This has been a lonely week for the news casters of college hockey. Inside College Hockey tied up their skates and called it a career. Although this is not as big of a shift change as the conference line up, it's pretty big in the sports world. Almost 75% of what INCH wrote or ranked ended up on other news feeds.
Being such, I have decided to put my money where my mouth or in this case fingers are and start my own news agency. All of the legal framework is set and I hope to have it up and running for the next season.
Since I am quite a crafty guy, I called some sports bloggers and ended up talking with some representatives from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Yes, they corrected me UAH is referred to properly as "in" rather than "at". During our talks, I spoke with a number of people sensitive to the required conference shift and in the interest of keeping peoples names out of the news I have decided to withhold all names from these talks. Basically, UAH is in a battle with the WCHA to gain acceptance. With the folding of the CCHA, no team will want to take UAH. This is because Hockey East is not looking to add teams without a name lineage (Notre Dame) far away from the bulk of their campuses. Atlantic Hockey would be a good choice, but they would reduce the allowable scholarships. The Big Ten or B1G is untouchable. No team in that league will exit or form in another conference. This leaves the WCHA as the only hope for UAH. The problem is in the travel. When the CCHA folded, they left the burden of Alaska-Fairbanks on the WCHA. Combined with Alaska-Anchorage the bills are going to add up quickly.
From what I gathered, most of the meetings with the WCHA have been positive with the general exception being getting accepted. It appears the WCHA is hinging upon Iowa State to turn their club team to varsity. As a former director of a college club team, I have played Iowa State. I know that this team is likely the best team to move up. Although the WCHA won't say it, they don't want UAH because of the travel. If the WCHA does indeed get the opportunity to strip Air Force from Atlantic Hockey, this conversation is completely over. But that likely won't happen, so if you are a UAH fan just hope that I.S. doesn't elevate their program.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Two games. Two perspectives.
The WCHA had a good weekend of non-conference games. As a Badger fan, I am not sure what to take from this weekend. I was also able to take in a Colorado College game and caught some surprises in the arena.
First up is Colorado College.
For the past three years I have been a fan and a season ticket holder to the Colorado College Tigers. I thought the first two years were real good ones and the last one was the sucker punch that I needed to take off, amongst moving being the other.
So this year I watch the games from the television unless Wisconsin comes to Colorado (NOV 30,DEC1).
But I took in a CC game on Saturday and this will be the review that I was waiting to write.
Coaching: I've known the staff at CC for quite a while. Coach Owens is pretty good at staying the course and not falling to pressure from outside sources. He makes tweaks but a overhaul is rare. I saw the same coaching staff as I have the past three years: steadfast and loyal to the way they do things. So nothing new, take that as a good thing.
Offense: This is what I thought I wouldn't see. Losing Jaden Schwartz to the NHL and a host of talented seniors was sure to cost the Tigers. Not the case, they continue rolling but more as a team. I like that a little better than playing one guy for most of the minutes. Good job to all four lines getting action. I thought everyone played really well, while most players did little to no developing last year, I feel from this one game that they picked off where they stopped two years ago.
Defense: This is what I knew I wouldn't see this weekend. I guess everyone goes into Vegas knowing they will leave rich, but no one ever does. I was wrong here too. Wow was I wrong, and happy for it. Last year was a horrific attempt at defending and I really couldn't pin point the faults. Guentzel was a great player, Dineen was a good leader. The defense looked good on paper but never made the impact they needed. But I also knew that CC was a bomb on defense waiting to explode. That happened from what I saw. Harstad played well and so did Stoykewych before he was injured. I'm most impressed with Marciano. He was a stay at home defender for the last two years. That changed on Saturday and I think that's the biggest difference from last year.
Goaltending: I only got to see one night, and from that one night I can only judge off the goaltending I did see. That goaltender was Joe Howe. Joe is a great guy and I don't know what the future holds for him but I wish him the best. With that being said, I think the best way to sum up this Saturday's effort was horrible. I had seats which made me privy to Howe's net. He's not tracking the way he did his freshman and sophomore year. The puck has become a problem and he seems to lock up before the shot is taken. Needless to say the goals he did give up were pretty bad. On this case, I'd have to disagree with Owens that CC has a good tandem. Howe just isn't the same goalie he was his first two years.
Overall: I think CC is way under-rated. I would venture to say CC will finish top five this year. They have the ability to make plays. Given that Clarkson didn't look like much of a contender, CC still put up 40 shots and got 5 goals. That bodes well for top competition where they will probably get 10 less shots and two less goals.
