WCHA Thread IV

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Is anyone else a little surprised that the WCHA schedule remains imbalanced (unequal number of conference games played by each team) until the next-to-last weekend of the regular season?

After today's action, Wisconsin, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State will have played 16 conference games, while the other four teams will have only played 14. Wisconsin and Minnesota State are idle the weekend of January 31-February 2, but UMD and SCSU don't go idle to make up for their two extra games until the weekend of February 14-16.

 

[ARM]

Is anyone else a little surprised that the WCHA schedule remains imbalanced (unequal number of conference games played by each team) until the next-to-last weekend of the regular season?

After today's action, Wisconsin, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State will have played 16 conference games, while the other four teams will have only played 14. Wisconsin and Minnesota State are idle the weekend of January 31-February 2, but UMD and SCSU don't go idle to make up for their two extra games until the weekend of February 14-16.

I'd guess that the February bye is a case of UMD wanting to minimize its number of games during the Olympics when players are absent. Thus, UMD and SCUS played a mid-December series.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

I'd say ARM's example is spot-on. It also is representative of the myriad of scheduling problems out there. The Olympics aren't the only international tournament. Some programs have to dodge building conflicts. Others are trying to schedule specific opponents for non-conference play. Exam schedules vary. I'm sure the list of potential complications is endless.

In the past, it was really nice when exactly half the schedule was completed before the break. If nothing else, it made the conference race easier to follow. And that's true all season long when each team has played exactly the same number of conference games. But am I surprised that scheduling challenges have trumped this laudable goal? Not really. A little disappointed, yes. But surprised, no.

On the bright side, we do have a balanced schedule in the other sense of the word. Each team plays all others exactly four times. That's actually a more important consideration, IMHO.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

P.S. As always, great job and thanks for posting your "Unofficial Three Stars of the Game"!

I repeat my comment from the OSU-PSU thread... I'm glad the Buckeyes got those 12 goals out of their system this weekend.

Thanks for reading, guys. I do put some effort into the Three Stars, and every bit of feedback is much appreciated.

With the start of a new calendar year, this is as good a time as any to trot out a few comments I've made in the past. Hopefully I've picked up a new reader or two since the last time. Quick list:

1. The Women who play D-1 Hockey are some of the most underappreciated athletes in college sports. These women play our game very, very well. What ever little credit I can bestow on them is more than deserved.
3. For me, Job 1 is to give props to the OSU Women. But I sincerely want to support Women's Hockey as a whole, and the WCHA Conference in particular. That is the main reason my posts remain on the conference thread. Since I began doing this, osualum86 has done a fantastic job maintaining weekly OSU vs. Opponent threads. It's been tempting to move the Three Stars there. But I hope that my efforts provide just a little information to the rest of the league as to what goes on in the games at OSU. Columbus is, after all, a geographical outlier within the conference. I do believe that the shout-out to the rest of the WCHA would be partially lost if I moved the posts to the weekly thread.
5. The Sports Communications Department at Ohio State declines to name stars of the game. That would be the official source, and that is why my work is Unofficial! If Sports Info ever changes its mind and decides to name stars, I'm immediately out of business. I won't compete with anything our Department of Athletics wants to do. But under the present circumstances, I've been happy to fill the void. It's been a really nice vehicle for supporting Women's Hockey.

As SNL would put it, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Beavers and Mavericks finish up this weekend with the puck drop coming up shortly. The WCHA back in full swing next weekend.

St. Cloud State @ Bemidji State

Minnesota State @ Minnesota-Duluth

Ohio State @ Minnesota

North Dakota @ Wisconsin

Buckeyes have shaken any rust off. Hope the Gophers are well oiled and rust free to start their 2nd half.

NoDak needs to get the Badger off their back...didn't score but one I think vs. Wisconsin the first go 'round. These conference points pretty key for NoDak aspirations.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Thanks for reading, guys. I do put some effort into the Three Stars, and every bit of feedback is much appreciated.

