This weekend's games were not "data", they were a benchmark at where the teams are at this part (the most important part), of the season. If you can look at the results of this weekend objectively (or what you may have seen with your own eyes as many of us did) and tell me that Utica was the best team in the East then there is no reasoning with you. I watched the games (quarter finals too) and can say that as much as WEC was the best team, Utica performed the worst of the four.
If we were to let computers decide champions, then maybe, just maybe Utica would be the best in the East. Facts are when it COUNTED MOST, the Pioneers could not perform under pressure. With an opportunity to win an outright regular season title, they were tied by Manhattanville. With the #1 seed in their conference tourney, they bowed out early on home ice to the #4 seed. They did win their quarterfinal game at home in the NCAA, which is certainly a significant accomplishment, but on the biggest stage they laid an egg a week later.
You have hung your hat all year on one regular season game, a 6-0 thrashing of Oswego (maybe two as Utica beat them twice). It is too bad that all those games were, were two of 25 regular season games that in the grand scheme of things made Utica the #2 seed in the East (behind Norwich) and made Oswego the #4.
Utica had a fantastic year, but to put it in perspective, at the end of the day:
Utica won a regular season championship (Congratulations, no small feat)
Utica lost in their conference semi-finals
Utica received the #2 seed in the East from the NCAA
Utica won an NCAA QF game on home ice (home ice which they earned by virtue of their great regular season)
Utica lost to an excellent WEC squad in the Frozen Four
This is a season that has been had numerous times by several teams in the East. I understand the enthusiasm you have this being your first (of possible many to come) but the chest thumping needs to stop. UTICA DID NOT HAVE THE BEST SEASON IN THE EAST. Two H2H losses aside, another team in the East won their conference outright, won their conference tourney, and made it further than Utica in the NCAA's. I would take filling the trophy case with two trophies, and hanging a NCAA Runner Up (if my school did this sort of thing

) over what Utica accomplished this year (including the H2H victories) every time.
My apologies to all of the sane, reasonable, respectful, and great Utica posters on this board. This post is directed to one person and one person only (maybe two with PIO1's shot regarding Oz and Norwich earlier in the week

).
Best of luck next year, I do wish Utica sustained success. They were a lot of fun to follow this year (save most of your late night posts).