Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

I'm on the side of I really don't care who they play, I just want them to win. I am far more interested in college sports than pro sports, specifically hockey and football (bb sux at all levels period). To me there's plenty of juice for B10 hockey. In football, UW has been way more pounded in my lifetime by UM MSU OSU and PSU than the recent 10 yrs of success for UW can offset. I can easily carry that history over to hockey. Stick UW in the Ivy league and I have instant hatred for everything Yale and Harvard.

I think UW being in the B10 hockey conference just makes a ton of logical sense as the casual fans can make a connection and envoke emotion just like I stated above. My Dad is not a hockey fan, he loves B10 football. It took me years to get him to understand North Dakota, UMD, CC and DU are a quality opponents, he had never heard of these schools before. If I told him about a great game against CC, he'd just glaze over, there's no juice there for him. If I told him about a great game against Meechigan, he'd be interested, there's plenty of Meechigan hate there for him.

I can understand some folk's dislike for the change as Solo and others have stated. They are not wrong in the way they feel, they can feel anyway they want. I would just hope that they would not penalize the team (by boycotting) for the changes being forced on us.
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Now let's wax some Mavericks this weekend. After the last 2 weeks I don't know what to expect, other than 2 close games. I don't think a split it an impossibility this weekend.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

Which is pretty silly to expect or suggest of ANY of us. If I were to boycott a game out of disgust, it would be Mercyhurst or someone like that, certainly not Michigan or any other conference game.

Still going to Mercyhurst, btw.

Get ready to boycott a lot of games then, because I think it is very likely that the quality of opponents in non-conference games at home continues to be poor, just now in the Big10 there will just be more non-conference games to fill w/ bottom of the barrel AHA and ECAC teams. If the "new" WCHA and the NCHC play 28 game schedules, there won't be enough of those teams to go around, and I don't see Barry giving up home games to trade series w/ Hockey East teams, even though that is a great avenue for quality competition.

The Big10 might turn out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread or Blake Geoffrion, but I'm w/ EoDS, not looking that forward to it, and the first few years of the college hockey upheveal could really suck in general.

I don't enjoy the Big10 in any sport though, hoping that doesn't disqualify me as a Badger fan. The Big10 top to bottom is just not strong enough in the other major college sports for me to get excited about. While the "current" WCHA has much more depth. Sure there are some weaknesses at the bottom, but there is a depth that no other college hockey conference has. The Big10 might establish themselves as powers top to bottom down the road, but if the past few seasons is any sign, well it won't start pretty.

 

[Dalangalang]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

cause MSU is not Nodak and Michigan is not DU

there just isn't that history in hockey between those teams (msu/mich) and UW

I mean my circle of hockey friends is small but I don't know one person excited to see MSU (they weren't excited to see them in the showcase so why be excited now that you'll see them twice as much per year?). and michigan just isn't what people want them to be imo. Nodak, DU, CC, Minnesota, all compete against UW for recruits, I barely remember any of the instances where UW/Mich were in the same sentence for a recruit, then there's the level of intensity built up with the players and coaches aware of the rivalries and histories and the fan bases.

I feel like playing MSU and Mich 4x per year is like welcoming Cornell and RPI in...yawn

I look at this way: when we play Mich & MSU they are going to be CONFERENCE games and are going to mean a lot more. Plus, you have to factor in playing these 2 teams in back-to-back nights where that hatred can and will develop. Playing them 1 game a year really doesn't develop much of anything.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

Get ready to boycott a lot of games then, because I think it is very likely that the quality of opponents in non-conference games at home continues to be poor...

My point is that I wouldn't even boycott those games, let alone conference games versus OSU, MSU or UM.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

I see you guys are on FSN tonight, don't wet the bed now.

 

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

I'm shocked by how absolutely empty the Kohl Center is tonight. Are they just not going to get fans all season? Tomorrow they're up against a football game again, so I'd assume the attendance will be way down.

