Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

[bucky15]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

There was one party foul by the people who put this event on....only a few bathrooms were open! What was the deal with that.

Otherwise, it was great event and experience.

 

[Clifton]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

A few thoughts on the experience:

- Overall, my friends and I had a great time. As a Michigan fan, the crowd was pretty much what I've come to expect from Wisconsin fans. The vast majority were extremely friendly (especially the true hockey fans), with just a few of the "HEY YOU SSSUCK BECAUSE YOU'RE FROM MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN SUUUUCKSSSSS" drunks hanging around.
- A lot of the Badger fans I spoke with were pretty disappointed with the game not being against the Gophers, but by the midpoint of the second period, everyone was saying that they were happy that it wasn't against them, at least as a conference game. The ice was just too "off" to justify having it count in the conference standings (players having a tough time cutting to the net on rushes, bad bounces of the puck, and things just being generally slow).
- Yes, the sightlines weren't the greatest, but honestly they weren't worse than I expected. Not the highest praise, but the people in my group new that they were going 75% for the experience, and we made sure to enjoy ourselves.
- We did the Badger pregame tailgate. Nice event to have so close to the venue, and there is no way in a million years that Michigan would ever try such a thing--to the admin, "keg" is a four letter word
- I'm definitely going to do the game at the Big House next year, but that will probably be it for me and outdoor games. Again, it's mostly for the experience, and I doubt that there will be much that could top the idea of 110,000+ at an outdoor game. (In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you don't see many more outdoor college games at all after that one).
- I'll only say one thing about the game--the final ten minutes was a perfect microcosm of Michigan's entire season. Right down to the final whistle.

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

I went to both the women's and the men's game. Just got back home. I enjoyed the games, I too ran in to some similar comments as far as it seeming like some people were at their first game. Overall I enjoyed the event, however, I think there are some things that could have made it better. I won't necessarily elaborate on them, but I think involving the fans a bit more or bringing things closer to the stadium would have been nice (i.e. fan experience). I don't know if I'd go to another outdoor college game, perhaps I will if the Sioux play one. I didn't enjoy being that far away from the ice, being in the student section, let alone anywhere else. I like the Kohl Center, or any other arena, even though you may be in a "crappy" seat, it's still better than a stadium, IMO. It raises my doubts about the atmosphere at the F4 then too, because it's in a stadium, it won't be as "intimate" an atmosphere, if you will.

It was good to see the home team win, the women's game was slow, it was my first one, probably my last. Guy's game was better, until they had to keep fixing the ice, but that comes with the outdoors I suppose.

The womens' games are usually pretty boring and the fact that they arent allow to check is kind of a downer.
We stayed for about the first 10 minutes of the girls' game and then went to the fan experience and the Badger Warmup.
When we were walking from the fan experience to the Badger Warmup, the girls' team had just come out of the lockerroom and were on their way back onto the field and the crowd stopped and cheered/applauded them. That was pretty cool because you could see the girls' faces light up and see them smile and you could tell how much they really appreciated it. No doubt they arent used to getting that kind of an ovation and that was a pretty cool moment.
Id never been to a girls game either and wanted to check it out. I had the same impression as you, it will probably be my first and last girls game. It was still fun, but the slow play and the lack of checking just makes the game kind of boring to watch. It reminded me of watching a high school hockey game.

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

A few thoughts on the experience:

- Overall, my friends and I had a great time. As a Michigan fan, the crowd was pretty much what I've come to expect from Wisconsin fans. The vast majority were extremely friendly (especially the true hockey fans), with just a few of the "HEY YOU SSSUCK BECAUSE YOU'RE FROM MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN SUUUUCKSSSSS" drunks hanging around.

It goes both ways because I was in section Y3 and we had quote a few loud, arrogant Michigan fans who spent much of the game chanting, "red sucks" and other vulger chants that Im not going to repeat.
It was all in fun though, because we spent our fair share of time chanting, "a**hole" at Michigan's goalie when he kept stopping play, whining that there was a problem with the ice and we did the traditional, "you still suck" chant when Michigan score a goal.
Its all good though, those Michigan fans sure werent being very loud or arrogant when the Badgers put their team in it's place.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

It was a pretty darn cool event, although alot of the students around me were clearly at their first hockey game. For instance, I heard this comment around the 10:00 mark of the first.
"We're only up 1-0? God we suck!"

