2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston University

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

FS23, are you at all familiar with BU fan and poster, Sean Pickett???

You might be UNDs version!

Sean and I have communicated via email on a few occasions.

I will take your comparison as a compliment. Thank you.

 

[Gphrpkhead]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Let's see if I get this straight... I predict that BU has a very good chance to win against the goofs by a good margin and I have to justify it to a BC troll? You did not get a serious response because you do not warrant one...

So am I correct in assuming that you give Western Michigan a 0% chance of defeating UND?

 

[willythekid]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

So am I correct in assuming that you give Western Michigan a 0% chance of defeating UND?

No, UND has momentum right now but could very easily lose to WMU...

 

[Gphrpkhead]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

No, UND has momentum right now but could very easily lose to WMU...

It certainly is possible that the Gophers could lose. They have shown a penchant for somehow being terrible in the first game of a series and then rebounding on Saturday night. Well....there is no more Saturday night. They need to show up or they will go home. WMU has been streaky this season, but they could surprise a team....certainly if UND is looking ahead. Dell is playing really well right now. Hopefully (for the pride of the WCHA) we will all get the rematch that would be fun to see, but BU and WMU are no slouches.

It will also be nice to see some different officiating come this time of year. I know many of the other leagues call the game tighter than the WCHA. It will also be nice to see officials who use instant reply without causing a 7 minute delay. Or use it when they should. Not that the outcome of the game would have been any different last Friday or that the goal would have been reversed on UND's second goal, but I don't understand how they don't even take a look at a puck going off a skate when we have 8 minute delays on other goals that bounce of a shin bad or a chest. I am not trying to sound like a sore loser......far from it and ND deserved to win the game.....so let all of that go. I just simply am saying it will be nice to get some fresh officiating looks during the NCAA tournament and they are able to use all of the tools appropriately and efficiently.

 

[BU Fan 84]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

I just checked the regional Fox Sports for here in Minnesota (Fox Sports North) it shows channel 668 and 668-1 for DirecTV:
http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/pages/channelfinder

Then for Saturday's schedule it says
"Noon ACC Baseball, N.C. State at North Carolina (Live) PLUS
3:30 p.m. Gophers Live Pregame (Live) HD
4 p.m. NCAA Hockey Tournament: Minnesota vs. Boston (Live) HD
6:30 p.m. NCAA Hockey Tournament: Minnesota Duluth vs. Maine (Live) HD"
http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/pages/tvlisting/

Does that work for your setup?

Under the Fox Sports North Plus channel listing it says "Cable Operator: DirecTV; System: MN, ND, SD, IA" Does this mean that outside of those states, you can't get FSN+ on DirecTV?

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Under the Fox Sports North Plus channel listing it says "Cable Operator: DirecTV; System: MN, ND, SD, IA" Does this mean that outside of those states, you can't get FSN+ on DirecTV?

No. What that means is that DirecTV customers in those states get FSN (and FSN +) as part of their package (assuming they have a package with their local sports network, which pretty much every package, except the lowest, has). Customers outside of those states have to purchase the Sports Pack in order to get those channels. It's something like $10-12/month, and can be cancelled at any time, so if you want to watch the games call DirecTV up, get the Sports Pack, and then cancel after this weekend. They may try to charge a $10 cancellation fee on top of the prorated monthly amount for the Sports Pack. Obviously, you could also keep the Sports Pack going forward as well.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

It will also be nice to see officials who use instant reply without causing a 7 minute delay. Or use it when they should.

Well then you should be happy BU is out there and there are no HE officials. Bunyon, Benedetto, Grav, or god forbid one of the Hansen's would probably make a few people late to work on Monday.

 

[Gphrpkhead]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

The Hansen reputation is known far and wide. Probably somewhere on par with the Adam, Shepherd(s), Anderson, Thul reputation in the WCHA. I thought that Benedetto was one of the higher ranking officials in HE. Wrong?

Well then you should be happy BU is out there and there are no HE officials. Bunyon, Benedetto, Grav, or god forbid one of the Hansen's would probably make a few people late to work on Monday.

 

[DaveStPaul]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

So far the general media analysis for this region is:
1) North Dakota is on fire;
2) Minnesota won the tough WCHA and is looking to avenge their 3rd period meltdown;
3) Western Michigan is also peaking at the right time / coming on strong to win the CCHA;
and
4) You never discount a program like Boston University.

I really don't like being the team where they have to say, "Not much to say, Bob, but you can never count them out!"

