Notre Dame to Hockey East

[ericredaxe]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

I would prefer to stick with the current format and just let the bottom 4 or bottom 3 miss the playoffs. With 4 teams out, it would put an even higher premium on every point. Obviously there already is, but it would be that much harder to make the playoffs.

Agreed.

Bertagna has said in the past that he is a big fan of the Final Five format with a play in game, wouldn't be at all surprised to see them go that direction.

I hope not.

Also, with an unbalanced schedule (assuming they would have one with 11), the premium on some points would be different than others. It would be interesting to hear the complaining in particular locations if one school that played more bottom feeders edged out a school that played more top schools.

Which is potentially a legitimate complaint... what if you lost home ice by one point and during the regular season you lost your extra game against the top seed, while the team that beat you out for home ice, won their extra regular season game aganst the worst team in the league?

This comment made me laugh a bit because all I typically hear from Easterners (minus a few specific fanbases) is that regular season titles don't really mean much as it is. It is solely about the Tournament.

Having all of the teams make the conference tournament is exciting, and allows for upsets and "miracle" runs to occur. It also gives the fans from those fanbases to rally around towards the end of the season. It doesn't render the regular season useless.

On the other hand though, not letting everyone in the playoffs, makes the last couple of weekends of the regular season much more exciting.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Usually the "specific fanbases" are the ones that win regular season titles. Having all of the teams in the conference tournament makes you wonder what the point of a 5 month regular season is, as all the regular season then does is determine where playoff games are held. At least when teams don't make the playoffs, you have something to play for in the regular season.

I'm not exactly a PWR expert, but doesn't the regular season play a pretty big part in determining at-large NCAA tournament bids?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

I'm not exactly a PWR expert, but doesn't the regular season play a pretty big part in determining at-large NCAA tournament bids?

OK, let me rephrase: What is the point of having regular season LEAGUE games?

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

OK, let me rephrase: What is the point of having regular season LEAGUE games?

Well not much in the ECAC. In HE, usually half or more are TUC as well as fighting got the COP portion as well as the OOC schedule which is usually played against TUC.

 

[Eaglefan06]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

Also, with an unbalanced schedule (assuming they would have one with 11), the premium on some points would be different than others. It would be interesting to hear the complaining in particular locations if one school that played more bottom feeders edged out a school that played more top schools. With 12 teams, I would assume that there would be a balanced schedule, which renders this point moot.



This comment made me laugh a bit because all I typically hear from Easterners (minus a few specific fanbases) is that regular season titles don't really mean much as it is. It is solely about the Tournament.

Having all of the teams make the conference tournament is exciting, and allows for upsets and "miracle" runs to occur. It also gives the fans from those fanbases to rally around towards the end of the season. It doesn't render the regular season useless.

Nope. It is the post-season. We aren't in mites here where everyone needs a participatory trophy. It's a **** shame the Hockey East is the only conference who has figured this out.

8 out of 12 is more than enough teams for the HE Tourny. You need to play well during the regular season to get a chance to play for the auto-bid. End of story.

 

[SJHovey]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

Nope. It is the post-season. We aren't in mites here where everyone needs a participatory trophy. It's a **** shame the Hockey East is the only conference who has figured this out.

8 out of 12 is more than enough teams for the HE Tourny. You need to play well during the regular season to get a chance to play for the auto-bid. End of story.

I am in the camp that has always liked playoff formats where very few teams make the playoffs, rather than everyone. It's one of the reasons I really liked baseball before they started watering it down with "wild cards".

On the other hand, I think it's kind of silly for leagues where 8 of 11 or 8 of 12 teams make the playoffs to be critical of 10 team leagues where everyone makes the playoffs. I mean if you want to make the regular season really mean something, do it. Limit the playoffs to 4 of your 12 teams.

I will also say that the WCHA Final 5, three day tournament at one location has been a blast, and it is still, for my money, the highlight of the college hockey season (and that includes the Frozen Four).

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

Nope. It is the post-season. We aren't in mites here where everyone needs a participatory trophy. It's a **** shame the Hockey East is the only conference who has figured this out.

8 out of 12 is more than enough teams for the HE Tourny. You need to play well during the regular season to get a chance to play for the auto-bid. End of story.

Don't get me started on the Union Rule in the ECAC. At least for the women, we still do top 8.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

I'm a fan of the CCHA playoff format (particularly the 12-team one), where the top four teams earn byes and home ice advantage in the quarterfinals, while the next four teams earn home ice advantage in the octofinals.

 

[J.D.]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

ND has expressed a preference for the ACC over the B1G, *IF* they do not stay independent.

Well I understood that part of it, but what's the reasoning you've heard/read? Same as Craig?

