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Re: Shillelagh Tourney (Notre Dame, UND, Niagara, Colgate)
Though I do not believe Niagara as a cupcake, they're still the weakest team at the tourney.
UND and Notre Dame come into the tourney with players at the WJC with arguably UND's player having a bigger impact in his absence than Notre Dame's. I rationalize this in the following ways:
1. Not knowing Notre Dame's injury status, I'm assuming that they are healthier than UND. UND has two key players out due to injury.
2. Since UND's best offensive player is out with concussion and second best out at the WJC, it's hard to imagine Notre Dame comes into this tourney not having at least SOME advantage.
Ok, I did the comparison with Notre Dame because, of UND's three opponents, I know more about Notre Dame than any of the rest.
Let's look at Standings at the moment:
UND has a record of 9-6-3 (WCHA record of 6-6-2; Non-Conference is 3-0-1)
Notre Dame has a record of 8-8-4 (CCHA record of 5-5-4; Non-Conference is 3-3-0)
Niagara has a record of 3-10-2 (CHA record of 1-3-1; Non-Conference is 2-7-1)
Colgate has a record of 7-6-4 (ECACHLMAO record of 5-3-1; Non-Conference is 2-3-3)
UND has the only Non-Conference record above .500 of any of the participants, but they have been largely mediocre in conference (Colgate's conference record is the best). UND hasn't been playing very well lately. They haven't played poorly, but certainly not great hockey either.
Colgate has given up 2 more goals than they've scored over the season thus far with a non-conference differential of -3 in Nonconference play. Niagara is worse having given up 7 more goals than they've scored in Non-Conference games. On the positive side, Notre Dame has scored 4 more goals than they've allowed in Non-Conference games this season. UND has scored 7 more goals than they've allowed in Non-Conference games.
So, if theory and stats meant anything (which they don't... I'm only doing this because I'm bored as all get out)... the strongest to weakest teams statistically would be:
1. UND
2. Notre Dame
3. Colgate
4. Niagara
Despite goal differential, there could be a valid argument to flip flop or tie Notre Dame and Colgate for #2. But clearly, statistically speaking, UND is the strongest and Niagara is the weakest.
So what does this mean when the tourney begins? Well, there are only 2 certain things:
1. One team of the four will win the tourney.
2. The locale seems to be a very crappy location.
How's that for meaningless rambling?
Though I do not believe Niagara as a cupcake, they're still the weakest team at the tourney.
UND and Notre Dame come into the tourney with players at the WJC with arguably UND's player having a bigger impact in his absence than Notre Dame's. I rationalize this in the following ways:
1. Not knowing Notre Dame's injury status, I'm assuming that they are healthier than UND. UND has two key players out due to injury.
2. Since UND's best offensive player is out with concussion and second best out at the WJC, it's hard to imagine Notre Dame comes into this tourney not having at least SOME advantage.
Ok, I did the comparison with Notre Dame because, of UND's three opponents, I know more about Notre Dame than any of the rest.
Let's look at Standings at the moment:
UND has a record of 9-6-3 (WCHA record of 6-6-2; Non-Conference is 3-0-1)
Notre Dame has a record of 8-8-4 (CCHA record of 5-5-4; Non-Conference is 3-3-0)
Niagara has a record of 3-10-2 (CHA record of 1-3-1; Non-Conference is 2-7-1)
Colgate has a record of 7-6-4 (ECACHLMAO record of 5-3-1; Non-Conference is 2-3-3)
UND has the only Non-Conference record above .500 of any of the participants, but they have been largely mediocre in conference (Colgate's conference record is the best). UND hasn't been playing very well lately. They haven't played poorly, but certainly not great hockey either.
Colgate has given up 2 more goals than they've scored over the season thus far with a non-conference differential of -3 in Nonconference play. Niagara is worse having given up 7 more goals than they've scored in Non-Conference games. On the positive side, Notre Dame has scored 4 more goals than they've allowed in Non-Conference games this season. UND has scored 7 more goals than they've allowed in Non-Conference games.
So, if theory and stats meant anything (which they don't... I'm only doing this because I'm bored as all get out)... the strongest to weakest teams statistically would be:
1. UND
2. Notre Dame
3. Colgate
4. Niagara
Despite goal differential, there could be a valid argument to flip flop or tie Notre Dame and Colgate for #2. But clearly, statistically speaking, UND is the strongest and Niagara is the weakest.
So what does this mean when the tourney begins? Well, there are only 2 certain things:
1. One team of the four will win the tourney.
2. The locale seems to be a very crappy location.
How's that for meaningless rambling?
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