Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

[wjefwhite]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Of all the schools hosting in the first round, they were charging the most (except for Denver's highest priced ticket). St. Cloud was offering all tickets for $12. There were at least two schools (North Dakota was one) that offered reduced prices for kids. Wisconsin kept all their pricing the same and eliminated any family packs. Administration needs to take a hard look at how bad they want big crowds for these games.

Are you listening Barry?

I told everyone last Sunday that the atmosphere would be about like it was Friday night. It just dittos previous years with ist round home ice. Only fewer fans than before.

With Football and Basketball 24-7 on every media outlet and social network year round, hockey gets choked out. The college hockey fan is a strong minority who will support til the end. The fans at these game are the real fans. Fair weather fans dont come any more. I think they will be back next year when they see what the Badgers put on the ice. Time for Barry to retire. Bring on an AD who knows what a icing is.

Promote this sport, make tickets more affordable and an lastly make it fun to be at the KC as DC has said.

 

[NEWI Badger Fan]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

With UNO and WI wins tonight, two more wins may not be necessary, again depending on how things shake out around the country. The main thing is, of course, for the Badgers to take care of business tonight. Hopefully the lesson of the loss to PSU pays off now as the boys had a strong performance last night and need to come back even better tonight. Ending any team's season is always a tough thing to do.

Despite the pp not looking very good, I loved the way Rammer skated around at the point looking only to shoot, and then after firing one in, got it back and did the same thing again leading to the goal. Seemed like he was thinking, "Screw this! We gotta shoot and I'm going to do it!" I really liked seeing him take charge in that situation, even better that it paid off.

Extended the comment



"Regardless of how rigid Coach Eaves system is."

 

[bucky15]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Rumpel looked at bit shaky last night. He was lost a lot of times in his positioning and very poor on rebounds. I have never seen him play that poorly before, hopefully tonight he is back to normal. Lucky, most of UMD shots came from the top of the circles.

That was the best game I have seen UW play all year. I don't see this series going to 3 games. UW 4 UMD 1 tonight

 

[bucky15]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Last night UW-Eau Claire, advanced to the D3 Champ game by beating Utica 5-1. The last Wisconsin public team to win the title was UW-Superior in 2002. UWEC will be playing Oswego tonight for the D3 title.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Rumpel looked at bit shaky last night. He was lost a lot of times in his positioning and very poor on rebounds. I have never seen him play that poorly before, hopefully tonight he is back to normal. Lucky, most of UMD shots came from the top of the circles.

That was the best game I have seen UW play all year. I don't see this series going to 3 games. UW 4 UMD 1 tonight

I thought Rumps looked shaky early but picked it up as he got some action and got into the game. The first 8 minutes he was basically left to draw tic-tac-toe games with his stick in the crease. Wonder if he won any? I thought he made a couple of good saves that we needed late to keep us in the lead. I expect him to be sharp from the get-go tonight.

I am much more concerned about the Little brothers. Especially Sean. Hopefully he is spending his afternoon studying the settings on the WCHA's new 'Hardness Hit-O-Meter'. Can't have him continue to perform nearly perfect open ice checks that exceed the WCHA ratings for "hitting too hard." I suppose we should just be glad they didn't toss Sean for his blatant disregard for the rules.

Thankfully, the Badger's killed that one off, but I've never seen a guy called for boarding because the guy he hit shoulder to shoulder happened to sail 15' across the ice and into the boards.

 

[bucky15]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I thought Rumps looked shaky early but picked it up as he got some action and got into the game. The first 8 minutes he was basically left to draw tic-tac-toe games with his stick in the crease. Wonder if he won any? I thought he made a couple of good saves that we needed late to keep us in the lead. I expect him to be sharp from the get-go tonight.

I am much more concerned about the Little brothers. Especially Sean. Hopefully he is spending his afternoon studying the settings on the WCHA's new 'Hardness Hit-O-Meter'. Can't have him continue to perform nearly perfect open ice checks that exceed the WCHA ratings for "hitting too hard." I suppose we should just be glad they didn't toss Sean for his blatant disregard for the rules.

