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WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

After tonights results I was unable to get BGSU out, maybe someone else can find a way, but I couldn't.
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

bigblue_dl said:
It originally did. This was just the twist they came up with when they went to 6 teams in the Final 5.
Click to expand...

So did the top 2 teams get a bye to the Thursday quarterfinals before? It is not making sense to me...
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

I had Bowling Green out if three win conference that are currently not in the top 14...
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

manurespreader said:
After tonights results I was unable to get BGSU out, maybe someone else can find a way, but I couldn't.
Click to expand...

I came up with one, but it includes Penn State, New Hampshire, Mercyhurst, Ferris and Colgate winning their conference auto-bids and the NCHC consolation game ending in a tie.
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

I have heard from our coaches that there's some talk about returning back to some level of something that would be a Final Five. I think that it would be interesting to bring six teams to a single-elimination tournament in the old 3-6, 4-5, lowest seed gets #1 format. Unfortunately, it wouldn't have been very exciting this year, as the points gap between Northern and UAH was pretty wide. But make Alaska eligible and then it's three teams fighting for two tickets to the X.

Honestly, if cost is a concern, that may make the most sense. Give everyone the weekend after the season off to rest up, then bring everyone to whatever the tournament site will be. Six teams, five games, one Broadmoor.

There is an obvious negative that would come from looking at 2014-15: with quality wins against Northern Michigan, BG pretty well punched its ticket to the NCAAs with their sweep and the fact that the biggest upset was Ferris State. Even if Tech creams the Falcons on Friday afternoon, the guys in those terrible colors should make it deeper into March, and I like that. Tech and BG are the programs that UAH has to look to and say, "We can be like those teams."

And here I'll be unavailable to watch, much less attend. :(

GFM
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

gfmorris said:
Honestly, if cost is a concern, that may make the most sense. Give everyone the weekend after the season off to rest up, then bring everyone to whatever the tournament site will be. Six teams, five games, one Broadmoor.
Click to expand...

I think the bigger concern is attendance. You have to find a venue willing to take on the 3 days worth of games, which I guess could be subsidized by the league (which goes back to costs).

The XCel isn't opening Club level seating next weekend because they want to fill the lower level first. If we want to go back to a six team (five game) format, we need to find a way to boost attendance.

So, hoping for a great turnout next weekend. I'll see you there!
 
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Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

There is no way the current WCHA would ever go to a 6-team format...5 maybe but then you get the third day...
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

Shirtless Guy said:
There is no way the current WCHA would ever go to a 6-team format...5 maybe but then you get the third day...
Click to expand...

And no "big" schools in the WCHA like MN, UND, WI, etc. That hurts, too. Sad to say, but that is a fact.
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

So, is the concept here to go with a 6 team "Final 5", and the bottom 4 teams don't make the playoffs, with no opening round?

If this is the plan, it may work ok...if it is in the correct size venue. You get 6 fanbases instead of 4, and try to make it an event that can be planned for a little further in advance than 5 days. There are some advantages to this idea, its just that no one should go into it thinking that this would bring it back to what it was 5 years ago. This would be perfect in a Resch Center sized venue.
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

If this is going to come down to being a money decision, there is no reason for the top teams to give up 2 or 3 home games. They'll make way more money staying home, enjoying home ice, getting two more wins to bolster their records, etc. In the case of Tech, a VERY conservative estimate would say they got an extra $60k for their budget by hosting two playoff games 3,000 per game * $10/person * 2 games.

I can't see the WCHA skipping the first round. The Bi6 does it only because they lack teams. There is no reason for the WCHA to do that format. Want to try something unique do the following playoffs:

First weekend everyone is in the playoffs - 10@1, 9@2, 8@3, 7@4, 6@5

Thursday
5th best series winner vs highest seed that lost in the first round
Sort of a last chance qualifier type opportunity if one or more higher seeds gets bounced in the first round
4th best series winner vs 3rd best series winner
Maybe you would swap #4 and #5 if my proposal would result in a rematch of the previous weekend. For example if #6 beat #5 in the first round, that would result in the the same two teams playing again on Thursday and you don't need the same two teams playing 3 or 4 times in about a week's time.

Friday - reseed
Lowest remaining team vs #1
2nd lowest remaining team vs #2

Saturday
Loser vs loser
Winner vs winner

Ryan J
 
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Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

Was a five teams, five games. The fifth played the fourth in a play in game on Thursday. Two semi games on Friday and the Championship and third place game on Saturday.
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

JohnsonsJerseys said:
If this is going to come down to being a money decision, there is no reason for the top teams to give up 2 or 3 home games. They'll make way more money staying home, enjoying home ice, getting two more wins to bolster their records, etc. In the case of Tech, a VERY conservative estimate would say they got an extra $60k for their budget by hosting two playoff games 3,000 per game * $10/person * 2 games.
Click to expand...