With the start of a new calendar year, this is as good a time as any to trot out a few comments I've made in the past. Hopefully I've picked up a new reader or two since the last time. Quick list:

1. The Women who play D-1 Hockey are some of the most underappreciated athletes in college sports. These women play our game very, very well. What ever little credit I can bestow on them is more than deserved.
3. For me, Job 1 is to give props to the OSU Women. But I sincerely want to support Women's Hockey as a whole, and the WCHA Conference in particular. That is the main reason my posts remain on the conference thread. Since I began doing this, osualum86 has done a fantastic job maintaining weekly OSU vs. Opponent threads. It's been tempting to move the Three Stars there. But I hope that my efforts provide just a little information to the rest of the league as to what goes on in the games at OSU. Columbus is, after all, a geographical outlier within the conference. I do believe that the shout-out to the rest of the WCHA would be partially lost if I moved the posts to the weekly thread.
5. The Sports Communications Department at Ohio State declines to name stars of the game. That would be the official source, and that is why my work is Unofficial! If Sports Info ever changes its mind and decides to name stars, I'm immediately out of business. I won't compete with anything our Department of Athletics wants to do. But under the present circumstances, I've been happy to fill the void. It's been a really nice vehicle for supporting Women's Hockey.

As SNL would put it, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks for the props, Pgb. I thoroughly enjoy reading your "unofficial" three stars after our home games and agree 100% with putting them in this thread where everyone in the WCHA can read them. Keep up the good work!

 

[ARM]

The Sports Communications Department at Ohio State declines to name stars of the game. That would be the official source, and that is why my work is Unofficial! If Sports Info ever changes its mind and decides to name stars, I'm immediately out of business. I won't compete with anything our Department of Athletics wants to do. But under the present circumstances, I've been happy to fill the void.

If that day ever comes, I'd suggest that you do a slight name change and continue. With all due respect to OSU Athletics, they would just give us the names of three stars, and that would be it. You provide a game summary wrapped around naming stars. So you could just starting calling it "The Stars of the Game" or something like that, because I think the next time I see you limit it to three will be the first time. Between honorable mentions and ties, you recognize anywhere from five to eight recipients for most games, so it really is a different picture than a typical naming of three stars.

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Bemidji State beats Minnesota State-Mankato 1-0 to get the split. Kristine Grenier gets the goal on a power play with 7:43 remaining. Shot were even at 33-33.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

If that day ever comes, I'd suggest that you do a slight name change and continue.

Yeah, I could probably find a new niche. I do like the current one, however. Perfect excuse to be 100% positive. Regardless, I appreciate the vote of confidence.

With all due respect to OSU Athletics, they would just give us the names of three stars, and that would be it.

Sports Info -- at any school -- has a tough challenge in this regard. They may just be giving three names, but that needs to happen almost immediately after the final horn. Typically the desire is to announce the Stars over the PA system while at least some of the crowd is still in the building. "Getting it right" under that kind of time pressure is easier said than done.

You provide a game summary wrapped around naming stars. So you could just starting calling it "The Stars of the Game" or something like that, because I think the next time I see you limit it to three will be the first time. Between honorable mentions and ties, you recognize anywhere from five to eight recipients for most games, so it really is a different picture than a typical naming of three stars.

Very true. At least it's been >3 for every game this season. Before checking I thought that maybe the exhibition game against the Aeros had only 3. But sure enough, when I looked it up there were 3 Stars and 2 Honorable Mentions, for a total of 5.

It's a hypothetical question and probably will remain so for a good while. But if I ever did need to create something new, it would definitely be different enough to avoid even the appearance of a "knock-off."

 

[ARM]

Sports Info -- at any school -- has a tough challenge in this regard. They may just be giving three names, but that needs to happen almost immediately after the final horn. Typically the desire is to announce the Stars over the PA system while at least some of the crowd is still in the building. "Getting it right" under that kind of time pressure is easier said than done.

I've been involved in the process enough over the years to agree that it is tricky. Often, the names agreed upon late in the third would have changed after two or three goals were scored during garbage time. And then there are the games where little happens for 55 minutes and then the offenses explode. In most buildings, the desire is to spread the recognition around as much as possible, as you tend to do, so it makes me wonder about the leagues where they roll up 3-star recognitions and declare an ultimate star at season's end. I've watched those who were likely the best player on the ice 30 or more times in a season, but it is kind of pointless to sound like a broken record and name her the number one star game after game. Those that pick with a different objective could give an edge to their own players.

