WCHA Thread III

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Four quarter-final survivors seeded 1-4 in order of regular season finish.

1 against 4
2 against 3

 

[leafsfan]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Well I'll mention the Buckeyes...I still consider them very dangerous as a first round WCHA tournament opponent regardless of their season. I'd be very surprised if Wild wasn't on the ice this weekend too.

If memory serves me correctly Ms.Barto condensed her talent on to two lines last year, for the playoffs, which paid off for the Buckeyes with a sweep of Wisconsin. So maybe she will do that again this year, and yes, I agree with you the Buckeyes could be a very dangerous first round opponent.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

I could post my picks for the WCHA All Rookie Team...but it would sure appear to be homer picks, even though statistically speaking, those picks would definitely be justified. There would be two exceptions for one UW D and also the UW goaltender.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

A hearty congrats to the Beavers by the way, for a very fine season. Great job by the players and coaches.

 

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Thread III

I could post my picks for the WCHA All Rookie Team...but it would sure appear to be homer picks, even though statistically speaking, those picks would definitely be justified.

Rigsby, Kessel, and Terry should all be locks. Davis has been the next most productive forward in WCHA action, but it is possible that they'd spread it around to someone like Rogan. None of the D have huge points, so they could go in all kinds of directions.

Duggan has the scoring title, and IMO, PotY as well. Larocque seems likely for DPotY. RotY has to be one of Rigsby, Kessel, or Terry, so it will come down to whether they think Rigsby was a key to Wisconsin's dominating season or she had a good season backed by an overpowering offense. As for Kessel vs Terry, Terry was more consistent but Kessel was more electrifying when healthy.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Rigsby, Kessel, and Terry should all be locks. Davis has been the next most productive forward in WCHA action, but it is possible that they'd spread it around to someone like Rogan. None of the D have huge points, so they could go in all kinds of directions.

Pretty sure they will, as per WCHA, and or voters policy to spread the wealth. My personal picks are made in absence of such a policy though, and based strictly on my own perceptions of performance. No problem with spreading the recognitions around. I know who the top rookies were in 2010-2011...I like to think anyway.

 

[granddaddyscout]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Rigsby, Kessel, and Terry should all be locks. Davis has been the next most productive forward in WCHA action, but it is possible that they'd spread it around to someone like Rogan. None of the D have huge points, so they could go in all kinds of directions.

Duggan has the scoring title, and IMO, PotY as well. Larocque seems likely for DPotY. RotY has to be one of Rigsby, Kessel, or Terry, so it will come down to whether they think Rigsby was a key to Wisconsin's dominating season or she had a good season backed by an overpowering offense. As for Kessel vs Terry, Terry was more consistent but Kessel was more electrifying when healthy.

Definitely agree with you picks of Duggan and Larocque, I think Kessel gets the RoTY, but I think Ammerman and Packer have to be on the rookie team list as well at 25 points a piece. I am not sure Packer played before Christmas, but came on strong at the end and Ammerman missed the last two series I believe. Certainly worthy Rookie team consideration. The hardest calls will be on the All-WCHA team, lot's of great players this year. To many Olympians at forward, plus tough to leave Decker off that list. Is M-Lam an F or a D?

 

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Thread III

... I think Ammerman and Packer have to be on the rookie team list as well at 25 points a piece. I am not sure Packer played before Christmas, but came on strong at the end and Ammerman missed the last two series I believe. Certainly worthy Rookie team consideration.

For the league awards, they usually just go by conference action, so the relevant stats in WCHA play for the top 10 in frosh points are:

Freshman Scoring:                                            GP     PPG    G- A- P
  1   Amanda Kessel            Minnesota             F       25    1.36   11-23-34
      Kelly Terry              Minnesota             F       28    1.21   14-20-34
  3   Sarah Davis              Minnesota             F       28    0.93    9-17-26
  4   Madison Packer           Wisconsin             F       28    0.71   10-10-20
  5   Kathleen Rogan           Minnesota State       F       28    0.64   11- 7-18
  6   Brittany Ammerman        Wisconsin             F       26    0.65   10- 7-17
      Brienna Gillanders       Minnesota Duluth      F       28    0.61    9- 8-17
  8   Ally Tarr                Ohio State            F       28    0.43    7- 5-12
  9   Tracy McCann             Minnesota State       F       28    0.36    6- 4-10
 10   Jamie Kenyon             Minnesota Duluth      F       28    0.32    4- 5- 9

The hardest calls will be on the All-WCHA team, lot's of great players this year. To many Olympians at forward, plus tough to leave Decker off that list. Is M-Lam an F or a D?

