Assuming the home-and-home deal with Minnesota was for two years, both teams have October 13/14 open. That would leave October 20/21 open for UMass to come to Kato. Not exactly easing into things if that's how it comes off.
Seems like a good pickup, like that he wore a letter in junior and college. Have to wonder if Damien Carfagna from New Hampshire is next. Was a midseason acquisition for Strand his last season in Sioux City. Would round out the defensive corps nicely.
Well, if MSU wants to be among the bluebloods, they've got to play the bluebloods. I hope this aggressive scheduling continues under the Strand regime.
The home/home vs. Goofs sounds right, but I'm happy (if) we're taking the year off from Duluth and (especially) St. Cloud.
Love an in-state rivalry as much as the next person but it gets a little repetitive when six of your nonconference games each year are the same in-state teams.
So who can the Mavs play NC beyond the usual MN rivals, AND without having to buy plane tickets? Thinking North Dakota, Omaha, perhaps Notre Dame, perhaps Western Mich. That's about it. Forget about the Big Ten schools wanting to play in 'kato, except for the Goofs.
Yeah that's the other side of the coin, Gophs, Cloud and Duluth are cheap trips and usually good competition. Denver and/or CC would be good but right on the edge where you'd probably want to fly. There's Lindenwood, but that doesn't really move the meter. Maybe Strand has a good enough relationship with Rohlik to get Ohio State to agree to a home-and-home.
As said on other forums, there needs to be more East/West NC games.
Those rivalries are not only cheap travel, good competition, and willing to go to Kato, they also draw. Who cares if you play the same 3 team for 6 of our 8 NC games. That checks just about every box you could hope for.
Outside of an independent, Kato (and most of the CCHA) has a hard time playing a non-NCHC or B1G school. As said on other forums, there needs to be more East/West NC games.
Geography quirks: To give some sense as to how spread out the CCHA is, Bowling Green to Mankato is the same distance as Bowling Green to Hamden, CT.
Boston is a good destination- any of four good teams to have on your resume at the end of the year.
Hence the "most".
I got your point, I just thought it was interesting within the context of the Mavs expanding their range of OOC opponents that the midway point between Mankato and Hamden was BG. Maybe not. Apologies.
Edit: In the Quinnipiac thread they've bemoaned the lack of western teams on their OOC schedule. It may have helped had I connected the two more explicitly in my reply.
Has anyone heard rumblings on possible assistants? I believe Kirtland stays, but as of 7/1 they can add a 3rd assistant.
I think Andy Johnson would be a great Hockey Ops.
Has anyone heard rumblings on possible assistants? I believe Kirtland stays, but as of 7/1 they can add a 3rd assistant.
I think Andy Johnson would be a great Hockey Ops.
Curley did an outstanding job at Anchorage. He kept that team together and they skated hard each night. You didn’t come off a game against Anchorage and feel all soft and comfy.Strand kind of putting it on the back burner right away makes me think he's looking at someone from the USHL playoffs. Matt Curley at Des Moines is intriguing. I know his Anchorage teams were anything but inspiring, but might have been a case of getting your shot at a head coach spot too early and in a no-win situation. Anthony Noreen would also be a good hire if he wants to make the jump to college.
Last point is spot on, too.
