2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

I wouldn't worry about it. Minnesota fan can't grasp what it's like to have more than one relevant program.

Truth.

*sigh*

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

I'm having one regret the morning after. I wish we would have talked more hockey with the Michigan fans. Now it may be we won't get a chance to talk any more hockey until next year.

Tough game for them. Time to wait because it looks like a long list of things need to fall into place for MI to get a bid.

 

[UND92UMNLaw99]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

Sorry that I was a bit harsh in my assessment, but yeah that seems to be how it is right now with Michigan hockey. Gopher fans do appreciate the individual talent on the Wolverines though .. and that they skate and don't play boring hockey, ala Wisconsin and MSU. There's an individualistic style of play at Michigan right now, or at least that's what we're seeing on the ice. There seems to be no system, there's alot of sloppiness, and the great individual talent consequently isn't producing wins as consistently as it should. You can play as a team and play a system and still be going up and down the ice and using your skill - that's what Minnesota and BC do.

Pretty much except that Hockey has a great history and team despite not SHOWING IT on the ice.

Hockey was always #2 with me and I would say #2 on campus. That all changed in 2012-13. Basketball rising quickly took over here.

If Hockey didn't steadily decline, they would still a very close #3.

Also: I'd like to point out that Michigan beat every single team you mentioned this season.

 

[gopher wes]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

I'm having one regret the morning after. I wish we would have talked more hockey with the Michigan fans. Now it may be we won't get a chance to talk any more hockey until next year.

Tough game for them. Time to wait because it looks like a long list of things need to fall into place for MI to get a bid.

It's a real shame isn't it?

 

[MGoBlueHockey]

I'm having one regret the morning after. I wish we would have talked more hockey with the Michigan fans. Now it may be we won't get a chance to talk any more hockey until next year.

Tough game for them. Time to wait because it looks like a long list of things need to fall into place for MI to get a bid.

Oh there's plenty of time.

Michigan is gonna pull a Yale and win it as the 15 overall.

I wish I could believe what I just typed.

 

[minnesotaprideonice46]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

Hasn't the NCAA Basketball tourney always been at conference tourney time in the past? I think the conference tourneys are going to make people realize what a great thing we had with the WCHA Final Five.

The NCAA Basketball tourney has run the same time as the old WCHA Final Five, and yet the crowds were always there. I think it will be interesting to see what the crowd is like for the Minnesota/Ohio State game tonight. Hopefully we (read "the Gophers") can get the building rocking!!
Ski-u-mah

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

The NCAA Basketball tourney has run the same time as the old WCHA Final Five, and yet the crowds were always there. I think it will be interesting to see what the crowd is like for the Minnesota/Ohio State game tonight. Hopefully we (read "the Gophers") can get the building rocking!!
Ski-u-mah

I realize that I'm pointing out the obvious here, but the Final Five was a draw because you had fans from so many schools within just a few hours drive. In addition, there are probably a lot of alumni who reside in the Twin Cities area. It was a big almost family reunion kind of thing.

SCSU, Mankato, tUMD, NoDak, Wisconsin and of course the Gophers. Even Houghton isn't that far.

Imo, the B1G Tourney will never, ever get anywhere close to what the Final Five was. Nobody went to the CCHA tourney even when Michigan was in the final. Who thinks that those fans are going to travel all the way to St. Paul for something they wouldn't even drive to Detroit for?

It will never happen.

Hope I'm wrong... but I'm not.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

I realize that I'm pointing out the obvious here, but the Final Five was a draw because you had fans from so many schools within just a few hours drive. In addition, there are probably a lot of alumni who reside in the Twin Cities area. It was a big almost family reunion kind of thing.

SCSU, Mankato, tUMD, NoDak, Wisconsin and of course the Gophers. Even Houghton isn't that far.

Imo, the B1G Tourney will never, ever get anywhere close to what the Final Five was. Nobody went to the CCHA tourney even when Michigan was in the final. Who thinks that those fans are going to travel all the way to St. Paul for something they wouldn't even drive to Detroit for?

It will never happen.

Hope I'm wrong... but I'm not.

I have to agree with my misguided red friend friom the east.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

I have to agree with my misguided red friend friom the east.

I also agree. That's one of about 6,000 reason I thought Alvarez had lost his mind when he wanted to go Big 10 with hockey. It effectively destroyed the conference tournament which was one of the best hockey tournaments on the planet. Now it's just another Mariucci Classic.

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

So is there a chance the WCHA tourney could outdraw the B1G in total attendance for the weekend? No chance for the NaCHos.

 

[purpleinnebraska]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

So is there a chance the WCHA tourney could outdraw the B1G in total attendance for the weekend? No chance for the NaCHos.

No chance for the WCHA to outdraw the B1G in any scenario, but if Kato and UAA win today, the WCHA attendance tomorrow could have fewer people than one of those "Framily" commercials.

