2009 Miracle On Ice.

All week long we heard comments from pundits, experts other teams fans that said BSU didn't belong in the NCAA tourney. Hum! I read where some moron said that BSU kept Minnesota out of the NCAA tourney. Yep they did and they are going to the Frozen Four. They also kept Cornell and Notre Dame out of the Frozen Four in D.C.

BSU got no respect

Last week while I was out walking the my dog I was listening to podcast from a college hockey web page I won't mention (let me give you a hint they start with INCH). You could almost hear the contempt and snickers from one hockey writer on the podcast he said BSU had no chance to wining their regional. Won't even be close. I believe this is the same Hockey East writer that said UNH had no chance of winning a game in their regional. That would make a nice charity event in Durham, NH. We could witness a mass apology to a UNH fan base and have a fundraiser all at the same time.

There is a reason they play the games nothing in life is a given, just ask the Sioux, Pioneers, Big Red and Wolverines. Since the 2006 regional anything is possible. I was there in person when I saw Holy Cross take down a number one seed in Minnesota. Yeah! Your damn right I cheered. I am still smiling. All it takes is one bounce, one penalty, one shot and your season is over. There are no second chances like the NHL where you play seven game series. In a one and done tourney anything is possible and you have to expect the unexpected, you can never disrespect your opponent or over look them.

Did I expect the Beavers to be here? Not really but you can't doubt a team coach by Tom Seratorre he is a first class coach and I believe that he is worthy of the Spencer Penrose Award. Seratorre is one of those coaches that can get a lot out of his players. Also, the Scofield, Read, Francis is as good as any line you will see in college hockey. I still believe to this day that BSU gave the Sioux more of a fight than the Gophers when the Sioux pounded them in Grand Forks in January.

BSU a program built on pride This pretty much sums up their program very well.

It was the first NCAA tournament win in Division I, although the Bemidji State program has a long history in other classifications.

"We're the winningest program in college hockey, and that does carry over," Serratore said. "Our players are very proud."

But Bemidji State accomplished this amid a cloud of uncertainty over its future, and perhaps this win takes on higher meaning as a result. The CHA will disband after next year, and next season's automatic NCAA bid is in question. Where Bemidji State will land after that, if anywhere, is up in the air.

"I hope we'll get our automatic bid next year. It would be a travesty if we didn't," Serratore said. "Our kids and our programs have done nothing to put ourselves in that situation. I hope the powers that be recognize that and give us one more year of an automatic bid."

Clearly, Bemidji State has shown it belongs. (read the rest of the article here)

That does bring up another question for the NCAA. Will you give the CHA one more autobid? It is the right thing to do. Time to man up NCAA and let the CHA have one more year of an auto bid. It gives their teams something to play for. Two of the four remaining have a home a 2010-2011. BSU and UAH are in the process of applying for membership in a major conference.