Thankfully, the Badger's killed that one off, but I've never seen a guy called for boarding because the guy he hit shoulder to shoulder happened to sail 15' across the ice and into the boards.

I agree, what a huge clean hit. Boarding?!?!?!

The only issue I had with UMD's goal is they came in the zone a foot offsides and two linesmen were staring at the blue line and missed it.

 

[UWisco]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Little's penalty was an awful call. It was front to front contact how the heck do you call boarding and it was also delayed.

Fun fact of all 10 penalties called last night, Walsh blew his whistle on ever one.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I agree, what a huge clean hit. Boarding?!?!?!

The only issue I had with UMD's goal is they came in the zone a foot offsides and two linesmen were staring at the blue line and missed it.

At least it was close. Was that Frankie on D on that play? Not sure now, but he didn't make the best play there. Seemed to get caught in between and ended up not doing anything. If he just picks up any one of the guys coming 3-2 at least it gives Rumps a clear view of the puck. Really sucked the life out of the place. Was pleased with how we came back out in the second and really took it to the 'Dogs.


I expect UMD to battle harder tonight. We beat them to the puck a million times last night and I don't expect it to be at all the same tonight.

Let's Go RED!

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Probably the Eaves thing that riled you guys the most!



And don't you think that "the biggest collective failure in the history..." is perhaps just a tiny bit of an exaggeration? It's not like PSU was 0-26 coming in. They beat Ohio St and Mich. State in much the same way they beat us, by sucking horribly the night before, and then not so much the next day. Heck, maybe it's not much, but PSU crushed Air Force, who in turn just had an 11-3 weekend against the vaunted Niagara, a team that sits 5 ahead of us in the PWR. PSU isn't UAH. (In fact they had a 8-3 weekend in 2 W's against UAH) I'm not proud of it. We played bad, and we lost to a team we should have easily beaten. But it happens quite often to teams in hockey. Perhaps the end result was an important lesson learned. If so, good.


I simply dislike that stance, especially as it relates to the players.

Your response wasn't to me but I'd like to interject for second as you're getting to a point that...ugh

ok, this is the part that irks me. Losing to PSU in hockey IS devastating. It's devastating in that you're suddenly (and others presumably) equating UW Hockey with OSU and MSU. Why would you do that? This might sound arrogant but UW hockey should be on a pedestal several notches above MSU and OSU (and whole planetary systems away from PSU) based on their history (they've proven they were several notches above those teams over several decades).

It IS a big deal to lose to what is essentially a club team. OSU can lose to them and I don't care, I don't cheer for OSU and they've never been a hockey power. MSU has been great *on occasion* in the past but they're a shell of what they once were. they can lose to em, fine.

anyway, we probably will not see eye to eye on this one

 

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

I expect UMD to battle harder tonight. We beat them to the puck a million times last night and I don't expect it to be at all the same tonight.

That's yet another reason to remember the Penn State series. Something I noticed that series that I hadn't against other teams was the difference in talent. The Badgers simply outskated the Nittany Lions on so many occasions, but still fell on the second night.

 

[RedFreak]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Is it the consensus that we want CC to lose and UNO to win?

Who are the refs? 11 is Walsh?

re: the Kohl Center staff; The guy in our section was just down right angry.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Is it the consensus that we want CC to lose and UNO to win?

Yes, that is the consensus. We also want Bemidji State to win, but not for the same reasons.

 

[RedFreak]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

We also want Bemidji State to win, but not for the same reasons.

That part I get.

Thanks!

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Is it the consensus that we want CC to lose and UNO to win?

Who are the refs? 11 is Walsh?

re: the Kohl Center staff; The guy in our section was just down right angry.

The "ushers" at the KC are just dbags now, not sure why they changed companies this season. I walked in a tad late last night and about 20 of them were standing around doing nothing at the entrance. I wondered to myself, if this many are standing around doing nothing why are they employed? Is there is a certain quota to reach for old men standing around doing nothing at the KC now?

