What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

H

Hobbit

Registered User
Sorry for the new thread....thought this was important

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/88741607.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUjc8LDyiUiacyKUnciaec8O7EyUr

highlights -
6 teams get in. 3-6 and 4-5 play Thursday. Winners play the 1st and 2nd seeds on Friday. Championship game on Saturday night.

NO THIRD PLACE GAME!

Xcel is working on scheduling a Wild game on Saturday afternoon as a warm up for the championship game...wondering how this will work ticket-wise?

The name will stay the same and refer to the number of games instead of the number of teams.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

I thought this type of format was a no-brainer. You win a first round playoff series, you go to the conference tourney. I'm glad common sense won out in the end over some of the crazy ideas that were tossed around.

The third place game had little value, other than to get another gate grab ($$$) from the fans of the teams that lost on Friday. Whether it stayed or went didn't really matter to me. Maybe you could make the argument that a borderline team might need one more good win to make the NCAA field, but you have a whole regular season to position yourself so you don't have to worry about trying to get one more win the last weekend of the season.

Ryan J
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

Great Format, I would love to see a Wild vs Detroit or Wild vs. Colorado game as the warm up :cool: or of course good ole Vancouver
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

This was an attendance nightmare for the CCHA Super 6 on Thursday. Format was scrapped petty quickly.

However, if there is one conference that can pull it off, it's the WCHA. They have enough fan base to get people there for the entire weekend. CCHA relies heavily on 2 teams. I will definitely watch on FSN or whoever carries it.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

I'm okay with this format for the next few years at least. It's pretty equitable to all the WCHA teams, allows for a full set of 6 x (2 or 3) playoff games the weekend before, and will bring in the maximum revenue for the conference. UMD and UND have proven that a team can play three games and win the Broadmoor, in consecutive years no less, so that's not as big an issue as it once was.

However, I expect the WCHA front office to pay attention to how often the 3-6 seeds advance beyond one game in the NCAAs. Having four of twelve teams beat each other up in the Final Five could impact how often WCHA teams get into the Frozen Four. I'm not sure this is worth the tradeoff in increased revenue, but we'll have to see whether there really is an impact.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

IMHO, the lack of a third place game is a big drawback to traveling fans.

In the current format, if your team is ranked 1-3, you know they are going to play two games. If you're ranked 4-5, you know that if you win one game, you're guaranteed three games. As a traveling fan, getting the reward of seeing your team two or three times makes up for the travel and expense in St. Paul. This weekend, the risk/reward to me for North Dakota was worth the trip.

Next year, the guaranteed games for each team is only one. So, a fan has to be a fan of the league or college hockey in general... I just don' t know about the committment of most fans on this one. I think most folks come to see their team, not the WCHA. ...would be interesting to see what a Denver, CC, Michigan Tech, Alaska-Anchorage, Omaha, and Bemidji Final Five would do to attendance TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

Again, having a two-game guarantee (when you earn it) seems like a very valuable thing to the traveling fan. Next year, two teams would earn a three-game guarantee on Thursday, if there was a Third Place game.

(Finally, I will admit that the chance at a National Championship is the ultimate prize and that playing so many games in the last few weeks is rough. However, the Final Five has consistently been a much better event than the Regionals/Frozen Four for fans.)
 
Last edited:
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

goalie heckler said:
IMHO, the lack of a third place game is a big drawback to traveling fans.

In the current format, if your team is ranked 1-3, you know they are going to play two games. If you're ranked 4-5, you know that if you win one game, you're guaranteed three games. As a traveling fan, getting the reward of seeing your team two or three times makes up for the travel and expense in St. Paul. This weekend, the risk/reward to me for North Dakota was worth the trip.

