2017 National Championship Thread

[UCBadger]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

Anyone who doesn't attend a Final Four in their own home town, regardless of the reasons, is not a true hockey fan.

Well, I was there for all three games....including paying again to get back in after going home to get my wife after work for the 2nd Friday game.

Edit: I think a lot of college/local folks thought the tickets were kind of pricey.

 

[Birdwatcher]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

Well, I was there for all three games....including paying again to get back in after going home to get my wife after work for the 2nd Friday game.

Edit: I think a lot of college/local folks thought the tickets were kind of pricey.

Pricey ?

We went to a NYS High School boys quarter final hockey game and it was $7.00 per ticket. That seems pricey !

 

[Old Rook NU'66]

Indeed. Nevin Lawler 2.0

I compared Will Pelltier to Keith Accoin to a couple of members of this years team and one kid referred to Pelltier as "Accoin 2.0" as well. Both great players for sure...Will has such awesome speed and besides being a great scoring threat...is a great playmaker. Actually I was worried about him when he came back...because he never backs down and made some solid hits including the Castleton game.

Accoin was just as equal to the task. But at my age with a fading memory...I can still see Accoin not going through a defensive pair...but jumping their sticks with the puck and putting it in the back net past a dazed goalie. That pair would make my All Star line any day...along with Pier Oliver Coutnier. Three NU greats for sure.

Now it's time for the Red Sox... And just imagine if they won another series...then between the Pats...the Cadets...and the Sox...I'd have hit the trifecta.

 

[jerrynu26]

I compared Will Pelltier to Keith Accoin to a couple of members of this years team and one kid referred to Pelltier as "Accoin 2.0" as well. Both great players for sure...Will has such awesome speed and besides being a great scoring threat...is a great playmaker. Actually I was worried about him when he came back...because he never backs down and made some solid hits including the Castleton game.

Accoin was just as equal to the task. But at my age with a fading memory...I can still see Accoin not going through a defensive pair...but jumping their sticks with the puck and putting it in the back net past a dazed goalie. That pair would make my All Star line any day...along with Pier Oliver Coutnier. Three NU greats for sure.

Now it's time for the Red Sox... And just imagine if they won another series...then between the Pats...the Cadets...and the Sox...I'd have hit the trifecta.

Aucoin

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

Pricey ?

We went to a NYS High School boys quarter final hockey game and it was $7.00 per ticket. That seems pricey !

When you can watch a Utica Comets game cheaper, its pricey. On top of that the Comets were also away both Friday and Saturday which draws some fans since it was just in Albany and Syracuse.

The D1 Regional Finals in Ohio (Denver vs Penn State) was at 3300, and I'd say only about 1/2 - 2/3 of that is accurate. After watching a lot of the Regionals, attendance was dismal. They apparently have the Elmira syndrome where they inflate their attendance numbers.

On top of that, when you only have 1 school averaging above 900 fans, this is what you get. You CAN NOT bring this back to school sites. You might as well start a lottery for tickets now. Had this been at Norwich, and if Plattsburgh, Oswego, or UWSP made the dance....it would have been 7 deep on the rails since Norwich normally only gives you standing room tickets anyways. I'm not worried about me as a fan, but parents and family of the athletes deserve to not "worry" about a ticket. If the DI regionals can play in an empty arena, let DIII. With all due respect. Outside of Utica, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Norwich, Geneseo, and UWSP.....teams are use to playing at home in an empty barn the majority of the season.

The easy fix, like we've said for years, is combine the Men's and Women's DIII Championship. And I'm sorry but $25 for 1 day of DIII hockey....Yes had 1 more of the Big 4 (Utica, Oswego, Plattsburgh) had made it, you probably could have added at least another 1,000 to the attendance and that $25 wouldn't have mattered. But you can not expect your local casual hockey fan to pay $25 to watch DIII teams they really know nothing about. You (the host site) is playing roulette. You're banking on the ultimate tournament where 3 of the big attendance schools make it. I personally don't think Lake Placid cares if they get 1,000 or 4,000 fans which is why its a great venue. I'd love to see Albany, Springfield, or an outside chance of the Xcel Center in Hartford get a shot too. Easier access for the West, more centrally located, bigger city to draw "townies".

But in short, combine the DIII Men's and Women's Final Four, allow re-entry, and lower the price.

 

[NU Pastime]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

I noticed the bad attendance when watching the DI tournament this weekend. I was particularly surprised that UMass-Lowell and Notre Dame didn't have better attendance, and that arena was probably the most full of all of them outside of North Dakota playing in Fargo.

