League play begins on November 20, with each team playing 8 games during the first half.
http://www.wcha.com/women/schedule/index.php
http://www.wcha.com/women/schedule/index.php
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2020-21 wcha women's composite schedule
- Thread starter D2D
- Start date
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
The Muzzinator's squad gets 4 games each against Minnesota and Wisconsin...Yikes.
Offsides Guy
Active member
Well, that didn’t take long. WCHA just announced the BSU/St Cloud series scheduled for next weekend is canceled. Evidently St Cloud has 9 players who’ve tested positive. No makeup date has been scheduled yet.
Hockeybuckeye
Well-known member
Do or die for the Buckeyes for sure!
Lurky McLurkface
New member
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if a team comes up with a player testing positive, the whole team would be quarantined for two weeks and unable to play, yes? And that would also apply to whichever team they played the previous weekend since those players would also have been exposed, yes? That takes out those two teams for the following two weekends and gives their scheduled opponents automatic bye weekends. And with such an abbreviated schedule to begin with, a crappy season kind of turns into a farce, doesn't it?
I looked for a positive spin, but maybe I'm not trying hard enough. I'm imagining a team being able to say, "We won the season. Granted, we only played two games."
I looked for a positive spin, but maybe I'm not trying hard enough. I'm imagining a team being able to say, "We won the season. Granted, we only played two games."
robertearle
Well-known member
The Big Ten protocols are not that strict, at least with regard to how things have gone with the football teams - Wisconsin in particular.
As I understand it, every player is tested daily (or every other day?) with the faster but more prone to false results 'saliva' test. A positive on that test results in isolation while a more reliable RNA-PRC test is conducted. If that test is positive, the player is further isolated, and is ineligible for 21 days. All the players are 'tracked' all the time they are at the team's facilities, such that for any player who is confirmed positive, any others in 'close contact' with them can also be isolated and tested with the more reliable RNA test. If that test comes back negative, they are allowed to return to team activities (if positive, of course they are also isolated, etc, and the process is repeated for their 'close contacts').
When the overall team's positive test rate reaches a certain level, then the whole team suspends activities. One player testing positive does not automatically shut everything down.
Of course, a football team with 100 members can 'absorb' a player or two (or five) being unavailable more easily than a hockey team can. And it might be easier to keep 'player groups' separate and so limit the 'close contacts' in football than it would be in hockey.
(Note also that the Big Ten protocols and restrictions etc - particularly the "21 day" ineligibility - is stricter than NCAA protocols. That is why the 'Big Ten' teams are playing one another and the 'non Big Ten' teams are playing one another - because they have not quite worked out what 'the rules' will be for play between the two groups. Whether St Cloud and Bemidji etc will have to adopt Big Ten restrictions to be allowed by the Big Ten to play the Big Ten teams or whether the Big Ten teams will be able to get an 'exception' or 'dispensation' from the stricter protocols remains the sticking pint.)
Last edited:
robertearle
Well-known member
There's more description of the 'Big Ten' vs 'non Big Ten' issue here (along with a link to the Big Ten "Return to Play" rules).
https://www.uscho.com/2020/11/09/wo...e-is-the-starting-point-for-a-24-game-season/
Offsides Guy
Active member
Additional info I've heard:
- UMD evidently purchased a COVID testing machine allowing them to test more frequently than BSU, MSU and SCSU and, thus, be able to play the Big10 teams. (Not sure what a university that's in such bad financial shape is doing buying a COVID testing machine but that's another topic.)
- Originally the Big10 schools were saying the other teams had to come to their arenas for all games but they've been able to back off that now.
- Sounds like for any of the other schools to play a Big10 school they at least have to match the Big10 testing requirements for the week leading up to the games.
- I believe the other schools are doing surveillance testing of small groups of players each week rather than testing the entire team every time. Not sure what happens if someone in a surveillance group tests positive. Does that mean just that group quarantines or does the whole team have to quarantine? Seems more likely teams will have to quarantine every player every time there's a positive as just by sharing a locker room and playing small area games, for instance, they're having "close contact" I would think.
- Players who test positive are out for up to 21 days per the NCAA quarantine + heart protocol. If others are quarantined due to having close contact but have not tested positive, I'm guessing they get a shorter 10 - 14 day quarantine.