Next year, the guaranteed games for each team is only one. So, a fan has to be a fan of the league or college hockey in general... I just don' t know about the committment of most fans on this one. I think most folks come to see their team, not the WCHA. ...would be interesting to see what a Denver, CC, Michigan Tech, Alaska-Anchorage, Omaha, and Bemidji Final Five would do to attendance TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

Again, having a two-game guarantee (when you earn it) seems like a very valuable thing to the traveling fan. Next year, two teams would earn a three-game guarantee on Thursday, if there was a Third Place game.

(Finally, I will admit that the chance at a National Championship is the ultimate prize and that playing so many games in the last few weeks is rough. However, the Final Five has consistently been a much better event than the Regionals/Frozen Four for fans.)
Click to expand...

I don't think the 1 vs 2 games in a weekend is a big deal. Its the same format as the NCAA tournament. You travel for 1 guaranteed game, and if you win you get a 2nd one. Same expense issues.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

goalie heckler said:
IMHO, the lack of a third place game is a big drawback to traveling fans.

In the current format, if your team is ranked 1-3, you know they are going to play two games. If you're ranked 4-5, you know that if you win one game, you're guaranteed three games. As a traveling fan, getting the reward of seeing your team two or three times makes up for the travel and expense in St. Paul. This weekend, the risk/reward to me for North Dakota was worth the trip.

Next year, the guaranteed games for each team is only one. So, a fan has to be a fan of the league or college hockey in general... I just don' t know about the committment of most fans on this one. I think most folks come to see their team, not the WCHA. ...would be interesting to see what a Denver, CC, Michigan Tech, Alaska-Anchorage, Omaha, and Bemidji Final Five would do to attendance TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

Again, having a two-game guarantee (when you earn it) seems like a very valuable thing to the traveling fan. Next year, two teams would earn a three-game guarantee on Thursday, if there was a Third Place game.

(Finally, I will admit that the chance at a National Championship is the ultimate prize and that playing so many games in the last few weeks is rough. However, the Final Five has consistently been a much better event than the Regionals/Frozen Four for fans.)
Click to expand...

Consolation games are terrible. All conferences should do away with them, and I am very glad the WCHA is doing without them.

If you lose the play-in or semifinal game, you don't deserve another chance to improve your PWR or NCAA tournament worth. Makes winning MUCH more valuable.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

JF_Gophers said:
I don't think the 1 vs 2 games in a weekend is a big deal. Its the same format as the NCAA tournament. You travel for 1 guaranteed game, and if you win you get a 2nd one. Same expense issues.
Click to expand...

Maybe you're unfamiliar with the average Regional attendance verses the Final Five attendance... because you seem to contradict yourself. The Final Five is much better attended.

Have you ever travelled to a Final Five or NCAA Regional?
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

goalie heckler said:
Maybe you're unfamiliar with the average Regional attendance verses the Final Five attendance... because you seem to contradict yourself. The Final Five is much better attended.

Have you ever travelled to a Final Five or NCAA Regional?
Click to expand...

This is the sad part about college sports now-a-days. Its more about attendance than the teams on the ice. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

goalie heckler said:
Maybe you're unfamiliar with the average Regional attendance verses the Final Five attendance... because you seem to contradict yourself. The Final Five is much better attended.

Have you ever travelled to a Final Five or NCAA Regional?
Click to expand...

Yes to both. Of course the FF has only been in 1 other state (WI) which isnt that far away.

Plus with 5 Minnesota based teams going forward, you would think the attendance will still be good as the local teams and alumni show up.
 
Last edited:
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

Eaglefan06 said:
This is the sad part about college sports now-a-days. Its more about attendance than the teams on the ice. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

You don't enjoy watching your team?

You don't think that crowds make it more enjoyable for the players?

Good attendance and quality play aren't exclusive. You can have both. So, I don't know what you're advocating... would you like the games to be played without fans?
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

goalie heckler said:
You don't enjoy watching your team?

You don't think that crowds make it more enjoyable for the players?

Good attendance and quality play aren't exclusive. You can have both. So, I don't know what you're advocating... would you like the games to be played without fans?
Click to expand...

Wow, talk about skewing a post to read what you want to read.

