#2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

[ClOuD 9]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

Curious about something. It's been a while since I've been to the Garden (it seemed like for a while, this weekend was Holy Week and I always had church on Friday). How organized are UNH fans, as compared to other schools, about sitting together?

I know that NU had a large contingent at Agannis, but I'm assuming they also sounded louder because they all sat together. Is there a "UNH Section" at these games? I know the Boston schools represent well, but it helps that a) they're a T-ride away and b) they're not on spring break. I remember back in 2002, UNH sent 6 buses fully loaded with students, but since UNH Charter Services closed, and the games are during break, that's not the case anymore.

Each school gets an allotment of tickets in the lower level usually just inside the blue line and it is my understanding that the hosers intend to sit there. This year the school will also be offering $10 balcony student tickets, not sure about their location but generally when other schools offer them they are next to their respective bands who are placed in one of the balcony's corners.

Just curious whether or not I need to smuggle in a cowbell, if CBG will be doing so, or if nobody cares . . .

I'll leave this one for him.

 

[goblue]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

This should be an excellent game, Glad NU did the job so it came about.

So Wally, who are you rooting for?

Or are you rooting against both teams?

(I'm guessing many Maine fans will be rooting for MC, for various reasons, as UNH fans would -- if our places were reversed.)

 

[JB]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

Interesting how it all worked out.

If you look at games down the stretch you would think if BC had to choose it would be anybody but Northeastern. Those two teams had on wild week back in early February.

Honestly I figure BU and the Mack were flip a coin for the cats. If I had to pick a "better" game I would have picked BU. I just like the style of a BU-UNH game better than a MC-UNH game. Watching UNH playing MC is like watching paint dry, at least it has been the last couple of years.

One advantage is for UNH is UVM and MC play similar style neutral zone game so UNH had some practice this last weekend. Hopefully a solid week on getting through the neutral zone will prepare UNH. In some ways I think if UNH had to pick they would have taken NU - all based on style of play. MC will be very tough on top of their talent, UNH is just bad against this style; have been for over a decade.

Finally for the other team on the ice, can Hockey East train their officials? Saturday against UVM for over a period and a half one linesman was calling NHL/AHL touch up icings and the other by the NCAA rules. You could tell both teams were having a hard time figuring out icings because it depended on which end of the ice the NHL/AHL guy was on, and that didn't seem to be constant either. You would figure the refs would have fixed the issue during the 1st on a couple of really obvious missed calls or the other linesman saying something during the intermission. Both benches were unhappy and finally Snedon got to say something to the guy and it seemed to be better in the 3rd.

 

[MCHOCKEY]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

I believe that will be the Merrimack bar Friday.

That is correct. Merrimack is hosting a pre-game party, beginning at 5 PM, at the Greatest Bar...5 PM kind of sucks though for those of us who want to see both games, but whatever...guess we could watch the first period and then head in.

 

[smitre]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

Settle in at one of the bars around noon to watch NCAA roundball, then head over to the Garden at 5 to root against BC.

 

[REDMEN2002]

That is correct. Merrimack is hosting a pre-game party, beginning at 5 PM, at the Greatest Bar...5 PM kind of sucks though for those of us who want to see both games, but whatever...guess we could watch the first period and then head in.

I will not be there for the event as I will most definitely be at the Garden for both games.

 

[FiveHole12]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

Finally for the other team on the ice, can Hockey East train their officials? Saturday against UVM for over a period and a half one linesman was calling NHL/AHL touch up icings and the other by the NCAA rules. You could tell both teams were having a hard time figuring out icings because it depended on which end of the ice the NHL/AHL guy was on, and that didn't seem to be constant either. You would figure the refs would have fixed the issue during the 1st on a couple of really obvious missed calls or the other linesman saying something during the intermission. Both benches were unhappy and finally Snedon got to say something to the guy and it seemed to be better in the 3rd.

That's the new NCAA icing rule. Icing isn't called until a defensive player gets to the face off circle (not sure if its to the dot or to the bottom of the circle). If the team icing the puck has a player that reaches the circle before the defenseman, icing is waived off. If a player from each team reach the circle together, it's at the discretion of the linesman.

 

[WildShawn]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

That's the new NCAA icing rule. Icing isn't called until a defensive player gets to the face off circle (not sure if its to the dot or to the bottom of the circle). If the team icing the puck has a player that reaches the circle before the defenseman, icing is waived off. If a player from each team reach the circle together, it's at the discretion of the linesman.

We know the new rules, but the two different linesmen on Saturday were calling the icings differently, it was ridiculous. I'm pretty sure its below the dots, btw.

