The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Regarding early departures, the only possibility I can think of for Alaska is Colton Parayko. He is a Blues draft pick, and particularly as the season wore on he looked more and more like a man amongst boys out there. I really hope he stays as we are losing 82 points of production in Kunyk and Beck, but I wouldn't be too surprised if the Blues put him in the AHL for next year.

Based upon what Dallas has said, I think he's as good as gone.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Re: realignment — I'm bringing this from Freddie in the old topic to here.



I largely agree, and I am obviously concerned. I don't like musical chairs — I usually lost early as a kid. I think that the safest thing for UAH is a seventh conference, which will probably open up more non-conference games and make for larger NC slates. I don't know if that will happen, though.

GFM

I put all of the teams into a spreadsheet and started moving them around to see what would make the most sense from a competitive and financial standpoint (with the one requirement of the BIG Mistake couldn't be touched)....I realized after several minutes that my conferences were looking very much like the old WCHA and CCHA. At that point my rage began rising, and I closed the spreadsheet before I threw my stapler across this cube farm.

 

[Squarebanks]

Based upon what Dallas has said, I think he's as good as gone.

Probably. Watching him play, I don't know how much he'd get out of being at the NCAA level another year.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

I put all of the teams into a spreadsheet and started moving them around to see what would make the most sense from a competitive and financial standpoint (with the one requirement of the BIG Mistake couldn't be touched)....I realized after several minutes that my conferences were looking very much like the old WCHA and CCHA. At that point my rage began rising, and I closed the spreadsheet before I threw my stapler across this cube farm.

It's really amazing what they did to screw up college hockey!

 

[beaverhockey]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

The "league" doesn't ever lose money...it's up to the member schools to pay an equal share of the operating budget every year.

 

[Iwearpurple]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Interesting goalie statistics from first 2 rounds of NCAA tournament.

Leading goalies by save percentage:
1. Cole Huggins - .971 - Minnesota State - WCHA
2. C. J. Motte - .967 - Ferris State - WCHA
3. Zane Gothberg - .957 - North Dakota
4. Jon Gilles - .956 - Providence
5. Adam Wilcox - .939 - Minnesota

Leading goalies by GAA
1. C.J. Motte - .844 - Ferris State - WCHA
2. Cole Huggins - 1.015 - Minnesota State - WCHA
3. Zane Gothnerg - 1.265 - North Dakota
4. Colin Stevens - 1.500 - Union
4. Adam Wilcox - 1.500 - Minnesota

 

[Jimjamesak]

Regarding early departures, the only possibility I can think of for Alaska is Colton Parayko. He is a Blues draft pick, and particularly as the season wore on he looked more and more like a man amongst boys out there. I really hope he stays as we are losing 82 points of production in Kunyk and Beck, but I wouldn't be too surprised if the Blues put him in the AHL for next year.

I don't forsee anybody leaving UAA early. There's a good chance for a lot of players to raise their stock by staying versus leaving early.

 

[purpleinnebraska]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Interesting goalie statistics from first 2 rounds of NCAA tournament.

Leading goalies by save percentage:
1. Cole Huggins - .971 - Minnesota State - WCHA
2. C. J. Motte - .967 - Ferris State - WCHA
3. Zane Gothberg - .957 - North Dakota
4. Jon Gilles - .956 - Providence
5. Adam Wilcox - .939 - Minnesota

Leading goalies by GAA
1. C.J. Motte - .844 - Ferris State - WCHA
2. Cole Huggins - 1.015 - Minnesota State - WCHA
3. Zane Gothnerg - 1.265 - North Dakota
4. Colin Stevens - 1.500 - Union
4. Adam Wilcox - 1.500 - Minnesota

Of course, avoiding BC and Minny helped a lot, too!

 

[Jimjamesak]

Re: realignment — I'm bringing this from Freddie in the old topic to here.



I largely agree, and I am obviously concerned. I don't like musical chairs — I usually lost early as a kid. I think that the safest thing for UAH is a seventh conference, which will probably open up more non-conference games and make for larger NC slates. I don't know if that will happen, though.

GFM

I think there is reason to be concerned for a future shakeup and how it affects UAH, UAA, and UAF. We are the geographical outliers after all.

