WCHA Thread III

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

We may have to wait until Sunday. BSU is now only 3 points behind both UMD and UM with a game in hand, so if they swept NoDak, they could tie the winner of tomorrow's game at Ridder (or even lead outright if the maroon & gold outfits do another shootout.)

It didn't work out for BSU in the series opener in Roseau. So the Gophs do end up in 2nd, all alone for the time being.

Did you notice UND beat the Beaves tonight 5-2. Mo played on D and scored two goals....we'll see what happens next.

I did notice that result. Later tonight someone likely ends the weekend tied with UMD for 3rd in the WCHA.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Don't want to sound negative as BSU has been very good this year but they finish with ND, UMD, MINNY, WISCONSIN and OSU and a improving MSU and will be difficult to win 4of those games. Just saying.

Right now, it's not looking too good for the Beavers for the 1st series in that brutal stretch.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Okay, I realize that there's 5 weekends still to play, but with UMD and UND tied in the standings, here are the tie-breakers for playoff seeding.

1. Head-to-head record
2. Conference wins (non-shootout)
3. Fewest goals allowed (or most goals scored) head-to-head
4. Total season goal differential for conference games

Right now, the UMD/UND comparison would go to the third tiebreaker with UMD outscoring UND 13-9.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Obviously, a big weekend on hand for those trailing Wisconsin in the standings and jockeying for their own best possible finish in the standings.

http://www.wcha.com/women/presarch/201101/jan18wcw.php

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Latest WCHA POTW:

http://www.wcha.com/women/presarch/201101/jan19wpw.php

How 'bout a Husky sweep at home this weekend!

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Players of the Week for January 14-16:

Offense: Hilary Knight - Junior Forward, University of Wisconsin
Defense: Monique Lamoureux-Kolls - Sophomore Defenseman, University of North Dakota
Rookie: Lisa Steffes - Goaltender, Ohio State University



If anyone is surprised by the OPOTW selection, they must have not being paying attention to any of the stats this past weekend. This was almost guaranteed by her 8-point performance.

I guess that I'm not surprised that the conference found a way to honor MLK for her 5-point effort, too. Of course, having her honestly moved to a defensive pairing (which was a surprise in-and-of itself) legitimizes the honor.

If anything, I'm having a little difficulty with Steffes being name ROTW, or more correctly the references to season-long milestones that are included in the press release. The award is supposed to be about just the past weekend's performance, not across the entire season to-date. Still, it was a decent weekend for her in net.

 

[GumpW]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Player of the week type awards are fun and meaningful. I'm in favor of having them. That being said, an awful lot of winners this year are players who happened to have played vs the Huskies the previous weekend. I know it's really hard to pick against a lot of points (i.e. a player who scored alot over the weekend) - and without any doubt Hilary Knight is an outstanding player, so this has nothing to do with her - but it kind of seems to me that the POW awards should go to players that make a difference in a big game, or at least a close game, not blowout wins. Isn't a player who scores two goals in a close WI-UMD game, or the game winner in a MN-ND game a better POW candidate that someone who scores a boatload of points in a one-sided game? If Knight had scored 8 points and helped the Badgers win 4-3 and 5-4 or something, a POW would clearly be on the horizon. What do you think? Anyone agree, or should the POW just be someone with one of the higher point totals in a weekend?

 

[WCHFan]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Like Raty last week should've won something. She was outstanding.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA Thread III

If anything, I'm having a little difficulty with Steffes being name ROTW, or more correctly the references to season-long milestones that are included in the press release. The award is supposed to be about just the past weekend's performance, not across the entire season to-date. Still, it was a decent weekend for her in net.

Well, the milestone was reached during the weekend in question. Also, for a rookie, a little more background material may help the rest of the league get to know the newcomer. Still, it's a point well taken -- the award should be given for accomplishments on that specific weekend.

I also agree with GumpW that award should go beyond raw stats and find the difference-makers. I'd submit that from that perspective, the Steffes choice looks pretty good.

 

[granddaddyscout]

Re: WCHA Thread III

How exactly is the decision made each week, does anyone know? I assume the coaches vote, but who or how are the players nominated?

Also I agree with GumpW as well, except sometimes a player may not have agreat game but they happen to tap in the game winner in a close game. Is that more impressive than someone that executes in every aspect all game against a weak opponant. I certainly agree that the caliber of the opponant should be factored in, but we shouldn't eliminate candidates completely just becausde they are playing a weaker team. Just my opinion though.

 

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Thread III

How exactly is the decision made each week, does anyone know? I assume the coaches vote, but who or how are the players nominated?

The teams nominate their own players for each category. Sometimes they don't nominate anyone if they feel nobody stood out for a given award or the coach wasn't happy with how the team played (or perhaps just neglected to nominate anyone, who knows.) My assumption was that the league picked the winner rather than having a vote, but that could be wrong.

GumpW is definitely not wrong, but there isn't any easy answer, as is often the case with apples/oranges comparisons. One problem exists with picking PotW winners as it does with awarding three stars of a game -- the same people tend to be the "best" week after week. Hillary Knight is either the best player in the league or second to Meghan Duggan, so it stands to follow that she's going to be a top offensive performer in most weeks. How often does it make sense to recognize that fact? At a certain point, my guess is that Jane Doe of Some State College would be more honored by being named OPotW for the first time than Knight would be by receiving the award for the 5th or 6th time.

