Wisconsin Women's Hockey 2024-2025

[Timothy A]

I think this is the most the 4th line has ever played under MJ. [/FONT]

I cannot recall the 4th line getting regular shifts against top end opponents. It's a huge validation of their talent because the top 2 lines are losing ice time to them. That's saying something.

MJ said in the weekly presser that if the staff can keep warm at the St. Thomas rink, they will know how keep warm outside in Chicago. That place must be a bigger dump than our current opponent's rink. Does the nacho cheese turn into a popsicle before you get back to your seats?

 

[robertearle]

I cannot recall the 4th line getting regular shifts against top end opponents. It's a huge validation of their talent because the top 2 lines are losing ice time to them. That's saying something.

MJ said in the weekly presser that if the staff can keep warm at the St. Thomas rink, they will know how keep warm outside in Chicago. That place must be a bigger dump than our current opponent's rink. Does the nacho cheese turn into a popsicle before you get back to your seats?

I see Jackie Crum in her grey cloth overcoat, and I think "somebody should buy her/have bought her a new one for Christmas, she's had it so long". But then I think "Maybe it's her lucky coat. Don't mess with success." LOL

 

[ARM]

MJ said in the weekly presser that if the staff can keep warm at the St. Thomas rink, they will know how keep warm outside in Chicago. That place must be a bigger dump than our current opponent's rink.

From a fan perspective, the St. Thomas rink is decent, when compared to the high-end HS rinks in the Twin Cities. Some buildings are very cold -- the John Glass (sp?) Arena in Bemidji before they got the Sanford Center comes to mind. Maybe St. Thomas is cold at ice level (I have watched a game there standing along the boards in a section where there aren't bleachers, and I don't remember it being colder than average, but I'm not an expert). In terms of "dumpiness", I'm betting the Columbus rink wins in a poll.

 

[Timothy A]

U18's coming up. UW commits on rosters:

F Tremblay, Box, Kimbrel, Nela L
D Cerutti
G Probably won't see a G playing in the U18's committed to UW for a few years as McNaughton and Stewart have the next 6 years covered.

Random thoughts on the game....The crowd was huge, but a tenseness filled the air at the start of the game and they were not fired up right away, even with the band there. TWSNBN had a mega chance right away. I wonder if that goes in, how does the outcome change from there? UW just had IT last night and the opponent did not. Would UW have overcome that? Probably, but who knows. After UW goal 3, Dunne looked defeated skating to the bench. The first part of the 2nd period, UW was sloppy/TWSNBN seemed to do a better job taking away time and space, but eventually it ebbed solidly back to UW's favor. I did not feel comfortable until goal 5. The Refs definitely let them play and in the end I guess I was ok with it, the game has nice flow. Of course Picard takes an obvious one, which she is prone to do. Good to see Murphy stay out of the box.

 

[Steamboat]

From a fan perspective, the St. Thomas rink is decent, when compared to the high-end HS rinks in the Twin Cities. Some buildings are very cold -- the John Glass (sp?) Arena in Bemidji before they got the Sanford Center comes to mind. Maybe St. Thomas is cold at ice level (I have watched a game there standing along the boards in a section where there aren't bleachers, and I don't remember it being colder than average, but I'm not an expert). In terms of "dumpiness", I'm betting the Columbus rink wins in a poll.

The St. Thomas arena in Mendota Heights is no colder than any other metro arena with a sheet of ice. There are nicer arenas that various high schools play in, for instance Braemar where Edina plays, the arena in Maple Grove, and many other arenas in Minnesota would rank above the current St. Thomas building. I don't dress any different there from Ridder or recently, the Lakeville Hasse Arena. So I think MJ was joking when he made that statement. Of course I am speaking as a fan and spectator.
Maybe the on-ice team benches have different arrangements for the comfort of the coaching staff. Anyone with first hand experience about that?

 

[robertearle]

Todd Milewski has a video up on his twitter from Wrigley last night, panning across the stands during the Michigan-Ohio State game (you can see the 2-2 score on the video board, 3rd period about to start).

Announced attendance was 25K. Looking at the video, there may have been more people at LaBahn Thursday night.

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I'm wrong, that's the later game, Notre Dame vs Penn State. Still...

 

[Bonzo]

Todd Milewski has a video up on his twitter from Wrigley last night, panning across the stands during the Michigan-Ohio State game (you can see the 2-2 score on the video board, 3rd period about to start).

Announced attendance was 25K. Looking at the video, there may have been more people at LaBahn Thursday night.

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I'm wrong, that's the later game, Notre Dame vs Penn State. Still...

A buddy of mine is heading to Wrigley today for the women's game. He looked into whether you can leave and re-enter for the men's game. The answer is no. Seeing that the crowd won't be huge, this is a missed opportunity. Pretty tough to ask a fan to stay outdoors for 6 plus hours with at least an hour in between the 2 games. Why not let people leave between games, hit a bar for some food and warmth, and then head back in for more hockey?

