thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

[huskyfan]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

the NCAA needs to take a good look at their playoff format. alot of college hockey is the fans and zany stuff the students do. sticking teams halfway across the country in near empty arenas doesn't come close to conveying the great atmosphere of a college game.

[vizoroo]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

I'm just glad that the quality of the broadcast seems to be improving.

Not as many obnoxious "mini-sportscenter" cut ins, the intermission reports actually talk about hockey and don't get into basketball, NBA, golf, etc. like they usually do.

Plenty of live look ins during intermissions.

This is a HUGE improvement over the quality of their coverage in years past.

Of course, I expect all of this to change when we get to having the Frozen Four on ESPN and ESPN2.

One of the only nice things I'll say about TW Cable they finally came to an agreement to have ESPN3 available. For the most part the games were great and you could use PinP when 2 games were going on at the same time.

[UMDBulldogHockeyIsKing]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

No Bob Norton has been nice. Now if they could find a way to get rid of Clay Matvick and Barry Melrose, that would be yet another improvement. Another would be finding a way to bring Tom Mees back to life. Man, I miss that guy.

[gopheritall]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

ESPN3 has been great this year. They have all the games available for replay too.

Matvick and Melrose have been solid this year. After several years Melrose is starting to learn some of the college rules. Someone should spend the next 2 weeks explaining that in college if you score on a delayed penalty you still get the PP. He wants them to give up the puck as soon as the arm goes up.

I miss Norton. College hockey is best with a blatant homer, no matter who they are cheering for.

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

ESPN3 has been great this year. They have all the games available for replay too.

Matvick and Melrose have been solid this year. After several years Melrose is starting to learn some of the college rules. Someone should spend the next 2 weeks explaining that in college if you score on a delayed penalty you still get the PP. He wants them to give up the puck as soon as the arm goes up.

I miss Norton. College hockey is best with a blatant homer, no matter who they are cheering for.

He only wants them to give up the puck as soon as the arm goes up when they are going to go on a 2-player advantage, so they have a longer time on that 2-player advantage. Which makes sense.

[AKJD]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

Sounds great. Now if they'd just put an option for some sort of pay-per-view for those of us not on their ISP list, we'd be golden. Between no ESPN3.com and no local syndication, I'll be lucky if I catch a second of the tournament this year. Maybe I can find a bar that has the final on, or something.

[gopheritall]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

He only wants them to give up the puck as soon as the arm goes up when they are going to go on a 2-player advantage, so they have a longer time on that 2-player advantage. Which makes sense.

They pull their goalie on the delay therefore already have a 2 man advantage, 6 on 4. Granted, if the penalty is called there would be fewer defenders on the ice. There is an argument for trying to score AND get the penalty called too. I understand when a team wants to get to 5 on 3 right away but it isn't the no brainer that it used to be.

[UMDBulldogHockeyIsKing]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

They pull their goalie on the delay therefore already have a 2 man advantage, 6 on 4. Granted, if the penalty is called there would be fewer defenders on the ice. There is an argument for trying to score AND get the penalty called too. I understand when a team wants to get to 5 on 3 right away but it isn't the no brainer that it used to be.

I've always felt that opportunities for scoring are easier to attain 5x3 than 6x4, for the simple fact the powerplay has much more room to move as well as get passes through the diamond. I'd also guess without looking at data, that there are far more goals scored 5x3 than 6x4 or possibly even 6x5.

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

They pull their goalie on the delay therefore already have a 2 man advantage, 6 on 4. Granted, if the penalty is called there would be fewer defenders on the ice. There is an argument for trying to score AND get the penalty called too. I understand when a team wants to get to 5 on 3 right away but it isn't the no brainer that it used to be.

I agree with UMDBHIK's comments. I DO understand the goalie is pulled, but then you've got a guy jumping into the play rather than starting set, so it's more disjointed. There's just more space to operate. Also, it allows a team to change lines if their #1 PP unit is out there and to get a faceoff and get set up. There is no reason to give it away right away when the team is 6x6 and it's a delayed penalty, because you get the two minutes no matter what.

[Timmah!]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

Definitely a big thanks to ESPN3 for showing all of the games. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go buy an EVO 4G, join the Army, and book a Southwest flight to Las Vegas.

[billmich88888]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

Sounds great. Now if they'd just put an option for some sort of pay-per-view for those of us not on their ISP list, we'd be golden. Between no ESPN3.com and no local syndication, I'll be lucky if I catch a second of the tournament this year. Maybe I can find a bar that has the final on, or something.

if you found a sports bar or a friend with directv, you would have been able to watch all 12 games this weekend

[The Rube]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

if you found a sports bar or a friend with directv, you would have been able to watch all 12 games this weekend

And you could have played the Google Game, by searching for "free live streaming (insert teams)" and clicking on links. That's how many of us found justintv and ustream in years past to watch the games.

[billmich88888]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

And you could have played the Google Game, by searching for "free live streaming (insert teams)" and clicking on links. That's how many of us found justintv and ustream in years past to watch the games.

excellant point, those sites have been godsends to find obscure broadcasts like college hockey or Mountain west football

[RPIcrank]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

No Bob Norton has been nice. Now if they could find a way to get rid of Clay Matvick and Barry Melrose, that would be yet another improvement. Another would be finding a way to bring Tom Mees back to life. Man, I miss that guy.

I agree 100%. Bob Norton was the absolute worst. He made me want to turn off games I wanted to see. His incessant listing of all the prep schools for every player every time he touched the puck was obnoxious.

And, Tom Mees was incredibly smooth and a pleasure to listen to. He always got the pace and drama just right. I too miss his game calling. I still have the RPI - UMD game he called in 1985. Boy, that was an exciting game. That UMD team gave our juggernaut RPI team all it could handle.

[billmich88888]

Re: thank you to ESPN3.com for covering ALL the games

RPICrank, do you have a copy of the 1985 Championship game? I( am always looking to add to my collection and I don't believe i have that one (anything before 1990 has been hard to find) I have most, but not all, since about 1992 or so.

please let me know