The league gets all ticket revenue for the first round of the playoffs.
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

It will be interesting to see what kind of attendance WCHA gets with NCHC tournament just down the road. No times for their semi-finals yet but I would believe similar time frames Friday. If St. Cloud makes thier final that would draw a lot of the local fan base that way I would think.
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

The main reason to kill the first round is to save the first round travel costs for the lower seeds. This ameliorates your Alaska travel problem. Also, since you'd be doing it with a week's gap (i.e., the Final Five would still be this weekend with no games last weekend), there is time for drumming up fan support, etc., for six fanbases. If in some amazing, magical universe UAH had beaten Tech this weekend, Huntsville people would be scrambling today to come up with travel plans for four days from now, paying for last-minute flights, etc. The three schools far away from the X (or GR) do face this problem (and so do FSU and LSSU with the games so far away).

I still think that the Final Five should be in Huntsville. It'll be 75ºF and sunny today; it'll be rainy on Thursday, but it's still in the high 50's or low 60's ºF. ;)

And then there's my play-in idea from last season, which would've worked like this (in a world where Alaska was playoff-eligible):

#1 Minnesota State v. their pick of #7 Northern Michigan & #10 Alaska-Anchorage or #8 Alabama-Huntsville & #9 Lake Superior
#2 Michigan Tech v. the alternate side of what Mankato doesn't take
#3 Bowling Green v. #6 Ferris State
#4 Alaska v. #5 Bemidji State

The 7-10 and 8-9 games would soften up those lower seeds for the top seeds. I'm going to bet that, given the quality difference between Northern and UAH/Lake, the Mavericks would've taken that 8-9 pairing in a heartbeat.

I really do like that just eight teams make it into the WCHA playoffs, but if you wanted to do ten and not carry something like a 4/5 into the X or the Van Andel, this is a way to do it. The negative, of course, is that you're paying for six teams to travel instead of four on that first weekend. (I heard from one of UAH's player's girlfriends that the Chargers won't be traveling back until today because of how the league pre-arranged travel here at the last second.)

GFM <— always with the crazy ideas
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

rustedblades said:
It will be interesting to see what kind of attendance WCHA gets with NCHC tournament just down the road. No times for their semi-finals yet but I would believe similar time frames Friday. If St. Cloud makes thier final that would draw a lot of the local fan base that way I would think.
Click to expand...

I don't think there are many cross-over fans. The lines have been drawn, I'd think.
 
gfmorris said:
The main reason to kill the first round is to save the first round travel costs for the lower seeds. This ameliorates your Alaska travel problem. Also, since you'd be doing it with a week's gap (i.e., the Final Five would still be this weekend with no games last weekend), there is time for drumming up fan support, etc., for six fanbases. If in some amazing, magical universe UAH had beaten Tech this weekend, Huntsville people would be scrambling today to come up with travel plans for four days from now, paying for last-minute flights, etc. The three schools far away from the X (or GR) do face this problem (and so do FSU and LSSU with the games so far away).

I still think that the Final Five should be in Huntsville. It'll be 75ºF and sunny today; it'll be rainy on Thursday, but it's still in the high 50's or low 60's ºF. ;)

And then there's my play-in idea from last season, which would've worked like this (in a world where Alaska was playoff-eligible):

#1 Minnesota State v. their pick of #7 Northern Michigan & #10 Alaska-Anchorage or #8 Alabama-Huntsville & #9 Lake Superior
#2 Michigan Tech v. the alternate side of what Mankato doesn't take
#3 Bowling Green v. #6 Ferris State
#4 Alaska v. #5 Bemidji State

The 7-10 and 8-9 games would soften up those lower seeds for the top seeds. I'm going to bet that, given the quality difference between Northern and UAH/Lake, the Mavericks would've taken that 8-9 pairing in a heartbeat.

I really do like that just eight teams make it into the WCHA playoffs, but if you wanted to do ten and not carry something like a 4/5 into the X or the Van Andel, this is a way to do it. The negative, of course, is that you're paying for six teams to travel instead of four on that first weekend. (I heard from one of UAH's player's girlfriends that the Chargers won't be traveling back until today because of how the league pre-arranged travel here at the last second.)

GFM <— always with the crazy ideas
Click to expand...

Travel arrangements are made to facilitate a 3 game opening round series. But a team can depart Saturday night or Sunday morning if it loses twice. NMU left Bowling Green Saturday Night. Now if there is a flight involved, that is set in stone for a 3 game series. Hard to switch 25-30 plane seats at the last second. Did UAH Bus to Tech or fly? Or maybe fly to Green Bay and bus to Houghton?
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

davyd83 said:
Travel arrangements are made to facilitate a 3 game opening round series. But a team can depart Saturday night or Sunday morning if it loses twice. NMU left Bowling Green Saturday Night. Now if there is a flight involved, that is set in stone for a 3 game series. Hard to switch 25-30 plane seats at the last second. Did UAH Bus to Tech or fly? Or maybe fly to Green Bay and bus to Houghton?
Click to expand...

Since they staying in Houghton so long, I'm sure they flew. Why else wouldn't they get a head start on a long bus riride? They had been there long enough that there shouldn't be any issue with rest for drivers.
 
Re: WCHA Playoffs 2015: MacNaughton Quest Determined

The WCHA flew the Chargers to Houghton, although I'm not sure how. Would you fly a full hockey into Green Bay? They flew commercial, so they didn't fly out of HSV (good luck getting even 15-seat chunks from here to ATL, even on Thursday out). I expect that we were bus-fly-bus.

GFM
 
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