Idiots....

Brings to mind my thoughts on the atmosphere.

My brother-in-law and I were high up in section R, and we had quite a few little drunk freshmen to our right.

Let me just put it this way: they tried to start the P-U-T-I-T-I-N chant four times. Not once was it during a time when Wisconsin had the puck. Bunch of flippin' amatuers.

The student section was doing its best impression of a football game in the second period. Not many people watching the game, and a LOT of people just drunkenly talking amongst themselves. I'm sure it was worse in sections L-N, where I noticed that there were a lot of the "Jump Around" fans (the ones that stay until Jump Around, then leave).

Other than that, great atmosphere- all things considered. The chants don't echo as well as they do from the lower bowl of the Kohl.

 

[wibadgervbfan]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

There was one party foul by the people who put this event on....only a few bathrooms were open! What was the deal with that.

Otherwise, it was great event and experience.

I think the main thing for the bathrooms were to only open the ones that had heaters in them, and not all of them. But that is just a guess, and I don't really know if that's the reason or not.

 

[fritz]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

I loved the way the ice shavings from quick skate stops flew straight up into the air what seemed to have been around 30 feet. It just kept rising and rising. I'm hoping someone posts some photos of that. Very cool! (no pun intended)

 

[streaker]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

Its all good though, those Michigan fans sure werent being very loud or arrogant when the officials put their team in it's place.

Blah, blah Blah.

Fixed your post.

 

[RedFreak]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

A lot of the Badger fans I spoke with were pretty disappointed with the game not being against the Gophers, but by the midpoint of the second period, everyone was saying that they were happy that it wasn't against them, at least as a conference game. The ice was just too "off" to justify having it count in the conference standings (players having a tough time cutting to the net on rushes, bad bounces of the puck, and things just being generally slow).

MacLeod is my hero.

(Not often I'm going to get to say that. Might as well use the opportunity when it arises.)

 

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

...
What I do find surprising is michigan (IIRC) didn't have one penalty until the third, and overall there were only 2-3 called through 2 periods, and at-times that was some really rough hockey on both sides, and both teams maybe skating a bit close to the edge there.

anyway, penalties called or not called, good teams should overcome them in the end.

This is what surprised me. So few penalties called during the game, but all those at the end? Seems to be the opposite of the officiating I've seen in college hockey. Keep the game controlled at the beginning, try not to let it get too chippy, but ultimately let the teams decide it in the end.

I haven't seen replays, and I was watching in a football stadium, so I have no clue on the penalties, but to me, unless it is blatent, effects a scoring opportunity, or could cause serious harm, you let it go late in the third.

But, I agree, good teams have to overcome. Michigan's penalty kill shouldn't have given up 2 goals in a row.

A few thoughts on the experience:

- Overall, my friends and I had a great time. As a Michigan fan, the crowd was pretty much what I've come to expect from Wisconsin fans. The vast majority were extremely friendly (especially the true hockey fans), with just a few of the "HEY YOU SSSUCK BECAUSE YOU'RE FROM MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN SUUUUCKSSSSS" drunks hanging around.

You must have been nowhere near my group. We were in section A and had quite a few people chanting "a-hole" at us. I'm still confused as to which of our 13 people they were referring to, since they never bothered to pluralize it. Oh well. At one point my friend yelled "thesaurus" at them. But mostly we cheered for our team.

Having sat in the Yost student section for the past 4 seasons, even I was surprised/shocked by some of the insults directed to us. That's not to say that such things may not be said by any other fanbase, I am just yet to hear them.

Maybe my side of the stadium was more boring than where others were at, but the atmosphere left a lot to be desired in my opinion. Fans near me were quiet except for when a goal was scored, or when they wanted to taunt the Michigan fans.

My view of outdoor games is what it was before I went. Yeah, it was an interesting experience, but I'd have preferred to see a game at Kohl Center (the one time I was there it was the Showcase, and the crowd was weak due to Thanksgiving).

 

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

This is what surprised me. So few penalties called during the game, but all those at the end? Seems to be the opposite of the officiating I've seen in college hockey. Keep the game controlled at the beginning, try not to let it get too chippy, but ultimately let the teams decide it in the end.