So I doubt that Noora Räty is too worried about not getting DPotW; she's been well recognized for weekly awards. However, if she wins another goaltending championship, it would be nice if the WCHA made her their first team goalie this time.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA Thread III

...GumpW is definitely not wrong, but there isn't any easy answer, as is often the case with apples/oranges comparisons. One problem exists with picking PotW winners as it does with awarding three stars of a game -- the same people tend to be the "best" week after week. Hillary Knight is either the best player in the league or second to Meghan Duggan, so it stands to follow that she's going to be a top offensive performer in most weeks. How often does it make sense to recognize that fact? At a certain point, my guess is that Jane Doe of Some State College would be more honored by being named OPotW for the first time than Knight would be by receiving the award for the 5th or 6th time...

As a self-appointed selecter of three stars, this dilemma is very familiar to me. I'll freely admit to trying to recognize unsung heroes when possible. I'd certainly imagine that those doling out official honors do the same.

Still, there often are games where the usual suspects are the difference-makers, period. In that case, the most honorable route is to just to go with it.

One advantage my posts have is that I limit myself to games I've actually seen. It's got to be very difficult to make the league-wide selections when there's no realistic way to see all of the games. When you're an eyewitness, you can better determine whether a GWG was the result of great play or just an easy tap-in.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

There are too many excellent players in the WCHA and associated fine performances each week to avoid having several very worthy players accomplishments left out of the weekly recognitions. It's hard to ignore, and not recognize a performances like that of Miss Knight last weekend. It would be nice if those making selections...or voting, or whatever, would dig a little deeper than merely looking at numbers. It does seem they attempt to spread the recognitions around a little. They could maybe do a little better...or more of that based on criteria as suggested by GumpW

incidentally, the handle GumpW always stirs fond memories of "The Gumper" for this old timer.

 

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Thread III

When you're an eyewitness, you can better determine whether a GWG was the result of great play or just an easy tap-in.

Even the tap-in goals can be deceiving; over time, one notices that the great players get more than their share of "easy" goals, while lesser players arrive a split second too late. Is that luck, anticipation, vision, quickness, or just the proverbial "nose for the net"?

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Is that luck, anticipation, vision, quickness, or just the proverbial "nose for the net"?

All of the above, except luck!

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

If the Huskies...Huskies...Huskies were to win a game, or two this season...now would be a good time.

 

[1996]

Re: WCHA Thread III

It's a little late for the Huskie's, may be they want to get rid of there coach. I honestly can not believe he still has a job. They are like the Detroit Lions of a couple years ago. All of you are turning a blind eye to it too, no one has made mention on my post of a week ago. Brooky, I thought you wanted to see womens hockey excel? I can't follow it as religiously as I used to, but 0-24-1 is unacceptable!!!! Most of you from the beginning of the WCHA would know me if I put my true name on here but it is better to stay with a low profile...

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread III

It's a little late for the Huskie's, may be they want to get rid of there coach. I honestly can not believe he still has a job. They are like the Detroit Lions of a couple years ago. All of you are turning a blind eye to it too, no one has made mention on my post of a week ago. Brooky, I thought you wanted to see womens hockey excel? I can't follow it as religiously as I used to, but 0-24-1 is unacceptable!!!!

I don't disagree with your opinion that the season is unacceptable. Just because others (including myself) haven't commented on it doesn't mean we're turning a blind eye to it. I'd be as livid as you if it were happening to the team I support (your wonderful neighbors just down I-94).

However, a lot of contributors to the women's forum predicted that SCSU would struggle this season (maybe not to this extent, but still...), particularly with the loss of all of last year's firepower, so we're not as quick to jump on the coach. If the team had been predicted to finish 4th in the conference and then this happened, that would likely be a different story.

Second, I find it much less likely that the school is going to fire Giesen after just giving him a contract extension. Again, several contributors didn't think that move was the brightest thing to do at the time given what we saw coming, but it happened and now you have to put up with him until it's financially feasible to give him the boot.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Brooky, I thought you wanted to see womens hockey excel? I can't follow it as religiously as I used to, but 0-24-1 is unacceptable!!!! Most of you from the beginning of the WCHA would know me if I put my true name on here but it is better to stay with a low profile...

You think the fact I haven't publicly called for the head of Giesen on a platter translates to me not being interested in seeing women's hockey excel? Let me tell you honestly, no matter what I think of the SCSU head coach, I'm not about to insert myself into the domain of SCSU fans and get into a public debate on the merits or demerits of the St. Cloud staff. Not that I don't have opinions on the matter...just not going to devote much, if any time to that debate here. I've had several discussions face to face with other fans at the rink concerning St. Cloud this season. I also except no blame for any potential failure of the sport to excel or any delay in the sports advancement.

I even have opinions on what the Huskies need to improve, but truly...I don't dwell on the struggles of St. Cloud too much. I did comment before the season I thought they'd have a hard time beating anyone in the WCHA this season. I wish them the best and sincerely hope they can become much more competitive soon.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: WCHA Thread III

Looks like Ohio State is going to share their video feed for this weekend's series. Gold Zone members can watch the game, otherwise standard blog and livestats also available.

I am contemplating purchasing the video UofM GoldZone package to enable me to watch these games. Can anyone provide a preview/recommendation concerning the quality of the Ohio State video feed please?