Fact is you said there should be a consolation because of attendance, when in reality attendance shouldn't play a factor. The only reason there are consolation games now is because its a way to make more money. However, these conference tournament games should be about earning your spot in the next round and if you don't, you shouldn't get a chance to improve your NCAA tournament status like now.

It will be a great day when conference tournaments a) stop allowing all teams to make the postseason and b) stop having consolation games.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

Most locals to the F5 (no matter what fanbase) don't even bother with a 3rd place game.

Also, many people take the F5 Thursday off, anyways, so now instead of hanging out somewhere, they actually get to see a game they care about.

I like it.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

JF_Gophers said:
I don't think the 1 vs 2 games in a weekend is a big deal. Its the same format as the NCAA tournament. You travel for 1 guaranteed game, and if you win you get a 2nd one. Same expense issues.
Click to expand...

Says the man from Minneapolis. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

goalie heckler said:
IMHO, the lack of a third place game is a big drawback to traveling fans.

In the current format, if your team is ranked 1-3, you know they are going to play two games. If you're ranked 4-5, you know that if you win one game, you're guaranteed three games. As a traveling fan, getting the reward of seeing your team two or three times makes up for the travel and expense in St. Paul. This weekend, the risk/reward to me for North Dakota was worth the trip.

Next year, the guaranteed games for each team is only one. So, a fan has to be a fan of the league or college hockey in general... I just don' t know about the committment of most fans on this one. I think most folks come to see their team, not the WCHA. ...would be interesting to see what a Denver, CC, Michigan Tech, Alaska-Anchorage, Omaha, and Bemidji Final Five would do to attendance TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

Again, having a two-game guarantee (when you earn it) seems like a very valuable thing to the traveling fan. Next year, two teams would earn a three-game guarantee on Thursday, if there was a Third Place game.

(Finally, I will admit that the chance at a National Championship is the ultimate prize and that playing so many games in the last few weeks is rough. However, the Final Five has consistently been a much better event than the Regionals/Frozen Four for fans.)
Click to expand...

As someone who has to make a big commitment in time and dollars every year to go to St. Paul, I think you've nailed it for a lot of us travelers.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

RedFreak said:
Says the man from Minneapolis. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
His point is a valid one, though. If you travel to the regional, you are running the risk of seeing your team lose on the first day. If that happens, do you just say * it and leave? Or do you go to the other game(s)?

The 3rd place game is typically not well-attended, the atmosphere is generally dead, and more often than not, one or both teams involved aren't exactly bringing their A game. It's rather anti-climactic when compared to all the other games played in the tournament.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

Bakunin said:
His point is a valid one, though. If you travel to the regional, you are running the risk of seeing your team lose on the first day. If that happens, do you just say * it and leave? Or do you go to the other game(s)?
Click to expand...

Nothing to be done about the Regional, but these two weekends (WCHA/Regional) occur back-to-back, which compounds the problem with the new format, assuming you go to both. Speaking as someone who has been to every WCHA Final 4/5, and who goes to all the games no matter who's playing, I have had a lot of experience with the old format. It was VERY nice to be assured that you will get to see your team twice.

An additional kick in the head to the travelers is the first game on Thursday is at 2 rather than 7, which for many means a fourth hotel night (W,R,F,S). All and all, this sticks it to the travellers.
 
Re: Format for 2011 WCHA final Five

RedFreak said:
It was VERY nice to be assured that you will get to see your team twice.
Click to expand...
I'd rather not see my team twice if the second time is in a meaningless game.
kick in the head to the travelers is the first game on Thursday is at 2 rather than 7, which for many means a fourth hotel night (W,R,F,S). All and all, this sticks it to the travellers.
Click to expand...
So book ten nights on hotels.com before then and cash in the freebie for that fourth night in St. Paul. :p

I wouldn't be opposed to them pushing the start times of the games back - having the first one at 3:30 and the second one at 8 for example.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top