CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

[kariya]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Is Olver and the two Sweds leaving after this year? Why? Did they exhaust all their eligibility in three seasons like Buddy Smith did?

Hopefully the Cats can do it in three. Really not sure about this one?!? Special teams will be the key to the series. I don't think there will be a lot of penalties by either team. I predict a very low scoring series 3-2, 2-1 and 4-2; Northern!

 

[Hockey4Life]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Olver is drafted by Colorado and they would have to sign him early for him to leave NMU. With the new NHL collective bargaining agreement most NHL teams try to sign their good prospects prior to their senoir year. If Colorado believes that he is a good prospect they will likely try to sign him.
Gustafsson and Hanson are both free agents. Gustafsson was a CCHA 1st team all star last year and will probably be selected again this season. It is certainly possible for an NHL team to try and sign him this year.
Hanson is a good player and is showing continued improvement but has not had the type of season that typically would attract NHL free agent interest.

 

[NMU8405]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Olver is drafted by Colorado and they would have to sign him early for him to leave NMU. With the new NHL collective bargaining agreement most NHL teams try to sign their good prospects prior to their senoir year. If Colorado believes that he is a good prospect they will likely try to sign him.
Gustafsson and Hanson are both free agents. Gustafsson was a CCHA 1st team all star last year and will probably be selected again this season. It is certainly possible for an NHL team to try and sign him this year.
Hanson is a good player and is showing continued improvement but has not had the type of season that typically would attract NHL free agent interest.

I think its best to lay off this talk until the offseason. Thanks guys and gals.

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

A trip to the semifinals is on the line, but the winner of this series also may just earn itself an NCAA bid. UAF could still possibly get a bid if it loses in three games, but NMU would definitely be on the outside looking in with a series loss.

UAF might be 8-0-2 in its last 10 games, but NMU is 7-1-2 in its last 10 (and 11-3-4 in its last 18).

Both of the previous matchups in Marquette saw the home school jump out to early leads before UAF rallied. NMU led 2-0 in the Friday game before the Nanooks came back to tie, outshooting the WIldcats 12-2 in the third period and overtime. NMU zipped to a 3-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes of the Saturday game and held on for a 3-2 win. (On the other hand NMU used third-period goals to earn ties both nights in Fairbanks, including a two-goal rally the second night.)

The Nanooks have outscored their opponents 27-8 in their current six-game win streak (an average score of 4.5 to 1.3).

Mark Olver 19-27-46 is probably the top forward in the CCHA and senior Brian Stewart has been strong in net (2.39 gaa, .926 save percentage, 15-9-7).

UAF has perhaps the conference's top line in Andy Taranto (17-24-41), Dion Knelsen (19-21_40) and Dustin Sather (10-14-24) --- dont know if they line has a nickname but I might suggest the Dandy Knection as a combination of their first names and Knelsen/Connection -- and sophomore goaltender Scott Green-eggsand-ham has similar numbers to Stewart (2.12 gaa, .922 save percentage, 18-9-9).

Olver the top forward in the CCHA? If you are talking talent wise, then I hope that is a joke.. I'll take Camper, Wingels,Miele, Palmer, Dalpe, Tropp and Caporusso over Olver every day of the week...he's a nice player don't get me wrong but the only reason he's leading the CCHA in scoring is because he's a puck hog.......Should be a good series but I'd be quite surprised if Alaska wasn't heading to the Motown the following weekend.

 

[richl49]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Olver the top forward in the CCHA? If you are talking talent wise, then I hope that is a joke.. I'll take Camper, Wingels,Miele, Palmer, Dalpe, Tropp and Caporusso over Olver every day of the week...he's a nice player don't get me wrong but the only reason he's leading the CCHA in scoring is because he's a puck hog.......Should be a good series but I'd be quite surprised if Alaska wasn't heading to the Motown the following weekend.

I haven't watched anybody play this year (I've only seen UAF once and that was against UAA, but was extremely impressed with the skills and awareness of that top Nanooks line), so am mostly going on word of mouth and point totals. I don't know how good his back-checking or defense are, but I would think if he was a compete puck hog he wouldn't have 27 assists.

