BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

[D2D]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

OUCH!

Thanks for documenting that, I knew MSU & SCSU had the lions share I didn't comprehend how bad it was.

The fact that MSU is seeded No. 1 overall in the NCAA men's tourney and SCSU is also in it makes for a pretty stark contrast between their men's and women's programs...much like Union last season.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

I also think a light schedule this year was against BC in the end. Hockey East was pretty weak this year. They did not go out of conference schedule and test how good they really were. I also would like to note that for as much talent as BC had this year and the numbers they put up, The power play was average. When you get to the frozen four it is the special teams and lights out goaltending that will make the difference in a game.

exactly
the championship game was much closer than the final score suggests, Harvard played very tough

5 games against WI & Bemidji, 4 against UMD, UND, & OSU
it's not like the Gophers hadn't seen great goaltenders and stiff forechecking before
WI also played very tough, especially the first period
watching BC play later that night, I got they feeling they would not have fared well against WI either

 

[KTDC]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

It's possible BC may have gotten a little bit of frontrunner's fatigue. Being 27-0-1 and winning very big over everyone, it's hard for that not to start to get in your head a little bit. Can be very difficult not to play a little from a defensive standpoint not to screw up what you've got going.

 

[goaliedad35]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

That is where your coaches come in.....

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

FWIW, BC was pretty good this year. They lose some to graduation but they have players returning who were major producers and they have some promising frosh coming in. They should probably be pretty good again next year.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

FWIW, BC was pretty good this year. They lose some to graduation but they have players returning who were major producers and they have some promising frosh coming in. They should probably be pretty good again next year.

IOW, it should be like any other year, BU their one bump in the road to the NCAA & Hockey Easy title

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

exactly
the championship game was much closer than the final score suggests, Harvard played very tough

5 games against WI & Bemidji, 4 against UMD, UND, & OSU
it's not like the Gophers hadn't seen great goaltenders and stiff forechecking before
WI also played very tough, especially the first period
watching BC play later that night, I got they feeling they would not have fared well against WI either

Yeah true. Each of those WCHA teams have been honed over the years to face the Gophers with shutdown hockey. Frankly, they're masters at it. So for this Gopher team, it took both that same top shelf shutdown hockey WCHA teams have mastered plus an off night by the Gophers to gain a W. It would be unlikely that Harvard would be fortunate enough to have both happen in the national championship game.

 

[pigglegg]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

come to think of it, i should feel worse for Harvard. BC's never even been in the final. Harvard has been runner-up four times. they're the real bridesmaids. if anyone deserves to get over the hump, it's the Crimson.

 

[wwhyte]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

FWIW, BC was pretty good this year. They lose some to graduation but they have players returning who were major producers and they have some promising frosh coming in. They should probably be pretty good again next year.

Losing Field, Pfalzer and Leary is a hit; we don't have three U18s coming in. Carpenter and Skarupa just keep getting better though so we won't lose a lot. My concern is that there are schools with freshman classes that look much stronger on paper, especially Minnesota and Wisconsin, that Harvard seems to be mastering the use of four lines, and that there's still a possibility that Kessel will return. I think this year was our best chance. But maybe we'll do better as underdogs.

 

[ARM]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

Losing Field, Pfalzer and Leary is a hit; we don't have three U18s coming in. Carpenter and Skarupa just keep getting better though so we won't lose a lot. My concern is that there are schools with freshman classes that look much stronger on paper, especially Minnesota and Wisconsin, that Harvard seems to be mastering the use of four lines, and that there's still a possibility that Kessel will return. I think this year was our best chance. But maybe we'll do better as underdogs.

I don't see BC as an underdog. Pfalzer will be the big loss, but you were able to win while she was gone, and it looks like there are other D poised to fill any roles on the blue line. Carpenter and Skarupa can improve, but it is more likely that you'll get a bigger gain from your underclassmen. The Eagles relied heavily on freshmen, and they've all experienced the postseason now. I'd expect people like Keller and Burt to take steps forward, and that is the area in which BC can close any gap.

While Wisconsin and Minnesota bring in talent, they get hit by graduation as well. Seniors contributed majorly to the success of both teams. I don't expect to see Kessel in a Minnesota jersey again; any improvement in the Gophers will have to come from freshmen and other returners.

My concern for BC is what team will really push you? BU? Eventually, but the Terriers have struggled for long stretches when they haven't had Poulin. There's still talent at BU, but she was what made it a threat. Maybe Northeastern. I don't see anyone else as being close enough to contend in any meaningful way. The Eagles have to find a way to improve more over the course of the season even if their schedule falls short.