 

[Ooftah]

Can we now agree that playing a game at Wrigley Field was a bad idea? Instead of playing a true home game in the comfy confines of LaBahn Arena, repeating the trouncing that occurred last Thursday, we now have a SOL. The only beneficiaries were TWSNBN and a league the Badgers women don’t play in. The only good that came out of it is a greater determination to dominate Muzzinator’s Mercenaries in the postseason.

 

[Windchill22]

Can we now agree that playing a game at Wrigley Field was a bad idea? Instead of playing a true home game in the comfy confines of LaBahn Arena, repeating the trouncing that occurred last Thursday, we now have a SOL. The only beneficiaries were TWSNBN and a league the Badgers women don’t play in. The only good that came out of it is a greater determination to dominate Muzzinator’s Mercenaries in the postseason.

I'll give my agreement, but what it did was create a memory for my family (remember when it was as$ cold and we sat out in Wrigley field watching a hockey game? that was pretty memorable! can't remember who won though[hoping to forget]), a fun weekend in Chicago, some skating at Maggie Daily Skating Ribbon.

Hopefully some memories for the players despite the loss.

Not that it'll matter - but I'm not a fan of the shootout - if they play their hearts out for 65 minutes and it's a tie - then it's a tie -seems like 7 round shoutout on crappy ice seems to undermine the efforts from the game.

Also - while I'm up here on the soapbox - Not a fan of the reffing this weekend - I'm generally ok with crappy calls/no calls if they are consistent (which was largely the case on Thursday) but to presumably blow the whistle once you lost sight of the puck - depsite clear evidence that the puck was over the line before the whistle blew - disallowing a goal, but then proceedeing to allow at least 2 more dog piles on the goalies later in the game when I don't know how conceviabley you could see the puck?

Also - swollowing the whistle in OT does have some merit - but a player getting hauled down on a breakway with under 30 seconds warrants a penatly shot (which we saw from the shootout probably wouldn't have mattered).

 

[robertearle]

Also - while I'm up here on the soapbox - Not a fan of the reffing this weekend - I'm generally ok with crappy calls/no calls if they are consistent (which was largely the case on Thursday) but to presumably blow the whistle once you lost sight of the puck - depsite clear evidence that the puck was over the line before the whistle blew - disallowing a goal, but then proceedeing to allow at least 2 more dog piles on the goalies later in the game when I don't know how conceviabley you could see the puck?

Add to that Simms getting a penalty a few seconds after O'B took what can only be described as a punch (unintentional, but still ...) to the face and was dragged down, and then ignoring at least two retaliation cross-checks administered to Simms.

 

[BadgerPete]

Can we now agree that playing a game at Wrigley Field was a bad idea? Instead of playing a true home game in the comfy confines of LaBahn Arena, repeating the trouncing that occurred last Thursday, we now have a SOL. The only beneficiaries were TWSNBN and a league the Badgers women don’t play in. The only good that came out of it is a greater determination to dominate Muzzinator’s Mercenaries in the postseason.

The players all seemed to get a lifelong memory out of it, and the friends of mine who went all seemed to really enjoy it. I don't have a problem with the game; I have a problem with it being a standard WCHA game.

In my opinion, they need to add another exemption to Section 17.14.5.3 of the NCAA Manual. They already have exemptions to the total number of allowable contests for the Hockey Hall of Fame Game, the Icebreaker Tournament, as well as a wealth of others.

17.14.5.3 Annual Exemptions. The maximum number of ice hockey contests shall exclude the following:
(a) Conference Championship. Competition in one conference championship tournament in ice hockey (or the tournament used to determine the conference's automatic entry in an NCAA ice hockey championship);
(b) Conference Playoff. Competition involving member institutions that tie for a conference championship. Such teams may participate in a single-elimination playoff to determine the conference's automatic entry in an NCAA ice hockey championship without the game(s) being counted as a postseason tournament;
(c) NCAA Championship Play-In Competition. Competition in play-in contests conducted before NCAA championships;
(d) Season-Ending Event. Competition in one season-ending event (e.g., NCAA championship). A season-ending event involves competition after the end of the regular season between teams that are not identified until the close of the regular season;
(e) Alumni Game. One ice hockey contest each year against an alumni team of the institution;
(f) Foreign Team in the United States. One ice hockey contest each year with a foreign opponent in the United States;
(g) Hall of Fame Game. The one ice hockey game between two Division I intercollegiate teams conducted by the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame;
(h) U.S. Olympic or Paralympic Team. One ice hockey contest each year against the U.S. Olympic or Paralympic ice hockey team during that team's training for participation in the Winter Olympics;
(i) Hawaii or Alaska. Any games played in Hawaii or Alaska, respectively, against an active Division I member institution located in Hawaii or Alaska, by a member located outside the area in question;
(j) Fundraising Activity. Any ice hockey activities in which student-athletes from more than one of the institution's athletics teams participate with and against alumni and friends of the institution, the purpose of which is to raise funds for the benefit of the institution's athletics or other programs, provided the student-athletes do not miss classes as a result of their participation (see Bylaw 12.5.1.1);
(k) Celebrity Sports Activity. Competition involving a limit of two student-athletes from a member institution's ice hockey team who participate in local celebrity ice hockey activities conducted for the purpose of raising funds for charitable organizations, provided: (1) The student-athletes do not miss classes as a result of the participation; (2) The involvement of the student-athletes has the approval of the institution's athletics director; and (3) The activity takes place within a 30-mile radius of the institution's main campus.
(l) U.S. National Team. One game played against any team as selected and designated by the appropriate national governing body for ice hockey as a U.S. national team (e.g., "Under-21" U.S. national team);
and (m) Hockey Commissioners Association/Ice Breaker Tournaments. Competition in the men's or women's Ice Breaker Tournament sponsored by the Hockey Commissioners Association.
Scrimmage/Exhibition Contest. One ice hockey scrimmage or exhibition contest each year against outside competition.

