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WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

D2D said:
I'll take the opposite view with three positives.

1. It's interesting to see what a league's coaches are thinking/expecting.
2. It generates publicity and attention as the season is about to get underway.
3. For the WCHA it crushes all hope Minnesota has to win the title! :D
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FYP. I'm a team player.
 
thirdtime's . . . said:
What in the world does it mean to be pre-season co-player of the year? I just don’t get this stuff. Fans can anticipate, speculate, cogitate about the upcoming season, that's what we do, but for conference brass to weigh in on who’s going to be the best player or what team stays in the cellar is just misdirected. . . maybe not pernicious, but idle at best, imho. I know that polling is in everybody's blood, but maybe detox and stick with top three team projections, say. Student-athletes suited up for their first game have already made it, crossed a thousand thresholds, met a thousand expectations. Leave them alone until the puck drops! Nobody expects to see Union in the Frozen Four, but the ECAC doesn’t have to take a position on it. And why place the burden of expected WCHA POTY on any young skater? Seriously. Are there pre-season ROTYs in water polo? I don’t know. But neither fans nor players of women’s hockey need to get officially, artificially pumped or poked. Give us that.
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I had never really thought about this perspective of it before, some good points. That said, I do like knowing who the coaches think are the best teams and players, because in an undercovered sport the coaches are possibly the most knowledgeable about a conference inside and out. That’s not to say bias can’t influence their votes of course. Ohio State in the 3 spot and unanimous votes for Jincy Dunne are really interesting for example, given the on going debate (at least in my mind) as to who is number 3 in WCHA.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Lindsay said:
Ohio State in the 3 spot and unanimous votes for Jincy Dunne are really interesting for example, given the on going debate (at least in my mind) as to who is number 3 in WCHA.
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You're right that OSU is third, but by only a point over UMD. I see the two as being very close and their battle likely being decided when the Buckeyes visit Duluth 2/7 and 2/8.

I understand those saying that the preseason poll is meaningless, but I always like seeing how the coaches think the RotY might shake out. As a fan, I might think that someone like Hannah Brandt is going to make an impact, but when all 8 coaches predict she'll be RotY, then that tells me something. The other awards are more predictable, as the coaches tend to predict that the defending champ will win again, and they vote for seniors when possible.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Bemidji might surprise this year. Solid core of veteran players and some scoring punch. Can they compete with UMD and OSU for the 3rd spot?
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

If Bemidji's goaltending is stellar, they'll have a chance to surprise for third place. As always they'll start with a defensive mindset and hope to force low scoring games in which either team has great chance going into the final minutes.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Bemidji has some talent, knuckled out a win against Wisco at home last year. I agree, they will need stellar goaltending to make any noise this year. OSU players are on edge, as soon as they start losing it will be a free fall. UMD has too much firepower to not take 3rd, even with Roggie out. If Rooney shows up this year I say they pass the goofheads for second, at least.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Ciscokid said:
Bemidji has some talent, knuckled out a win against Wisco at home last year. I agree, they will need stellar goaltending to make any noise this year. OSU players are on edge, as soon as they start losing it will be a free fall. UMD has too much firepower to not take 3rd, even with Roggie out. If Rooney shows up this year I say they pass the goofheads for second, at least.
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OK, now that is an interesting viewpoint. I kinda buy the Muzzy theory. MJ and Frosty are steady as they got types, my perception of Muzzy is she's a bit of a fireball.

Rooney definitely showed last year that a goalie does not make a team. It had to be weird mentally that she went from playing on the biggest possible stage with only a focus on hockey to back being a student athlete playing with and against college hockey players again instead of professionals.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Timothy A said:
Watt is like getting no love at all. It's like she played in the CHA or something.

I don't like the 3 on 3. It's not real hockey. I say 20 minutes of 5 on 5 then call it a draw.
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LOL, that's what you have been saying for the past two years

look on the bright side of the 3 on 3, at least it might prevent the SO
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

pokechecker said:
LOL, that's what you have been saying for the past two years

look on the bright side of the 3 on 3, at least it might prevent the SO
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EZAC and Hockey Eazy conferences > CHA.