 

[unhpuckfan2001]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

Each school gets an allotment of tickets in the lower level usually just inside the blue line and it is my understanding that the hosers intend to sit there. This year the school will also be offering $10 balcony student tickets, not sure about their location but generally when other schools offer them they are next to their respective bands who are placed in one of the balcony's corners.

That makes sense; lady at the TD Box office said that if you go thru ticketmaster, or the UNH box office, they are selling section 20-21-22ish for UNH. I got tickets in Section 19 - the section for Season Ticket Holder discount (only available through this one lady at the Garden). She said they've been selling briskly, so hopefully we have a good contigent - and hopefully, they are smart and put the band up above us.

 

[WNTKPROD]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

I am worried about UNH's chances against a team that recently beat them twice at the Whit.

 

[acs64]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

So Wally, who are you rooting for?

Or are you rooting against both teams?

(I'm guessing many Maine fans will be rooting for MC, for various reasons, as UNH fans would -- if our places were reversed.)

Chit...this tourney's an easy pick for us....Mack and NU of course. Personally I'd prefer NU to win that battle for various reasons we dont need to get into. They're both somewhat of underdog picks, but not really. I'm just hoping the Mack gets UND in its regional bracket in the NCAA's....and get a chance to play each other...now that would be worth the price of admission (to a hospital)

 

[WildShawn]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

I am worried about UNH's chances against a team that recently beat them twice at the Whit.

Merrimack only beat UNH once at the Whitt, then once at home in OT, and lost at the Whitt in December

 

[walrus]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

So Wally, who are you rooting for?

I'm rooting for MC to cheapshot the crap out of UNH

 

[WildShawn]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

UNH at the Garden since 1998:
vs. BC: 0-5
vs. everyone else: 7-2

 

[JB]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

That's the new NCAA icing rule. Icing isn't called until a defensive player gets to the face off circle (not sure if its to the dot or to the bottom of the circle). If the team icing the puck has a player that reaches the circle before the defenseman, icing is waived off. If a player from each team reach the circle together, it's at the discretion of the linesman.

I am fairly certain it is a line defined by the dots.

I am fully aware of the NCAA rule.

However one linesman was using the NHL/AHL he who touches the puck first rule. You could tell early on the players on both sides couldn't figure out what was going on. Often if the D gets down their first he plays it to the lineman which further complicated things since it just seemed like a slow whistle.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

I'll admit, this match-up scares me. I was rooting for BU. I know both teams had the same record against UNH this year, but I think MC thoroughly outplayed UNH, whereas BU seemed to get some luck. Also, the BU losses were earlier in the season, the MC losses were more recent. I feel like BU faded this season, whereas MC has been pretty consistent.

Just curious whether or not I need to smuggle in a cowbell, if CBG will be doing so, or if nobody cares . . .

I will not be smuggling in the cowbell. I will be carrying it out in the open. We've played it the past few times UNH has been there. I'll have it at the regionals, too, and play it during stoppages, unless UNH doesn't make it.

 

[massCat]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

However one linesman was using the NHL/AHL he who touches the puck first rule.

we had some calls go for and some against. But it was maddening trying to figure out what was going on.

McGann's on Friday for me, there is always UNH friendly atmosphere in that place.

 

[JB]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

we had some calls go for and some against. But it was maddening trying to figure out what was going on.

He was consistent (bothsides had to deal with it) and I don't believe any scores in that game were related to his calls. It is just odd to have a rule consistently called wrong in a playoff game, until a coach figures out what is happening and can get the guy to the bench to talk to him. Even if you are bring in an AHL guy on an emergancy basis (somebody got sick, etc.) you would think they would highlight the rule differences.

 

[UNHhockey29]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

Just curious whether or not I need to smuggle in a cowbell, if CBG will be doing so, or if nobody cares . . .

We have the bell

 

[MCHOCKEY]

Re: #2 UNH v. #3 Merrimack, Hockey East Semi-Final @ the TD Garden

I will not be there for the event as I will most definitely be at the Garden for both games.

I'm shocked LOL Hopefully I'll be in town at least a little bit before 5 so I can grab a beer with you guys, but we'll have to see.

That makes sense; lady at the TD Box office said that if you go thru ticketmaster, or the UNH box office, they are selling section 20-21-22ish for UNH. I got tickets in Section 19 - the section for Season Ticket Holder discount (only available through this one lady at the Garden). She said they've been selling briskly, so hopefully we have a good contigent - and hopefully, they are smart and put the band up above us.

Merrimack is selling tickets in Loge 10 and 11, Premium 137 (which was sold out as of noon today), and Balcony 315. I'll be in Loge 11 it appears.