WCHA offseason thread 2017.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

Let me state this very, very plainly: THE ONLY WAY A 24-GAME WCHA SCHEDULE REALLY "WORKS" IS IF WE HAVE AN INTERLOCK WITH ANOTHER CONFERENCE. Past that, it's a way to lower the amount of items that you travel to Alaska twice, and if that's truly a concern, that tells you how little revenue that we get from any random home conference weekend.

I'm working on a 24-game template as I have time. I'm working two jobs and training for a third (all related), so time is often scarce.

GFM

COmpletely agree, the only value of the 24-game schedule (until NCHC/B1G stop expecting 2 for 1s from most of the WCHA) is reducing the frequency of trips to Alaska/Alabama and allowing teams to reduce the congestion of the schedule thanks to the playoff structure shift.

Beyond that, the WCHA needs to stick to 28-game schedule to maximize games in their buildings. That is far more important in the end than getting 4 more cracks at winning a NC game. We just need to do better with the 8-10 NC games we do play (excluding the Alaska schools which do only get 6). Schedule congestion is becoming a real issue for the WCHA when you throw in 14 conference weekend series, 4-5 NC series between October 1 and February 25 (weekend before the playoffs started).

There were 22 weekends to play hockey during that window and a typical WCHA team has 18-19 weekends wrapped up in the current system so that only leaves 3 weekends off and at least one, if not 2 of them occur right before Christmas. MTU played 19 weekends this season including the first day of official practice on October 1 and didn't have a weekend off until Dec 17, they also had off Dec 24 and Feb 18. That doesn't seem like a sustainable schedule which means quite a few teams are going to continue to not use all their exemption games because of the tight schedule we've created with the new playoff format.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

Couldn't agree more on some kind of conference interlock. Isn't this what the WCHA commish should be working on unless all the schools are not on the same page. Or is the commish applying for the MSU job?

Haha, but who is he going to interlock with? I can't think of a single conference that would be interested in that. NCHC/B1G want more home than road games and ECAC/HEA/AHA don't want the added travel costs.

 

[giwan]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

Haha, but who is he going to interlock with? I can't think of a single conference that would be interested in that. NCHC/B1G want more home than road games and ECAC/HEA/AHA don't want the added travel costs.

I did not say it was easy, agree on the assessment but really do not know enough detail.

 

[pdt1081]

Haha, but who is he going to interlock with? I can't think of a single conference that would be interested in that. NCHC/B1G want more home than road games and ECAC/HEA/AHA don't want the added travel costs.

Perhaps a scheduling agreement with ASU? Gives ASU 20 games, and league teams only have 2 games to fill to get to current number of games. It would only make sense if ASU had made it clear they have no intentions of being a conference member long term. ASU would only have to pay a partial membership (call it an administration) fee, would reduce the stress of scheduling 34 games as a complete independent, but wouldn't have access to the league playoffs.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

In order of a balance of preference / probability:
ECAC
NCHC
B1G
HEA
AHC

I think that the ECAC has the best shot if their non-Ivy schools are the ones involved. I'm not sure that the NCHC really wants to help our league.

GFM

 

[davyd83]

In order of a balance of preference / probability:
ECAC
NCHC
B1G
HEA
AHC

I think that the ECAC has the best shot if their non-Ivy schools are the ones involved. I'm not sure that the NCHC really wants to help our league.

GFM

The NCHC, to this point, has been pretty good about even swaps so far. Both Duluth & Omaha have had even swap series with NMU and N. Dakota, St Cloud & Duluth have worked with Bemidji & Minn St.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

The NCHC, to this point, has been pretty good about even swaps so far. Both Duluth & Omaha have had even swap series with NMU and N. Dakota, St Cloud & Duluth have worked with Bemidji & Minn St.

Say that all you want but I don't think we're really that worried about BSU, MSU, or BGSU all 3 are located very close to a couple NCHC teams so they are desirable. It is impressive that NMU has gotten some 1 for 1s with both UMD and UNO. But what about FSU, LSSU, UAH, and the Alaska schools?

 

[Revs89.2]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

Perhaps a scheduling agreement with ASU? Gives ASU 20 games, and league teams only have 2 games to fill to get to current number of games. It would only make sense if ASU had made it clear they have no intentions of being a conference member long term. ASU would only have to pay a partial membership (call it an administration) fee, would reduce the stress of scheduling 34 games as a complete independent, but wouldn't have access to the league playoffs.

I don't see this holding any value for ASU. First, they fully expect to be in a conference in 2018-19. Additionally, it doesn't appear they struggled to schedule games for 17-18. This upcoming season they have 34 D1 games on the schedule, up from 30 last season, with almost an even 50-50 split between home and away. BU, UMass Lowell, UMass Amherst, Penn State and Quinnipiac are all confirmed to be coming to Oceanside/Gila. They are playing in a Las Vegas tourney and have road series at Michigan, Colgate, Yale, Air Force, Colorado College and Holy Cross. This is just what has come out in interviews. Having the opportunity to compete in conference postseason is going to be critical moving forward.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

I don't see this holding any value for ASU. First, they fully expect to be in a conference in 2018-19. Additionally, it doesn't appear they struggled to schedule games for 17-18. This upcoming season they have 34 D1 games on the schedule, up from 30 last season, with almost an even 50-50 split between home and away. BU, UMass Lowell, UMass Amherst, Penn State and Quinnipiac are all confirmed to be coming to Oceanside/Gila. They are playing in a Las Vegas tourney and have road series at Michigan, Colgate, Yale, Air Force, Colorado College and Holy Cross. This is just what has come out in interviews. Having the opportunity to compete in conference postseason is going to be critical moving forward.

