The New WCHA (2013-14)

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

I have an easy way to allow for a best of three tourney format. Cut down the conference games to 24. At 24, the eight non-conference games would bump you up to 32 games played (34 with two trips to Alaska). Potential nine-game playoffs (Best of three NHL/OHL style?) gives you 38 to 41 games played before the NCAA's. (Potentially up to 43 with two AK trips)

Oh, and making the ninth place team sit out of the playoffs is good motivation to not finish ninth.


Four NCAA Tournament games gives you from 42 to 47 total games. Here are the number of games each pair of Championship teams played. Winner marked with *.
2011 - tUMD (42)* v Michigan (44)
2010 - BC (42)* v Wisconsin (43)
2009 - BU (45)* v Miami (41)
2008 - BC (42)* v Notre Dame (47)
2007 - MSU (42)* v BC (42)
2006 - Wisconsin (43)* v BC (42)
2005 - DU (43)* v UND (45)
2004 - DU (44)* v Maine (42)
2003 - Minnesota (45)* v UNH (42)
2002 - Minnesota (44)* v Maine (44)
2001 - BC (43)* v UND (46)
2000 - UND (44)* v BC (42)

Of note: for the sample taken, five out of twelve were won by teams with less games played. Five out of twelve were won by teams with more games played. And two games had equal games played.

Most games played was the 2008 Notre Dame team with 47. They had a trip TO Alaska to give them 36 games. And I can only assume the Lefty McFadden tourney was exempted, because they played TEN non-conference games. Putting them at 38 games played BEFORE the CCHA Tournament. Due to the new CCHA rules, Notre Dame received a bye weekend for the first round, playing all three games of the CCHA Quarter-finals versus Ferris State. Now up to 41 on the season heading into JLA weekend. Two games at JLA (loss to Miami in Semi's, loss to NMU in third place game) up to 43, and then four NCAA tournament games gave them their 47 games. What's interesting is that had they fallen just one place back to fifth, they would have had to have played two, possibly three more games moving them to 49 or 50 games on the season.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

I have an easy way to allow for a best of three tourney format. Cut down the conference games to 24. At 24, the eight non-conference games would bump you up to 32 games played (34 with two trips to Alaska). Potential nine-game playoffs (Best of three NHL/OHL style?) gives you 38 to 41 games played before the NCAA's. (Potentially up to 43 with two AK trips)

Oh, and making the ninth place team sit out of the playoffs is good motivation to not finish ninth.


Four NCAA Tournament games gives you from 42 to 47 total games. Here are the number of games each pair of Championship teams played. Winner marked with *.
2011 - tUMD (42)* v Michigan (44)
2010 - BC (42)* v Wisconsin (43)
2009 - BU (45)* v Miami (41)
2008 - BC (42)* v Notre Dame (47)
2007 - MSU (42)* v BC (42)
2006 - Wisconsin (43)* v BC (42)
2005 - DU (43)* v UND (45)
2004 - DU (44)* v Maine (42)
2003 - Minnesota (45)* v UNH (42)
2002 - Minnesota (44)* v Maine (44)
2001 - BC (43)* v UND (46)
2000 - UND (44)* v BC (42)

Of note: for the sample taken, five out of twelve were won by teams with less games played. Five out of twelve were won by teams with more games played. And two games had equal games played.

Most games played was the 2008 Notre Dame team with 47. They had a trip TO Alaska to give them 36 games. And I can only assume the Lefty McFadden tourney was exempted, because they played TEN non-conference games. Putting them at 38 games played BEFORE the CCHA Tournament. Due to the new CCHA rules, Notre Dame received a bye weekend for the first round, playing all three games of the CCHA Quarter-finals versus Ferris State. Now up to 41 on the season heading into JLA weekend. Two games at JLA (loss to Miami in Semi's, loss to NMU in third place game) up to 43, and then four NCAA tournament games gave them their 47 games. What's interesting is that had they fallen just one place back to fifth, they would have had to have played two, possibly three more games moving them to 49 or 50 games on the season.