How'd this year's Frozen Four in Utica compare to last year's? I didn't think attendance looked too bad over the weekend, considering we debate the merits of hosting the championship in a big empty arena every year.

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

UWSP vs Geneseo (early game) : 653
SNC vs UMB (when they were good tic ): 2282
Championship UWSP vs SNC : 2304

I think an early Friday game really puts a damper on things. Some people just cant get out of work in time to get there.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

The D1 Regional Finals in Ohio (Denver vs Penn State) was at 3300, and I'd say only about 1/2 - 2/3 of that is accurate. After watching a lot of the Regionals, attendance was dismal. They apparently have the Elmira syndrome where they inflate their attendance numbers.

Attendance at D1 regionals have been HORRIBLE for years. That's why there's actually been talk the last couple of years of moving the regionals back to on-campus sites.

And talk about pricey. The D1 regionals are WAY overpriced. (Check out what they cost. You'll barf.) Especially, if you are already planning on attending the Frozen Four. Those are two big hits to family budgets.

As for D3 championships, and in some regards D1 women, as we all know, a lot is hit and miss depending on who is in it.

Norwich travels well as always. But two western teams and a Trinity wasn't going to do much for attendance. Not counting Utica (since obviously that would have sold out the place), if a Plattsburgh, Oswego, Elmira, Hamilton made it, attendance would have been much higher as you pointed out.

I prefer the neutral sites, but I understand the arguments against them.

 

[jerrynu26]

Attendance at D1 regionals have been HORRIBLE for years. That's why there's actually been talk the last couple of years of moving the regionals back to on-campus sites.

And talk about pricey. The D1 regionals are WAY overpriced. (Check out what they cost. You'll barf.) Especially, if you are already planning on attending the Frozen Four. Those are two big hits to family budgets.

As for D3 championships, and in some regards D1 women, as we all know, a lot is hit and miss depending on who is in it.

Norwich travels well as always. But two western teams and a Trinity wasn't going to do much for attendance. Not counting Utica (since obviously that would have sold out the place), if a Plattsburgh, Oswego, Elmira, Hamilton made it, attendance would have been much higher as you pointed out.

I prefer the neutral sites, but I understand the arguments against them.

Just think what the attendance COULD have been at Utica with Plattsburgh, Gustavus Adolphus, St Norbert, Trinity, and Adrian X 2, and Norwich X 2.....

I have always thought the DIII Men and Women SHOULD play the same site, the same weekend.

 

[CARDS_rule_the_Burgh]

Just think what the attendance COULD have been at Utica with Plattsburgh, Gustavus Adolphus, St Norbert, Trinity, and Adrian X 2, and Norwich X 2.....

I have always thought the DIII Men and Women SHOULD play the same site, the same weekend.

Personally, I prefer the proposal of playing DI and DIII Women at the same site, as long as it's not way out in St. Louis like it was this year. DIII Women had a packed house (in a relatively small rink) for the games involving the host team this year, especially since Adrian had the prime time slot (which was likely Plattsburgh's choice as top seed, and Houle likes the early semi)

While playing DIII M&W at the same site would make it easier for me, by far, I don't like the optics of it if the women are reduced to a side show.

 

[UCfan30]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

IMO there was a pretty decent crowd for the later game on Friday and definitely more people on Saturday. It got pretty noisy at times on Saturday, I thought it definitely helped Norwich out with the showing they had. As for the coming and going issue, I figured since the aud has a strict no reentry policy that no one would be able to just walk in and walk out freely. Yeah it stinks, but just the way it works I guess. It was a great weekend and kept hearing nothing but positive things from each team's supporters. It definitely showed on the ice with 3 great games played. I may be biased lol but I think Utica should host this more often, well done by everyone involved.

 

[joecct]

Personally, I prefer the proposal of playing DI and DIII Women at the same site, as long as it's not way out in St. Louis like it was this year. DIII Women had a packed house (in a relatively small rink) for the games involving the host team this year, especially since Adrian had the prime time slot (which was likely Plattsburgh's choice as top seed, and Houle likes the early semi)

While playing DIII M&W at the same site would make it easier for me, by far, I don't like the optics of it if the women are reduced to a side show.

Next year the D1/2 women are at Ridder. D3 men is, I believe, Lake Placid.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Next year the D1/2 women are at Ridder. D3 men is, I believe, Lake Placid.

