Caustic Undertow
Don't read this message. Really.
Michigan's tournament appearance streak may be over, but this post marks my third consecutive season complaining about the NCAA hockey regionals.
Last year we had a robust debate, which you can review here and here. Those piggybacked on a debate from the year before, found here.
Here's the basic argument: 16 college hockey teams are about to play the biggest game of their seasons. Through the year they have played at raucous road arenas and energized home arenas. They have encountered noise, taunts, and tension. And now, with the stakes as high as they can get they will play huge games... and nobody will be there to watch them.
Something has to change.
My proposal* is to disband the regional system and play the first two rounds of the tournament on consecutive weekends (hypothetically, this weekend and next weekend) at the home sites of the higher seeds. As I have demonstrated in the linked threads, attendance would remain the same or improve, while providing substantially better atmosphere and experience for the fans and players. The possibility of a lower seed getting a "home" game against a higher seed would be eliminated (if Michigan had beaten Notre Dame, how happy would Minnesota fans be to play them in Grand Rapids this weekend? Not very happy).
The embarrassment of empty arenas would be eliminated, the players would experience environments that befit the most important games of the season, and 8 fanbases would get to watch their favorite teams in the most exciting context imaginable--win or (stay) home.
Wouldn't you rather watch Minnesota-Yale in front of a raucous Mariucci Arena than in front of thousands of empty seats in Grand Rapids?
NCAA hockey, change the tournament.
_________________
*I love it when people use this word; it suggests that a detailed, sealed packet of literature containing the same information has, simultaneous to this post, been solicited by and submitted to the president of the NCAA for his personal consideration. I get to sound influential and imagine that people are marveling at my ingenuity. In fact, nobody has any idea who I am or what I am talking about.
Last year we had a robust debate, which you can review here and here. Those piggybacked on a debate from the year before, found here.
Here's the basic argument: 16 college hockey teams are about to play the biggest game of their seasons. Through the year they have played at raucous road arenas and energized home arenas. They have encountered noise, taunts, and tension. And now, with the stakes as high as they can get they will play huge games... and nobody will be there to watch them.
Something has to change.
My proposal* is to disband the regional system and play the first two rounds of the tournament on consecutive weekends (hypothetically, this weekend and next weekend) at the home sites of the higher seeds. As I have demonstrated in the linked threads, attendance would remain the same or improve, while providing substantially better atmosphere and experience for the fans and players. The possibility of a lower seed getting a "home" game against a higher seed would be eliminated (if Michigan had beaten Notre Dame, how happy would Minnesota fans be to play them in Grand Rapids this weekend? Not very happy).
The embarrassment of empty arenas would be eliminated, the players would experience environments that befit the most important games of the season, and 8 fanbases would get to watch their favorite teams in the most exciting context imaginable--win or (stay) home.
Wouldn't you rather watch Minnesota-Yale in front of a raucous Mariucci Arena than in front of thousands of empty seats in Grand Rapids?
NCAA hockey, change the tournament.
_________________
*I love it when people use this word; it suggests that a detailed, sealed packet of literature containing the same information has, simultaneous to this post, been solicited by and submitted to the president of the NCAA for his personal consideration. I get to sound influential and imagine that people are marveling at my ingenuity. In fact, nobody has any idea who I am or what I am talking about.
