WCHA Thread IV

[northhockey]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

She also had 6 assists last night (1 short of ncaa record). its been a joy to watch her but like she pointed out, its nothing if you don't win

 

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

There are several teams paying a price for scheduling LW they would have been better off scheduling mid-level teams from the east instead, but if they hadn't LW who would LW pay. Unfortunate that they pay the price for doing the right thing to develop the sport.

We discussed this last year, and my feelings haven't changed. If the desire is to give Lindenwood someone to play, then have it play BSU. The Beavers and Lions have only played once over the last couple of years, and Bemidji dominated. We can't pretend to be surprised that Lindenwood isn't better, so a decision to play it was basically throwing two games away. Everybody knew how the rules worked going in, so if that was the decision, fine. Obviously, a contender will have to make it up by scheduling tougher opponents elsewhere. UND tried to do this by playing Clarkson, but it had the misfortune to only split.

Also UW played BU last year and schedule UNH this year, no way to know that UNH would drop so far so fast when they made the deal.

How far in advance does UW schedule? UNH has been sub .500 for three years now, so you couldn't expect that the Wildcats were going to be any better than they've been this year. Actually, both UW and UM have been fortunate that UNH has done quite well against some of the top teams.

Bottom line is that the WCHA always pays a price from their double home and home approach and that price is particularly high when a single WCHA team is so dominant.

It's worse when two of the WCHA teams are strong. UMD lost eight times last year to Wisconsin and Minnesota combined, pretty near sinking the Bulldogs' postseason hopes right there.

I still think the East rankings are suspect because they don't get tested.

Who is supposed to test them? I would think that would be the teams from the WCHA that think they are contenders. UMD tried, could only split BC and BU. MSU played Mercyhurst and got beat like a drum. Meanwhile, it took UMD four tries to finally get a win against the Mav's, and neither UND nor UW could sweep MSU.

Wisconsin's problem isn't that it had to play 28 conference games, it's that it only played two out-of-conference games against a real D-I team, UNH. It chose to not schedule anyone for that third weekend, and wound up adding the Whitecaps. You may be right that the WCHA is better than the rankings indicate, but the league teams have only themselves to blame. They know how the selection criteria work. There is nothing there to reward playing Lindenwood and the Whitecaps. Also, there is nothing that considers past seasons' success. So if a team believes it is better than teams in the East, prove it. If a team doesn't even try and leaves its fate to others, sometimes fate can be unkind.

 

[Eeyore]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

In Minnesota's case, they had a longstanding rivalry with Harvard that the Crimson opted to end after last year. If those two games happen, you have a series between the top of the West and someone near the top of the East. The Gophers also scheduled SLU, who were supposed to be pretty good this year but have stumbled some.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Regular season winding down. Coming up this weekend:

St. Cloud State @ Minnesota State

Bemidji State @ Minnesota

Ohio State @ North Dakota

Minnesota-Duluth @ Wisconsin

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

I missed MSU's upset of UMD last week, which blackbeard described as a real snoozer, but I guess 7 for 8 wasn't too bad.

My best guesses for this coming weekend:

St. Cloud State @ Minnesota State Split

Bemidji State @ Minnesota Minny sweeps

Ohio State @ North Dakota The Whioux sweep

Minnesota-Duluth @ Wisconsin Badgers sweep

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Since no one has posted it yet...

Players of the Week
Offense: Jocelyne Lamoureux (North Dakota)
Defense: Megan Bozek (Minnesota)
Rookie: Maryanne Menefee (Minnesota)

ALSO -- the WCHA announced their record-setting 114 Scholar-Athletes (men and women) for 2012-2013. http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1213/201302/feb13sch.php

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Since no one has posted it yet...

Players of the Week
Offense: Jocelyne Lamoureux (North Dakota)
Defense: Megan Bozek (Minnesota)
Rookie: Maryanne Menefee (Minnesota)

Congrats to Megan and Maryanne!

ALSO -- the WCHA announced their record-setting 114 Scholar-Athletes (men and women) for 2012-2013. http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1213/201302/feb13sch.php

And a HUGE congrats to our Minnesota scholar-athletes, and specifically Gopher women's hockey team members Bethany Brausen (repeat honoree), Noora Räty and Kelly Terry!

 

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Ohio State @ North Dakota The Whioux sweep

Halfway there and they have clinched home ice.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Wisconsin @ Bemidji State

Minnesota State @ Ohio State

Minnesota @ St. Cloud State

North Dakota @ Minnesota-Duluth

http://www.wcha.com/women/standings.php

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

I missed MSU's upset of UMD last week, which blackbeard described as a real snoozer, but I guess 7 for 8 wasn't too bad.

