too soon
I bet the place is going to
I bet the place is going to be empty
If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?
It is
The lower seats are full, but it's empy. It is expected with two tiny schools playing in Florida.
One thing to keep in mind,
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that this is one of the largest capacity venues in the NHL.
Nothing means "hockey
Nothing says "hockey fanatics" more than Tampa, Florida.
Says someone who clearly
Says someone who clearly knows nothing about the hockey market...
I don't care much who wins either game today
But I strongly, strongly want the Ferris-Union* winer to beat the Minny-BC winner.
(*I guess I do lean towards Union, as I'm out here in ECAC land and would love for there to be a little less of a reason for all the flak sent our way.)
Amen... the ECAC hockey is
Amen... the ECAC hockey is not as good as, Hockey East, but the difference between a Hockey East team and an ECAC team is nowhere near the sort of differences we see in football or basketball. I say this as somebody who grew up watching Vermont, a team that has been in both conferences. Go Union/Ferris!
I'd love for the Union-Ferris
I'd love for the Union-Ferris winner to win it all, but it's a long shot. Minnesota and BC pass the eye-check. Maybe they can pull if off, but in a best of 7, I'd bet BC/Minnesota beats Union/Ferris 4-1 or 4-0
I would agree
Boston College and Minnesota are on a different level. Anything can happen in single elimination hockey but these guys aren't just winning, they are crushing the other teams. Too much NHL talent for either team to overcome.
I know many people that went
I know many people that went to Ferris and they have been obnoxious since the end of the regular season. They forget that Ferris was upset by Bowling Green in the CCHA playoffs... I'm kinda tired of hearing about Ferris and will be rooting for Union.
That's amazing
I never knew Union didn't offer scholarships.
College hockey tournament?
I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about.
Also, college hockey has
Also, college hockey has again sacrificed seeding for ratings. I know BC-Minnesota will draw probably 5-10x more viewers than Union-Ferris, but BC is the top seed so its odd that they would theoretically have less rest than their opponent
Go Ferris
You really think 5 hours of
You really think 5 hours of extra rest (when they have an off day Friday) is going to be any difference? Of course the NCAA wanted the best matchup in primetime. If Michigan was playing say BC and they were the day game people like you would be complaining that it wasn't the night game (regardless if it was seeding or not). Some people just love to hate the NCAA for every move they make
I just turned the game on and
I just turned the game on and it made me angry again. We should be there, not Ferris
Come on...
I know Michigan was the #1 seed in the region, but they lost. That is the nature of 1 and done, you have to win.
Not saying we deserve to be there
but I don't think it's a stretch to say we were the best team entering that region. I'm just saying we choked away a great chance to be in Tampa
I'm moved on
I understand it was a hard loss but it's time to look ahead to next season for us. Why keep looking back at a loss? It doesn't do any good to keep dwelling on the past. We will get it next year.
Nice point shot
Union goes up 1-0
Ferris goal
Tied 1-1
I'm so mad we didn't get to
I'm so mad we didn't get to go this year. I have family in Tampa and for sure would have gone down there.
This has been a great game
If you like slow, defensive hockey like I do this is your game. Ferris is up 2-1 with 4:43 left.
Was anyone else brought back
Was anyone else brought back to spring time from 96 through 98 with memories of great Red Wings playoff runs hen thy heard Gary Thorne's voice?
Friday night hockey on ESPN
Friday night hockey on ESPN with Thorne and Bill Clement was always awesome, regardless of which teams were playing.
"All I've had today is, like, six gummy bears and some scotch"
EN goal
Ferris gets the empty net goal. They will advance.
Go Bulldogs! Class of 2009.
Go Bulldogs! Class of 2009. Not expecting them to win on Saturday but its nice to see them do well.
"They will meet a dastardly fate here for that! There isn't a Michigan Man who wouldn't like go out and scalp those Buckeyes right now."
Awesome for Ferris. They'll
Awesome for Ferris. They'll be underdogs but anything can happen (and "anything" often does happen in playoff hockey).
Mike Babcock comments
I debated starting a Red Wings open thread to discuss this, but it fits here as well.
I was listening to the Wings pregame show just now and they asked Mike Babcock about recent signee Riley Sheahan. Babs said that he has only watched him on TV but that he was "a big man." then he said something along the lines of everyone else in 5'8", so of course he looks big. It seemed like a very condescending thing to say about college hockey, basically implying that it's a league of budgets, when we know that it's not (Shawn Hunwick excepted). Obviously, there is the constant battle between the NCAA and CHL, and I'm wondering if I'm reading too much into a throwaway comment or if Babcock's sneering attitude toward the players is widespread in the NHL.
thoughts?