WCHA WOMEN'S LEAGUE ANNOUNCES SECOND HALF 2020-21 SCHEDULE
http://www.wcha.com/women/articles/...ue-announces-second-half-2020-21-schedule.php
http://www.wcha.com/women/articles/...ue-announces-second-half-2020-21-schedule.php
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
They aren't even attempting to have the teams play each other an even amount of times and they won't end up playing an even amount of games? They could play 4 times in a week, the UW men did. So basically UMD gets to play the little sisters of the poor the most while UW UM and OSU duke it out. This is lamer than I expected.
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
MSU plays at total of 22 games, while UW plays 16. The only way that you can make this equivalent is to have each season series be worth a set amount (say, 60 points). If teams play six times, ten each game within that series is worth 10 points. Play four times, each gave is worth 15 points. Play only twice, then each game is 30 points. I didn't check -- are there any teams that never play each other?
Or maybe the rationale is that the regular season is just a prep to play a tournament. Who knows?
Or maybe the rationale is that the regular season is just a prep to play a tournament. Who knows?
HockeyGuy362
Member
First time posting here, so don't beat me up that bad.
I did a quick calculation on the strength of schedule using last years finish. Teams get 7 for playing Wisco, 6 for playing Minnesota, etc.. Did not factor in if it was home or away.
Based on what I did, UMD got a great deal and U of M got the raw end.
[TABLE="width: 183"]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]50[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota Duluth[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]54[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota State[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]54[/TD]
[TD]Wisconsin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]55[/TD]
[TD]Ohio State[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]56[/TD]
[TD]Bemidji State[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]60[/TD]
[TD]St. Cloud State[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]64[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
That clearly shows how messed up this is.
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Welcome! Thanks for putting this together.
I doubt that the players will see it that way. They came to the WCHA to play against tough competition. After the way 2020 has gone, they'll be thankful for any games that they get to play.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
HockeyGuy362
Member
Going to be tough for Wisconsin to win the WCHA, unless they reschedule the missed games with UMD and U of M. They are already 12 points behind U of M, and if I did my math correct, they only have 16 games left to play, or a total of 48 points max they can earn. U of M has 20 games left, can earn max 60 points. So if Wisconsin wins out they will have 51 points, which means U of M only needs 37 points to beat them, or win only 13 of their remaining 20 games to win the WCHA. If Wisconsin accumulates points at the same pace as last year, 2.33 points per game, they will end with 35 points, which means U of M would only need to win 7 of their remaining 20 games to win the league.
This schedule seems a bit one sided. Even the home and away seems screwy. UMD has played 6 games, 4 at home, 2 away, with the schedule the will end up with 12 home games and 8 away games. Wisconsin played two games away, so with the second half they will play 10 away games and 6 home games. I can only assume this is due to rink availability, nothing else really makes sense.
[TABLE="width: 613"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl67"]Name[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]Away Games[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]Home Games[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]Games Second Half[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]Games Played[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67"]Total Games[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65"]Bemidji State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]18[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65"]Minnesota[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]20[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65"]Minnesota Duluth[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]20[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66"]Minnesota State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]20[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66"]Ohio State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]18[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66"]St. Cloud State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]20[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl66"]Wisconsin[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Offsides Guy
Active member
Some thoughts:
- Looks like the three Big 10 schools are trying to limit their games against MSU, SCSU, and BSU per those three schools not having the same, daily Coivid-19 testing protocols.
- I think the WCHA will forgo announcing a regular season champion this year due to the imbalanced schedule.
- I recall the WCHA has already announced this year's WCHA Tournament will be limited to the top 4 teams. I have no doubt MN, WI and OSU will make it. Yes, those three teams will be beating each other up in the second half which could hurt their conference point totals, but I believe the WCHA will stick with these three based on what are sure to be pretty high national rankings (which is the right thing to do). The fourth team could be more up in the air. UMD is the clear favorite but, for example, if BSU were to run the MSU/SCSU tables, split with the Big 3, and sweep UMD, I could see BSU getting the fourth spot in the tournament. I think that's a very tall mountain for BSU to climb but I think it's their only way in.
Question: has an NCAA tournament for women's hockey been ruled in or out yet?