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2015 WCHA Offseason

gfmorris

gfmorris

New member
ST. PAUL, MINN. — WCHA Commissioner Bill Robertson declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday after the New York Islanders signed Minnesota State junior goaltender Stephon Williams (Fairbanks, Alaska).

"They just can't keep taking our goaltenders," Robertson said. "They've already got 20% of the league's starters, including the league's second-team and third-team goaltenders. This aggression will not stand, man." Williams's signing follows that of Ferris State senior goaltender CJ Motte.

The Michigan Army National Guard quickly secured the borders to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and cancelled all flights in and out of UP airports. Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson was grateful. "I don't know what we'd do if we lost Jamie [Phillips] a year after losing Pheonix [Copley]. If they send a linesman Jamie's way with a contract, I've told Watson that he can beat the guy senseless." Northern Michigan goaltender Mathias Dahlström and Lake Superior netminder Gordon Defiel were each being held in an undisclosed location.

Alabama-Huntsville and Bemidji State got help with their common military connection at the Air Force Academy. "I called Bert up down in Colorado Springs, and they got NORAD to secure things while they scrambled F-15s," Tom "Ernie" Serratore said. "We've got [Michael] Bitzer lashed to the Paul Bunyan statue, and [freshman defenseman Jay] Dickman is there with him to bring him food and homework. We figured the kid was rested after not playing all year, and he's our biggest kid."

The Chargers also received air support while they transported sophomore goaltender Carmine Guerriero to the US Army's Redstone Arsenal, where a phone call from US Senator Richard Shelby "encouraged" garrison commander COL Bill Marks to house the Canadian. "It's a **** weird request, but BRAC was very good to us."

Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron wasn't overly concerned. "I knew that this was coming," Bergeron said, "and that's why I played all three guys at varying points during the season."

Neither Alaska coach Dallas Ferguson or Alaska-Anchorage coach Matt Thomas seemed concerned. "[Garth] Snow has enough college goalies right now, and we had problems keeping guys in the lineup this year. Besides, we can just send them out on a fishing boat for the summer."

Rick DiPietro was unavailable for comment.

-30-

;;;;;

GFM
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

gfmorris said:
ST. PAUL, MINN. — WCHA Commissioner Bill Robertson declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday after the New York Islanders signed Minnesota State junior goaltender Stephon Williams (Fairbanks, Alaska).

"They just can't keep taking our goaltenders," Robertson said. "They've already got 20% of the league's starters, including the league's second-team and third-team goaltenders. This aggression will not stand, man." Williams's signing follows that of Ferris State senior goaltender CJ Motte.

The Michigan Army National Guard quickly secured the borders to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and cancelled all flights in and out of UP airports. Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson was grateful. "I don't know what we'd do if we lost Jamie [Phillips] a year after losing Pheonix [Copley]. If they send a linesman Jamie's way with a contract, I've told Watson that he can beat the guy senseless." Northern Michigan goaltender Mathias Dahlström and Lake Superior netminder Gordon Defiel were each being held in an undisclosed location.

Alabama-Huntsville and Bemidji State got help with their common military connection at the Air Force Academy. "I called Bert up down in Colorado Springs, and they got NORAD to secure things while they scrambled F-15s," Tom "Ernie" Serratore said. "We've got [Michael] Bitzer lashed to the Paul Bunyan statue, and [freshman defenseman Jay] Dickman is there with him to bring him food and homework. We figured the kid was rested after not playing all year, and he's our biggest kid."

The Chargers also received air support while they transported sophomore goaltender Carmine Guerriero to the US Army's Redstone Arsenal, where a phone call from US Senator Richard Shelby "encouraged" garrison commander COL Bill Marks to house the Canadian. "It's a **** weird request, but BRAC was very good to us."

Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron wasn't overly concerned. "I knew that this was coming," Bergeron said, "and that's why I played all three guys at varying points during the season."

Neither Alaska coach Dallas Ferguson or Alaska-Anchorage coach Matt Thomas seemed concerned. "[Garth] Snow has enough college goalies right now, and we had problems keeping guys in the lineup this year. Besides, we can just send them out on a fishing boat for the summer."

Rick DiPietro was unavailable for comment.

-30-

;;;;;

GFM
Click to expand...

Just a thought, you ever think of writing a novel? This is a good read!
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

gfmorris said:
ST. PAUL, MINN. — WCHA Commissioner Bill Robertson declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday after the New York Islanders signed Minnesota State junior goaltender Stephon Williams (Fairbanks, Alaska).

"They just can't keep taking our goaltenders," Robertson said. "They've already got 20% of the league's starters, including the league's second-team and third-team goaltenders. This aggression will not stand, man." Williams's signing follows that of Ferris State senior goaltender CJ Motte.