Anyway, these are just more reasons why I'd like to see your star posts continue no matter what changes are made officially.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Beavers and Mavericks finish up this weekend with the puck drop coming up shortly. The WCHA back in full swing next weekend.

Ohio State @ Minnesota

North Dakota @ Wisconsin

Pleased with the results in Madison...from my perspective. Less happy with results in Minneapolis...so it goes.

Coming up in the WCHA:

Wisconsin @ Bemidji State

Ohio State @ Minnesota-Duluth

St. Cloud State @ North Dakota

...and of course the Home & Home variant for Minnesota and Minnesota State-Mankato on Friday / Sunday I believe. Hope the women get a large crowd.

Is that a Ridder size sheet in TCF? They get that blueline snafu taken care of?

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Is that a Ridder size sheet in TCF? They get that blueline snafu taken care of?

Yes and yes! Also hoping for a large crowd for our ladies, but maybe not so large that I won't get a parking spot!

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Yes and yes! Also hoping for a large crowd for our ladies, but maybe not so large that I won't get a parking spot!

Parking was by advance sale. My most recent e-mail from Gopher Sports reports that all East Bank parking is sold out.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Parking was by advance sale. My most recent e-mail from Gopher Sports reports that all East Bank parking is sold out.

The email I got said East Bank surface lots were sold out. Minor difference, but D2D -- you may be able to find some ramp parking at the East River Road Ramp by Coffman Union.

Then again, I ordered my pass for the Fourth Street Ramp about 4 weeks ago.

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

Parking was by advance sale. My most recent e-mail from Gopher Sports reports that all East Bank parking is sold out.

I passed on buying the reserved parking because my brother had already purchased it and we were planning on driving down together. That was about a month ago. But now he says he doesn't want to go the women's game, so I guess I'm on my own! I don't mind walking a fair distance to the stadium as long as it's not 20 below!

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

http://www.wcha.com/women/pres1314/201401/jan14wcw.php

 

[Hux]

The email I got said East Bank surface lots were sold out. Minor difference, but D2D -- you may be able to find some ramp parking at the East River Road Ramp by Coffman Union.

Then again, I ordered my pass for the Fourth Street Ramp about 4 weeks ago.

Is the trolley running yet? You could always park up stream, so to speak, and ride in.

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

I passed on buying the reserved parking because my brother had already purchased it and we were planning on driving down together. That was about a month ago. But now he says he doesn't want to go the women's game, so I guess I'm on my own! I don't mind walking a fair distance to the stadium as long as it's not 20 below!

Looks like there's a resolution to my problem, although not one I would have wished for. My brother now has a bad case of the flu, so unless he has a miraculous recovery it appears I'll be able to use the parking pass.

Hux, thanks for the suggestion, but I don't believe the light rail is operating there as yet.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

Re: Unofficial Three Stars of the Game

So, NCAA considerations aside...

While Wisconsin is still keeping Minnesota firmly in their sight in the WCHA standings, the Gophers and Badgers each need only one more win (or a Bemidji State loss) to lock in home ice for the conference quarterfinals.

On the flip side, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State aren't quite mathematically guaranteed a road trip to open the WCHA playoffs, but awfully close. UMD has a 23-point lead over both with only 8 games to play.

Now to state the obvious: Given the way the things are looking, North Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth will likely also host quarterfinal matchups. This would be the fourth-straight year that MN, WI, ND, and UMD would all be hosting. Bemidji State is 15 points behind the Bulldogs so they have a lot of ground to make up even with two games in hand.

Related to the previous statement, the Gophers, Badgers, and Bulldogs have never been on the road for a best-of-three WCHA quarterfinal series since the conference went to that format starting in 2006. St. Cloud State finished in the top 4 and hosted in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010; Ohio State hosted after finishing fourth in 2007.

 

[brookyone]

Re: WCHA Thread IV

The coming weekend WCHA schedule:

Minnesota State @ Ohio State: Chasing the Beavers. Mavericks have played 20 & need these pts. Two 'tenders playing well...I'll bet it's feisty!

St. Cloud State @ Minnesota: Finally...a Sat. start time for me...

Bemidji State @ North Dakota: Beavers look to spoil at new #3...don't think so.

Minnesota-Duluth @ Wisconsin: Expect Bulldogs have a tough time scoring in Madison.