 

[goldy_331]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

It certainly is possible that the Gophers could lose. They have shown a penchant for somehow being terrible in the first game of a series and then rebounding on Saturday night. Well....there is no more Saturday night. They need to show up or they will go home. WMU has been streaky this season, but they could surprise a team....certainly if UND is looking ahead. Dell is playing really well right now. Hopefully (for the pride of the WCHA) we will all get the rematch that would be fun to see, but BU and WMU are no slouches.

I heard the Gophs are going to scrimmage the State Champion Edina Bantam A team at Ridder on Friday night just to get the Friday night problems out of the way and prepare for a good game on Saturday with BU.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

The Hansen reputation is known far and wide. Probably somewhere on par with the Adam, Shepherd(s), Anderson, Thul reputation in the WCHA. I thought that Benedetto was one of the higher ranking officials in HE. Wrong?

He is, but he has his games where he'll call everything under the sun and blatantly ignore certain rules. For instance, in the QFs between Maine and Merrimack, he called 50 total penalties in one game, a new HE record. While it certainly was a physical game, about half of those calls were unnecessary. More unnerving, Joey Diamond was called TWICE for facemasking, which very clearly by rule is an automatic game DQ and one game suspension. He was not even thrown out of the game after the first call, only given five, and only received a 5 and game misconduct after the second one, and subsequently was not suspended. Those who were covering the game, both on TV and on Twitter were absolutely baffled at how this could have played out.

 

[gopheritall]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

So far the general media analysis for this region is:
1) North Dakota is on fire;
2) Minnesota won the tough WCHA and is looking to avenge their 3rd period meltdown;
3) Western Michigan is also peaking at the right time / coming on strong to win the CCHA;
and
4) You never discount a program like Boston University.

I really don't like being the team where they have to say, "Not much to say, Bob, but you can never count them out!"

If it makes you feel any better that was what they said about the Whioux before the WCHA tournament. In addition to the part about them being thugs and sucking.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

I heard the Gophs are going to scrimmage the State Champion Edina Bantam A team at Ridder on Friday night just to get the Friday night problems out of the way and prepare for a good game on Saturday with BU.

Nice!

I just hope the Edina Bantams win Friday so the Gophers can play like they usually do on Saturdays.

 

[chickod]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

The Hansen reputation is known far and wide. Probably somewhere on par with the Adam, Shepherd(s), Anderson, Thul reputation in the WCHA. I thought that Benedetto was one of the higher ranking officials in HE. Wrong?

Depends how you define "higher ranking." He does a lot of big games (as does Bunyon, Gravellese, etc.) but that doesn't mean he is one of the "better" officials (if you get my meaning...)

 

[Driftryder]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

The Hansen reputation is known far and wide. Probably somewhere on par with the Adam, Shepherd(s), Anderson, Thul reputation in the WCHA. I thought that Benedetto was one of the higher ranking officials in HE. Wrong?

Wonder what region will be "lucky" enough to get that bunch...

 

[J.D.]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

He is, but he has his games where he'll call everything under the sun and blatantly ignore certain rules. For instance, in the QFs between Maine and Merrimack, he called 50 total penalties in one game, a new HE record. While it certainly was a physical game, about half of those calls were unnecessary. More unnerving, Joey Diamond was called TWICE for facemasking, which very clearly by rule is an automatic game DQ and one game suspension. He was not even thrown out of the game after the first call, only given five, and only received a 5 and game misconduct after the second one, and subsequently was not suspended. Those who were covering the game, both on TV and on Twitter were absolutely baffled at how this could have played out.

More concerning would be the commissioner of the league doing absolutely nothing about it after the fact.

One of my favorite Hockey East gems was on display in the HE title game...only calling a crease violation when that team is on a PP.

 

[Gphrpkhead]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

I guess by higher ranking, I had heard that he was always one of the higher ranked officials in coaches polls. However, I know that some of the officials in the WCHA are higher ranked officials, but that doesn't mean they are well respected. That could have been the difference. I certainly don't want to knock officials in conferences I don't know well. I have heard about Gravellese and I know reports are that he has some solid games and some not so great ones (could probably be said about any official). I do not know Bunyon.

Depends how you define "higher ranking." He does a lot of big games (as does Bunyon, Gravellese, etc.) but that doesn't mean he is one of the "better" officials (if you get my meaning...)

 

[J.D.]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Bunyon is easily my least favorite HE official.

 

[Gphrpkhead]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Derek Shepherd and Marco Hunt are crew #1 in the WCHA so I am sure they will be somewhere. They aren't ridiculously bad especially since Shep has seemed to mellow out with age and shown some maturity. For the rest of the crews we would send......CRIPES.....have fun with those guys whatever regional you are in!

Wonder what region will be "lucky" enough to get that bunch...

 

[MavHockey14]

Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Well this thread went down the tubes quickly..

Is it Saturday yet?