What a bad showing these past few weeks.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

lousy crowd. 9,700. I don't understand it at all honestly.

as for the game: 1st. credit where credit is due, Omaha is just a **** good team.

UW - I though was mostly solid. UNO's PP though is MUCH better than UW's PK, and coaches and team should take notice as to just how much UNO moves their feet at all times!

Meuer and Woods are really becoming solid players IMO. Barnes w/another excellent night w/Zengerle. R. Little is a solid hard-working player but can't do anything w/the puck, he must have lost control about 3 maybe 4x while in the scoring area.

Hopefully Derek Lee is not injured too badly.

didn't notice Clark at all out there but then again, he may have only played 3-4 shifts all game?

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

R. Little is a solid hard-working player but can't do anything w/the puck, he must have lost control about 3 maybe 4x while in the scoring area.

I'm assuming you mean excluding the time he ripped one off the pipe in the third period in the slot?

 

[MW4Bucky&SNC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

I have but one prayer for Big Ten hockey...please find officials who can handle a little pressure. That last penalty was a penalty. Unfortunately so was the one they missed about 30 seconds earlier. Call 'em both or call neither but you absolutely cannot let one go and then allow yourself to become the difference-makers in the game. It's a thankless job but it's just tiring to see it done so poorly at key times.

 

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

I realize it's a little hypocritical to complain about attendence as I watched the game myself from home, but I am stunned by all the empty seats in the lower bowl (and I assume in the upper levels). UNO may not be the sexiest opponent, but it's a conference game against a fairly highly ranked team. With that said, the numbers for some of the other Big 10 teams tonight were much worse. Michigan was under 6000, Michigan State was under 4000 and Ohio State came in under 3,000.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

I realize it's a little hypocritical to complain about attendence as I watched the game myself from home, but I am stunned by all the empty seats in the lower bowl (and I assume in the upper levels). UNO may not be the sexiest opponent, but it's a conference game against a fairly highly ranked team. With that said, the numbers for some of the other Big 10 teams tonight were much worse. Michigan was under 6000, Michigan State was under 4000 and Ohio State came in under 3,000.

Nebraska-Omaha isn't currently ranked.

 

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

You are correct sir. I was thinking of another team, just not sure who. Still, a conference game against a decent team should draw better. What's tomorrow going to be like with the football team playing at the same time?

Nebraska-Omaha isn't currently ranked.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

I'm assuming you mean excluding the time he ripped one off the pipe in the third period in the slot?

of course. he had 3-4 other chances wide open w/the puck and just flat fanned on them it was pretty glaring.

 

[badgerhawk]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

part of my problem is I started going to games in about 84-85ish w/my dad. back then UMD was a POWER. Minnesota was a POWER. Nodak was good and HATED. Every series seemed huge. I'm sure B10 every series will be hyped up cause there's only 6 teams but I cannot get excited for MSU (very average team with no history vs. UW), Michigan (played in wcha for what 5-6 years in the 70's?) football rivalry is not hockey rivalry. they may end up #3 behind Sue and Rats for rivalries but it will take 10-15 years (and that's if they go head to head w/UW for recruits as well, and their fans actually give a chit which I don't know if they do). OSU? really? OSU hockey? ha ha ha ha ha. Penn State (uhm, yeah a club team like RTI).

with Nodak, Minnesota, MTU, CC, DU and UW you've got 30 national titles most of which were won competing against each other in the same league (if not all)! at various points through the 60's to today each program beat the **** out of each other on the ice and then off the ice for recruits. the coaches got into it, the fans got into it.

I just don't have that feeling w/MSU/Mich. and there's 0 history behind OSU and Penn State. who was the great coach of michigan in the 50's? I don't know. but I DO know the names of the great Nodak, Minn, MTU, DU, CC, UMD coaches of the past, and many of their players, and if forced to come up with the years each team won the title I'd bet I'd be 85% on that, maybe better

and in 1969 I'm sure someone in North Dakota, Denver and CC said "UW?, in the WCHA?, there's no history with them".