"The trouble with quotes on the internet, is that it is often difficult to discern whether or not they are genuine" --Abraham Lincoln
Maybe Babcock should focus
Maybe Babcock should focus instead on trying to get the Wings to not suck ass before the playoffs start. Another slow start tonight; relying on 3rd period comebacks night after night isn't a very sound playoff strategy.
"All I've had today is, like, six gummy bears and some scotch"
Tough call. If you consider
Tough call. If you consider hockey's future's rankings (which I don't think all that highly of, but many do), the Wings have five NCAA players in their (I.e. the Wings) top 19 players. That's about an average number for most teams. My bet is that he was talking about Notre Dame, and not NCAA hockey in general. ND isn't the smallest of teams, but they do have Tynan (who I think highly of, but he is definitely small), so thr could have been where he was going. Probably need more context...
Fun fact
So far in this tournament, Boston College has not allowed a goal.
Sheesh
Sheesh
BC
Boston College scores first. 1-0 Eagles
Attendance for this game will
Attendance for this game will good (probably close to 18,000, which is on par for Friday night games over the past 15 years).
I'm pulling for BC here
I have no particular dislike for them and I'd be happy if BC or Ferris won it all. Ferris for obvious reasons. BC because I've never met an annoying BC fan and BC is already at the top of college hockey, they won't benefit that much from another title. I'd rather not have Minnesota rolling with a ton of momentum going to into the BTHC. Go BC
BC up 2-0 now
Another benefit of BC winning is that the WCHA will be out which is always good. Most annoying collection of fans in hockey when playoff time comes around
Speaking of the WCHA
What happened to Wisconsin? I don't pay enough attention to that program but they hit the bottom quick. The last time I watched them was the Camp Randle game, since then they have really fallen off.
I have no idea
They were in the frozen four the year Hunwick saved us which was just 2 years ago, then I think last year they barely missed the tournament, and this year they were awful. Terrible recruiting maybe? Makes you appreciate Red's work, we've never had a significant drop off. Pretty amazing especially when you consider that even world-destroying BC missed the tournament like 2-3 years ago
Theres a quick two
Boston College up 4-0 at the end of the 2nd.
BC up 5-1 now
BC looks so good. They're just on another level.
This is borderline
This is borderline absurd.
We're (Ferris alum here) going to be lucky not to get beat 10-1 on Saturday night.
6-1 now.
This may happen
but nothing to be too mad about I suppose. BC, as usual, looks downright unstoppable in the playoffs. Two things I'd say should give you (and me) some hope:
1. Minnesota is often prone to incredible breakdowns like the Florida State of hockey so BC might not be quite as amazing as they look (ok, they probably are)
2. Ferris State plays boring, defensive hockey and that might be the only thing that might slow BC down
Well
So much for Kreider joining the Rangers at least for another few days.
In other news
Hunwick almost got two chances to play tonight but neither got him into the game. York pulled his groin this morning just in time for Mason to come back, Mason got hit pretty hard and just layed on the ice before getting up and staying in the game. So close.
Is anyone else
reminded of the Frozen four two years ago in Detroit, when BC absolutely crushed Miami and Wisconsin (both one seeds, I believe) for the title in the most boring Frozen Four in recent memory? Because Minnesota is a pretty good team and BC killed them. The game "looked" closer than the 2010 games, but sheesh, how does Jerry York do it?! BC's almost always good, but there's just another level they get to in the tournament and a level higher still when/if they make it to the Frozen Four. We make fun of Miami for "Dynasty", but BC the last decade actually is. It's like Michigan in the 90's, if Red had won about 3 more titles in that span.
BC has an 18 game winning streak going right now, during which they've outscored opponents 73-20. And we thought Michigan's post-GLI run was good... In the tourney so far, they've outscored their three opponents 12-1 (and Minnesota has statistically the best offense in the country and they pass the eyetest as such) and interestingly enough the closest game was against lowly, #16 overall seed, cupcake Air Force.
The "good" good? news is that Michigan is 3-0 against NCAA title game participants, there's that touch of bragging rights regardless who wins...
The "good" good? news is
The "good" good? news is that Michigan is 3-0 against NCAA title game participants, there's that touch of bragging rights regardless who wins...
This just makes me feel even more that we missed a great chance to win it all in a pretty soft tournament. Who are the great teams this year? Boston College aanndd....?
He has a great system
He gets the best players to buy into that system and to play together. It's incredible to watch how they were switching the forecheck on the fly, it's just great hockey. This is their dynasty.
Anybody know how Clarkson U.
Anybody know how Clarkson U. did this season?
Yes
Clarkson finished 16-17-6 in the ECAC this season
i'm still too sad about... everything
go tigers?
Tremendous!