Why would a team deprive itself of 4 regular season games from the 36-38 they will be able to play? The equates to a loss of revenue.

 

[bronconick]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

I disagree. I believe the nWCHA will be getting two or three schools for the big dance.

This. The Pairwise as constructed would require total domination by a conference to get more than more than half their teams in, meaning there will be bids left behind by the Big Ten and NCHC available.

The CCHA's relative strength this season got them 3 solid bids, two 4 seeds that didn't clinch until the final day and 3 of the 4 "next teams out". 8 of the top 20. Not bad. Too bad 5 were in the 13-20 range.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

This. The Pairwise as constructed would require total domination by a conference to get more than more than half their teams in, meaning there will be bids left behind by the Big Ten and NCHC available.

Agreed. I think the bid breakout will look like this on average...

Hockey East: 3 bids
B1G - 3 bids
NCHC - 3 bids
ECAC - 2 bids
nWCHA - 2 bids
AHA - 1 bid

That leaves 2 bids to be fought for between HE, B1G, NCHC, ECAC, and nWCHA. Obviously there will be years where a strong nWCHA might capture 4 bids, while a weak NCHC/B1G may only capture 2, but I would guess that if we look at the first 10 years following conference realignment (assuming the conferences stay largely the same...a big assumption) that the averages will play out fairly closely with what I have above.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Agreed. I think the bid breakout will look like this on average...

Hockey East: 3 bids
B1G - 3 bids
NCHC - 3 bids
ECAC - 2 bids
nWCHA - 2 bids
AHA - 1 bid

That leaves 2 bids to be fought for between HE, B1G, NCHC, ECAC, and nWCHA. Obviously there will be years where a strong nWCHA might capture 4 bids, while a weak NCHC/B1G may only capture 2, but I would guess that if we look at the first 10 years following conference realignment (assuming the conferences stay largely the same...a big assumption) that the averages will play out fairly closely with what I have above.

Give yourself +/- 1 on each conference and you are in virtual certainty range.

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Why would a team deprive itself of 4 regular season games from the 36-38 they will be able to play? The equates to a loss of revenue.

Why? Because the fellow posters here want to hold an NHL style playoff. While they're at it, they want to Championship series to be played in St. John's, Newfoundland, because blue-blooded, hockey loving Canadians will show up en-masse for the awarding of such a prestigious trophy like the MacNaughton Cup to the winner of the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference championship.


At least I TRIED to make sense of what people are spouting off, and how it COULD be made possible.


While I'm at it, let's have the shootout in the New WCHA too, eh? Regular season games only though. Sudden death 20 minute OT's for playoff games.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Why? Because the fellow posters here want to hold an NHL style playoff. While they're at it, they want to Championship series to be played in St. John's, Newfoundland, because blue-blooded, hockey loving Canadians will show up en-masse for the awarding of such a prestigious trophy like the MacNaughton Cup to the winner of the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference championship.


At least I TRIED to make sense of what people are spouting off, and how it COULD be made possible.


While I'm at it, let's have the shootout in the New WCHA too, eh? Regular season games only though. Sudden death 20 minute OT's for playoff games.

Actually they've decided to play the final in Mystery, Alaska. Fairbanks and Anchorage will rotate as hosts!

 

[MavsFan]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Actually they've decided to play the final in Mystery, Alaska. Fairbanks and Anchorage will rotate as hosts!

Cool! Which team gets to wear these:

 

[gfmorris]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

How many playoff games are AHA teams playing these days? I know they're playing three-game weekenders at minimum to start.