My best guesses for this coming weekend:

St. Cloud State @ Minnesota State Split Lost by a 1-0 shootout - SCSU takes 5 of 6 points.

Bemidji State @ Minnesota Minny sweeps Check, but just barely!

Ohio State @ North Dakota The Whioux sweep Check, but the second game was close.

Minnesota-Duluth @ Wisconsin Badgers sweep Check again, but the second game was even closer (OT)!

P.S. It's fun playing this WCHA prediction game all by myself. Compared to Hockey East, it's pretty easy to come in 1st Place!

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Just in case it they're needed...

WCHA Tie-Breaking Procedures (for playoff seeding purposes only):

In the event that ties are encountered in the determination of WCHA ranking or designation of home teams for playoff purposes, the following procedures will be used in the order given to break the ties:

a) If two or more teams are tied, head-to-head competition during the regular (conference) season will be used to break the tie. (Note that any game that went to a shootout will be considered a tie, and the result of the shootout will be ignored.)

b) If two or more teams are still tied after (a), the highest seed will go to the team with the most WCHA (conference) wins during the regular season. (Regulation or overtime, not shootouts.)

c) If two or more teams played a four-game series during the regular season and the teams have the same win-loss records for those series and the same number of WCHA wins, the team having the least number of goals scored against it in the four-game series shall have the higher rank.

d) If two or more teams are still tied after applying the provisions of (a), (b) and (c), the team having the greatest ‘winning margin’ during the regular season will have the higher rank. Winning margin = WCHA goals for during the regular season minus WCHA goals against.

e) Games played against WCHA opponents in holiday tournaments will not be counted in the determinations.

So...

Wisconsin holds the tiebreaker over North Dakota (criterion (a), with a 3-1 head-to-head record),

Minnesota-Duluth currently holds the tiebreaker over Ohio State (criterion (b), 13 conference wins to 11 at this point),

and St. Cloud State holds the tiebreakers over both Minnesota State (criterion (a), 2-1-1 head-to-head) and Bemidji State (criterion (a), 3-1 head-to-head).

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Players of the Week - Feb. 20

Offense: Monique Lamoureux (North Dakota)
Defense: Audrey Hanmer (St. Cloud State)
Rookie: Meghan Dufault (North Dakota)

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Final From Friday, February 22nd
Ohio State 4
Minnesota State 1

Solid Buckeye Win Creates Tie for 4th​

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. During this very busy hockey weekend at Ohio State, the Women's games wound up in the "historic" OSU Ice Rink after all, and the Buckeyes prospered. The win, coupled with Duluth's loss to North Dakota, creates a dead heat for 4th Place. The Buckeyes need to outpoint the Bulldogs in today's action to secure home ice for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. Here's to hoping for another weekend in the friendly confines of the OSU Ice Rink.

This edition of the 3 Stars is going to be a bit more concise than usual. For further details, see osualum86's fine post on the OSU/Minnesota State thread.

Three Stars of the Game: Decidedly Unofficial and Just For Fun​

Ohio State Honorable Mention: Hokey Langan
Sweet Penalty Shot conversion! Hokey's precise shot appeared hit the inside of the left post on its way in.

Minnesota State Honorable Mention: Lauren Smith
Lauren bagged the Mavs' lone goal. Read on...


#3 Star: Tracy McCann, Minnesota State
Tracy gathered up a loose puck in the MSU zone, then took off on a determined end-to-end rush to create Mankato's best scoring chance. Buckeye Goalie Chelsea Knapp stopped McCann's initial shot, and a rebound attempt from Kathleen Rogan as well. Third shot was the charm for the Mavs, as Smith finished the play. It may not "take a village" to beat Knapp, but it certainly took Mankato's entire first line.

#2 Star: Minttu Tuominen, Ohio State
The Tuominen-Semenza-Hollowell line had fine night shutting down Mankato's top players. Minttu dominated the face-off circle, winning 11 and losing only six. Tuominen's goal early in the third period sealed the deal. Accepting a crisp centering pass from Paige Semenza , Minttu deposited the puck in the net with one fluid, sweeping motion.

#1 Star: Taylor Kuehl, Ohio State
Taylor opened the scoring with a nice tip of a Kari Schmitt slap shot. Kuehl followed that with the primary assist on the GWG. The scoring play was a nice series of cycling-type passes, going Tarr-Gagne-Kuehl-Tarr. Thing of beauty!


Next Up: Rematch with the Mavericks. Face-off at 1:07. Again, contrary to the originally published schedule, this game will be played at the OSU Ice Rink.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Still a lot to be determined on this, the final day of the regular season. Only 1st and 6th place have been locked in. Here are the standings.