This comment made me laugh a bit because all I typically hear from Easterners (minus a few specific fanbases) is that regular season titles don't really mean much as it is. It is solely about the Tournament.

Winning the RS is a great accomplishment but in and of itself, it is in a way "meaningless". FWIW, I've always maintained that the RS champ is more deserving of an auto bid than the tourney champ, but I suppose it doesn't really matter as the RS champ usually makes it in anyway and there haven't been too many situations where a team won its conference tourney to get in. Plus, it does make the playoffs a little more exciting as the bottom dwellers would throw in the towel in the QFs if there was no auto bid available.

I'm a fan of the CCHA playoff format (particularly the 12-team one), where the top four teams earn byes and home ice advantage in the quarterfinals, while the next four teams earn home ice advantage in the octofinals.

If HE goes to 12, this is what I'd like to see. If they stay at 11, top three get a bye into the QFs.

4 v 11
5 v 10
6 v 9
7 v 8

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

If HE goes to 12, this is what I'd like to see. If they stay at 11, top three get a bye into the QFs.

4 v 11
5 v 10
6 v 9
7 v 8

That would put 7 teams in the QF.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

That would put 7 teams in the QF.

Have a double-bye for the top team. HEA was meant to mimic the Big East, after all...

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

Have a double-bye for the top team. HEA was meant to mimic the Big East, after all...

I suppose that would work. Although that takes away a home series (i.e. revenue) from the top seed as they would basically get a bye to the Semifinals in Boston.

 

[kingdobbs]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

Well I understood that part of it, but what's the reasoning you've heard/read? Same as Craig?

Since Notre Dame is in the Midwest now, at least half of their games are automatically played in the Midwest.

If they play in the Big Whatever, they'll be playing 9 of those games in the Midwest, guaranteed.

If they play in the ACC, they will play 4-5 conference games in the Midwest, and the other 4-5 in a band stretching from Boston to Miami.

Now consider that Notre Dame wants to preserve a schedule that is as spread as far nationally as possible.

 

[CHFAN222]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

Since Notre Dame is in the Midwest now, at least half of their games are automatically played in the Midwest.

If they play in the Big Whatever, they'll be playing 9 of those games in the Midwest, guaranteed.

If they play in the ACC, they will play 4-5 conference games in the Midwest, and the other 4-5 in a band stretching from Boston to Miami.

Now consider that Notre Dame wants to preserve a schedule that is as spread as far nationally as possible.

If this is the case why not join the PAC-12? I mean they get the geography there and can still play NC games east coast rivals.

 

[J.D.]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

That would put 7 teams in the QF.

My bad. Leave team #11 out of the playoffs, top six get a bye, 7 v 10 and 8 v 9

 

[CLS]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

My bad. Leave team #11 out of the playoffs, top six get a bye, 7 v 10 and 8 v 9

Or if you want 11 to have a shot,

8 plays 9 (winner plays 1 in the QFs*)
7 plays 10 (winner plays 2 in the QFs*)
6 plays 11 (winner plays 3 in the QFs*)
4 plays 5 in the QFs
*or re-seed after the play in games/series.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

And the HFH was never a hanger. (It was a warehouse. )

From http://www.augenblick.org/rpi/h_hfh.html

"Contrary to popular belief, it was not a former airplane hangar. The Houston Field House began life as a Navy warehouse in Davisville, Rhode Island. Following World War II, RPI applied to the Veterans Education Facilities Program for permission to move the warehouse to Troy. The school had originally sought a hangar to convert to a field house, but none were available. The VEFP, formed to help colleges build facilities to handle the increased enrollment of veterans, absorbed the cost of transporting and reconstructing the building. RPI paid $500,000 for the interior renovations necessary for athletic contests."

 

[kingdobbs]

If this is the case why not join the PAC-12? I mean they get the geography there and can still play NC games east coast rivals.

Because the Notre Dame alumni base is still East Coast centric.

Also because to my knowledge, the PAC-12 and Notre Dame have never discussed membership. They have, on the other hand, talked with the ACC.

 

[J.D.]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

Or if you want 11 to have a shot,

8 plays 9 (winner plays 1 in the QFs*)
7 plays 10 (winner plays 2 in the QFs*)
6 plays 11 (winner plays 3 in the QFs*)
4 plays 5 in the QFs
*or re-seed after the play in games/series.

Ah yeas, like the Big 11 did in hoops.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Notre Dame to Hockey East

Also, with respect to stability... what if, instead of viewing Hockey East as a waypoint to another hockey destination, ND chose Hockey East in anticipation of landing in the ACC in other sports? Would Hockey East not be the nearest hockey equivalent?