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11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

manurespreader said:
I keep pinching myself. Personally we have a ways to go and you have to remember these are the same players from last year.
We still have trouble around the net finishing chances, we still slack off with the lead, we still hang the goalie out too much, we still lose focus too often.

I agree totally though, Mel is awesome and the staff is awesome. Best since a long, long, time ago. My worries down the line center on the financial aspects of making things work without the final five money.
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How much $$$ does Tech make off of hosting the regionals in Green Bay? That has been pretty regular lately, and maybe that can be used to offset a part of that lost F5 check.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

manurespreader said:
I keep pinching myself. Personally we have a ways to go and you have to remember these are the same players from last year.
We still have trouble around the net finishing chances, we still slack off with the lead, we still hang the goalie out too much, we still lose focus too often.

I agree totally though, Mel is awesome and the staff is awesome. Best since a long, long, time ago. My worries down the line center on the financial aspects of making things work without the final five money.
Click to expand...

If the WCHA continued to have the final five in Minnesota, they still might sell the place out every year even with out the Minnesota schools. Have there been any word on how the conference playoffs will be held in the future.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

The Darkness said:
If the WCHA continued to have the final five in Minnesota, they still might sell the place out every year even with out the Minnesota schools. Have there been any word on how the conference playoffs will be held in the future.
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I would be surprised if they made much money off Green Bay but who knows. As far as the X, I don't think there is a chance in hell but I think the whole situation is still quite up in the air. Though I'm sure it's being worked on. I'd like to see the commissioner moved out of Denver right away though.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

The Darkness said:
If the WCHA continued to have the final five in Minnesota, they still might sell the place out every year even with out the Minnesota schools.
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Not a chance - no Gopher, Sioux, or Badger fans (nor any of their bandwagoners). I don't care how much Minnesotans love hockey, they aren't going to pay to watch the gutted WCCHA's tournament at the X in any financially sustaining numbers. If they keep the tourney at the X and it's a success, I'll eat crow.

Assuming we stay at nine teams, my thinking is that you will see either the 9th seed told "Thanks for playing" or the MacNaughton Cup Champion #1 seed awarded a bye. Then, seeds 1-8 or 2-9 will play best of 3 quarterfinal series, hosted by the top seeds. Winners will advance to a WCCHA Final Four, to be held at #1's rink (or the rink of the top-seeded remaining team). That way you're guaranteed that at least one game, and possibly two, will sell plenty of tickets.

I would prefer the idea of #1 getting a bye and being Final Four host, since they've earned it, and presumably the locals have been watching winning hockey all year and will be excited to pack their barn for the Final Four (at least when their team is playing). Plus that way even #9 would get a shot at being a Cinderella story.

Yes, this would mean the so-oh-dreaded possibility of (gasp!) an Alaska school hosting the new Final Four, but that's fair if one of them has earned the right. The primary hardship would lie in the cost of getting ~30 tickets to Anchorage or Fairbanks on short notice, which is a legit concern in this league of little fish, but I don't think it's an insurmountable one.

If they're insistent on holding the new Final Four in the Lower 48 every year, Green Bay/Resch Center is the only sensible option, but I fear it would be a mistake. Green Bay is Packer Central, not a hockey town. It's likely that you'll only get the Yoopers and Bemidji fans to travel there in any significant numbers, and even then I doubt it'd be half-full.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

Do you see the NCHC or B1G having their conference Tournament at the X still though? Outside MN and UW, the X is quite a haul for the B1G schools..a good fit there could maybe be Chicago? This will be very interesting to see how this plays out.

Does anyone know how long the WCHA and the X have a contract?
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

Manurespreader and I were discussing this via email, and he pointed out that if we want any shot at getting a hypothetical Final Four on TV in some capacity, it's going to have to be at an 'accessible' venue. So Green Bay would be a better choice with that in mind, compared to pretty much any campus site in the WCCHA.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
Manurespreader and I were discussing this via email, and he pointed out that if we want any shot at getting a hypothetical Final Four on TV in some capacity, it's going to have to be at an 'accessible' venue. So Green Bay would be a better choice with that in mind, compared to pretty much any campus site in the WCCHA.
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Last season the Gamblers had an average attendance of about 3600. In the playoffs they sold out the Resch a couple of times.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