I haven't seen replays, and I was watching in a football stadium, so I have no clue on the penalties, but to me, unless it is blatent, effects a scoring opportunity, or could cause serious harm, you let it go late in the third.

They both were legitimate calls. The first one was a clear trip on the Michigan player and the second one, they tried to knock the stick out of Geoffrion's hand to prevent a goal opportunity. Check out the replay on Big Ten Network if you get a chance.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

I kind of feel the same way about Bennett. I still feel that Gudmanson is the better goalie but if you look at the stats, Bennett has better stats.
I just get the impression that Gudmanson has much more confidence but the stats are something that are unbiased and dont lie.
It doesnt help that the first time I saw Bennett play was the 2nd game against the Gophers when the Badgers got blown out of the building.

Guddy actually has the better stats... 2.18 GA & .919 sv% verses 2.42 GA & .896. I'm not impressed with Bennett at all since he returned from the injury. Unfortunately, it's starting to get late in the season to try to let Bennett work his way through things...especially with Guddy playing at worst respectable.

I'm not too down on Guddy for that second goal. On the replays/highlights, it looked like it deflected off the Badger dman's stick (still so far out that you want your goalie to stop it) and the depth perception/lighting in an outdoor night game has got to be a huge adjustment for goalies.

 

[blockski]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

You must have been nowhere near my group. We were in section A and had quite a few people chanting "a-hole" at us. I'm still confused as to which of our 13 people they were referring to, since they never bothered to pluralize it. Oh well. At one point my friend yelled "thesaurus" at them. But mostly we cheered for our team.

Having sat in the Yost student section for the past 4 seasons, even I was surprised/shocked by some of the insults directed to us. That's not to say that such things may not be said by any other fanbase, I am just yet to hear them.

Maybe my side of the stadium was more boring than where others were at, but the atmosphere left a lot to be desired in my opinion. Fans near me were quiet except for when a goal was scored, or when they wanted to taunt the Michigan fans.

My view of outdoor games is what it was before I went. Yeah, it was an interesting experience, but I'd have preferred to see a game at Kohl Center (the one time I was there it was the Showcase, and the crowd was weak due to Thanksgiving).

That's a football student section thing. You wear opposing colors, you'll get called an a-hole. That's just how it is.

Back when I was a student, opposing fans would get ribbed like this all the time - those that took it in stride and ribbed back in good nature would come over and share a couple beers. Those that had a chip on their shoulder didn't.

 

[aktick]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

That's a football student section thing. You wear opposing colors, you'll get called an a-hole. That's just how it is.

Back when I was a student, opposing fans would get ribbed like this all the time - those that took it in stride and ribbed back in good nature would come over and share a couple beers. Those that had a chip on their shoulder didn't.

Yep, I would expect no less if I was wearing red at an opposing team's arena/stadium.

If I didn't want to be picked on, I wouldn't wear my team's colors.

 

[wolverine318]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

you stay class bucky

I enjoyed the rich rod chats....Hmmm...Am I supposed to be insulted by my head coach who beat you guys with a 3-9 team...

As for the a-hole chats, no crap, I already know I am an a-hole.

Finally, when did the game become a wings/hawks game? I was still puzzled by the wings suck chants. I guess hawks fans are still feeling burned by UW alum Cheli. Thats ok, I am sure Hossa, the human stanley cup curse, will help you win your first cup in 50 seasons...good lord knows the hawks will be over the salary cup come next offseason.

 

[streaker]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

They both were legitimate calls. The first one was a clear trip on the Michigan player and the second one, they tried to knock the stick out of Geoffrion's hand to prevent a goal opportunity. Check out the replay on Big Ten Network if you get a chance.

No one is disputing that the calls were not penalties, although Hogan had already covered the puck when Summers slashed over the top of Geoffrion's stick. They were plays that could have, but weren't called numerous times earlier in the game, but were let go, which is the whole rub, especially since neither were dangerous scoring chances-under 5:00 to go. But to a fan, we'll still say that a PK that has been the strength of the team all season let them down in the clutch again, which is why they lost.

As for Hogan complaining about the hole in the crease- I think it is fair to say that Gudmandson only had to play with it for one period. Michigan asked for the teams to switch ends at the 10:00 mark of the third period and it was denied. It was a problem that could have resulted in injury or a fluke goal (not that Hogan doesn't give up those on his own) and it was legitimate to raise concerns. Wisconsin fans would have been howling on both accounts if the reverse were true.