That's a lot of exemptions already, so let's dial up another one and add (o) one outdoor ice hockey contest

If you're going to have a game played on a massively substandard surface for the almost sole purpose of promoting the sport, give it an exemption and leave the games that count where they should be.

 

[Timothy A]

Can we now agree that playing a game at Wrigley Field was a bad idea? Instead of playing a true home game in the comfy confines of LaBahn Arena, repeating the trouncing that occurred last Thursday, we now have a SOL. The only beneficiaries were TWSNBN and a league the Badgers women don’t play in. The only good that came out of it is a greater determination to dominate Muzzinator’s Mercenaries in the postseason.

All outdoor games are bad ideas. MJ just has too big of a heart for the promotion of the sport for his team's own good. UW should never give up a home game(s) ever again. From a pair-wise perspective, the game was a tie, correct?

The reffing was worse on game 2. UW clearly got screwed out of a good goal even after a review, which is not shocking considering these refs.

Why was the ice not cleaned prior to the shootout and why did they not trade ends?

What's really sad is we'll never know the players really felt about it considering they all have to tow the company line.

 

[robertearle]

From a pair-wise perspective, the game was a tie, correct?

Mostly, yes.

Each team will get a "half win" that qualifies for a "quality win" bonus in the RPI, with the bonus that Ohio State gets is some bigger (because the half-win was against the #1 team).

 

[Lindsay]

I won’t try to dissuade you guys but I honestly thought it was iconic for women’s hockey.

I’d be interested to hear how ice conditions compare in the opinion of the players. That part makes me nervous.

For the shootout I wonder if the rules allow for both goalies to play out of one end, as has been done in nhl outdoor games.

Definitely a missed call before the Simms penalty.

 

[Ditra]

I would agree that it seems an exemption for the outdoor game makes sense given it's a way to promote the sport under conditions the players are not use to in general. I thought it was interesting that players continued to try and deke eventhough some were having issues maintaining control due to the ice conditions.

Does the shootout loss really impact the Badgers at all? Seems like they would have to have a colossal collapse, and one of the other teams to run the table, to not win the regular season title.

Overall it looked like the players were having fun and it was a good competitive game.

 

[robertearle]

I would agree that it seems an exemption for the outdoor game makes sense given it's a way to promote the sport under conditions the players are not use to in general. I thought it was interesting that players continued to try and deke eventhough some were having issues maintaining control due to the ice conditions.

Does the shootout loss really impact the Badgers at all? Seems like they would have to have a colossal collapse, and one of the other teams to run the table, to not win the regular season title.

Overall it looked like the players were having fun and it was a good competitive game.

Minnesota and Bemidji played a non-conference game on New Year's. Obviously, Ohio State - Wisconsin could have been scheduled as a non-conference game.

 

[Timothy A]

I thought it was interesting that players continued to try and deke even though some were having issues maintaining control due to the ice conditions.

That was really stupid. I was screaming at the TV for the Badger players to snipe one from the high slot. They are all elite shooters.

 

[Timothy A]

Minnesota and Bemidji played a non-conference game on New Year's. Obviously, Ohio State - Wisconsin could have been scheduled as a non-conference game.

So that begs the question, why wasn't this handled that way?

I'm sure you all heard MJ's rendition of "Take me out to the ball game" from back in the early 2000's. Singing is not one of his talents. It was hilarious.

 

[BadgerPete]

So that begs the question, why wasn't this handled that way?

I'm sure you all heard MJ's rendition of "Take me out to the ball game" from back in the early 2000's. Singing is not one of his talents. It was hilarious.

Because Wisconsin (and probably Ohio State) were at the NCAA maximum of 34 non-exempt contests in a season. That's why I said there needs to be an exemption in that post I made earlier. Otherwise the Badgers would have had to ditch one of the six non-conference games to make room for it.

Minnesota/Bemidji was the Hockey Hall of Fame Game and thus exempt from the 34 game maximum per 17.14.5.3(g) of the NCAA Manual.

 

[Ditra]

So that begs the question, why wasn't this handled that way?

I'm sure you all heard MJ's rendition of "Take me out to the ball game" from back in the early 2000's. Singing is not one of his talents. It was hilarious.

Oh my that was painful to listen to MJ sing.

I would bet the B1g put the screws to OSU and Wisconsin's ADs to make it happen even if there isn't a women's hockey league. The only other choice was a Gopher vs. Penn St. match up.