CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11) BG

[SweeneyHawksHockey]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

I think someone needs a Knapp!

I lol'd.

For real though, what are the odds Miami/Western is the 8 p.m. game <1%?

 

[redwings8831]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

I lol'd.

For real though, what are the odds Miami/Western is the 8 p.m. game <1%?

If the CCHA was smart they'd put Michigan/BG in the afternoon (Michigan basketball game is at 7:20) but they won't.

 

[RicoForPresident]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

I lol'd.

For real though, what are the odds Miami/Western is the 8 p.m. game <1%?

Normally you would be right, but Michigan does play Ohio on Friday at 7:20. Not sure if there has been a direct conflict like this for Michigan fans before. Even so, I would imagine there is a chunk of Michigan fans who would choose the Joe over the bouncy ball. I would like to see Miami/Western at 8 as well, but its highly unlikely.

 

[bueller]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

I don't like to bet against anyone playing Michigan at Yost East. However, Dan DeSalvo is the hottest player in college hockey and Andrew Hammond is getting the job done and has an absolute ****-ton of heart.

 

[Red Robin]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

Michigan is loaded.

Heck, the most depth I have seen in a long time and that's something to say considering it's Michigan.

Heck, Michigan's 4th line would be a 1st line on most D1 teams.

Hunwick- Heck of a goalie. Best save percentage in UM history!

I think this is Blue's year.

Heck, they might avenge that OT loss in the National Championship!!

Every line the Red Baron puts out goes in for the kill. There is just no letting down.

Go Blue! Let's win big at the Joe then See you boys in Tampa!

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

Normally you would be right, but Michigan does play Ohio on Friday at 7:20. Not sure if there has been a direct conflict like this for Michigan fans before. Even so, I would imagine there is a chunk of Michigan fans who would choose the Joe over the bouncy ball. I would like to see Miami/Western at 8 as well, but its highly unlikely.

I remember the year that the Spartans had a hockey and basketball game overlap and as soon as the hockey game was over the Spartan fans packed the Olympia Club which always has the bball games on their tv's.

 

[SweeneyHawksHockey]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

If the CCHA was smart they'd put Michigan/BG in the afternoon (Michigan basketball game is at 7:20) but they won't.

I didn't even consider this. Guess we know where my priorities are. Both semi-finals will be on FSN Detroit Plus correct? Should be very interesting getting the local Buffalo Wild Wings to put on college hockey during all heralded March Madness. FSN doesn't have any kind of online streaming do they?

 

[aparch]

Should be very interesting getting the local Buffalo Wild Wings to put on college hockey during all heralded March Madness.

Tip your server well and treat him/her nice. They'll usually turn one TV on for you. It may be the small 26" CRT tv in the corner and not the 42" LCD flat screen, but you can do it.

A**hole bartenders may give dirty looks, but they'll do it for the servers.

Also, KNOW what channel on DirecTV that FSN-DET+ is, and the teams playing. If I can get college hockey at BWW in the sports wasteland of Chicago, you can anywhere.

 

[SweeneyHawksHockey]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

Tip your server well and treat him/her nice. They'll usually turn one TV on for you. It may be the small 26" CRT tv in the corner and not the 42" LCD flat screen, but you can do it.

A**hole bartenders may give dirty looks, but they'll do it for the servers.

Also, KNOW what channel on DirecTV that FSN-DET+ is, and the teams playing. If I can get college hockey at BWW in the sports wasteland of Chicago, you can anywhere.

Thanks for all the advice. One thing I do have on my side is that I have been going in there all year and the bartender knows that when I come in I am there to watch college hockey and he always asks me what game I am looking to watch. I sure hope he will be working this Friday because I'm not sure what luck I would have with the other bartenders.

 

[aparch]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

I learned quick when I saw they would have the Bulls and Hawks on. They have over a half-dozen DirecTV receivers, and the system let's the bartender choose which TV's see what DTV box.

So, if the TV's are airing the same games, a couple receivers should be "empty" and able to be flipped to what you want.

 

[broncos24]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

Michigan is loaded.

Heck, the most depth I have seen in a long time and that's something to say considering it's Michigan.

Heck, Michigan's 4th line would be a 1st line on most D1 teams.

Hunwick- Heck of a goalie. Best save percentage in UM history!

I think this is Blue's year.

Heck, they might avenge that OT loss in the National Championship!!

Every line the Red Baron puts out goes in for the kill. There is just no letting down.