 

[wwhyte]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

If you're saying that you think a tougher regular season would have helped BC go further in the postseason, I think you're right. And you're right to flag strength of schedule as a problem for us. It's even worse next year than this year because next year Merrimack start up and we replace three OOC games with three conference games that, with all due respect, are likely to be terrible. (And traditional OOC opponent Cornell are losing their standout senior class, so the OOC SoS takes a step down anyway). Vermont lose Pelkey. BU have some very solid underclassmen, a reasonable recruiting class if I remember correctly, and the return of Lefort, so they can provide some level of opposition; Northeastern's huge freshman class from this year showed some signs of life; but you're right, BC will for sure come to the postseason next year without the same level of battle-hardening as the WCHA or ECAC teams.

Sorry to hear that about Kessel. It's such a shame to lose a talent like that early.

 

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

BC might actually run the table into the NCAA tournament next year and I'll feel like they will be bounced in the first round.

 

[D2D]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

BC might actually run the table into the NCAA tournament next year and I'll feel like they will be bounced in the first round.

If BC does run the table they would LIKELY face the CHA tournament winner in the first round, in which case they would LIKELY make it to the FF. Once there it is LIKELY you would again come away disappointed....like the way I feel right now.

 

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

If BC does run the table they would LIKELY face the CHA tournament winner in the first round, in which case they would LIKELY make it to the FF. Once there it is LIKELY you would again come away disappointed....like the way I feel right now.

Idk is Mercyhurst going to be back next year or what?

 

[D2D]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

Idk is Mercyhurst going to be back next year or what?

Are there reports out there that say otherwise?

 

[Leather helmet]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

It would be fun to see an early-season or holiday tournament, along the lines of the Icebreaker or Mariucci Classic, that would bring top eastern and western teams together. It would be a treat for the fans to see the top players from the 'other' leagues, and it would provide an early measuring stick for the players to see how they stack up. I can't help but think that if Harvard or BC had some early-season exposure to the Badgers or the Gophers, it would better prepare them for meeting those teams in the tournament.

 

[ARM]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

Are there reports out there that say otherwise?

I think TTT meant is Mercyhurst going to be back atop the CHA, not that Mercyhurst is dropping its program.

 

[Call It]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

If you're saying that you think a tougher regular season would have helped BC go further in the postseason, I think you're right. And you're right to flag strength of schedule as a problem for us. It's even worse next year than this year because next year Merrimack start up and we replace three OOC games with three conference games that, with all due respect, are likely to be terrible. (And traditional OOC opponent Cornell are losing their standout senior class, so the OOC SoS takes a step down anyway). Vermont lose Pelkey. BU have some very solid underclassmen, a reasonable recruiting class if I remember correctly, and the return of Lefort, so they can provide some level of opposition; Northeastern's huge freshman class from this year showed some signs of life; but you're right, BC will for sure come to the postseason next year without the same level of battle-hardening as the WCHA or ECAC teams.

Sorry to hear that about Kessel. It's such a shame to lose a talent like that early.

Is Kessel allowed to even come back, doesn't she age out? You have 5 years to play 4 after HS graduation? You are right about H East. What teams will improve in this league? Doesn't seem to be great recruit classes coming in compared to the Seniors graduating.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

Is Kessel allowed to even come back, doesn't she age out? You have 5 years to play 4 after HS graduation? You are right about H East. What teams will improve in this league? Doesn't seem to be great recruit classes coming in compared to the Seniors graduating.

There are some exceptions to the 4 in 5 rule, but that usually only applies to those that take a year of to be part of the Olympics. (Jenner is an example who did that, and ended up delaying the start of her college career by a year AND taking a year off after year three, both for centralization). In theory Kessel could have an Olympic year off and a redshirt year off to give her the 4 in 6 option. I'm not sure, if it actually can be applied in her case, as I'm not familiar enough with the details in her case.

 

[KTDC]

Re: BC women's hockey: always the bridesmaid...

Is Kessel allowed to even come back, doesn't she age out? You have 5 years to play 4 after HS graduation? You are right about H East. What teams will improve in this league? Doesn't seem to be great recruit classes coming in compared to the Seniors graduating.

My source, I can't remember who it was-my impression is the source was fairly convincing but not definitive, said the combination in Kessel's case would have a good chance of being approved.