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WCHA Thread IV

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Re: WCHA Thread IV

Timothy A said:
That is exactly what I meant. The rodents have more FP than UW for sure, but UW did hang with them in 4 of 5 games last year, so I am hoping UW's gain is enough to win a game or 2 against the rodents and make things interesting.
Click to expand...

A very reasonable expectation, I would say. Every year is a new year; every team is different than the last.
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

Timothy A said:
That is exactly what I meant. The rodents have more FP than UW for sure, but UW did hang with them in 4 of 5 games last year, so I am hoping UW's gain is enough to win a game or 2 against the rodents and make things interesting.
Click to expand...

yeah, but what about the Golden Gophers gain? Yes, your additions this coming year are impressive, but the same thing could have been said last year, I believe the proof is there, the Gophers freshmen were at least as good, and arguably better.

but add all of the home grown players Little Red lost to other teams and you'd probably have 4 championships in a row rather than 4 total
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

I personally don't see anything wrong with the Gophers going 5-0 against the popcorn skunks. But maybe I'm biased. (Naaah.)
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

pokechecker said:
yeah, but what about the Golden Gophers gain? Yes, your additions this coming year are impressive, but the same thing could have been said last year, I believe the proof is there, the Gophers freshmen were at least as good, and arguably better.

but add all of the home grown players Little Red lost to other teams and you'd probably have 4 championships in a row rather than 4 total
Click to expand...

Trust me, we get it..Minnesota is getting two Olympians back along with what I can only assume is very talented freshman class.

For what it's worth, Wisconsin's freshman class last year took a big hit when Pankowski made the initial Olympic cut and had to redshirt. Granted, she makes this freshman class elite (hopefully), but they really could have used her offense last year.

I guess I'm not sure about "all the home grown players" Wisconsin lost that cost them multiple titles. Having Kessel would probably have netted the 2012 title, but 2013 still would have been problematic with injuries to McKeough and Ammerman. Gophers still would have been elite, though probably not undefeated. The two other Wisconsin-born players that I know of that would have played a lot last year are Kenyon and Kepler. Maybe I'm missing more, but I just don't see this massive talent drain from the state.
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

Overall, I expect that the WCHA will be better in 2014-15 than it has been for the last couple of years. UMD is coming off of its poorest two-year stretch in program history. Yes, the Bulldogs had a number of players transfer, but I think that will turn out to be a good thing. Whatever the reason, those players didn't really click in Duluth. The last two UMD national-championship teams got big contributions from new players, and it'll need that again. Better goaltending will be a big key, whether it is from Black or someone else. UW should also take a bit step forward. A lot of people overlooked the Badgers when predicted the NCAA champs for 2009 and 2011, so they could rise to the top. A lot has been said about an improved offense in Madison, and while that will be important, I think defending will be just as important. Minnesota had very strong offensive teams in 2004-05, and the trademark UW defense was able to limit the Gophers' offense. The UW D wasn't as successful last year. It held them to two goals per game in the first series, but that was in week two when UM was scuffling. That increased to 3, 4, and 5 in the games in the second half. It wasn't just the quantity of goals, but it seemed like Wisconsin hasn't been able to limit chances at crunch time versus a good team like it once did. It held UND to one goal in the tourney, but that one came off of a gift turnover. IF UW gets back to its normal smothering D, then it will be a serious threat to win it all, because many of the other top teams will be even more raw in goal. It's hard to know at this point what to expect from the teams that finished in the bottom half of the WCHA last year.
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

ARM said:
Overall, I expect that the WCHA will be better in 2014-15 than it has been for the last couple of years. UMD is coming off of its poorest two-year stretch in program history. Yes, the Bulldogs had a number of players transfer, but I think that will turn out to be a good thing. Whatever the reason, those players didn't really click in Duluth. The last two UMD national-championship teams got big contributions from new players, and it'll need that again. Better goaltending will be a big key, whether it is from Black or someone else. UW should also take a bit step forward. A lot of people overlooked the Badgers when predicted the NCAA champs for 2009 and 2011, so they could rise to the top. A lot has been said about an improved offense in Madison, and while that will be important, I think defending will be just as important. Minnesota had very strong offensive teams in 2004-05, and the trademark UW defense was able to limit the Gophers' offense. The UW D wasn't as successful last year. It held them to two goals per game in the first series, but that was in week two when UM was scuffling. That increased to 3, 4, and 5 in the games in the second half. It wasn't just the quantity of goals, but it seemed like Wisconsin hasn't been able to limit chances at crunch time versus a good team like it once did. It held UND to one goal in the tourney, but that one came off of a gift turnover. IF UW gets back to its normal smothering D, then it will be a serious threat to win it all, because many of the other top teams will be even more raw in goal. It's hard to know at this point what to expect from the teams that finished in the bottom half of the WCHA last year.
Click to expand...