And FTR, any neg comments about Red Berenson are bush. We respect the deity that is Badger Bob Johnson, at least the same respect can be offered the coach with the 6th best wins in NCAA history.

 

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

That's a football student section thing. You wear opposing colors, you'll get called an a-hole. That's just how it is.

Back when I was a student, opposing fans would get ribbed like this all the time - those that took it in stride and ribbed back in good nature would come over and share a couple beers. Those that had a chip on their shoulder didn't.

Understood, and I certainly did not intend to come off as sounding offended by being called an a-hole. I'm just used that that being a student section thing, and I was nowhere near the student section. I'm also used to that occuring when I walk by/am first spotted, or when I cheer for my team...this chant just seemed to break out randomly and over and over and over and over and over (redundant, huh?) on Saturday.

I have had plenty of fun with playful taunts of opposing fans. We had an awesome time on our walk to the stadium (especially loved the taunts from someone's balcony). For instance "Detroit sucks", "we know".

The comment that really shocked me was from just one person as he was walking up the stairs past us. I'm sure fans like that exist for every team, I was just very surprised.

Oh, and the drunk moron behind us that even his friends were trying to get to shut up (again, every team has those guys...especially in football crowds).

 

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

Understood, and I certainly did not intend to come off as sounding offended by being called an a-hole. I'm just used that that being a student section thing, and I was nowhere near the student section. I'm also used to that occuring when I walk by/am first spotted, or when I cheer for my team...this chant just seemed to break out randomly and over and over and over and over and over (redundant, huh?) on Saturday.

I have had plenty of fun with playful taunts of opposing fans. We had an awesome time on our walk to the stadium (especially loved the taunts from someone's balcony). For instance "Detroit sucks", "we know".

The comment that really shocked me was from just one person as he was walking up the stairs past us. I'm sure fans like that exist for every team, I was just very surprised.

Oh, and the drunk moron behind us that even his friends were trying to get to shut up (again, every team has those guys...especially in football crowds).

Ann Arbor is truly a W H O R E, though. That is undeniable.

 

[alnike]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

They both were legitimate calls. The first one was a clear trip on the Michigan player and the second one, they tried to knock the stick out of Geoffrion's hand to prevent a goal opportunity. Check out the replay on Big Ten Network if you get a chance.

Such strong analysis on the Michigan calls. What about the Wisconsin non-calls?

If Summers gets called for the trip on Gardiner, then perhaps Summers should have been called for a double minor on that play. Let's add a slash to it. Come on, I mean how did Gardiners stick go flying five feet it front of him if no one touched his stick. Maybe Gardiner decided to throw his stick in the air to create some commotion to draw further attention to the play. Is that embellishment? Hopefully the Wisco training staff can get him some stick'um before the next game so he doesn't lose his stick with a scoring opportunity.

If Summers gets called for the slash on Geoffrion, why doesn't Geoffrion get called for goalie interference at the 1:46 mark? Geoffrion tries to skate through Hogan who is in his crease and shoves him into his own defenseman as he attempts to gather a loose puck behind the net. Perhaps Hogan should have done a Gardiner and thrown his stick over the net to embellish it?
Is there still a rule where a player goes into the crease on his own and interferes with the goalie, that it's a penalty or the face off comes out of the zone? And like Gardiner, Geoffrion did the acting like someone must have shoved me into the goalie crease, I was trying to hold off. It's crazy how that happened.

If you call the garbage and get whistle happy, call it both ways.

 

[RedFreak]

Re: Culvers Camp Randall Hockey Classic: Michigan vs UW.. Brrrrrrrr!

As for Hogan complaining about the hole in the crease ... it was legitimate to raise concerns. Wisconsin fans would have been howling on both accounts if the reverse were true.

Yes, we would have.

And FTR, any neg comments about Red Berenson are bush. We respect the deity that is Badger Bob Johnson, at least the same respect can be offered the coach with the 6th best wins in NCAA history.

I lost my respect for Berenson at the NCAA 50th Anniversary celebration (1997, Frozen Four, Milwaukee). After losing in the semi-final game, he left town in a fit of pique rather than stay and attend the on-ice ceremony he was suposed to attend. That was bush.