Wisconsin:
I'm a bit shaken by what I saw this weekend. I shouldn't be shaken, but I am. Last season WI got most of their goals off rebounds and Justin Shultz was the leading scorer. He's gone now and nothing left me thinking national championship banner for the Badgers.
Offense: Anemic. They played horrible on both nights, and nothing about this offense says "reloading OR rebuilding". The whole "twitter-gate" with Kerdiles hurt the Badgers big time.
Defense: The bright spot that I didn't think would be there. Wisconsin changed their game quite a bit from last year. They still have good players but they block shots A-La Ferris State. I think this will help the shaky offense and maybe team red can find their stride mid season.
Goal-Tending: Rumpel played pretty well. He's a big body who takes up much of the net to begin with. I think he tries to sell that when playing puck handlers and then get's burned. I think he can improve there. Peterson played Saturday when I was not watching and I've already heard the groans of his play. I knew this was a one goalie team, so nothing new to report.
Overall: I saw a report placing WI 4th in the WCHA for predictions. If Kerdiles' suspension does hold up, and/or something does change soon expect this team to be the Enron of the WCHA.
First up is Colorado College.
For the past three years I have been a fan and a season ticket holder to the Colorado College Tigers. I thought the first two years were real good ones and the last one was the sucker punch that I needed to take off, amongst moving being the other.
So this year I watch the games from the television unless Wisconsin comes to Colorado (NOV 30,DEC1).
But I took in a CC game on Saturday and this will be the review that I was waiting to write.
Coaching: I've known the staff at CC for quite a while. Coach Owens is pretty good at staying the course and not falling to pressure from outside sources. He makes tweaks but a overhaul is rare. I saw the same coaching staff as I have the past three years: steadfast and loyal to the way they do things. So nothing new, take that as a good thing.
Offense: This is what I thought I wouldn't see. Losing Jaden Schwartz to the NHL and a host of talented seniors was sure to cost the Tigers. Not the case, they continue rolling but more as a team. I like that a little better than playing one guy for most of the minutes. Good job to all four lines getting action. I thought everyone played really well, while most players did little to no developing last year, I feel from this one game that they picked off where they stopped two years ago.
Defense: This is what I knew I wouldn't see this weekend. I guess everyone goes into Vegas knowing they will leave rich, but no one ever does. I was wrong here too. Wow was I wrong, and happy for it. Last year was a horrific attempt at defending and I really couldn't pin point the faults. Guentzel was a great player, Dineen was a good leader. The defense looked good on paper but never made the impact they needed. But I also knew that CC was a bomb on defense waiting to explode. That happened from what I saw. Harstad played well and so did Stoykewych before he was injured. I'm most impressed with Marciano. He was a stay at home defender for the last two years. That changed on Saturday and I think that's the biggest difference from last year.
Goaltending: I only got to see one night, and from that one night I can only judge off the goaltending I did see. That goaltender was Joe Howe. Joe is a great guy and I don't know what the future holds for him but I wish him the best. With that being said, I think the best way to sum up this Saturday's effort was horrible. I had seats which made me privy to Howe's net. He's not tracking the way he did his freshman and sophomore year. The puck has become a problem and he seems to lock up before the shot is taken. Needless to say the goals he did give up were pretty bad. On this case, I'd have to disagree with Owens that CC has a good tandem. Howe just isn't the same goalie he was his first two years.
Overall: I think CC is way under-rated. I would venture to say CC will finish top five this year. They have the ability to make plays. Given that Clarkson didn't look like much of a contender, CC still put up 40 shots and got 5 goals. That bodes well for top competition where they will probably get 10 less shots and two less goals.
Wisconsin:
I'm a bit shaken by what I saw this weekend. I shouldn't be shaken, but I am. Last season WI got most of their goals off rebounds and Justin Shultz was the leading scorer. He's gone now and nothing left me thinking national championship banner for the Badgers.
Offense: Anemic. They played horrible on both nights, and nothing about this offense says "reloading OR rebuilding". The whole "twitter-gate" with Kerdiles hurt the Badgers big time.
Defense: The bright spot that I didn't think would be there. Wisconsin changed their game quite a bit from last year. They still have good players but they block shots A-La Ferris State. I think this will help the shaky offense and maybe team red can find their stride mid season.
Goal-Tending: Rumpel played pretty well. He's a big body who takes up much of the net to begin with. I think he tries to sell that when playing puck handlers and then get's burned. I think he can improve there. Peterson played Saturday when I was not watching and I've already heard the groans of his play. I knew this was a one goalie team, so nothing new to report.
Overall: I saw a report placing WI 4th in the WCHA for predictions. If Kerdiles' suspension does hold up, and/or something does change soon expect this team to be the Enron of the WCHA.
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