2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

[blazer777]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

Northeast Regional Repairs finally were made to the rink at the John T. Wright Arena in Englewood, New Jersey, and it had a "soft re-opening" in December 2013. http://www.northjersey.com/news/afte...ating-1.665003 It's supposed to be open until March 31. http://www.rinktime.com/skating_rink...glewood_nj.cfm

Would this justify consideration of a change in venue?

That sounds like a winner but you might want to sweeten the pot by having the governor's staff promise some major bridge closures during the tournament.

[joecct]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

I must protest Mackay Park (Wright Arena) being selected as a regional site. Much better would have been Fritz Deitl Rink in Westwood, NJ. There is no parking, no stands, and the ice sheet, shall we say, is a bit unique. http://www.dougbrownspowerskating.co...bps118_000.jpg

There is a NJ Transit station just down the road, so fans can stay in Newark or NYC and commute to the game.

If Wright become unsuitable (the roof falls in), I would humbly suggest that Fritz Deitl be considered as a backup site.

[Freddie]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

I must protest Mackay Park (Wright Arena) being selected as a regional site. Much better would have been Fritz Deitl Rink in Westwood, NJ. There is no parking, no stands, and the ice sheet, shall we say, is a bit unique. http://www.dougbrownspowerskating.co...bps118_000.jpg

There is a NJ Transit station just down the road, so fans can stay in Newark or NYC and commute to the game.

If Wright become unsuitable (the roof falls in), I would humbly suggest that Fritz Deitl be considered as a backup site.

We had been assured earlier in the year that the improvements/repairs at Wright Arena would NOT be completed before our event, and awarded the bid on that basis. Clearly, if that is not the case, we will have to reconsider. We have referred the matter to our legal counsel, the esteemed firm of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe for possible breach-of-contract action.

We will send an advance team to inspect the Fritz Deitl rink in Westwood. Which line and station on NJ transit should they get off at, and how many clips of ammo would you suggest they each carry?

[Meese]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

If only there was an ice hotel nearby to house the teams. Maybe we can get some local elementary students to build them a snow fort?

[Freddie]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

It's official: Recently completed repairs at the John T. Wright Arena in Englewood NJ have rendered that once proudly dilapidated, hurricane ravaged building completely unsuitable for hosting our BFB regional.

The committee deeply regrets the error, and lays the blame entirely on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for failing to keep lanes closed on nearby highways and bridges. "We had a firm understanding with the governor's office that lane closures would prevent workers and materials from getting anywhere near that facility any sooner than April 1st" says BFB/F4 spokesman Ashley Roachclip. "We feel betrayed, and will refer the matter to our legal counsel as soon as he completes rehab."

In the meanwhile, the Northeast regional has been moved to Fritz Deitl Ice Rink in Westwood NJ.
https://picasaweb.google.com/DBPShockey

Roachclip went on to praise the efforts of USCHO Fan Forum poster "joecct" for bringing the Wright Arena situation to the committee's attention, and for suggesting Fritz Deitl as an alternative. "It is only through the efforts of dedicated folks like Joe that an organization such as ours can continue to consistently fall below expectations." Joe will be awarded the "Alfred E. Newman Lack-of-Achievement Medal" at this year's Futile Four awards banquet to be held in room 216 of the Motel Six at Council Bluffs Iowa immediately following the final game.

[Freddie]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

Council Bluffs IA: BFB Regional Fields Announced:

Northeast Region, Westwood NJ
1. Alabama-Huntsville
2. Colorado College
3. Niagara
4. Bemidji State

East Region, Louisville KY
1. Sacred Heart
2. Princeton
3. Canisius
4. Massachusetts

Midwest Region, Laurium MI
1. American International
2. RIT
3. Merrimack
4. Boston University

West Region, Ashland OR
1. Army
2. Holy Cross
3. Penn State
4. Dartmouth or Miami (still to be determined)

[FireKnight]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

How many consecutive years has AIC been a #1 seed?

