2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

[The Rube]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

TUSCHWI, keep looking. I booked a hotel near campus, because I'm also visiting my niece, but I don't think it's accurate to say that "most" hotels require advance payment and don't refund for cancellations. In fact, during the time when I spent a lot of time in hotels, I very rarely paid in advance, and I would never ever stay in a hotel that didn't allow me to cancel. That would be a terrible policy, especially during a time when they know that they will be full regardless of cancellations.

For the record, this was in my confirmation notice for the Crowne Plaza (and I know the Holiday Inn across the street from the X has the same policy):

Canceling your reservation or failing to arrive will result in forfeiture of your deposit. [the deposit = the cost of your stay]


Double-dipping. Knowing that they will fill up is exactly why they have this policy.

Edit: I know a couple people in the hotel business, and when it's a special event, all bets are off. Hence why I can't get a discount via those friends, and why policies like this are in place.

 

[NUCC93]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

Yes, the Final Five as we know it is coming to an end. It is without a doubt the best college hockey tourament out there. It is so much more fun to attend because of the location, and proximity to massive fan bases. The only thing that will be the same about the Final Five, will be the name. Other than that, after this year, it will not even be close to the same thing. I have attended for 11 straight years, and I will probably never go again after this year. I would expect many season ticket holders will do the same. I hate to admit it but, North Dakota and Minnesota fans made this tournament what it is, and without them there, I won't go. I am not going to spend that much money to attend a tournament that maybe will fill 1/4 of the X.

If that's what does it, then wouldn't the HE tournament be better since all of the teams are within 6 hours of the venue?

With that being said, after reading through the comments, it does sound like a good time. Too bad I'm not a fan of one of the teams in the WCHA (I follow DU by default 'cause I live in Denver now) 'cause I'd probably be into it more.

 

[The Rube]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

If that's what does it, then wouldn't the HE tournament be better since all of the teams are within 6 hours of the venue?

With that being said, after reading through the comments, it does sound like a good time. Too bad I'm not a fan of one of the teams in the WCHA (I follow DU by default 'cause I live in Denver now) 'cause I'd probably be into it more.

The F5 is awesome. This is THE event. We had some easterners out here for it (and the regionals, and F4) and they were impressed. The tailgating, the atmosphere, the social life ("see those outdoor tables and it's 40 degrees out?" "Yeah." "No heating lamps." "What the hell?!") You haven't experienced anything until a Final Five. This is in addition to the game atmosphere. We ARE the State Of Hockey. Dedicated, frantic, rabid, whatever you want to say to describe us....it's crazy. We're crazy.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

So the first round is set:
1) SCSU vs 12) UAA
2) MIN vs 11) BSU
3) UND vs 10) MTU
4) WIS vs 9) UMD
5) DU vs 8) CC
6) MSU vs 7) UNO

It's exciting to see we'll have only one Colorado School at the Final Five and we're guaranteed to have a Maverick for the first time since the WCHA expanded to 12 teams. Very good chance of having almost the optimal Final Five from a fan perspective. We'll see how it shakes out next week. As I saw Almington post in another thread. Other than 1 vs 12 and 2 vs 11, I could see any of the other teams end up in St Paul depending on which team shows up and lucky bounces here or there.

I'm sorry, I just don't see any real chance for upsets of the 1-4 seeds in this one. Not that I wouldn't love to see Tech or UMD pull one off, I just don't think it can happen in a 3 game series. Seeds 5 and 6 are closer to toss-ups this year, although I would still pick the higher seed in each.

 

[Dirty]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

I'd say CC beating DU or UMD beating Wisconsin are more likely than UNO beating Mankato. UNO has absolutely fallen apart.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

I'd say CC beating DU or UMD beating Wisconsin are more likely than UNO beating Mankato. UNO has absolutely fallen apart.

That is true. That can happen when you don't have a quality coach behind the bench.

 

[Dirty]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

That is true. That can happen when you don't have a quality coach behind the bench.

Indeed. When you attend and play for such a low quality college as he did, it can't come as a surprise and really should be expected. His previously sterling reputation was obviously just pure luck based on the school he was fortunate enough to become the coach of.

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

That is true. That can happen when you don't have a quality coach behind the bench.

