here are just a few interesting facts about Michigan's scheduling of road series against former conference members:

Last Road Series at:
Colorado College - January 1981 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 18-26-2 at CC)
Denver - February 1980 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 11-28-0 at DU)
Michigan Tech - November 1983 (while both were members of the CCHA) (Michigan is 29-51-2 at Tech)
Minnesota Duluth - February 1981 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 10-11-1 at Duluth)
North Dakota - February 1980 (while a member of the WCHA) (Michigan is 9-25-2 at UND)

Teams Michigan has played, but has never played a road non-conference series against (only current D-1 teams):
Air Force
Alabama Huntsville
Alaska-Anchorage
Bemidji State
Bentley
Boston College
Boston University
Brown
Clarkson
Colgate
Connecticut
Cornell
Dartmouth
Harvard
Maine
Massachusetts Lowell
Mercyhurst
Merrimack
Niagara
Northeastern
Princeton
Providence
Quinnipiac
SCSU
Union
Yale

Last time Michigan played a road non-conference series against (not including current CCHA members):
Colorado College - February 1951
Denver - February 1951
Michigan Tech - February 1959
Minnesota - December 1986
Minnesota Duluth - January 1964
New Hampshire - November 1984
North Dakota - December 1949
Rensselaer - January 1985
St. Lawrence - November 1959
Wisconsin - November 1968

So, it appears that the last time Michigan played a road non-conference series was December of 1986. I'm not going to hold my breath until they schedule another.

Michigan will be coming to Houghton for a non-conference series with Tech in I believe the 2013-14 sesaon.

[SJHovey]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

Michigan will be coming to Houghton for a non-conference series with Tech in I believe the 2013-14 sesaon.

I think that's great. Pretty obvious the respect Red has for Mel.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: B1G Hockey: The Countdown Begins

Michigan will be coming to Houghton for a non-conference series with Tech in I believe the 2013-14 sesaon.

Hopefully that signals a dramatic change in the attitude of the program in regards to scheduling non-conference road series. Either way, enjoy it, as it will mark the first time in 20 years that Michigan has traveled to Houghton for a road series (and the first time in over a half-century for a non-conference series). Of course, as Hovey already pointed out, the biggest reason for that trip is likely due to the relationship between Mel and Red.