 

[firstpusk]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

I also agree. That's one of about 6,000 reason I thought Alvarez had lost his mind when he wanted to go Big 10 with hockey. It effectively destroyed the conference tournament which was one of the best hockey tournaments on the planet. Now it's just another Mariucci Classic.

I think we can all agree that Barry is the anti-hockey and the embodiment of all that is evil on the earth.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I wouldn't worry about it. Minnesota fan can't grasp what it's like to have more than one relevant program.

Truth.

On a football or basketball forum, that might carry a bit more weight.

Sounds like you've got "looking up at us in the standings" syndrome

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

I think we can all agree that Barry is the anti-hockey and the embodiment of all that is evil on the earth.

You can take out the hockey aspects and there's still a boatload to hate in that arrogant clown.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

Conference sites, like they had originally planned, would work much better. Or as others have said, make the 3-6 seeds do a best of three series and then have a four-team tournament.

They can barely get the Big Ten basketball touranment to have high attendance (though I'm sure the ticket sales outnumber actual attendees) and that's with fans of 12 teams, whose arenas are about 80% capacity of what Bankers Life/United Center hold, coming to a central location. Now they want to have fans of six teams, whose arenas have 33%-50% capacity of Xcel, to fill it up for three days on the western edge of the conference map? It was doomed to fail from the beginning unless they're banking on Wisconsin and Minnesota making the finals every year (which they might be).

Joe Louis will either be far worse or slightly better next year depending on how far MSU/UM make it, or when they play.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I also agree. That's one of about 6,000 reason I thought Alvarez had lost his mind when he wanted to go Big 10 with hockey. It effectively destroyed the conference tournament which was one of the best hockey tournaments on the planet. Now it's just another Mariucci Classic.

Miss the Final Five already

 

[owslachief]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

You guys watched the final Red Berenson-coached game.

When Michigan doesn't make the tournament on Sunday, I expect either the next day or a week from Monday there will be a Red Berenson retirement press conference.

Sad to send him out like this. At least he won his last home game.

Meh. Last season broke a 23?-year run, this season marks a new year/league/tournament format, having to face U-M-St. Paul & Wiscy 8 times combined, so not an easy transition. My thought was he'll bow out after the 2014-15 season if somehow he goes 3 consecutive without making NCAA's.

 

[JF_Gophers]

I wouldn't worry about it. Minnesota fan can't grasp what it's like to have more than one relevant program.

Truth.

hey now, we are relevant in several sports just not the big name ones.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

Sorry that I was a bit harsh in my assessment, but yeah that seems to be how it is right now with Michigan hockey. Gopher fans do appreciate the individual talent on the Wolverines though .. and that they skate and don't play boring hockey, ala Wisconsin and MSU. There's an individualistic style of play at Michigan right now, or at least that's what we're seeing on the ice. There seems to be no system, there's alot of sloppiness, and the great individual talent consequently isn't producing wins as consistently as it should. You can play as a team and play a system and still be going up and down the ice and using your skill - that's what Minnesota and BC do.

Definitely too harsh. The team just did probably get knocked out for the year. Don't think we'd be feeling that great if that happened.

Unfortunately I think it comes back to Red. It was my opinion in 2003 that MI would not win another NC with Red at the helm. I just think his time has passed. You look at the efforts that Blais, Motzko and Hastings are putting in with a fraction of the program that MI has...and it screams opportunity for MI to make a change. Regardless, I'll be happy when it happens. The B1G needs a strong MI program for us or other nonconference opponents to hate.

I realize that I'm pointing out the obvious here, but the Final Five was a draw because you had fans from so many schools within just a few hours drive. In addition, there are probably a lot of alumni who reside in the Twin Cities area. It was a big almost family reunion kind of thing.

SCSU, Mankato, tUMD, NoDak, Wisconsin and of course the Gophers. Even Houghton isn't that far.

Imo, the B1G Tourney will never, ever get anywhere close to what the Final Five was. Nobody went to the CCHA tourney even when Michigan was in the final. Who thinks that those fans are going to travel all the way to St. Paul for something they wouldn't even drive to Detroit for?

It will never happen.

Hope I'm wrong... but I'm not.

No, you're not. I had my suspicions that it could be a great tourney (and it will be in some ways). But not attendance. Everything was spot on mentioned above about these teams being a few hours away. Then couple that with the fact that all these fans usually visit the twin cities several times a year anyways...I don't think there's anyone in Columbus that was going to visit the twin cities this year 'anyways'.

 

[SanTropez]

Re: 2014 Inaugural Big Ten Hockey Tournament 3/20 - 3/22

I'm just glad I don't have to watch a Gopher vs MSU match up tonight, they are as bad as watching the Badgers play. Slow boring trap blah, at least Ohio State likes to skate a little and has some speed.

Go Gophers!