Maybe the mascot for the team he's coaching isn't hostile and abusive enough. He needed that as motivation to keep him going.

 

[icehawk]

Indeed. When you attend and play for such a low quality college as he did, it can't come as a surprise and really should be expected. His previously sterling reputation was obviously just pure luck based on the school he was fortunate enough to become the coach of.

Oh how true Dirty.

 

[icehawk]

I'd say CC beating DU or UMD beating Wisconsin are more likely than UNO beating Mankato. UNO has absolutely fallen apart.

UNO is in such a funk right now I'd be surprised if they won a game let alone win the series.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

UNO is in such a funk right now I'd be surprised if they won a game let alone win the series.

Goaltending has been their biggest issue. If one of their tenders comes out and plays well, they have the offense to skate with anyone. They are actually the away team that would worry me the most as a 1st round opponent.

That being said, I don't expect their goalie(s) to flip the switch. But you just never know with that position.

 

[icehawk]

Goaltending has been their biggest issue. If one of their tenders comes out and plays well, they have the offense to skate with anyone. They are actually the away team that would worry me the most as a 1st round opponent.

That being said, I don't expect their goalie(s) to flip the switch. But you just never know with that position.

I agree but with that said any goalie can steal any of these series if they get hot. Like you said though I just don't see UNO doing it but I've seen stranger things.

 

[Biddco]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

Goaltending has been their biggest issue. If one of their tenders comes out and plays well, they have the offense to skate with anyone. They are actually the away team that would worry me the most as a 1st round opponent.

That being said, I don't expect their goalie(s) to flip the switch. But you just never know with that position.

If you saw them play against Wisconsin or UMD you probably wouldn't be saying this.

 

[goldy_331]

Indeed. When you attend and play for such a low quality college as he did, it can't come as a surprise and really should be expected. His previously sterling reputation was obviously just pure luck based on the school he was fortunate enough to become the coach of.

No, no. You got the sequence all backwards as usual. He came into GF as agreat person and coach as evidenced by him turning that moribund program around winning NTs. But the hostile and abusive atmosphere ruined him for good.

 

[duper]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

For the record, this was in my confirmation notice for the Crowne Plaza (and I know the Holiday Inn across the street from the X has the same policy):

Canceling your reservation or failing to arrive will result in forfeiture of your deposit. [the deposit = the cost of your stay]


Double-dipping. Knowing that they will fill up is exactly why they have this policy.

Edit: I know a couple people in the hotel business, and when it's a special event, all bets are off. Hence why I can't get a discount via those friends, and why policies like this are in place.

Interesting. I rarely pay for hotels in advance. I have had too many trips that got canceled at the last minute.

 

[Strictly_Business]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

Alright, once again I crunched numbers for everyone to enjoy, or not to enjoy if your team sucks.

WCHA Player/Team Leader Stats in March -> http://umdbulldogcountry.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-road-to-final-five-wcha-statistics.html

First Round Statistical Previews for Every Team -> http://umdbulldogcountry.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-road-to-final-five-first-round.html

If you do find a mistake, lemme know, but most everything should be correct.

Enjoy.

 

[UnWanted22]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

I have been at the WCHA Final 5 for 25 straight years. My group and fellow Final 5ers I know will not be attending after this year. I can not justify spending that much money when my team will never be there.

 

[Tipsy McStagger]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

Alright, once again I crunched numbers for everyone to enjoy, or not to enjoy if your team sucks.

WCHA Player/Team Leader Stats in March -> http://umdbulldogcountry.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-road-to-final-five-wcha-statistics.html

First Round Statistical Previews for Every Team -> http://umdbulldogcountry.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-road-to-final-five-first-round.html

If you do find a mistake, lemme know, but most everything should be correct.

Enjoy.

Haha. Great picture for the UMD/Wisconsin series.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

I'd say CC beating DU or UMD beating Wisconsin are more likely

What a Dirty thing to say.

 

[Biddco]

Re: 2013 WCHA Final Five: end of hockey's great tournament

Haha. Great picture for the UMD/Wisconsin series.

I cannot recall if we scored on that play or not...but either way it is super funny. Is that the vaunted Wisconsin Trap we've been hearing so much about?