The Michigan Army National Guard quickly secured the borders to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and cancelled all flights in and out of UP airports. Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson was grateful. "I don't know what we'd do if we lost Jamie [Phillips] a year after losing Pheonix [Copley]. If they send a linesman Jamie's way with a contract, I've told Watson that he can beat the guy senseless." Northern Michigan goaltender Mathias Dahlström and Lake Superior netminder Gordon Defiel were each being held in an undisclosed location.

Alabama-Huntsville and Bemidji State got help with their common military connection at the Air Force Academy. "I called Bert up down in Colorado Springs, and they got NORAD to secure things while they scrambled F-15s," Tom "Ernie" Serratore said. "We've got [Michael] Bitzer lashed to the Paul Bunyan statue, and [freshman defenseman Jay] Dickman is there with him to bring him food and homework. We figured the kid was rested after not playing all year, and he's our biggest kid."

The Chargers also received air support while they transported sophomore goaltender Carmine Guerriero to the US Army's Redstone Arsenal, where a phone call from US Senator Richard Shelby "encouraged" garrison commander COL Bill Marks to house the Canadian. "It's a **** weird request, but BRAC was very good to us."

Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron wasn't overly concerned. "I knew that this was coming," Bergeron said, "and that's why I played all three guys at varying points during the season."

Neither Alaska coach Dallas Ferguson or Alaska-Anchorage coach Matt Thomas seemed concerned. "[Garth] Snow has enough college goalies right now, and we had problems keeping guys in the lineup this year. Besides, we can just send them out on a fishing boat for the summer."

Rick DiPietro was unavailable for comment.

-30-

;;;;;

GFM
Click to expand...

Thanks for the laugh this morning! :)
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

Pure Mel said:
Just a thought, you ever think of writing a novel? This is a good read!
Click to expand...

No, I'm not a long-form writer. I get distracted too easily. This was just an idea that I had at my desk yesterday. Working on a military installation with access to NASA Critical Infrastructure makes you think about these things. There are four UAH hockey fans/alumni in the cadre of the Payload Operations Integration Facility, and we'd keep Carmine safe for sure. ;)

GFM
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

I wonder how the league is doing financially. I believe the WCHA tv revenues were higher than last year and the final 5 did fairly well. Anyone have information?
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

manurespreader said:
I wonder how the league is doing financially. I believe the WCHA tv revenues were higher than last year and the final 5 did fairly well. Anyone have information?
Click to expand...

Not sure about the league, but some of the WCHA schools aren't doing too well.

There is a website that lists all of the US colleges who are in financial trouble. Mankato and Bemidji are on the list.

Brown, Holy Cross, and St. Cloud also made the list.

https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...-3-1-2015.html
 
Suze said:
Not sure about the league, but some of the WCHA schools aren't doing too well.

There is a website that lists all of the US colleges who are in financial trouble. Mankato and Bemidji are on the list.

Brown, Holy Cross, and St. Cloud also made the list.

https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...-3-1-2015.html
Click to expand...

I wouldn't put much faith in that. I know MSU was on the list one year just for late reporting, them and almost every other college in MN. MSU enrollments are higher then ever, the city itself is growing like a weed. I think you'll see MSU average attendance keep going up as people adjust to the new wcha plus youth hockey had never been more popular in SW Minnesota. I know of 4 families adding season tickets next year. So I think things will continue to improve in that regards
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

Suze said:
Not sure about the league, but some of the WCHA schools aren't doing too well.

There is a website that lists all of the US colleges who are in financial trouble. Mankato and Bemidji are on the list.

Brown, Holy Cross, and St. Cloud also made the list.

https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...-3-1-2015.html
Click to expand...

thanks, but bad link.

edit: here's another one: http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1698835/heightened-cash-monitoring-institutions-list-3.pdf

Bemidji, Mankato, and St. Cloud are on the list for "Audit Late/Missing".
 
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Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

Suze said:
Not sure about the league, but some of the WCHA schools aren't doing too well.

There is a website that lists all of the US colleges who are in financial trouble. Mankato and Bemidji are on the list.

Brown, Holy Cross, and St. Cloud also made the list.

https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...-3-1-2015.html
Click to expand...

Brown and Holy Cross,? I bet they have endowments in the top 5% of all american schools. Not to disagree that some teams and some schools, and not in our league necessarily, are struggling, but it seemed to me that this year hockey did a lot better for them than last year did.

For instance, in Boston it used to be that College Hockey got a nice article on page 3 of the sports section of the globe, during the ncaa's, but this year, not only did BU get almost a full front page last week, but the St Cloud/ Tech game got 10 or 15 column inches. So I think College hockey in general is doing better. And in particular our league did better.
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

@OTBPuckWatch: Twin brothers Jonah and Nathan Renouf, freshmen Fwds at Quinnipiac, will be at UAA next season. Prolific scorers in Jr. prior to Qpac (0GP).
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

I know a lot of teams are struggling with non con schedules going forward. The b1g teams all seem to think they deserve 2 for 1's, apparently HE either doesn't want to come here or if we go there they get a big advantage with the terrible refereeing, to the point that many of our coaches aren't interested in scheduling them any longer.
I think NCHC teams would give you 1 for 1, but honestly a lot of them are flights, and if we are going to fly we might as well go to the ecac.