Was really hoping that UNO would win in OT last night. Amazed the team is 17-5-5 w/ Kerdiles in the lineup, and his impact is finally showing when it really matters. I think UW would have won a lot of those games regardless (that had quite the easy stretch), but he is showing us what he's got, and he's got a lot to offer.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Your response wasn't to me but I'd like to interject for second as you're getting to a point that...ugh

ok, this is the part that irks me. Losing to PSU in hockey IS devastating. It's devastating in that you're suddenly (and others presumably) equating UW Hockey with OSU and MSU. Why would you do that? This might sound arrogant but UW hockey should be on a pedestal several notches above MSU and OSU (and whole planetary systems away from PSU) based on their history (they've proven they were several notches above those teams over several decades).

It IS a big deal to lose to what is essentially a club team. OSU can lose to them and I don't care, I don't cheer for OSU and they've never been a hockey power. MSU has been great *on occasion* in the past but they're a shell of what they once were. they can lose to em, fine.

anyway, we probably will not see eye to eye on this one

Glad you responded to this Solo. Always good to hear someone's opinion. (Even if it's WRONG! )

Just kidding. I think your feelings are certainly shared by a large group of people, in some ways myself included, but only in the larger sense that the overall success of the program isn't as high as it should be, not as it relates to losing one game.

As far as 'equating' us with OSU or even MSU, ( btw, MSU owns a 45-42-3 all time record against us, has made The NCAA's 24 of the last thirty one years, 9 frozen fours, 3 NCAA titles, 7 CCHA regular season and 11 CCHA tournament titles... I'd say their pedestal is in decent shape.) I'm not 'equating' us with anyone, merely pointing out PSU isn't the worst team in the country. They actually led the nation with 36 shots/game. We put 44 on them and lost. It's not football or even bouncy ball, it's hockey and it happens with some regularity. MN outshot BSU 51-18 last night and barely escaped with their lives in a 2-1 win.
Just looking back at a couple of our NC teams... in '83 we got swept at home, (a SWEEP mind you!) by an RPI team that could only manage a losing record in the ECAC. THE ECAC for God sakes! Yet that team went on to NC glory. The program didn't implode over two losses, though no doubt there was much wringing of hands.
Heck, even in 1990, a team that won everything-- WCHA, WCHA playoffs, and NCAA's-- they managed to lose to St. Cloud St. when it was the Huskies first year in the WCHA. Imagine the uproar at that! Of course they rebounded by promptly losing to a not very good NMU team the next week, before finally waking up again and burying NMU 10-1 on their way to a big finish. There are tons of other examples.

While I agree that WI hockey needs to be better, should be better, the idea that we couldn't lose single games to low teams... Well frankly, we always will. So does everyone once in awhile. The Badgers don't have a long tradition of great dominating regular seasons. Our 6 NC teams essentially finished 3rd in conference 4 times. In 40 plus years we've won the Mac Cup 3 times. If we have a tradition along those lines it's having good teams that have built themselves throughout seasons so that when the time comes- We Win Big Games. That is it. That is the magic of Wisconsin Hockey. And I, along with lots of Badger Hockey fans are very proud of it. We lost one game to PSU? Who cares? I'll take winning the next three.

 

[The Hallucination]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Decent game last night, we need another good game tonight... hopefully with a few more people. And not a **** wiener kid kicking my seat half the game.

Speaking of game day atmosphere...the old farts running the Kohl Center are, well a bunch of old farts who hate happy sports fans. It's disgusting. Those at the game may have noticed students had made signs. (The markers and paper are at a table on the concourse and sponsored by Best Buy.) I understand not wanting fans to hold up signs while the puck is in play, but the Event Staff people told us we couldn't keep the posters against the glass! Keep in mind this is at waist level, and obstructing nobody's view.

We're basically around the corner from the student section on Fridays in the second row, and I noticed the signs weren't against the glass anymore partway through the game... event staff have always been a bit ridiculous with the students and I've never understood it.

These are the same people that threatened to throw me out of the Kohl Center at a women's hockey game when I threw a hat on the ice after a Badger player got a hat trick.

If anyone ever gets cited for that, I think I know an attorney or two who might be willing to try to take them to a jury trial even if it's just a disorderly conduct.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

If anyone ever gets cited for that, I think I know an attorney or two who might be willing to try to take them to a jury trial even if it's just a disorderly conduct.

