Re: Ncha 11-12
Well here come my long awaited predictions.
Once again...I'm expecting a crazy, tough, season in the NCHA where the top 5 or so teams can beat eachother on any given night.
Finishing in last......Finlandia.
Finlandia had a few solid years where they could at least give some teams a run for their money. But that has all gone away. I don't see them winning a conference game this year...or any games for that matter.
10th: Marian...
Marian didn't have to great of a first couple seasons. I think this year as they have grown together as a team they will come away with more wins...maybe 5 or 6. Depending on how far CUW has fallen off, they could be 9.
9th: Concordia
Almost a complete roster turnover after last year's surprising run. Their first game is at Marian, so we should get some sort of idea where they are at. Could be a long year.
8th: Stevens Point.
Continued turmoil in the locker room and loss of players will plague the Pointers this season. They will be lucky to make the playoffs this year.
7th: St Scholastica
Scholastica had an up and down year last season. Beating teams like Concordia, tying Lake Forest, taking Superior to OT, with experience they will get over that hump and win some games this year.
6th: Lake Forest
Huge turnover in players last year, small roster, rumors of lockerroom drama...could make it a long year for the Foresters. IF the drop off has been more significant than i'm predicting...we could see them fall to 7 or 8.
Now it gets harder
5th: Eau Claire
Will they be able to overcome the loss of Faber? Faber had 13 more goals than anyone else on the team last year...who will step up to replace that scoring power?? The Blugolds stingy defense will keep them in the mix, but they don't have the fire power to keep up with the teams above them.
4th: Adrian
A collective cry of happiness was heard coming from Adrian, MI last spring as the coach who had lost control of her team was let go. Two of their top 3 scorers from last year return. The loss of Kempson will be tough on them...where's Salis? Probably the best goalie in the league last year as well. The biggest question has got to be, "how will the new coach's program work, and how long will it take to implement? They don't have much time to waste as they play the other four teams in my top five in the first 6 weeks of the season.
3rd: Superior----yes Superior
I'm tired of them not scoring goals. Laughlin needs to figure out what is wrong with his power play and why the ladies can't get the puck in the net. Until that happens, they can't compete with the best.
2nd: St Norbert
The Knights hung in with the best of them last season, and I think they will do more than hang in this year. Coach Morgan once again scoured the globe for recruits and brought in some good ones. I forse them giving River Falls a run for their money this season. This team will win the west a title within 3 years.
1st: No shocker--River Falls
This team has been the class of the league for the last couple of seasons. With Deardorff in net, they could be almost unstoppable once again(I'm glad she's a senior!). Coach Cranston always has this team firing on all cylinders and should repeat as NCHA champs once again. If they get through the week of Dec 2-10 unscathed..theycould go the whole way. They start that week with 2 vs Superior, at Gustavus on Tuesday, then 2 home vs St Norbert....will be a rough week. Also look forward to Jan. 18th when Amherst comes to town.
There you have it...I'm almost always right