Go Blue! Let's win big at the Joe then See you boys in Tampa!

Ahhh, I love the smell of arrogance on a nice Spring morning

 

[SweeneyHawksHockey]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

And as expected...

Miami vs. Western 4:35 p.m.
Bowling Green vs. Michigan 8:05 p.m.

Guess I'll be leaving work a bit early on Friday.

 

[MUhawks628]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

And as expected...

Miami vs. Western 4:35 p.m.
Bowling Green vs. Michigan 8:05 p.m.

Guess I'll be leaving work a bit early on Friday.

Even with squeeky ball, no suprise there.

Taking Friday off and heading up Thursday night. Let's hope there are more fans at the early game than Miami/ND last year, that was embarassing.

 

[mcfarljd]

And as expected...

Miami vs. Western 4:35 p.m.
Bowling Green vs. Michigan 8:05 p.m.

Guess I'll be leaving work a bit early on Friday.

I feel like I'm coming down with something, might need to take a half day on friday too. St pats in detroit and no irish? Lets see our boys drink some green beer from the mason cup

 

[alfablue]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

Michigan is loaded.

Heck, the most depth I have seen in a long time and that's something to say considering it's Michigan.

Heck, Michigan's 4th line would be a 1st line on most D1 teams.

Hunwick- Heck of a goalie. Best save percentage in UM history!

I think this is Blue's year.

Heck, they might avenge that OT loss in the National Championship!!

Every line the Red Baron puts out goes in for the kill. There is just no letting down.

Go Blue! Let's win big at the Joe then See you boys in Tampa!

Some people never learn.

We have lots of good players, sure. some may consider them loaded. I don't, and in no manner are they the most depth I've seen on a Michigan team. That would be '96, and we lost in the national Semi.

Maybe the 4th line would be the #1 line on some teams, but not on any of the teams that are heading to the Joe.

Hunwick- very good. But not Marty Turco.

As for the rest- this is the CCHA Championship, not the NCAA, and for sure not the Frozen Four- so lets not get too far ahead.

Moving on to the rest of the weekend....

Miami is a great team, and, like Michigan, isn't really pressured to win this weekend to play next weekend. For the most part, teams that don't have that burdon seem to do well on the weekend- so I do like Miami vs. Michigan in the championship game.

OTOH, there are years where the teams that HAVE to win, do. Western needs a win to make sure they make the final 16, that's a lot of reason to play. IMHO, that win NEEDS to happen Friday, unless they play Michigan on Saturday- a win against BGSU doesn't help much. They barely have it on MSU at the moment, and with how fluid the PWR is, I can't really predict how other tournaments play to their advantage. That should make the WMU-Miami game a real barn burner Friday.

As for BGSU. Wow, where did they come from?? Can they beat Michigan? No question- they did a few weeks ago. Can they beat Michigan AND WMU/Miami? That would be the only way they get in- as the last place CCHA team isn't going get invited to the dance on it's season's merit.

All I know is that Michigan and Miami will be playing next weekend. Other than that, percentages favor Michigan, incumbents favor Miami, "need" favors Western, and Cinderella favors Bowling Green.

 

[MichPieGuy]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

Well summarized. Miami looked all but dead for the Field of 16 5 or 6 weeks ago, and has jelled nicely down the stretch, with Czarnik and Biggs playing with more consistency and complementing Smith, who could be the league's true MVP from what I've seen. UM strong and deep, and likewise playing their best hockey coming down the stretch. Both are safely in the dance, the only question is how high the seeding will be. I still can't understand how WMU is in a logjam with Sparty, and for that matter, even NMU at this point. Certainly they are being penalized for their 2 ties with Union, and gained little benefit from a CCHA finish near the top of the deck. (Did the regular season BG loss hurt enough to drop them to this precarious perch?) BG's playoff run makes a great cinderella story.

I'm hoping that the "need" factor is a trump card and will get Murray a Dance invitation with a Friday win. They are a low-scoring, defense and goaltending-dependent team. A 2-1 game works well to their favor, one would think. If Miami's firepower has the puck in the Bronco end the entire game, it doesn't bode well for Western. I see Cinderella's story ending at the Joe on Friday night, but it sure would be fun if it continued awhile! Will this run be enough to make hockey again relevant at BG and draw more interest than just the handful it now does, extending the program's life when the WCHA becomes the calling card?