Lawyer or no, if a Madison jury would ever convict someone for throwing a hat for a hat trick, I'll eat my ... er... hat...

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

For my first post in this thread I'd just like to say SUCK IT Crean!


Good game last night. Both teams dominated for stretches but I'd say that the Badgers had more of those stretches and for longer periods.

Funny how once the Badgers stopped trying to look for the perfect pass and shot the ****ing puck, a couple went in.

That hit right in front of the Badger bench certainly didn't look like boarding from my seats. The interference behind their net by Little was legit though.

Only goal that Duluth got was a breakdown.

Made the comment to my wife as we sat there in easily a 2/3's empty KC that it's sad how far things have fallen. AVERAGE game attendance (not tix sold) used to be around 13k.

We're going to have to really think about whether we want to renew or not. It got loud for the last 5 minutes or so, but I didn't need to be there just for that.

A new coach and I renew for sure. Same coach & system and I'm 50:50 although I'll probably give the BTHC and Besse at least one shot.

 

[burd]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

OK. Enough people have been exercising their empathy muscles and feeling your pain for some time, so I think it's time to be frank.

Do you Badger fans seriously think you want to get out of this series and move on to face some good teams? What if, in your fragile state, you have to play North Dakota? Have you even thought about that?

Look. Just lose a close one tonight, maybe overtime, then lose another close one tomorrow, blame them both on the refs, and end the season with some dignity intact. Clean off the clubs, put on them black bicycle-riding tighty long johns you wear, have a latte on State Street, and look forward to playing hockey with a bunch of football schools next year.

Leave the hockey to us.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Glad you responded to this Solo. Always good to hear someone's opinion. (Even if it's WRONG! )

Just kidding. I think you're feelings are certainly shared by a large group of people, in some ways myself included, but only in the larger sense that the overall success of the program isn't as high as it should be, not as it relates to losing one game.

As far as 'equating' us with OSU or even MSU, ( btw, MSU owns a 45-42-3 all time record against us, has made The NCAA's 24 of the last thirty one years, 9 frozen fours, 3 NCAA titles, 7 CCHA regular season and 11 CCHA tournament titles... I'd say their pedestal is in decent shape.) I'm not 'equating' us with anyone, merely pointing out PSU isn't the worst team in the country. They actually led the nation with 36 shots/game. We put 44 on them and lost. It's not football or even bouncy ball, it's hockey and it happens with some regularity. MN outshot BSU 51-18 last night and barely escaped with their lives in a 2-1 win.
Just looking back at a couple of our NC teams... in '83 we got swept at home, (a SWEEP mind you!) by an RPI team that could only manage a losing record in the ECAC. THE ECAC for God sakes! Yet that team went on to NC glory. The program didn't implode over two losses, though no doubt there was much wringing of hands.
Heck, even in 1990, a team that won everything-- WCHA, WCHA playoffs, and NCAA's-- they managed to lose to St. Cloud St. when it was the Huskies first year in the WCHA. Imagine the uproar at that! Of course they rebounded by promptly losing to a not very good NMU team the next week, before finally waking up again and burying NMU 10-1 on their way to a big finish. There are tons of other examples.

While I agree that WI hockey needs to be better, should be better, the idea that we couldn't lose single games to low teams... Well frankly, we always will. So does everyone once in awhile. The Badgers don't have a long tradition of great dominating regular seasons. Our 6 NC teams essentially finished 3rd in conference 4 times. In 40 plus years we've won the Mac Cup 3 times. If we have a tradition along those lines it's having good teams that have built themselves throughout seasons so that when the time comes- We Win Big Games. That is it. That is the magic of Wisconsin Hockey. And I, along with lots of Badger Hockey fans are very proud of it. We lost one game to PSU? Who cares? I'll take winning the next three.

Nice post, hard to disagree, especially when you bring up stats and back up your words w/ them. If UW was never suppose to lose to PSU why play the games then? Should they lose to them, certainly not, but that is why games are not played on paper, they are played inside tv sets.

As a fan I only care about one trophy and that is the one given to the last team to win a game in April.