After Miami, NMU and UAF might be playing the best hockey in the CCHA right now so this should be a great series. UAF has had its problems winning in Marquette, but I believe almost all of the games have been close. They met in the first round of the CCHA tournament way back in 2003-04 and NMU won 3-1, 3-2. NMU also ended UAF's season last year winning 2-0 in the third-place game.

 

[redhawkman10]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Maybe we could save a few thousand dollars of travel money, stay in Fairbanks and just mail in the results. Seems we haven't got a chance of winning a game, or even scoring against this top ranked opponent MNU. Oh what the heck lets play the games just for the heck of it, worse case we lose two get some pasties and come home. Billy Banks the original creator of "locker room quotes". Thanks

Yea Alaska hasn't played anyone during their current streak, thats why they shot up the PWR standings over the last month. Nice try billy, want to come up with something else?

Sweeping Anchorage was a very impressive feat, since Anchorage has been a giant killer at times this year. NMU needs these games more than Alaska for the tourny but Alaska is playing as well as anyone in the country. And like I said on another thread now that Alaska has seemed to find some consistant scoring they are one of the most dangerous teams in the country.

With that said, NMU always finds a way to get to the Joe somehow so you can never count them out. Walt Kyle is a heckuva coach, sure glad the administration didn't listen to billy and fire him , and always has his team playing its best at the right time. This team will live and die with how stewart is playing. When he is on he can steal games like he did in oxford last year. But when he is off he is really off and gets pulled. He has played really well lately and no reason to suspect he won't this weekend either.

Best series of the weekend if you ask me.

 

[Billy Blanks]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Yea Alaska hasn't played anyone during their current streak, thats why they shot up the PWR standings over the last month. Nice try billy, want to come up with something else?

Best series of the weekend if you ask me.

Well, no one did ask you.

Nice try? Please look at Alaska's schedule and show me a good team that they've beaten on this "streak". Since JANUARY 1ST, they've beaten Nebraska once and Michigan State once. Wow, I'm really impressed!!!

NMU sweeps.

Next.

 

[richl49]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Please look at Alaska's schedule and show me a good team that they've beaten on this "streak". Since JANUARY 1ST, they've beaten Nebraska once and Michigan State once. Wow, I'm really impressed!!!

NMU sweeps.

Next.

Since UAF and NMU last met this is how each team has fared:

UAF
W 2-0 vs. Michigan State
T 1-1 vs. Michigan State
W 4-1 at Ohio State
T 3-3 at Ohio State
W 4-0 vs. Lake Superior
W 5-1 vs. Lake Superior
W 7-4 @ Alaska Anchorage
W 3-2 vs. Alaska Anchorage
W 4-0 vs. Western Michgian
W 4-1 vs. Western Michigan

NMU
T 3-3 @ Ferris State
W 4-0 @ Ferris State
W 7-2 vs. Western Michigan
W 2-1 vs. Western Michigan
W 3-1 @ Michigan
L 5-4 @ Michigan
W 2-1, OT vs. Lake Superior
W 3-0 vs. Lake Superior

I'm sorry, but I think there is very little to differentiate in the quality of competition down the stretch (Ferris State was 3-7-4 in its last 14 games so a win and tie there isn't as impressive as it looks IMO and while a win at Michigan is good, Michigan was only one spot above Ohio State in the standings). The results against Western and Lake State are a wash. Not trying to argue that UAF is better, or hotter than NMU or that they will win the series, just that the results down the stretch would indicate they are pretty even, as would the three ties and one-goal loss in their four matchups this season.

 

[Methodical]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Well, no one did ask you.

Nice try? Please look at Alaska's schedule and show me a good team that they've beaten on this "streak". Since JANUARY 1ST, they've beaten Nebraska once and Michigan State once. Wow, I'm really impressed!!!

NMU sweeps.

Next.

As an Alaska fan I'm obviously hoping for a victory. Your just making that proposition sweeter to me.