First off, the Alaska are a package deal now. I just don't see them splitting up again unless they face dire circumstances (which is a possibility). We like being in the same conference, it has elevated our rivalry for sure.

All of this is going to hinge on the loyalties of Bemidji and Mankato. I don't believe much on the Miami and Western Mich swap rumors, at least the Western end of it. Budget issues aside, WMU campaigned hard to get into the NCHC. I don't see them giving up this early. Anyway, those rumors depend on how BSU and MSU feel where they fit best. If they go to the NCHC they have a better chance at making money, but they're also likely to be at doormat status if they go. Odds are, they have a better chance of success in the WCHA, but if the price is right... The other factor being, how do they feel about the NCHC schools? Are they upset? Would they care to leave the NCHC schools hanging in the wind? Or do they have a loyalty to their fellow Minnesota schools?

 

[Squarebanks]

I think there is reason to be concerned for a future shakeup and how it affects UAH, UAA, and UAF. We are the geographical outliers after all.

First off, the Alaska are a package deal now. I just don't see them splitting up again unless they face dire circumstances (which is a possibility). We like being in the same conference, it has elevated our rivalry for sure.

All of this is going to hinge on the loyalties of Bemidji and Mankato. I don't believe much on the Miami and Western Mich swap rumors, at least the Western end of it. Budget issues aside, WMU campaigned hard to get into the NCHC. I don't see them giving up this early. Anyway, those rumors depend on how BSU and MSU feel where they fit best. If they go to the NCHC they have a better chance at making money, but they're also likely to be at doormat status if they go. Odds are, they have a better chance of success in the WCHA, but if the price is right... The other factor being, how do they feel about the NCHC schools? Are they upset? Would they care to leave the NCHC schools hanging in the wind? Or do they have a loyalty to their fellow Minnesota schools?

This "swap" idea is nonsense. The Nacho may try and poach Bemidji and Mankato, if anything. WMU and Miami aren't going anywhere. Mankato might flirt with the idea, but Bemidji should have nothing to do with that league if they're smart, unless being a four point bus stop is somehow appealing.

And if the Nacho does successfully poach those programs, I think the true motive of the Nacho will be glaringly apparent, namely, it's not about the Monopoly money found in the third-tier TV deal, it's about not traveling to Alaska and the UP.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

I think there is reason to be concerned for a future shakeup and how it affects UAH, UAA, and UAF. We are the geographical outliers after all.

First off, the Alaska are a package deal now. I just don't see them splitting up again unless they face dire circumstances (which is a possibility). We like being in the same conference, it has elevated our rivalry for sure.

All of this is going to hinge on the loyalties of Bemidji and Mankato. I don't believe much on the Miami and Western Mich swap rumors, at least the Western end of it. Budget issues aside, WMU campaigned hard to get into the NCHC. I don't see them giving up this early. Anyway, those rumors depend on how BSU and MSU feel where they fit best. If they go to the NCHC they have a better chance at making money, but they're also likely to be at doormat status if they go. Odds are, they have a better chance of success in the WCHA, but if the price is right... The other factor being, how do they feel about the NCHC schools? Are they upset? Would they care to leave the NCHC schools hanging in the wind? Or do they have a loyalty to their fellow Minnesota schools?

It's no secret the lower 48 schools would prefer to see the Alaskas split up. It's simply a fact. I'm fine with both in the same conference. No different than Michigan Tech & NMU or Bemidji and UMD should be. But if the conferences do more realigning that would separate the schools, what leverage do the Alaska schools really have to leverage in an attempt to stay together? It's not a dig on these two outstanding college hockey schools and their fanbases which are outstanding. It is however, a question that may have to be pondered as the next ripples of realignment flow. Now I'll dive for the foxhole and wait to get excoriated by the inimitable fanblogger for even daring to pose the question.

 

[Squarebanks]

It's no secret the lower 48 schools would prefer to see the Alaskas split up. It's simply a fact. I'm fine with both in the same conference. No different than Michigan Tech & NMU or Bemidji and UMD should be. But if the conferences do more realigning that would separate the schools, what leverage do the Alaska schools really have to leverage in an attempt to stay together? It's not a dig on these two outstanding college hockey schools and their fanbases which are outstanding. It is however, a question that may have to be pondered as the next ripples of realignment flow. Now I'll dive for the foxhole and wait to get excoriated by the inimitable fanblogger.