Oh, yeah. To the Horse Chestnuts, where hockey is already CLEARLY irrelevant to the local kool-aid drinkers, having a wonderful time, glad you're not here.

 

[bluevox]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

As for BGSU. Wow, where did they come from?? Can they beat Michigan? No question- they did a few weeks ago. Can they beat Michigan AND WMU/Miami? That would be the only way they get in- as the last place CCHA team isn't going get invited to the dance on it's season's merit.

If BGSU beats Michigan on Friday, they better darn-well win on Saturday.

 

[wooderson]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

This is the most exciting final weekend in a while in my opinion, all four teams are coming with huge momentum. Miami's demolition-job of MSU was especially impressive. Michigan and Miami look like slight favorites right now, but they'll both have less to play for then their semi-final opponents so we'll see.

I expect the Friday night crowd to be pretty sparse. Lots of empty seats at Yost this past Friday when hockey conflicted with basketball, and of the two games this Friday the basketball game obviously has much higher stakes. We'll see if Bowling Green can take advantage.

 

[Arwen22266]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

Dunno if this is appropriate, flame when/where necessary:

Sad Spartan hockey fans once again forced to sell CCHA finals tickets. The top four teams in the league meet at Joe Louis Arena on Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17 to decide the tournament championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament. These are our season tickets - Section 121 in the lower bowl, Row 12, Seats 1-2. We have tickets for both days, for a total of four games. Face value for both days is $90 total; seeking $75 or best offer. Willing to sell individual days if necessary. PM me if interested. Thanks!

 

[Caustic Undertow]

Re: CCHA Championship Weekend: (2) Michigan, (3) Western Michigan, (4) Miami, and (11

Some people never learn.

We have lots of good players, sure. some may consider them loaded. I don't, and in no manner are they the most depth I've seen on a Michigan team. That would be '96, and we lost in the national Semi.

Maybe the 4th line would be the #1 line on some teams, but not on any of the teams that are heading to the Joe.

Hunwick- very good. But not Marty Turco.

As for the rest- this is the CCHA Championship, not the NCAA, and for sure not the Frozen Four- so lets not get too far ahead.

Moving on to the rest of the weekend....

Miami is a great team, and, like Michigan, isn't really pressured to win this weekend to play next weekend. For the most part, teams that don't have that burdon seem to do well on the weekend- so I do like Miami vs. Michigan in the championship game.

OTOH, there are years where the teams that HAVE to win, do. Western needs a win to make sure they make the final 16, that's a lot of reason to play. IMHO, that win NEEDS to happen Friday, unless they play Michigan on Saturday- a win against BGSU doesn't help much. They barely have it on MSU at the moment, and with how fluid the PWR is, I can't really predict how other tournaments play to their advantage. That should make the WMU-Miami game a real barn burner Friday.

As for BGSU. Wow, where did they come from?? Can they beat Michigan? No question- they did a few weeks ago. Can they beat Michigan AND WMU/Miami? That would be the only way they get in- as the last place CCHA team isn't going get invited to the dance on it's season's merit.

All I know is that Michigan and Miami will be playing next weekend. Other than that, percentages favor Michigan, incumbents favor Miami, "need" favors Western, and Cinderella favors Bowling Green.

Totally agree. You mean '97, though, right? When future Stanley Cup winners like John Madden were just "regular guys" on the line chart?

I dare say Michigan has had depth issues for a few years. Lack of depth (and zero scoring depth) cost us a national championship last season; it's not much better now. When Red speaks of a line's shift providing the "breather" that the rest of the team needs, that's not depth. When Michigan basically won't play its sixth defenseman, that's not depth. Scoring punch is sorely lacking, too.

This is not a "vintage" Michigan hockey team in any sense except its Pairwise position, and of course its perpetual presence in Detroit. But then, last season's edition was not "vintage" either, and they somehow made it to the last game.

Michigan almost has a 1-seed locked up, but there are a couple of (remote) scenarios that could drop them into the #2 region. A BG win will lock it up. Miami has a #1 seed in sight as well, and I am <b>really</b> glad Michigan won't play them until the second game, if at all. They've caught fire since their "run Hunwick" show at Yost a few weeks ago. I would peg them as the favorite to win the whole thing.

Michigan's inexplicable loss to BG two weeks ago suddenly looks both explicable and valuable, since they will be less likely to look past the Falcons on Friday. Should be a cracking afternoon of hockey in front of 3,000 at the Joe.