If you can't see how evenly matched these teams are, you need to take your blinders off. It will come down to who is feeling better, NMU's home ice advantage, and luck.

 

[Billy Blanks]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

That's my job! Alaska is the enemy as far as I'm concerned and I will show them no mercy.

NMU holds a huge advantage here, HOME ICE. Discount that all you want and say that these teams are evenly matched, blah, blah, blah. NMU is VERY GOOD at home and Alaska is extremely average to below average on the road.

Sweep.

 

[mmf]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

As a fan base, we pretty much suck at trash talking. There are only a few regulars on the board, and not that we're a "mature" group or anything, but when alcohol and drugs are mentioned many of us are thinking “rubbing” and “Aleve.” Plus, history has not been kind to the braggarts of our group.

Sure, we occasionally have our buttons pushed, but you don’t know what it’s like it to have some obnoxious, in-state, rival fan base, whose team generally sucks, espousing the superiority of their conference, always yapping away.

I understand the Nooks left tonight, so they should get to Marquette with plenty of time to adjust. It’s not like there’re not used to it. No excuses. No surprises. Whoever works the hardest and executes their systems the best will most likely prevail.

Here’s to a well played, injury free series. And don’t forget what they say about the law of averages. Oh, and I almost forgot,...NMU sucks. There, take that.

Go Nooks!

 

[davyd83]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Olver the top forward in the CCHA? If you are talking talent wise, then I hope that is a joke.. I'll take Camper, Wingels,Miele, Palmer, Dalpe, Tropp and Caporusso over Olver every day of the week...he's a nice player don't get me wrong but the only reason he's leading the CCHA in scoring is because he's a puck hog.......Should be a good series but I'd be quite surprised if Alaska wasn't heading to the Motown the following weekend.

Puck hog? If he's such a "puck hog," then how did he put up more assists than any of the players you mention? In fact, he led the CCHA in ASSISTS!

Just because your guys couldn't take the puck away, doesn't make him a puck hog.

 

[NMU8405]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Olver the top forward in the CCHA? If you are talking talent wise, then I hope that is a joke.. I'll take Camper, Wingels,Miele, Palmer, Dalpe, Tropp and Caporusso over Olver every day of the week...he's a nice player don't get me wrong but the only reason he's leading the CCHA in scoring is because he's a puck hog.......Should be a good series but I'd be quite surprised if Alaska wasn't heading to the Motown the following weekend.

Whats That? I cant hear you from the dark Taffy arena. I must have missed you on your fall but NMU was too busy working on fourth place. Wasnt Lake State in fourth at one point? Hmm. From the looks of it, you could have used that offense from Olver. What was it? Only scored two goals last weekend against Michigan? But I mean, you beat Canisius twice this year. You can go hang your hat on that one.

Its too bad Mahoney-Wilson wasnt a puck hog Bigger holes than Swiss Cheese, that little Sieve, but you cant expect much from a Community College.

 

[sweet canadian mullet]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Sure, we occasionally have our buttons pushed, but you don’t know what it’s like it to have some obnoxious, in-state, rival fan base, whose team generally sucks, espousing the superiority of their conference, always yapping away.

i hate when nmu and uaf face each other, mainly cuz i want both in the final game. oh well, go cats! and if nmu loses, go nooks!

 

[richl49]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

i hate when nmu and uaf face each other, mainly cuz i want both in the final game. oh well, go cats! and if nmu loses, go nooks!

Go Cats? What the hell, I thought at one point you cheered for UAF, or at least a player on the UAF squad (I can't remember for sure who, but I'm going to take a blind guess that it was Curtis Fraser).

I actually agree with you, if there is any team other than UAF that I enjoy seeing do well it is Northern Michigan. I'm really not sure why I like them over Lake State, Ferris State or UNO, but I do, it might simply be that they have been more successfuly on a regular basis than those other schools so seem a more likely challenger to the Michigans and Michigan States. There seem to be some similarties in remote northern communities (one a little more so than the other : ) and in their respective rivalries with bottom tier WCHA teams.