On point!
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

Interesting list. All four candidates have extensive, relevant experience; although the particulars obviously differ from one candidate to the next. Tough choice.
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

Hopefully the new BSU coach demands the school to start
Live streaming their games. If I was a parent of prospect
Player and my kid had multiple "equal" offers, I would
Strongly suggest that she attend a school where I could
Actually watch her play. In this era,it's crazy that the school
Does not stream their home games, what could possibly be
Their reasoning behind this?
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

BigSandy said:
Hopefully the new BSU coach demands the school to start
Live streaming their games.
Click to expand...

BigSandy yes!!! I tried to watch every Gopher game last year. I plunked down my 8.95s or 9.95s or whatever it was all over the country but I couldn't watch the BSU games. Were they the only games we couldn't see? Did OSU stream their games?

The camerawork of the first MSU game was pretty crazy, but at least we could watch it, and I think it might have been free!
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

MSU was free. They had a funky camera angle from the corner that kept catching the safety net though. They moved it more toward center ice later in the year and it was much better.
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

KTDC said:
BigSandy yes!!! I tried to watch every Gopher game last year. I plunked down my 8.95s or 9.95s or whatever it was all over the country but I couldn't watch the BSU games. Were they the only games we couldn't see? Did OSU stream their games?

The camerawork of the first MSU game was pretty crazy, but at least we could watch it, and I think it might have been free!
Click to expand...

Wow - that's just embarrassing - pretty much all of the D3 schools (let alone the D1 schools) out East broadcast many if not all of their home games - most with professional commentary and free. Have watched numerous NESCAC D3 games and the camerawork and commentary is fairly good. Some of the schools even allow purchase of videos after the game for interested parties.
 
BigSandy said:
Hopefully the new BSU coach demands the school to start
Live streaming their games. If I was a parent of prospect
Player and my kid had multiple "equal" offers, I would
Strongly suggest that she attend a school where I could
Actually watch her play. In this era,it's crazy that the school
Does not stream their home games, what could possibly be
Their reasoning behind this?
Click to expand...
At least BSU does have free audio, so one can follow the status of the game. There are a good number of programs where the only way to get a free score of the game is with livestats or live box score, and that routinely gets "stuck" for long periods such that collegehockeystats will have a final displayed while the "live" stats will show results from the first or second period. Those snafus likely have the same explanation as not having video available for BSU games: those with the power to make it work don't care enough to do so. If the athletic department was besieged by calls and emails, that may change.
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

ARM said:
Overall, I expect that the WCHA will be better in 2014-15 than it has been for the last couple of years. UMD is coming off of its poorest two-year stretch in program history. Yes, the Bulldogs had a number of players transfer, but I think that will turn out to be a good thing. Whatever the reason, those players didn't really click in Duluth. The last two UMD national-championship teams got big contributions from new players, and it'll need that again. Better goaltending will be a big key, whether it is from Black or someone else. UW should also take a bit step forward. A lot of people overlooked the Badgers when predicted the NCAA champs for 2009 and 2011, so they could rise to the top. A lot has been said about an improved offense in Madison, and while that will be important, I think defending will be just as important. Minnesota had very strong offensive teams in 2004-05, and the trademark UW defense was able to limit the Gophers' offense. The UW D wasn't as successful last year. It held them to two goals per game in the first series, but that was in week two when UM was scuffling. That increased to 3, 4, and 5 in the games in the second half. It wasn't just the quantity of goals, but it seemed like Wisconsin hasn't been able to limit chances at crunch time versus a good team like it once did. It held UND to one goal in the tourney, but that one came off of a gift turnover. IF UW gets back to its normal smothering D, then it will be a serious threat to win it all, because many of the other top teams will be even more raw in goal. It's hard to know at this point what to expect from the teams that finished in the bottom half of the WCHA last year.
Click to expand...

Your assessment of the Bulldogs seems pretty spot on. The players leaving are definitely not leaving the program with big shoes to fill. However, seeing as the Bulldogs will now only have two rostered goaltenders for next season (so far.. Could still add a third like they did during their 2010 natty champ year,) Black better hope she steps her game up. What an awful "Sophomore Slump" she had. Don't expect the Bulldogs to turn to Grapp on the bench much, unless Black runs into injury or extends her poor sophomore year showing too far into this next season. I expect that Stalder, Villilä, Stauber, the return of Lacquette, as well as the rookie Hedin, will really step up big at the blue line to support Black (or Grapp.)
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

I'm a little late on the preseason prediction posting but I figured I'd join the party now...

1. Minnesota
2. UMD
2. Wisconsin
4. North Dakota
5. Ohio State
6. St. Cloud
7. Mankato
8. Bemidji

I think the WCHA gets even tighter at the top this season. I predict a UMD/Wisconsin tie for second in the conference points standings. Has Wisconsin released a schedule yet? We'll have to see where the overall standings might shake out when Wisco releases a schedule. That being said, I think the Bulldogs will surprise a lot of people this year, which is shocking that the program has gotten to a point where success is a surprise for them now. Three terrible seasons in a row would be even more shocking.
 
Re: WCHA Thread IV

CrankIt said:
Black better hope she steps her game up. What an awful "Sophomore Slump" she had.
Click to expand...

Bulldogs were a train wreck last year if the 4 times I saw them in person play U of MN and a couple times on the internet play MSU is any indication. Any goalie would have looked bad
 
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