Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

I'd also like to see Harvard and Yale, come classic names that would put butts in the seats.

Not that I don't want to play these teams, but I find it hard to believe that people are going to come out to games for reason that the games are against Harvard and Yale.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

We have a tough enough time getting to 85% capacity as it is. Not sure that Harvard or Yale is going to make that big of a difference.

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

We have a tough enough time getting to 85% capacity as it is. Not sure that Harvard or Yale is going to make that big of a difference.

They are more recognizable that Alabama Huntsville or Mankato State.

[Almington]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

I wouldn't be surprised to see UW travel to UAA once every three or four years for the extra two home games w/ the exemption, but also the experience for the team.

No extra home games for NC games in AK, they get to play 2 extra games, but they can play the same number of home games regardless of if they travel to AK.

Example:
34 game schedule (no exemptions)
20 B10 games (10 Home, 10 Away).
10 Home NC games
4 Away NC games

36 game schedule (with AK exemption)
20 B10 games (10 Home, 10 Away).
10 Home NC games
6 Away NC games (includes 2 games to AK)

In both cases UW would have 20 Home games and could have up to 14 home games regardless of a trip to AK.

The value of the AK trip would be as a bonding experience for the team and a pair of extra games in total, but no extra home games because you do not receive an exemption for two "mandatory" away conference games.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

They are more recognizable that Alabama Huntsville or Mankato State.

I know I don't have to base this on, but I feel confident saying that we have bigger issues than quality of opponent when it comes to putting butts in seats. Namely: Our fanbase isn't as interested as they ought to be.

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

No extra home games for NC games in AK, they get to play 2 extra games, but they can play the same number of home games regardless of if they travel to AK.

Example:
34 game schedule (no exemptions)
20 B10 games (10 Home, 10 Away).
10 Home NC games
4 Away NC games

36 game schedule (with AK exemption)
20 B10 games (10 Home, 10 Away).
10 Home NC games
6 Away NC games (includes 2 games to AK)

In both cases UW would have 20 Home games and could have up to 14 home games regardless of a trip to AK.

The value of the AK trip would be as a bonding experience for the team and a pair of extra games in total, but no extra home games because you do not receive an exemption for two "mandatory" away conference games.

I guess I should have been more clear, UAA is the ONLY team (besides UAF) where you can travel to their arena, play two games and still get two games at home (or on the road) in the long run because the exemption, well exempts those games from counting against the usual total (6 vs 8 or 14 vs 16). Thanks for breaking it down, if someone didn't understand.

You are incorrect about not receiving an exemption for "mandatory" away conference games. In 2008/09 the Badgers played 36 regular season games, and did not play in a tourney w/ an exemption (like the icebreaker). They did play at UAA, in conference even, to garner the extra two games.

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

For me, the main importance in scheduling was to maintain a steady diet of the main rivals from the WCHA...and it sure appears DU and North Dakota will be prominent. Next, I would to see OOC games scheduled with Eastern powers and BC, BU, & Miami certainly fit that bill. Yeap, seeing Notre Dame, UNH, Duluth, & St Cloud would be nice as well, but I suspect they will appear as things get finalized and/or in subsequent years. Of the 7 OOC series we have available to schedule, I expect 3 against elite powers (NoDak, Denver, BC, BU, Miami, ect) and the remaining 4 to be heavy on cupcakes with maybe a middling old second rung WCHA team mixed in. The reality of the Big 6 is that there will be some lumps imposed on each other and you'll need the OOC to make sure you can get above .500 and be tourney eligible in a down year (or up year for your conference brethren). Minny, Michigan, MSU, & UW should perennially have strong teams. OSU could very well be in the equation soon under OZ as a strong team. PSU will initially be 4 wins for most...but even there the resourses make it likely they will be solid pretty quickly.

[Almington]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

You are incorrect about not receiving an exemption for "mandatory" away conference games. In 2008/09 the Badgers played 36 regular season games, and did not play in a tourney w/ an exemption (like the icebreaker). They did play at UAA, in conference even, to garner the extra two games.

I wasn't clear. You always get the exemption for games played in AK. My point was that you only can have extra home games when the exemption applies to "mandatory" away conference games (games that would be away games regardless of where they were played). Playing NC games in AK only gets you two additional games, doesn't change the number of home games that you can have.

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

Apparently Justin Schultz has a list of teams he is interested in: Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and NY Rangers.

Past reports have said playing with old teammates is weighing in on his decision (Toronto and NY apply). He is from BC, so Vancouver is like going home. A lot of playing time available in Edmonton on a very young team.

Any thoughts?

[mnstate0fhockey]

Apparently Justin Schultz has a list of teams he is interested in: Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and NY Rangers.

Past reports have said playing with old teammates is weighing in on his decision (Toronto and NY apply). He is from BC, so Vancouver is like going home. A lot of playing time available in Edmonton on a very young team.

Any thoughts?

“@TSNBobMcKenzie: Strongly led to believe MIN, as in Wild, are in on shortlist for UFA dman Justin Schultz. That would make 6 teams we know of. Maybe more?”

Would love to have Schultz on the Wild. I think he could probably come in and get plenty of Top 4 minutes right away.

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

“@TSNBobMcKenzie: Strongly led to believe MIN, as in Wild, are in on shortlist for UFA dman Justin Schultz. That would make 6 teams we know of. Maybe more?”

Would love to have Schultz on the Wild. I think he could probably come in and get plenty of Top 4 minutes right away.

I've seen 26 are interested. So 4 teams don't want a creative, offensive defenseman who also happens to play well in his own zone? Not like he is cashing in for 7 mil like Suter will.

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

I know I don't have to base this on, but I feel confident saying that we have bigger issues than quality of opponent when it comes to putting butts in seats. Namely: Our fanbase isn't as interested as they ought to be.

Nail, meet hammer.

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

I've seen 26 are interested. So 4 teams don't want a creative, offensive defenseman who also happens to play well in his own zone? Not like he is cashing in for 7 mil like Suter will.

Guessing 4 just said f-it, we have no chance so they didn't even bother.

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

....and the winner is.......THE OILERS!



http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/81...justin-schultz

From CBC Sports......
"Schultz will earn a base of salary of $925,000 US the next two seasons and can collect up to $2.85 million in additional bonuses."

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XXI - For every dark night, there's a brighter day

Burish re-unites with Pavelski in that one rotten hell hole of a franchise.