Seems to me the league needs to set something up so that we can get an equal number of home non con games, or at least get neutral site games.
There are just so many teams that want to schedule the b1g that for now at least, they are in the drivers seat. Except for wisconsin of course.
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

manurespreader said:
I know a lot of teams are struggling with non con schedules going forward. The b1g teams all seem to think they deserve 2 for 1's, apparently HE either doesn't want to come here or if we go there they get a big advantage with the terrible refereeing, to the point that many of our coaches aren't interested in scheduling them any longer.
I think NCHC teams would give you 1 for 1, but honestly a lot of them are flights, and if we are going to fly we might as well go to the ecac.

Seems to me the league needs to set something up so that we can get an equal number of home non con games, or at least get neutral site games.
There are just so many teams that want to schedule the b1g that for now at least, they are in the drivers seat. Except for wisconsin of course.
Click to expand...

We shouldn't be scheduling the BIG so much, its akin to having multiple series a year against Atlantic Hockey teams. PWR killers.
 
bigblue_dl said:
We shouldn't be scheduling the BIG so much, its akin to having multiple series a year against Atlantic Hockey teams. PWR killers.
Click to expand...

Some numbers to ponder...

WCHA
Non-Conference record: 30-29-9 (68 games; Win Percentage: 51%)
NC games against teams with winning records: 39 (57% of NC games)
NC record against winning records: 15-20-4 (Win Percentage: 43%)
NC games played on home ice: 17 (25%)

NCHC
Non-Conference record: 53-25-4 (82 games; Win Percentage: 68%)
NC games against teams with winning records: 38 (46% of NC games)
NC record against winning records: 19-19-0 (Win Percentage: 50%)
NC games played on home ice: 39 (48%)

Less than half of their NC games were against winning record opponents and almost half of their NC games were on home ice versus our schedule of over half of the NC games against winning record teams and only a quarter of NC games on home ice. The big difference is our lower win percentage.

I haven't looked at the other conferences.

I'm not taking anything away from the NCHC because in the end you still need to perform on the ice, but they have definitely set themselves up for 6 teams in the NCAA.

Small conference = more NC games
Schedule extra games against weaker opponents
Make them come to your barn
Beat the teams you should beat (again have to give credit here) and split against the above 0.500 teams.

Not sure it's games against B1G that's the issue as much as it is winning the games you should.
 
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Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

Superfly100 said:
Some numbers to ponder...

WCHA
Non-Conference record: 30-29-9 (68 games; Win Percentage: 51%)
NC games against teams with winning records: 39 (57% of NC games)
NC record against winning records: 15-20-4 (Win Percentage: 43%)
NC games played on home ice: 17 (25%)

NCHC
Non-Conference record: 53-25-4 (82 games; Win Percentage: 68%)
NC games against teams with winning records: 38 (46% of NC games)
NC record against winning records: 19-19-0 (Win Percentage: 50%)
NC games played on home ice: 39 (48%)

Less than half of their NC games were against winning record opponents and almost half of their NC games were on home ice versus our schedule of over half of the NC games against winning record teams and only a quarter of NC games on home ice. The big difference is our lower win percentage.

I haven't looked at the other conferences.

I'm not taking anything away from the NCHC because in the end you still need to perform on the ice, but they have definitely set themselves up for 6 teams in the NCAA.

Small conference = more NC games
Schedule extra games against weaker opponents
Make them come to your barn
Beat the teams you should beat (again have to give credit here) and split against the above 0.500 teams.

Not sure it's games against B1G that's the issue as much as it is winning the games you should.
Click to expand...

Looks like a great league to be in to increase your NCAA chances!
 
Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

Pure Mel said:
Looks like a great league to be in to increase your NCAA chances!
Click to expand...

For sure...

Can't deny the fact that they put W's in the win column, but it sure must be nice to play a weaker NC schedule, play that weaker NC schedule on home ice, and then declare yourself the superior conference because you now control PWR and put 6 teams in the NCAA.
 
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Re: 2015 WCHA Offseason

I don't know how many people took the time to watch the PC presser but Leaman was asked about getting into the tournament and he said it was harder to get in now, since, and he frowned, and then said as politically correctly as he could. " There's a lot more non traditional teams getting in now"

Is it just me, or was this a slap in the face? Because I certainly consider it one.

Or then you get the Hak's presser last week, where a woman asked a question and his answer was, who let her in here.Brutal.
 
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