Mo plays both, but I think she's likely played more minutes at F. The All-WCHA teams go three lines deep, but even then, you quickly run out of spots. Cody had a great year for a team with little offensive help for her, tough to leave off players like Spooner and McIntosh, and of course you have to include the Badger top line, Irwin, Holmlov, and the Lams.

 

[granddaddyscout]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Understand they go three lines deep, I was suggesting it will be tough to draw the line on the first team. You have so many great forwards that there will certainly be some great ones left off even with three lines.

 

[binnyrus]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Interesting post in the WI thread . . . Penn State interested in hiring Mark Johnson for thier new men's team? Having gone throught the "coach is leaving" thing with UMD I'm not trying to raise anyone's blood pressure . . . but what a change that would be at the very top of women's hockey . . . not just the WCHA but the NCAA as well . . . maybe we'll have an interesting off season this year??

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Interesting post in the WI thread . . . Penn State interested in hiring Mark Johnson for thier new men's team? Having gone throught the "coach is leaving" thing with UMD I'm not trying to raise anyone's blood pressure . . . but what a change that would be at the very top of women's hockey . . . not just the WCHA but the NCAA as well . . . maybe we'll have an interesting off season this year??

With the success Mark Johnson has had and his obvious coaching ability...I've been surprised "bigger fish" have not come knockin' on his door (maybe they have...unknown to me) or other opportunities such as the Penn State job have not come his way previously. They may have, I wouldn't know. His kind of success usually gets the attention of those looking to hire a new coach for the men...college level or beyond. Not to alarm any Badger fans, could be he's perfectly content right where he is...just sayin', sometimes the offers get pretty sweet.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread III

With the success Mark Johnson has had and his obvious coaching ability...I've been surprised "bigger fish" have not come knockin' on his door (maybe they have...unknown to me) or other opportunities such as the Penn State job have not come his way previously. They may have, I wouldn't know. His kind of success usually gets the attention of those looking to hire a new coach for the men...college level or beyond. Not to alarm any Badger fans, could be he's perfectly content right where he is...just sayin', sometimes the offers get pretty sweet.

At the Brunch with the Coaches during the Gopher-Badger series in Minneapolis, he did seem pretty content with his current position, and he mentioned that he has been approached for other positions the past few years. Still, it would be quite interesting if he were to "move on" to another opportunity.

 

[leafsfan]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Rigsby, Kessel, and Terry should all be locks. Davis has been the next most productive forward in WCHA action, but it is possible that they'd spread it around to someone like Rogan. None of the D have huge points, so they could go in all kinds of directions.

Duggan has the scoring title, and IMO, PotY as well. Larocque seems likely for DPotY. RotY has to be one of Rigsby, Kessel, or Terry, so it will come down to whether they think Rigsby was a key to Wisconsin's dominating season or she had a good season backed by an overpowering offense. As for Kessel vs Terry, Terry was more consistent but Kessel was more electrifying when healthy.

Agree with most of your picks, but I may give the nod to Steffes at OSU. Where as Rigsby had a good year I don't think she was the key to the Badgers success. And any goalie who saw over 1,000 shots (Steffes) has got to get some ink. Don Cherry said it best when referring to a goalie who got pummeled "the goalie saw more rubber then a dead skunk on the 401".

 

[granddaddyscout]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Agree with most of your picks, but I may give the nod to Steffes at OSU. Where as Rigsby had a good year I don't think she was the key to the Badgers success. And any goalie who saw over 1,000 shots (Steffes) has got to get some ink. Don Cherry said it best when referring to a goalie who got pummeled "the goalie saw more rubber then a dead skunk on the 401".

Good debate between Steffs and Rigsby. Strong arguments for both I think. Rigsby errors are better disguised at UW, but obviously a lot more wins. Steffs not only had a lesser over team in front of her, in particular the defense didn't give her a lot of support.