1. Minnesota, 81 points
2. North Dakota, 54 points
3. Wisconsin, 52 points
4. Minnesota-Duluth*, 40 points
5. Ohio State, 40 points
6. Minnesota State, 23 points
7. St. Cloud State, 18 points
8. Bemidji State, 16 points

*Minnesota-Duluth currently holds the tiebreaker over Ohio State (in-conference wins, excluding shootouts).

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Still a lot to be determined on this, the final day of the regular season. Only 1st and 6th place have been locked in. Here are the standings.

1. Minnesota, 81 points
2. North Dakota, 54 points
3. Wisconsin, 52 points
4. Minnesota-Duluth*, 40 points
5. Ohio State, 40 points
6. Minnesota State, 23 points
7. St. Cloud State, 18 points
8. Bemidji State, 16 points

*Minnesota-Duluth currently holds the tiebreaker over Ohio State (in-conference wins, excluding shootouts).

Ohio State got a tie with a shootout win, but so did Minnesota-Duluth. Final results:

1. Minnesota, 84 points
2. Wisconsin*, 55 points
3. North Dakota, 55 points
4. Minnesota-Duluth**, 42 points
5. Ohio State, 42 points
6. Minnesota State, 23 points
7. St. Cloud State, 18 points
8. Bemidji State, 16 points

* Wisconsin takes the tiebreaker over North Dakota based on head-to-head record
** Minnesota-Duluth takes the tiebreaker over Ohio State based on in-conference wins, excluding shootouts

That sets up the playoff matchups...

Bemidji State at Minnesota

St. Cloud State at Wisconsin

Minnesota State at North Dakota

Ohio State at Minnesota-Duluth

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Ohio State got a tie with a shootout win, but so did Minnesota-Duluth...
* Wisconsin takes the tiebreaker over North Dakota based on head-to-head record
** Minnesota-Duluth takes the tiebreaker over Ohio State based on in-conference wins, excluding shootouts.

Well, that was certainly a lousy turn of events. At least in Grand Forks and Columbus. I left the OSU Ice Rink this afternoon thinking the Buckeyes had done enough to earn home ice. So getting the news of UMD's shootout win was certainly a downer. But maybe I should be celebrating. After all, UMD now has the home ice disadvantage.

On a personal level, it means I'm suddenly and unexpectedly at my last three stars post of the season. Think I'll sleep on it. Not because I'm in any serious doubt about the selections, but because I'd like to go the extra mile on the season-ending post. For those playing along at home, don't worry. I'm thinking Sunday or Monday at the latest.

The team, of course, still has plenty to play for. As I've previously posted, the playoff contests were destined to be great games, regardless of where played. I still believe that. So to the team I send out a huge: GO BUCKS!

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1213/201302/feb23wcw.php

 

[osualum86]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Well, that was certainly a lousy turn of events. At least in Grand Forks and Columbus. I left the OSU Ice Rink this afternoon thinking the Buckeyes had done enough to earn home ice. So getting the news of UMD's shootout win was certainly a downer. But maybe I should be celebrating. After all, UMD now has the home ice disadvantage.

On a personal level, it means I'm suddenly and unexpectedly at my last three stars post of the season. Think I'll sleep on it. Not because I'm in any serious doubt about the selections, but because I'd like to go the extra mile on the season-ending post. For those playing along at home, don't worry. I'm thinking Sunday or Monday at the latest.

The team, of course, still has plenty to play for. As I've previously posted, the playoff contests were destined to be great games, regardless of where played. I still believe that. So to the team I send out a huge: GO BUCKS!

Can't wait to read your last "Three Stars" of the season! Hate to play the coulda-shoulda-woulda game, but in fact, all the points we left on the table this season did come back and bite us. Still, I believe this team can accomplish whatever they set out to do. With the exception of Minnesota, who no one has beaten, we will not face a team in the WCHA Tournament that we have not already beaten this season, so there should not be a problem with our confidence level going into the tournament next weekend.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

That sets up the playoff matchups...

Bemidji State at Minnesota

St. Cloud State at Wisconsin

Minnesota State at North Dakota

Ohio State at Minnesota-Duluth

First round, I'll go with:

Minnesota advancing

Wisconsin advancing

North Dakota advancing

Ohio State advancing...my "minor" upset pick. Definitely three games.

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Ohio State advancing...my "minor" upset pick. Definitely three games.

I see these teams as being very even right now. But with apologies to osualum86 and pgb-ohio, I have to give a slight edge to UMD, just based on each team's performance since the Holiday break. I agree that it will go three games, and they should all be close, but I see the Dawgs emerging to fight another day.

Hope I'm wrong!