Well, Friends, the first season of the grand experiment that is the NCHC is now history. I thought I'd get a thread going so that supporters of the 8 schools could opine on what they did and didn't like. Forming what in effect is a "super conference," with all 8 schools committed to strong D-1 hockey and with varying but overall high levels of winning traditions and desires to compete and win consistently, means that many went home disappointed in Year One. My "Likes"--Because everyone at the party made the commitment to compete to win, there were few throwaway games during the conference season. I think the "new WCHA" got hit with more than its share of those. With teams continually knocking each other back close to the .500 level because of league balance, it could be argued that the regular season title was FAR more important in this league, because it became a known early that league parity would likely cost it seats at the NCAA dance. Also as a "Like," pretty decent coverage by CBS SN for the league...although better balance in getting all 8 schools on would be a need-for-improvement area. "Dislikes"--As noted above, a league that is strong top-to-bottom is going to restrict NCAA berths. Denver's serendipitous run at the Frozen Faceoff (as would have a finished run by WMU or Miami) added a third team--barely, thanks to Wisco's late rally to stop ssso (=somestateschoolinohio). The loss of the rivalries with UM-MSU-Minny-Wisco is a dislike, too...but the Big 10-12-14 schools made their own bed on that one and everyone else is an unwilling recipient. As a continuing dislike, it's also apparent that none of the eight travel particularly well with their fan base, notably excepting the Still Sioux. Unless games are played literally in the back yard of the Minnesota schools. The league's fan bases need to get more engaged for the league to add national recognition and get the all-important media exposure. That well-played Denver-WMU semifinal could have been played in a TV studio in front of a small audience with canned applause and provided a similar atmosphere to what happened at Target Center.
I think the league has a bright future, and do truly think that this octet adds a lot of entertainment value to the regular season, perhaps the best outcome of league realignment. Props to the Cloudies for taking the regular season title and the Pio's for the post-season run. Hoping all 3 post-season entrants can have a long dance. Would love to see Denver send the Boston's home early if that predicted pairing actually becomes cast in stone by the selection committee.
I think the league has a bright future, and do truly think that this octet adds a lot of entertainment value to the regular season, perhaps the best outcome of league realignment. Props to the Cloudies for taking the regular season title and the Pio's for the post-season run. Hoping all 3 post-season entrants can have a long dance. Would love to see Denver send the Boston's home early if that predicted pairing actually becomes cast in stone by the selection committee.
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