How about Freshman defense, who stands out there. Not a lot of quality minutes to choose from it seems. Any opinions on who stands out? Jaminski at UW logged a lot of minutes before Kelter joined the team and Jaakkola has looked good at times for UMD.

 

[froshgramp'10]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Very much agree that you have to include Steffes with Rigsby-save % wasn't all that different at .918 to .902 and the saves for Steffes were 884 as to 407 in the WCHA.I also agree that there is a heck of a lot of difference between the defences in front of them.
As for defencemen. Gillanders had a lot of quality minutes with UM in all their games.

 

[granddaddyscout]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Very much agree that you have to include Steffes with Rigsby-save % wasn't all that different at .918 to .902 and the saves for Steffes were 884 as to 407 in the WCHA.I also agree that there is a heck of a lot of difference between the defences in front of them.
As for defencemen. Gillanders had a lot of quality minutes with UM in all their games.

Forgot about Gillanders, she has been solid.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: WCHA Thread III

With the success Mark Johnson has had and his obvious coaching ability...I've been surprised "bigger fish" have not come knockin' on his door (maybe they have...unknown to me) or other opportunities such as the Penn State job have not come his way previously. They may have, I wouldn't know. His kind of success usually gets the attention of those looking to hire a new coach for the men...college level or beyond. Not to alarm any Badger fans, could be he's perfectly content right where he is...just sayin', sometimes the offers get pretty sweet.

I don't see why he would coach anything else, unless he was offered Wisconsin's men's team. After all, he is coaching "at home" at his alma mater...

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

I don't see why he would coach anything else, unless he was offered Wisconsin's men's team. After all, he is coaching "at home" at his alma mater...

Maybe that's all he ever wanted. I didn't want to say it in the Wisconsin thread for fear of upsetting the author, where it was posted in a distinctly "absolute" tone by one poster that MJ would never leave Madison. The post made me wonder if it was an opinion, or if the author knows something the rest of us do not. I couldn't tell. I understand MJ is very comfortable and has a pretty sweet gig right where he's at...but I tend to agree with those that speculate the challenge to build a program from scratch could be a real incentive for the type of person that really enjoys, and wants to be challenged. That "absolute" flavored post also mentioned this isn't the first time MJ has been approached, and he turned those previous opportunities down. I guess I wouldn't assume that means he wouldn't accept any potential / future opportunity that came his way. It sounded a little like that was assumed in the Wisconsin thread. Obviously home and family would be a major consideration for anyone being courted. When it comes to family though, I think Penn St. could probably make it financially attractive from a family financial health perspective that could potentially entice anyone. Maybe enjoying the challenge with a little cherry on top...in the form of increased financial prosperity, which is usually good for a family.

 

[leafsfan]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Very much agree that you have to include Steffes with Rigsby-save % wasn't all that different at .918 to .902 and the saves for Steffes were 884 as to 407 in the WCHA.I also agree that there is a heck of a lot of difference between the defences in front of them.
As for defencemen. Gillanders had a lot of quality minutes with UM in all their games.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hold it against Rigsby for being on the best team in the nation (good for her) I just think that Steffes had a tougher row to hoe. You can't make a bad choice between the two.

 

[leafsfan]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Maybe that's all he ever wanted. I didn't want to say it in the Wisconsin thread for fear of upsetting the author, where it was posted in a distinctly "absolute" tone by one poster that MJ would never leave Madison. The post made me wonder if it was an opinion, or if the author knows something the rest of us do not. I couldn't tell. I understand MJ is very comfortable and has a pretty sweet gig right where he's at...but I tend to agree with those that speculate the challenge to build a program from scratch could be a real incentive for the type of person that really enjoys, and wants to be challenged. That "absolute" flavored post also mentioned this isn't the first time MJ has been approached, and he turned those previous opportunities down. I guess I wouldn't assume that means he wouldn't accept any potential / future opportunity that came his way. It sounded a little like that was assumed in the Wisconsin thread. Obviously home and family would be a major consideration for anyone being courted. When it comes to family though, I think Penn St. could probably make it financially attractive from a family financial health perspective that could potentially entice anyone. Maybe enjoying the challenge with a little cherry on top...in the form of increased financial prosperity, which is usually good for a family.

MJ would be great choice but I think your going to see Fetter (Wayne St.) in Jo Pa land