What do you know about this Las Vegas tournament?

 

[davyd83]

Say that all you want but I don't think we're really that worried about BSU, MSU, or BGSU all 3 are located very close to a couple NCHC teams so they are desirable. It is impressive that NMU has gotten some 1 for 1s with both UMD and UNO. But what about FSU, LSSU, UAH, and the Alaska schools?

Ferris has had Home & Homes with Western the past two years. Huntsville had a swap with Colorado College. The two Alaska early season tournaments/showcases had been their home non-conference play.

 

[Revs89.2]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

What do you know about this Las Vegas tournament?

I know that it is the first weekend in January at the new NHL arena. The rest from the interview said would be released by the promoter soon.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

I know that it is the first weekend in January at the new NHL arena. The rest from the interview said would be released by the promoter soon.

Hmm, ok, I have heard that MTU is part of this tournament...actually a little disappointed to hear that ASU is part of it since MTU already is scheduled to host ASU this season (from what I've heard).

 

[Revs89.2]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

Hmm, ok, I have heard that MTU is part of this tournament...actually a little disappointed to hear that ASU is part of it since MTU already is scheduled to host ASU this season (from what I've heard).

I also thought ASU was scheduled to go to MTU this year, but wonder if that has been pushed back. It hasn't come up in any of the interviews and just about all of the schedule has been spoken for. Guess we will see all that soon. But if ASU were to be going to MTU, I would guess we would be opposite ends of the first day in Vegas. On a selfish note, I would enjoy having you guys in Vegas. The fans were awesome at Gila two years ago and a great group to chat with.

 

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

What do you know about this Las Vegas tournament?

I think you'll find some birds and some kitties there that weekend too.

 

[Squarebanks]

I'll try not to go to deep with this but:

"JUNEAU — The Alaska Senate's Republican-led majority on Monday followed through on its pledge to cut 5 percent from schools, pairing that proposal with a new cut to the university system and legislation to eliminate a state-sponsored scholarship program."

UA is facing a vote for getting $21.7 million getting cut from an already thin budget. UAA is becoming a shell of itself (which is not saying a lot), and UA_ shut down a dorm due to low usage (another failed water test on campus too?). Meanwhile all the mini-satellite campus over our sparsely populated state are still running.

Last year a similar cut didn't have the chance to get voted on. Attendance was down this school year, Jim Johnsen maybe it was the public knowledge of sports possibly getting cut from any or both schools, professors leaving left and right, the recession which is now in full effect statewide, low oil prices remain, etc.

The bright point is that now at 9 pm, it's still pretty light outside.

Oh and that performance based scholarship was a huge factor for many of my friends slumming it and staying for college in Alaska.

We are witnessing political football with UA right now. Senate wants concessions on an income tax from the House so they're holding UA and public education hostage. It'll get hashed out in conference committee like it does every year. Not worth getting too riled up just yet, but there will be opportunities for public comment in short order.

Also...nonprofit participation and giving is way down across the state because of the recession. That's bled over to athletics as well, IMO. The additional combination of high paying jobs leaving the state (meaning less disposable income) along with UA laying off 900 people so far statewide doesn't exactly help either.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

I think you'll find some birds and some kitties there that weekend too.

Miami, North Dakota, Penn State, NMU, BC, Lowell, Quinnipiac?

 

[Squarebanks]

Ferris has had Home & Homes with Western the past two years. Huntsville had a swap with Colorado College. The two Alaska early season tournaments/showcases had been their home non-conference play.

UAA had a home and home with Penn State recently, and we did a home and home with Western Michigan since the split.

I've heard we have to play UAA six times next season (with two games as a non-conference home and home). I think that blows for a variety of reasons (doesn't really do anything to elevate either program, and does jack squat to help out the conference in PWR), but times are tough right now and it saves some coin.

 

[Deman]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

Say that all you want but I don't think we're really that worried about BSU, MSU, or BGSU all 3 are located very close to a couple NCHC teams so they are desirable. It is impressive that NMU has gotten some 1 for 1s with both UMD and UNO. But what about FSU, LSSU, UAH, and the Alaska schools?

As for LSSU, we had an away series with UNO, not sure if there is some sort of reciprocation there anytime soon. We are rumored to be playing Denver sometime in the next few years, don't think I've heard any specifics, but I think it's a home series for us. We've also played away at NoDak recently, but haven't heard anything about hosting them either.

So, LSSU has had a few cracks at different NCHC teams too.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

If each WCHA team played 6 NC games and won them all, no one would be worried about playing more NC games. It is only the recent lack of NC success that brings up this discussion and desire to play more NC games. Playing 12 NC games each and going 25-90-5 in those games isn't going to help anything. If you win 75% of your NC games, suddenly the WCHA gets the "NCHC effect" where playing more conference games builds your PWR because everyone did their job in NC play.
Ryan J

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA offseason thread 2017.

If each WCHA team played 6 NC games and won them all, no one would be worried about playing more NC games. It is only the recent lack of NC success that brings up this discussion and desire to play more NC games. Playing 12 NC games each and going 25-90-5 in those games isn't going to help anything. If you win 75% of your NC games, suddenly the WCHA gets the "NCHC effect" where playing more conference games builds your PWR because everyone did their job in NC play.
Ryan J

IF each team played 6 NC games and won them all, there would be no point in adding more...we'd probably get 4 teams in the tournament just based on that information alone.