Pitter Patter Lets Get at Er -- College Hockey Chatter

[yakfisher]

It's tough. I wonder if it was like this when they split the WCHA up last time to make the CCHA. That at least seems to make more sense than this big 10 fiasco.

[PierBridge]

About what I expected.

That was St Clouds super bowl I knew they would play well against us.

They pretty much throttled us up there.

I thought we out played them here although we had some sloppy stretches during the game.

On a side note the Sioux beat Airforce in OT....wait a minute AF has a real hockey team?

[CaptainMusky]

Wilcox has not been playing well. Has me concerned. I wonder if all the "hobey" talk is going to his head? He doesnt seem like the type that would let something like that be a distraction, but I have not been impressed thus far.

SCSU definitely was more prepared. Their schedule had them ready to play. The Gophers havent played anyone yet.

I dont care about polls and an early loss is good IMO.

[fishing tech]

I agree on Wilcox, I hope he isn't thinking about which team he will pick to play for in the NHL, because if he doesn't focus he won't have to worry about it.

[solbes]

Predictions this week for Dogs v Gophers in a home and home? Dogs surprised me last week by sweeping St Cloud. Hoping our Goalie is a little more prepared this time than in South Bend in his first game.

Hard to win in Mariucci, but I'm going with the Dogs earning a split by winning in the oil can. Toninato lights the lamp at least once.

Wilcox will turn it around soon I'm sure. Great goalie thats just going through a rough patch.

[CaptainMusky]

Dogs v Gophers is always a good battle. Even though I dont like home and home series, since they only play once, I am glad it is a home and home. I see one lopsided game and one close one. I agree Solbes, a split is on the horizon.

[PierBridge]

A tie and a loss for the Gophers!

[Bobby Bass]

Sitting back and enjoying the dogs sweep over the Gophers.... did get a little interesting there in the last few minutes of Saturdays game and of course it is always interesting having to listen to the visitors radio call of the game.. Hope we see the Gophers again down the road, has to be some kind of way they would meet in the playoffs if both teams manage to get that far.

[solbes]

Dogs suprised me again, though the Gophers not playing too hard on Friday had a lot to do with it. Wilcox played really well on Saturday I thought.

I see a weekend series at Houghton that is very important for the Dogs in a few weeks. Black and Yellow Huskies are 10-0 (wow!)

[Bryce]

Michigan Tech with the top ranking. Who woulda thunk it?

[fishing tech]

They are playing well.

I missed Saturday nights Gopher/Dogs game. Did the Gophers show up or was it like Fridays game.

I am glad they are no longer#1. Takes some of the pressure off but everyone gets up to play them anyways. The only #1 that matters is the last one of the year.

[Bryce]

#1 gets swept. #2 & #3 get splits. Could see the Sioux in the top slot come Monday afternoon.

[Gatores]

I would love to see the Sioux move into first place, but the #3 team did not split. They won in OT against Maine and beat Connecticut as far as I know. I hope you are right Bryce but I think BU moves into first and we hold 2nd.

[Bryce]

I misread the scoreboard. BU should be the new number 1.

[CaptainMusky]

Polls are for trolls. I could care less what my team is ranked until it matters. The rankings come March mean a whole lot more. Be ready to play come playoffs. Lots of "our" teams are playing inconsistent now. Need to shore that up to beat the East.

[Gatores]

Captain that is the most thought out, well worded post I have ever read on this site.

[CaptainMusky]

Its still kinda fun to be #1 though. What's the deal with these teams though? They are all over the place. From what I've seen no one is playing consistent. UND and SCSU split. UMD riding high split in NE. Michigan tech lasts a week at 1 then gets swept at home after being undefeated? The gophers lost to the U 18 team? Sheesh. Lots of work to do.

I have no doubt UND will be flying high come playoff time and the gophers should beat up on the big ten (6) once they start those games but inconsistency is the name of the game now.

[Bear55]

Well I always laugh at other teams who drop a game to USNDP, so ha ha on the Gophs for dropping a game to the kids.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

What's the deal with these teams though?

One word, parity.

Its been that way for a while now.

And ratings/pairwise are very very important in college hockey.

[solbes]

And ratings/pairwise are very very important in college hockey.

And those non-conference games become strangely important to pairwise ranking later on in the year. Is it wrong for me to want the Dogs to avoid playing the Goph's in a rematch at the North Star Cup (currently up 2-1)?

Season is just getting rolling.

[PierBridge]

The strength of schedule plays a role too and you guys are solid so im going to say yeah you are wrong. A loss to a better team like the gophers who all teams really get pumped up to play is better than a loss to lower level club.

And of course winning solves everything.