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

Council Bluffs IA: BFB Regional Fields Announced:

Northeast Region, Westwood NJ
1. Alabama-Huntsville
2. Colorado College
3. Niagara
4. Bemidji State

East Region, Louisville KY
1. Sacred Heart
2. Princeton
3. Canisius
4. Massachusetts

Midwest Region, Laurium MI
1. American International
2. RIT
3. Merrimack
4. Boston University

West Region, Ashland OR
1. Army
2. Holy Cross
3. Penn State
4. Dartmouth or Miami (still to be determined)

Maximizing horse drawn carriage rides, while minimizing attendance. I would expect no less from such an esteemed group of committee members who consistently put forth a spectacularly subpar event!

[Freddie]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

How many consecutive years has AIC been a #1 seed?

BFB Standard Operating Procedure includes the destruction of all records and materials related to each year's event immediately following its conclusion, so we must rely solely on the tequila-soaked memory banks of the committee and/or their illegitimate progeny. These legends are often passed down through the generations in oral traditions similar to those of many ancient cultures, often accompanied with bizarre rites of passage and occasional virgin sacrifices...sort of like the book of Genesis. Keeping that in mind, our best collective recollections (as unreliable as they may be) are that AIC's string of #1 seedings has now reached twenty years. We believe the last year those wonderful Yellow Jackets did NOT earn a #1 seed was that disastrous 1993-94 campaign when they finished 14-12-0, and missed the tournament entirely.

We feel that this accomplishment ranks among some of the all-time low-points in modern sports history. Right down there with the 1962 New York Mets (40-120), the 1974-75 Washington Capitals (8-67), the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavs (lost 26 straight), the Edmonton Oilers 7 consecutive years without making the playoffs (2005/06-present), and the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers who lost their first 26 games in the NFL.

[Freddie]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

Maximizing horse drawn carriage rides, while minimizing attendance. I would expect no less from such an esteemed group of committee members who consistently put forth a spectacularly subpar event!

Thank you for your kind words. This year's brackets practically drew themselves. The committee only had to make two changes from the initial set. We moved Holy Cross out of the EAST to break up an Atlantic Hockey matchup with Niagara, swapping them with Colorado College added considerable travel inconvenience to both teams. Then purely for purposes of the gate and travel, we swapped BU out of New Jersey and sent them to the UP, while shipping Bemidji from Laurium to Jersey.

[Snively65]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

Congrats to the Committee for getting so much organized today; truly impressive.

Any word yet for the approximate date of the Miami - Dartmouth play-in game in Idaho, assuming that it will be scheduled about 3 a.m. Rocky Mountain Daylight Time, soon after the bars close?

[BU2K]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

Love the UP. Need to track down an A&W for the BU's pregame meal.

[Freddie]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

Any word yet for the approximate date of the Miami - Dartmouth play-in game in Idaho, assuming that it will be scheduled about 3 a.m. Rocky Mountain Daylight Time, soon after the bars close?

The committee has left this up-in-the air. We established a deadline of 5pm CDT to receive input from the extended committee (that's YOU) on whether Miami is in, Dartmouth is in, or IF we should make them have a 'play-out' game. We expect to announce this decision by 530pm Tuesday. This would give the teams 48 hours to bus to Moscow for a game Thursday. From there it only a short 11 hour drive for the winner to get to the regional site in Ashland OR. Remember, air travel is NOT permitted in this event.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

Rumor has it that Da Yoopers are cooking up some new, extra foul pasties that are even worse than 2012's "Turnip & Buck Testicle" variety which gave Canisus' backup goalie the worst gas his bench ever experienced.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: 2014 Bottom-Feeders Bracket, Futile Four BRACKETOLOGY

The committee has left this up-in-the air. We established a deadline of 5pm CDT to receive input from the extended committee (that's YOU) on whether Miami is in, Dartmouth is in, or IF we should make them have a 'play-out' game. We expect to announce this decision by 530pm Tuesday. This would give the teams 48 hours to bus to Moscow for a game Thursday. From there it only a short 11 hour drive for the winner to get to the regional site in Ashland OR. Remember, air travel is NOT permitted in this event.

Miami should be in considering how RPI fared against DC in the ECAC playoffs, and RPI is not in.