Would we rather be together? Of course. But if the choices are be together but not be in a conference, or split up and keep conference affiliations, I think that's an easy answer.

 

[Biddco]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

And if the Nacho does successfully poach those programs, I think the true motive of the Nacho will be glaringly apparent, namely, it's not about the Monopoly money found in the third-tier TV deal, it's about not traveling to Alaska and the UP.

Actually their motive is to anger all of you. Which has been a rip roaring success.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

With the conference scheduling process well underway, likely even completed for most, it's a virtual certainty that the current alignments stay the same. I think that's a very good thing to give schools another year to evaluate where they are and examine possible solutions that are not just good for one or two, but for the group.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Would we rather be together? Of course. But if the choices are be together but not be in a conference, or split up and keep conference affiliations, I think that's an easy answer.

Pretty much this. We're better off together and we'd like to keep that way but, if we have to...

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

If the nWCHA wants to raise it's perceived "status" then the new commish might consider going hard at the B!G in an effort to reach a scheduling agreement with them.

The B!G schools are clearly interested in attending the early season tournaments in Anchorage and Wanksbanks. From their perspective going to those tournaments provides a couple of benefits. It's an early season chance to have a team bonding experience and the games don't count against the 34 game limit.

Perhaps there's some way the new commish can invoke those benefits to arrange some sort of rotating schedule whereby some number of WCHA teams get dates at B!G schools each season or even manage to pull one or two of them into their arenas. Regular play amongst the two conferences would bolster what (from the first year anyway) was a pretty weak non-conference schedule overall (not a friend to WCHA's pairwise).

I tend to think it's to a schools benefit to ... let's say go to Mariucci for a series versus hosting Merrimack or Dartmouth etc ...

Maybe an agreement to send two WCHA schools to each of the B!G teams for two years in return for getting a B!G squad into however many schools you can negotiate? I'm not sure what sort of numbers might appeal to the B!G schools but getting a WCHA foot into the B1G door seems like a no-brainer competitively.

I'm not pretending that any such scheduling agreement with the B!G would be easy to accomplish but they have craploads of non-conference games to fill and most of the WCHA schools are inside their geographic footprint.

 

[Squarebanks]

Actually their motive is to anger all of you. Which has been a rip roaring success.

Not really. I could give two ****s about any NCHC program. I actually pay less attention to the schools in that conference now that they have nothing to do with my program or the program I spy on.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Pretty much this. We're better off together and we'd like to keep that way but, if we have to...

I would have to think that the playoff series between the two Alaska schools was probably among the top moments in the history of the rivalry.

 

[Squarebanks]

If the nWCHA wants to raise it's perceived "status" then the new commish might consider going hard at the B!G in an effort to reach a scheduling agreement with them.

The B!G schools are clearly interested in attending the early season tournaments in Anchorage and Wanksbanks. From their perspective going to those tournaments provides a couple of benefits. It's an early season chance to have a team bonding experience and the games don't count against the 34 game limit.

Perhaps there's some way the new commish can invoke those benefits to arrange some sort of rotating schedule whereby some number of WCHA teams get dates at B!G schools each season or even manage to pull one or two of them into their arenas. Regular play amongst the two conferences would bolster what (from the first year anyway) was a pretty weak non-conference schedule overall (not a friend to WCHA's pairwise).

I tend to think it's to a schools benefit to ... let's say go to Mariucci for a series versus hosting Merrimack or Dartmouth etc ...

Maybe an agreement to send two WCHA schools to each of the B!G teams for two years in return for getting a B!G squad into however many schools you can negotiate? I'm not sure what sort of numbers might appeal to the B!G schools but getting a WCHA foot into the B1G door seems like a no-brainer competitively.

I'm not pretending that any such scheduling agreement with the B!G would be easy to accomplish but they have craploads of non-conference games to fill and most of the WCHA schools are inside their geographic footprint.

It's possible, but my guess is a lot of 2-for1's would be involved. And I don't think you'd ever see a Big 10 school make a mid or late season trip to AK.

 

[Biddco]

Re: The New WCHA, 2014 Offseason: See-ya, Bruce

Not really. I could give two ****s about any NCHC program. I actually pay less attention to the schools in that conference now that they have nothing to do with my program or the program I spy on.

same to you!