Good point on the 3 on 3....I would love to see UW or UM play a wwcha bottom feeder 3 on 3. I doubt the bottom feeder even tries to carry the puck out of their D zone for fear of getting torched on the re-entry. They'll just 4 goalie it up and hope not to get scored on.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Timothy A said:
EZAC and Hockey Eazy conferences > CHA.

Good point on the 3 on 3....I would love to see UW or UM play a wwcha bottom feeder 3 on 3. I doubt the bottom feeder even tries to carry the puck out of their D zone for fear of getting torched on the re-entry. They'll just 4 goalie it up and hope not to get scored on.
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The Gophers have traditionally struggled winning the extra point when it's boiled down to a shootout. I have to think that, with all of their (promising) offensive talent, coupled with a more experienced D-core, the new 3 on 3 OT will help them come out on top in most of those overtime games. The key to winning those extra 3 on 3 OT periods seems to be being able to generate and capitalizing on those 2 on 1 breaks, without leaving themselves vulnerable when the 2 on 1 offensive chance fizzles.
 
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Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Puckdrop14 said:
Bemidji might surprise this year. Solid core of veteran players and some scoring punch. Can they compete with UMD and OSU for the 3rd spot?
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Offsides Guy said:
If Bemidji's goaltending is stellar, they'll have a chance to surprise for third place. As always they'll start with a defensive mindset and hope to force low scoring games in which either team has great chance going into the final minutes.
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Ciscokid said:
Bemidji has some talent, knuckled out a win against Wisco at home last year. I agree, they will need stellar goaltending to make any noise this year.
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Based off the first couple of periods vs Providence, Brittni Mowat is still missed in Bemidji.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Watching the Ohio State video stream of the game today, Wisconsin was playing somebody name Kelsey Campbell in goal. I'm hoping that's Kristen's younger sister, who has many years of eligibility remaining, because she was really good!

--------------

Also, has the WCHA flipped the uniform colors; who wears white and who wears other? Last week at home, Wisconsin wore red and then today at Ohio, Wisconsin wore their white 'motion W' jerseys. Opposite of what it 'should' be.
 
ARM said:
Based off the first couple of periods vs Providence, Brittni Mowat is still missed in Bemidji.
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Goaltending is struggling at the same time the offense isn’t scoring and that’s not a good combo. Add in a few early-season injuries to key players and it’s a tough start to the season.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Timothy A said:
These awards are so stupid, one could make a case for any number of F, D or G each week.
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It would have been far more credible if you'd said that two weeks ago when three of the winners were Badgers.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

ARM said:
It would have been far more credible if you'd said that two weeks ago when three of the winners were Badgers.
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I thought it was dumb then too, I just didn't have the thought to post it. I have no idea who the players of the week are this week. Are you telling me they AREN'T Badgers!? ;) I don't pay much attention to all the wwcha rah rah promos.
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

Timothy A said:
I thought it was dumb then too...
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Are the choices arbitrary at times? Yes. Does it seem like the awards are often based on raw numbers without taking into account the caliber of the opponent? Sure. But at least they're making an attempt to give some kids a little recognition, something that is sadly lacking for most of them. By the time Frank Kaminsky or Jonathan Taylor leaves Madison, seemingly every sports reporter in the country has gushed about them. Is it so bad for there to be a vehicle where at least the league office sends out an announcement saying some women's WCHA players had a nice weekend?
 
Re: WCHA Conference: The 2019-20 Season

ARM said:
Are the choices arbitrary at times? Yes. Does it seem like the awards are often based on raw numbers without taking into account the caliber of the opponent? Sure.
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That's why I don't like them. And in reality, they try and spread the love around from watt I recall in the past. Do they players really care anyway? That award doesn't do a thing for them in the big picture and they are probably not numb to reality that if a Mav gets one over a UW, UM or OSU player it was a bit of a spread the love around call more than anything.
 
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