I do wonder if UAF beats NMU this weekend and NMU misses the NCAA tournament again what Billy Blanks will have to say about the Cats head coach.

UAF fans seem very Canadian in our lack of ability to trash talk, but it is good for BB to at least try to provide us some fodder to get angry about if we are too pragmatic and apologetic in our attempts to contradict his outlook.

 

[nmu_27]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

NMU fans just need to think back to when UAF upset us in the opening game in Detroit. That was just a weird game and a horrible loss. Granted it was great for their program, but it just ruined my whole trip.

NMU does have one more advantage, Alaska can't get fired up by that terrorist polar bear in their opening video if they are on the road.

Plus I'll be going to see my only games in Marquette of the season this weekend, so that can't hurt.

 

[Wildpantswilly]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

I don't know if anyone else in the Marquette area has noticed, but the athletic department is doing a **** fine job (which is a very rare thing) of promoting this series. I think we could see the Berry at capacity for this series. For those out of the area, here is a summary of what I've seen the AD do to support this assertion.

-Selling tickets to students both in the MP and in the Starbucks area
-Radio, TV, and newspaper advertisements
-Posters in academic halls and residence halls
-Posters in community areas
-A few more I can't think of because it's early

Let's pack the Berry and make it to the NCAA's and the Joe! Go Cats!

 

[northwindsports]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

I think something bears saying here, and if I'm repeating an earlier post, I apologize. But these teams have met four times already this season, and the Nanooks have yet to win a single game. The Wildcats have played in every type of game, even trailing by two goals in the third period, and they refuse to go down. Not only are is the UAF team winless against the 'Cats this year, when the series came to Marquette, they never even led. Through 125 minutes of play, the 'Nooks didn't lead for a single one of them. I've got to think that Walt Kyle has had things mostly figured out, at least on the defensive front. Should be a good series, but I think the 'Cats will take it.

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

Whats That? I cant hear you from the dark Taffy arena. I must have missed you on your fall but NMU was too busy working on fourth place. Wasnt Lake State in fourth at one point? Hmm. From the looks of it, you could have used that offense from Olver. What was it? Only scored two goals last weekend against Michigan? But I mean, you beat Canisius twice this year. You can go hang your hat on that one.

Its too bad Mahoney-Wilson wasnt a puck hog Bigger holes than Swiss Cheese, that little Sieve, but you cant expect much from a Community College.

I'm not saying Olver is a shi**y player or that I wouldn't like to have him on my team... all I'm saying is that a lot of the time "he tries to do it all himself" an exact quote that has been used by your fans on your own thread to describe him, so it's not like I'm the first person to suggest it..... the bottom line is that he is simply not as talented as the players that were mentioned...he has more points than those players because they have other cream of the crop offensive weapons on their team as well and are counted on quite so heavily like Olver is...he's a good player but you people act like he is some superstar...but you never know, maybe he will prove me wrong and have a very successful pro career....in the ECHL

Yea Lake State tanked, but we finished where we were expected to at the beginning of the season....your program was expected to be an NCAA tourney team was it not? Barring a miracle those dreams will be washed down the drain yet again...you know what the difference is between a team that finished shi**y and missed the tournament and a team that finished strong but missed the tournament?? Absolutely nothing

One more thing, isn't it embarrassing that a "community college" still has more national championships and successful pro alumni than such an established university like yourselves??

 

[mmf]

Re: CCHA Second Round: Alaska @ NMU

I think something bears saying here...

I must respond to your hairball analysis (I stuck with the tongue-in-cheek opening line theme). Of course, as the Wildcats know, putting it altogether at the right time is what counts. If you count OT as a period, then the Cats out-shot the Nooks only 4 times out of 15 periods this season. Noteworthy is that the Nooks outshot the Cats 7-1 in OTs. So a team with those stats who have developed the ability to finish down the stretch could be dangerous. With eighteen underclassmen, sometimes it takes just a little more time to turn the corner.

But it won’t be easy, the Nooks are going up against the second hardest working team in hockey. See, I can write a worthless analysis too.

Go Nooks!