2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

[gfmorris]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

In just two years time, Bemidji becomes the third WCHA regular season (co)champion to not make the NCAA Tourney. Just let that sink in for a second. Two things we can take away from that:
1) League parity remains as tight as ever
2) Non-conference play has to improve in 2017-18

Feel a little bad for the Beavers now sitting at home just polishing the Cup until next season.
Huskies/Mavs fans already been there, know that feeling.
Ryan J

Concur.

Projections based off of last night's results: http://blog.wchaplayoffs.com/2017/03/12/semifinal-and-final-projections-2017-03-12/ Tech still favored to win with about 1-in-5; Mankato 1-in-4; BG a little over 1-in-3.

GFM

 

[bravohankins]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

I have a gut feeling the championship is going to be BG at Tech.

Pretty good call. Tech most likely bounces back at home today.

BG is finally playing like the team most though they would be in October.
Bowling Green's horrendous start was mainly fueled by two things.

1) The increased amount of penalties called at the beginning of the season, especially in October. BG played penalty filled games against Western, Ohio State and Miami. They lost the special teams battle in those games and the out-of-conference loses sunk their pairwise and to a large extent the WCHA's.
2) Chris Nell's father passing away right before the start of the season. He tried to play on through it, but the results speak for themselves. He was a shell of the goalie he had been and rightfully so. It wasn't until after the Holiday break that he got his feet back under him. He now has figured out his "new normal" as Bergeron has said and since coming back from break has a 1.59 GAA and .942 save % numbers that are thebest in the league of goalies that have played at least 8 games in that time frame.

Nell will be the difference maker if BG is able to pull off the win on the road next weekend. He outplayed Bitzer this weekend and will need to do the same in the title game.

Once Nell solidified the goal the rest of the team has just fallen into place over the last 6 weeks.

 

[Squarebanks]

Pretty good call. Tech most likely bounces back at home today.

Thanks. Not over yet, but it seemed like going in that Tech and BG were playing the best.

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

Here are the attendance numbers from the weekend.

Mankato: 2887, 2984
Bemidji: 2401, 2767, 2107
Michigan Tech: 2377, 2392
Bowling Green: 1697, 2055

Attendance numbers for the semifinals:

Michigan Tech: 2015, 2616, 2163
Bemidji State: 2162, 2210

Total so far: 32,833 (2345 average)

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

Attendance numbers for the semifinals:

Michigan Tech: 2015, 2616, 2163
Bemidji State: 2162, 2210

Total so far: 32,833 (2345 average)

I will say this, based on what I heard and saw of Sunday's game...I'm shocked the attendance went down from Saturday.
The good news is that Saturday's championship game is reportedly sold out already.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

I'm guessing that the winner is almost assuredly going to play Denver in the first round. I'm crossing my fingers for Cincy.

 

[giwan]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

I will say this, based on what I heard and saw of Sunday's game...I'm shocked the attendance went down from Saturday.
The good news is that Saturday's championship game is reportedly sold out already.

Agreed and thats why I doubt the number, was anyone there to say one way or the other?

 

[Broseph Stalin]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

Agreed and thats why I doubt the number, was anyone there to say one way or the other?

That was the biggest 2100 person crowd I've ever seen in there.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

Maybe that was the public paid attendance? Some corporations and Coach Pearson helped to pay for tickets for the students and local youth so maybe those numbers didn't get added in some how?
Ryan J

 

[lawdoggies]

Agreed and thats why I doubt the number, was anyone there to say one way or the other?

I thought that there were more people there on Sunday ... definitely on the student side.

 

[Crowdedbrain]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

I agree. I was there Sat and Sun, and both sides were larger on Sunday.

And it was an extremely loud crowd for its size.

 

[giwan]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

Maybe that was the public paid attendance? Some corporations and Coach Pearson helped to pay for tickets for the students and local youth so maybe those numbers didn't get added in some how? Ryan J

That is my perception just based on the radio broadcast. Seemed much louder.

Have they sold out yet? Pack in that standing room only. I love how steep the the rows are, feels like you are right on top of the ice.

 

[UpNorthHockey]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

I just bought my tickets and had to get standing room. I was on the website and it looks like there are less than 100 standing room tickets left. Looks like a definite sell out. I called the ticket office and they said tickets are moving VERY fast....could be out by the end of the day today.

 

[oldish husky]

I just bought my tickets and had to get standing room. I was on the website and it looks like there are less than 100 standing room tickets left. Looks like a definite sell out. I called the ticket office and they said tickets are moving VERY fast....could be out by the end of the day today.

Yes, sold out, except season ticket holders have their seats on reserve until Wednesday. At that point if they haven't bought them, they open up to the public. I'd have to imagine if you are a season ticket holder that you are going to this game too.

Is scalping legal in Houghton county?

 

[Broseph Stalin]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

Yes, sold out, except season ticket holders have their seats on reserve until Wednesday. At that point if they haven't bought them, they open up to the public. I'd have to imagine if you are a season ticket holder that you are going to this game too.

Is scalping legal in Houghton county?

The tickets I released to the ticket office were gone immediately, as in sold to someone else before I hung up the phone. There will be tears shed on Saturday when people standing in line realize they ain't getting in the doors!

 

[Wi.Huskies Fan]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

Season ticket holders have until Wednesday noon to buy their seat. The remaining unsold seats will then be offered to the general public. (I asked when I picked mine up today).

They say it has been a madhouse in sales so far so I bet it will sellout. It may be worth a try to get in touch with them Wednesday pm to see what tickets are left. Suites are already sold out as of this morning. There will no doubt be standing room tickets for sale I would bet. There is quite the buzz around the local area for the game. We love our hockey here.

 

[Wi.Huskies Fan]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

Agreed and thats why I doubt the number, was anyone there to say one way or the other?

I was there, and empty seats on the far edges. I was shocked to see less butts in seats on Sunday (old folks side) with so much riding on the game. Student side had more Sunday than Saturday. The fans that were there surely made enough noise.

 

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

The standing room number was under 400 at 4pm.

TV6 is negotiating to air the game, should be confirmed tomorrow. If they get it, there will also be a 30 minute pregame show.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

So thoughts on the new format? I think it went amazingly well, but my team probably had an advantage with this format getting to host the final.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: 2017 WCHA Playoff Thread - Home Ice Advantage

So thoughts on the new format? I think it went amazingly well, but my team probably had an advantage with this format getting to host the final.

I liked the format, and frankly, the best teams should get a shot at hosting — it ups the stakes past just getting to the playoffs and hoping to have a hot goalie down the stretch to make the NCAAs.

GFM