Re: Boston University Part IV: Off-Season or New Season?
OK, here are my thoughts and observations about Regional weekend:
(1) OK, so BC lost. Big deal ... it happens, even in the 1st round. I still think they were the best team this year, but CC played their best game in a one and done format, then reverted to form and lost to Michigan. Many I talked to felt that BC snuck up on everyone last year which is why they blew out Miami and Wisconsin. They did not expect BC to be so good in the 2010 FF and paid the price. CC was ready and so would have Michigan and UND if they got that far. The formula for beating BC has always been to beat the crap out of them in the corners to get them thinking and to stop their free-wheeling (BU has used that formula in the past, but obviously not this year.
) Coaching and the caliper of players today is so good that it is very hard for a team to do what BC has done the last few years and not lose like they did Friday.
(2) NoDak is the team to beat in 2 weeks, but I still think they have the most to prove given their history in the NCAA since 2000. Past history says that the best team this past weekend is not always the best at the FF. They look like the favorite, but the other three teams could all step up and win it all too.
(3) ECAC was/is a fraud conference come NCAA tourney time.
>At Bridgeport, UMD's Canadians were MUCH better than Union's and Yale's. Yes, over half of all those lineups at Bridgeport were Canadians and mostly Western - Alberta, BC, Sask. Duluth played smart, efficient hockey. I think that after what they saw with Union, they realized they could frustrate and intimidate Yale ... and they did.
>Union was a total fraud - they had 8+ power plays and after the 1st one they looked even worse than BU's PP. Duluth hit them a lot in the 1st period and Union folded like a tent. Plus Union was very slow and tentative throughout.
>Yale was lucky to beat Air Force. In the last 2 minutes of the game, Air Force was buzzing and Yale held on for dear life.
(4) The Hockey East officials call WAY too many penalties. ESPECIALLY Benedetto. He was a disgrace in the UMD/Union game. Watching the other games, especially the WCHA and CCHA teams, they play hard and very physical, but I saw very few hitting from behind penalties in their games, unlike what I saw in HE this season. I don't know how league officials across all leagues discuss how to deal with and call certain penalties, but my unscientific view is that Hockey East is out of step with the western leagues ... and that's not a good thing. The 5 min major and game misconduct to Yale's best player was a joke. At worst it was 2 minute penalty and changed the outcome of the game significantly. That should not happen in an NCAA game.
(5) Merrimack and UNH showed very well. I thought UNH outplayed Miami from start to finish and earned my respect for stepping up against probably Miami's best team, even better than 2008. UNH kept the HE hex going vs Miami, now running 6 years in the NCAA. The look on Blasi's face at the end of the game was priceless - reminded me of the look on his face when BU tied the game in 2009 and in OT when we won it. Merrimack just could not put away ND and they had their chances. They clearly came ready to play and could have won in reg and OT. It just was not meant to be.
I would not be surprised if any of the 4 remaining teams won. My personal favorite is Duluth for many reasons. I usually root against any WCHA team, Michigan and Notre Dame, but Duluth is special for many reasons ( and not because Chris Connolly's brother plays there). They have been a step sister to the Gophers, sort of like Northeastern in Boston with BU and BC. Mostly I would like to see someone who has not one ever to have a break through (not ND). If UNH has won yesterday, I would be pulling for them.
So there you have it. I am now going through college hockey withdrawal, plus Long Trail Ale W/D from the weekend at the Loft at Okemo where i watched the games Saturday. Until 4/7.