Correct

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

IMO there was a pretty decent crowd for the later game on Friday and definitely more people on Saturday. It got pretty noisy at times on Saturday, I thought it definitely helped Norwich out with the showing they had. As for the coming and going issue, I figured since the aud has a strict no reentry policy that no one would be able to just walk in and walk out freely. Yeah it stinks, but just the way it works I guess. It was a great weekend and kept hearing nothing but positive things from each team's supporters. It definitely showed on the ice with 3 great games played. I may be biased lol but I think Utica should host this more often, well done by everyone involved.

Utica did a PHENOMENAL jobs as hosts. I was thoroughly impressed with everything they did at the rink. Gil Burgmaster, Laurel Simer, David Sietsma with tickets at the Comets, all the rink staff etc. did a FANTASTIC job. Can't say it enough how welcoming Utica was with everything. Would love to see them host again.

 

[Scott_TG]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

I compared Will Pelltier to Keith Accoin to a couple of members of this years team and one kid referred to Pelltier as "Accoin 2.0" as well. Both great players for sure...Will has such awesome speed and besides being a great scoring threat...is a great playmaker. Actually I was worried about him when he came back...because he never backs down and made some solid hits including the Castleton game.

Accoin was just as equal to the task. But at my age with a fading memory...I can still see Accoin not going through a defensive pair...but jumping their sticks with the puck and putting it in the back net past a dazed goalie. That pair would make my All Star line any day...along with Pier Oliver Coutnier. Three NU greats for sure.

Now it's time for the Red Sox... And just imagine if they won another series...then between the Pats...the Cadets...and the Sox...I'd have hit the trifecta.

Aucoin

Also Cotnoir

 

[ColdInRomney]

Re: 2017 National Championship Thread

No way in the world we were going to subsist on Aud food for 7 hours. We can easily survive without beer for that span, but chicken fingers and fries..?

Anyone who doesn't attend a Final Four in their own home town, regardless of the reasons, is not a true hockey fan.

Hell, we came back on Saturday just so we could get more of the Kookie's BBQ! (jk).

We've been to the finals in Lake Placid a few times, and went to Lewiston. Utica was fine. It's a nice venue, the food was fine, and you don't really have a lot of time to go out between the Friday games anyway. 90 minute drive from home was do-able (would have been even more do-able if the Lakers were in, but....). I would have rather had beer too, but the NCAA won't have that. And judging from some of the Trinity faithful, it was a good decision- many of them came "pre-lubed".

Agree with all the attendance discussion above, and $40 for three very good championship games didn't really break the bank. I thought the first game between St. Norberts and Trinity was the best "hockey game" of the three, but the Norwich/Adrian overtime was fun, and a championship game is worth watching no matter what. I do think Adrian outplayed the Cadets for at least 60% of their game. Norwich had limited zone time- but made the most of it when they were there. For the most part the Bulldogs kept it pretty clean. And being from Oswego I'm an ABA guy- Anybody But Adrian.

We're looking forward to Lake Placid next year- the best place for the games. But we don't need much of an excuse to get up to LP anyway.

"Re-Entry Policy:

As of September 1, 2016, the Utica Memorial Auditorium will have a No Re-Entry policy for all events.

This policy comes from the direction of the Upper Mohawk Valley Memorial Auditorium Authority Chairman, Carl Annese. “For the safety of our fans, there will be no re-entry at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The policy is meant to provide a safe environment to enjoy all the events at The AUD,” said Annese."

 

[Sir Nubs]

Utica did a PHENOMENAL jobs as hosts. I was thoroughly impressed with everything they did at the rink. Gil Burgmaster, Laurel Simer, David Sietsma with tickets at the Comets, all the rink staff etc. did a FANTASTIC job. Can't say it enough how welcoming Utica was with everything. Would love to see them host again.

Of course you thought it was fantastic. You won.

 

[CARDS_rule_the_Burgh]

Of course you thought it was fantastic. You won.

Compared to the clown show that was the ticketing procedure in Adrian for the women's championships the week before (along with the horrific officiating across the board - but that's not Adrian's fault), I'd say Utica did a **** fine job, and I didn't even have a horse in the race!

 

[Sir Nubs]

Compared to the clown show that was the ticketing procedure in Adrian for the women's championships the week before (along with the horrific officiating across the board - but that's not Adrian's fault), I'd say Utica did a **** fine job, and I didn't even have a horse in the race!

Where did I say or even imply Utica did a poor job?

 

[KRBFLINT03]

Where did I say or even imply Utica did a poor job?

You didn't. Nor does it appear CARDS tried to insinuate that you did