POP QUIZ
In which I ask a blogger five questions about the team they follow. This week, Goon from Goon's World and about a million other places, was kind enough to share his thoughts on the entire landscape of college hockey.
1) What has Miami done the last few years to be so mind-bogglingly successful (short of an actual postseason title, obviously)?
I think you could answer this question in two words; Enrico Blasi. Blasi is a very good coach and he expects a lot out of his players and has been very successful on the ice. I would say that he is recruiting the right mix of players and they are buying into what he is telling them. Color me impressed.
2) Who is the best rookie in the country right now?
Statically it's Stephane Da Costa from Merrimack College (13g-22a-35pts), that being said, putting on my homer glasses and having the opportunity to watch BSU a few times this season I have been impressed with Jordan George from BSU (13g-17a-30pts) I think Jordan George is a diamond in the rough and this recruit is a testament of thetype of recruiter Tom Serratore is. WCHA beware. I would say that George is my rookie of the year candidate.
3) Given the WCHA is about to send the most teams of any conference to the NCAAs (right now I've got six teams going), how likely is an All-WCHA Frozen Four?
I don't think we will ever see another Frozen Four with all 4 team being from the WCHA. In 2005 there were a lot of people that were less than thrilled about the WCHA getting four teams in the Frozen Four. I also think the 2008 Midwest Regional in Madison where you had DU; Wisconsin, UND and Princeton in the same regional was kind of a preview of what will happen if you have five or more teams in the NCAA tourney from a single league. This season there is going to be a bracket or two where there will be WCHA teams doubled up, especially if there are six WCHA teams in the tourney.
4) Do you feel as though we've seen a significant rise in the number of dirty hits or suspensions in college hockey this year?
Loaded question: No and not enough or lengthy suspensions, in my opinion. This is a hot-button issue with many college hockey fans. Untilthe NCAA decides to really get serious about protecting the players you are going to see more incidents like the Aaron Marvin hit on Chay Genoway. Seriously, what's to stop a team from just going out and taking a run a star player with the intent of injuring him if you're only going to have the offending player get suspended for flimsy one or two game suspension? There needs to be a set standard for discipline in NCAA division one hockey, no more smoke filled room decisions, there needs to be more transparency.
A perfect example of how bad the officiating is in college hockey; the one-game suspension to Aaron Marvin is an absolute joke and a travesty, and the WCHA should be ashamed. Let's break it down even more: the league gave Marvin a one-game suspension for knocking out a Hobey Baker candidate and potential All-American for the season on a dirty checking from behind penalty, that the refs actually penalized the wrong player on, the league officials had to review the tape between periods to get the right player.
The Marvin hit on Genoway would probably net at least 2-4 games in the NHL, even with the inconsistency of the Colin Campbell's Wheel of Justice and probably longer in the QMJHL.
In my favorite league it's going to take a player really getting seriously hurt and carried off the ice on a gurney before the WCHA will finally get serious about disciplining the players that commit egregious penalties on the ice, I think the leagues head of officials is culpable for what has transpired on the ice this season because their disciplinary rulings have no teeth to them.
5) With only six points separating second from seventh in Hockey East, who do you think comes out as the league's representatives in the NCAA tournament.
I think it's going to be Boston College because UNH's out of conference record is brutal and is going to kill them in the end, the Wildcats are1-5-1, Boston College is 5-2 in out of conference play.
Good stuff. The question is, if you put Miami in the WCHA, how well do you think they do? If you put Bemidji State in the WCHA (like next season), how well do you think they do? And the final question: if 5 or 6 teams from the WCHA qualify for the NCAA tournament (as it would be right now), how many of them will be pitted against each other in the regionals so they can knock each other out instead of advancing further along in the tournament? Denver to Madison against the Badgers after winning the Broadmoor Trophy? Give me a break people.
ReplyDeleteHehehe Goon. He sure hit all your hot spots. Let's see... Miami, dirty hits, Region of Death... Heheh.
ReplyDeleteMiami is a solid team, I wish they were in the WCHA they would be a fun team to play on a regular basis, they kind of play like UND, only better goalies.
ReplyDeleteDonna it's like Ryan had the questions planted from somewhere elese. :)
Miami would be just fine in the WCHA. I'm sure they would compete for home ice every year. There's no doubt they would not be 20 points ahead of the pack, but we'd be fine. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThat said, WCHA you always bash the RedHawks yet never mention we swept SCSU - the league's "hottest" team.
Swain dog I was going to bring it up and you beat me too it. Miami is like 7-0-1 against WCHA teams it's last 8. He if the WCHA and the CCHA ever loose the big ten teams I would love to see UND in the same league as Miami.
ReplyDeleteWCHA Miami is a legit team, they have a team that is balanced and if MU and SCSU faced off in the NCAA title I would bet my money on Blasi's team.
ReplyDelete