The problem with Green Bay is that it is a long haul for the down state MI schools but the building size is good for the new league. It is "reasonable" for MTU, NMU and LSSU. It is a stretch for BSU, FSU, BGSU, and Mankato. The Alaska schools are flying anywhere. They could also be the one downside to letting the #1 host the tourney. Don't think the Alaska schools couldn't be conference champs in the WCCHA. There is a 2 in 9 chance that we would be flying to AK in March. How many folks are going to spend that kind of $$$. That league is going to up for grabs, especially until a few teams make themselves annual front runners because every team will recruit saying they will be a powerhouse in the new league. After a few years you'll know who's for real.

As for the Mavs this weekend, any team in the WCHA can win any weekend.

Ryan J
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

Re: Green Bay; I would be opposed to giving the economic benefits, whatever they may be, to a city and a state that have nothing to do with the league.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

I just don't think its a good idea to have our tournament in one of the WCHA cities. I don't really think most of the nWCHA cities are capable between accommodating 4 teams and all the fans necessary, especially when you consider short notice. Green Bay's arena is a great size. I understand the sentiment about not giving $ to Wisconsin when it doesn't have a team in the state but there isn't really a better neutral location. Maybe UWGB or UW-Milwaukee will add a team? haha
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

Anchorage is big enough, and has enough capability to handle the people. :)
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

Shirtless Guy said:
I just don't think its a good idea to have our tournament in one of the WCHA cities. I don't really think most of the nWCHA cities are capable between accommodating 4 teams and all the fans necessary, especially when you consider short notice. Green Bay's arena is a great size. I understand the sentiment about not giving $ to Wisconsin when it doesn't have a team in the state but there isn't really a better neutral location. Maybe UWGB or UW-Milwaukee will add a team? haha
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Maybe they will... Man I'd love driving to a closer place for games :)
 
MavsFan said:
Re: Green Bay; I would be opposed to giving the economic benefits, whatever they may be, to a city and a state that have nothing to do with the league.
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Interesting point here.

Does anyone think the B1G or the NCHC will host their tourney at the X?
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

MavHockey14 said:
Interesting point here.

Does anyone think the B1G or the NCHC will host their tourney at the X?
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Well this is just me making an educated guess, but based on what is published, yes but I think you will see both of them moving their tourney's around a bit. I expect the bhhc will have it at the ralph or at the pepsi center to start, and then maybe in Omaha and eventually yes at the x. The big yes at the x right away and then going to chicago or Detroit.

If the WCHA can find a permanent home that fans both from the league teams and from the local community get to liking I can see it being very successful. We should be able to get a good bit of local publicity both print and video especially if we are there for a while. It's a bit of a hike to Green Bay but there is a ferry too, though when it runs I don't know. I'm not in favor of campus locations for it at all. I think it benefits everyone in the league so I would hope we all try and make it a success.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

manurespreader said:
It's a bit of a hike to Green Bay but there is a ferry too, though when it runs I don't know.
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Pretty sure that neither ferry runs during hockey season. Plus it's usually a four-hour crossing anyway, so little-to-no time is saved.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

manurespreader said:
Well this is just me making an educated guess, but based on what is published, yes but I think you will see both of them moving their tourney's around a bit. I expect the bhhc will have it at the ralph or at the pepsi center to start, and then maybe in Omaha and eventually yes at the x. The big yes at the x right away and then going to chicago or Detroit.

If the WCHA can find a permanent home that fans both from the league teams and from the local community get to liking I can see it being very successful. We should be able to get a good bit of local publicity both print and video especially if we are there for a while. It's a bit of a hike to Green Bay but there is a ferry too, though when it runs I don't know. I'm not in favor of campus locations for it at all. I think it benefits everyone in the league so I would hope we all try and make it a success.
Click to expand...

I agree.

It should be interesting to see how long the WCHA and the X have a contract together as well.
 
Re: 11/04-11/05 Michigan Tech vs. Minn State - A Civil Chat Among Future WCCHA Teams

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
Pretty sure that neither ferry runs during hockey season. Plus it's usually a four-hour crossing anyway, so little-to-no time is saved.
Click to expand...

The ferry is more expensive and more travel time than just driving around, it's more of a novelty than anything else.
 
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