 

[DLW4GOPHERS]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

cause MSU is not Nodak and Michigan is not DU

there just isn't that history in hockey between those teams (msu/mich) and UW

I mean my circle of hockey friends is small but I don't know one person excited to see MSU (they weren't excited to see them in the showcase so why be excited now that you'll see them twice as much per year?). and michigan just isn't what people want them to be imo. Nodak, DU, CC, Minnesota, all compete against UW for recruits, I barely remember any of the instances where UW/Mich were in the same sentence for a recruit, then there's the level of intensity built up with the players and coaches aware of the rivalries and histories and the fan bases.

I feel like playing MSU and Mich 4x per year is like welcoming Cornell and RPI in...yawn

You do remember when Michigan and Michigan State were in the WCHA.

 

[burd]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

Hey. I'm sure Sioux fans will take this rivalry loss harder that Badger fans--in the long run. The Michigan rivalry will heat up fast. But it's true we all have to move on and just enjoy this great game and the opponents we do play.

But let's not get soft just yet. There are a few more fights left to fight. The Badgers are going to get an old fashioned hostile and abusive arsewhoopin when they go to GF in mid January. Aftet that, I think you all will all be happy to be playing the likes of Penn State and . . . who--Indiana?

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

I realize it's a little hypocritical to complain about attendence as I watched the game myself from home, but I am stunned by all the empty seats in the lower bowl (and I assume in the upper levels). UNO may not be the sexiest opponent, but it's a conference game against a fairly highly ranked team. With that said, the numbers for some of the other Big 10 teams tonight were much worse. Michigan was under 6000, Michigan State was under 4000 and Ohio State came in under 3,000.

Either way, under 10,000 is insane. But it's hard to complain when I don't live in Madison and can't really go to games anymore.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

You do remember when Michigan and Michigan State were in the WCHA.

no, I do not. that's the point. and not only that, as I said when my dad and I started going to games in 84 I don't recall anyone talking about or bemoaning the loss of Michigan, MSU or Notre Dame as conference mates. what I DO recall is an abject hatred for Minnesota, North Dakota and a pretty healthy respect for UMD.

and that led me to believe and still does, there really wasn't much of a rivalry between Michigan and UW, MSU and UW.

and let's face it, there is not 1 single poster here who has come out and said they remember those "rivalries" and they were just as good or intense as the Sioux/Rats rivalries. not 1 person

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

of course. he had 3-4 other chances wide open w/the puck and just flat fanned on them it was pretty glaring.

I remember one that was pretty bad that he fanned on that led to a turnover. Hard to get on his case playing with the hand injury that he has. As it is, he's out there as a defensive forward anyway, any offense he provides is a bonus, but I get your point.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XVIII - Belief in a Better Tomorrow

and in 1969 I'm sure someone in North Dakota, Denver and CC said "UW?, in the WCHA?, there's no history with them".

ENORMOUS difference between a new start-up team joining your league, and starting a brand new league for money attempting to capitalize on football and basketball's "rivalries", dismantling two conferences and destroying 30 years of rivalries (or more w/nodak and du), and then in so-doing creating one of these new leagues w/at least 3 teams (OSU, PSU, MSU) that most UW hockey fans don't give a chit about, and well, don't have any hockey rivalry with whatsoever.

I didn't bemoan bringing bemidji in.

as I said, in terms of what this b10 conference is doing here (imo) I couldn't care less if the new conference was UW along w/RPI, Cornell, Vermont, UNH, I'd care about these opponents in the same fashion as these b10 teams, meaning the entire season (except the rats) is like one long OOC schedule vs. teams you don't have much interest in.


EDIT - ok, I'm off my horse, I'm done w/the b10 talk. it's done, I have to accept it. rivalries or not