GFM

 

[huskyfan]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

two weekends of three gamers then a weekend of one and dones. top 2 (?) get a bye in the first round

 

[Freddie]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Several folks have mentioned the possibility of allowing seeded teams to host tournament games throughout the playoffs. While this may sound like a good idea (especially from a fan's perspective) these's a MAJOR flaw. The arenas at all nine schools would have to hold themselves open for three consecutive weekends 'in case' their team earns home ice. Ice Arenas are expensive pieces of property, and need to generate income to stay functional. They can't afford to turn away potential bookings, and then sit empty.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

two weekends of three gamers then a weekend of one and dones. top 2 (?) get a bye in the first round

Top 4 get a first round bye. 5 v 12, 6 v 11, 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 in a best of 3. The four winners advance to play best of three series against the Top 4 seeds and those winners advance to the AHA tourney.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Several folks have mentioned the possibility of allowing seeded teams to host tournament games throughout the playoffs. While this may sound like a good idea (especially from a fan's perspective) these's a MAJOR flaw. The arenas at all nine schools would have to hold themselves open for three consecutive weekends 'in case' their team earns home ice. Ice Arenas are expensive pieces of property, and need to generate income to stay functional. They can't afford to turn away potential bookings, and then sit empty.

That's a very good point. NMU, Tech, LSSU, Ferris and Bowling Green all have their own facilities. The others have had to hold dates for two potential rounds of playoffs in the past.

 

[Bale]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

That's a very good point. NMU, Tech, LSSU, Ferris and Bowling Green all have their own facilities. The others have had to hold dates for two potential rounds of playoffs in the past.

It's honestly not a problem in Kato. The arena part of the building sits empty for most weekends anyway. There are probably only 5-7 weekend events over the course of a year in the arena other than hockey.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

It's honestly not a problem in Kato. The arena part of the building sits empty for most weekends anyway. There are probably only 5-7 weekend events over the course of a year in the arena other than hockey.

Not related to the hockey talk, but that sounds like an incredible waste of what should be a valueable resource (the building).

 

[MavHockey14]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Not related to the hockey talk, but that sounds like an incredible waste of what should be a valueable resource (the building).

They did get Elton John to come to town this Spring..nuts right?

There are random concerts and conventions but never anything large anymore. Elton John is clearly one of the biggest, as it sold out in 11 minutes.

 

[Goon]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

This. The Pairwise as constructed would require total domination by a conference to get more than more than half their teams in, meaning there will be bids left behind by the Big Ten and NCHC available.

The CCHA's relative strength this season got them 3 solid bids, two 4 seeds that didn't clinch until the final day and 3 of the 4 "next teams out". 8 of the top 20. Not bad. Too bad 5 were in the 13-20 range.

Wouldn't the RPI of the WCHA be watered down in the nWCHA with UMN, SCSU, WISCONSIN, UND, DU, C.C. Leaving?

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

They did get Elton John to come to town this Spring..nuts right?

There are random concerts and conventions but never anything large anymore. Elton John is clearly one of the biggest, as it sold out in 11 minutes.

Elton John is playing in Mankato? That's crazy. Elton John would sell out the **** Xcel Energy Center!

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Wouldn't the RPI of the WCHA be watered down in the nWCHA with UMN, SCSU, WISCONSIN, UND, DU, C.C. Leaving?

I don't know where you've been the last forever, but RPI is a member of the EZAC.

 

[MavHockey14]

Re: The New WCHA (2013-14)

Elton John is playing in Mankato? That's crazy. Elton John would sell out the **** Xcel Energy Center!

$139 a seat I think they were. Crazy, huh?

Sunday, April 22 8:00 PM
Arena

Elton John will perform at Mankato’s Verizon Wireless Center on Sunday April 22 at 8 p.m. His concert will feature number one chart hits and classic album tracks from throughout Elton’s incredible five-decade career.

Elton John puts on the kind of concert you will never forget: the entire audience standing, dancing and singing along with much-loved classic songs such as “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and many more.

The monumental career of international singer/songwriter and performer Elton John spans five decades. He is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, 29 consecutive Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide. John holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind ’97,” which sold 37 million copies. Since his career began in 1969 he has played almost 3,000 concerts worldwide.