Yawn! Boring... I have to agree with
Chris Dilks from WCH it's the same old regional sites yet again. Wouldn’t you know it, entitlement hockey gets to host another regional. Last season the Gophers hosted the West Region at the Xcel Energy Center and with the Gophers falling on their nose and missing the west regional the games were played in a half empty arena. You have to wonder if Minnesota will finally be able qualify for the NCAA playoffs and get to play in the regional they are hosting?
The NCAA has named the 2012 NCAA tournament Regional locations.
Two of the sites will be repeats from the 2011 locations — The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn., and the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis.
Minnesota will host the West Regional, with the games being played at Mariucci Arena; and the Northeast Regional went to Holy Cross, with the games set for the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. [College Hockey News]
Why even bother having applications for the regional tourney anymore if you’re just going to award/reward the regional sites to the same arena/teams/towns every year? Seriously!
Is there a list any where of the schools / sites that weren't awarded the regional(s)? Seems dumb to complain about arguably the top hockey facility in North America that's centrally located for many of the teams likely playing in said regional without knowing what other facilities / cities didn't get one.
ReplyDeleteBut that's right ... Sioux fans just love to complain, and it's the summer, so nothing to see here I guess.
There is nothing wrong with Minnesota getting an occasional regional once in a while but not every year. It would be interesting to see who was rejected or passed over.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Marriucci is hardly the best arena in the country. REA blows the John out of the water and still has one of the largest attendances records for a Regional.
WCHA Blog - Have you BEEN to Mariucci Arena? What a dump. I hope you are referring to the Xcel Energy Center if you're talking about fine hockey facilities. Oh, and can we note how TERRIBLE attendence was at both regionals hosted by Minnesota. Minnesota's AD is chair of the men's ice hockey committee for the ncaa. i smell a rat. that said, it's still not going to get the gophers into the ncaa's alone. that said, i agree with goon in that it's ridiculous that Minnesota gets 3 of the last 4 NCAA regionals in addition to the Frozen Four this year.
ReplyDeleteJust for the Record WCHA Blog is Ryan Cardinal who is a "Rabid" Gopher fan so of course he is cool with it.
ReplyDeleteNo one has a problem w/ the gophers getting a regional on a regular basis, but getting a NCAA event (regional or frozen four) for four straight seasons is over the top.
ReplyDeleteBut I guess they actually need to make the NCAA tourney again for any of this to matter, and it was great last season to see the "state of hockey" turn out so well to support hockey at the X in the regional.
minnesota fans = joke
Gandalf, I am with you man... I don't have a problem with the Golden Chokers getting an occasional regional but three out of four regionals is bit ridiculous. Eventually the golden ground squirels might actually make the NCAA tourney.
ReplyDeleteSara, You are the only person I have ever heard voice such a negative opinion about Marriucci. What about it makes you feel that it is a dump? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCharlie,
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't think John is a dump, I don't it even comes close to being as nice as the REA. I am not impressed with the place at all. I was there for a couple of games and it was like a Morgue in there.
I don't have a problem with Minnesota getting regional as long is it keeps the regionals in our area. Having said that, I would prefer to see REA, the new DECC, hell even BSU's new arena thrown in the rotation. Considering those teams actual make the NCAA's. Plus it would be nice to give other hockey cities a chance to see some playoffs and probably create a better atmosphere than the games had last year.
ReplyDeleteGoon,
ReplyDeleteGood point; there is very little throwing of beer on opponent fans and downright nasty harassing of opponent fans in a morgue! :)
The place is too corporate for my liking, but that does not equate with 'dump'. Also, with a weak team and lots of other hockey and other activites in town every weekend night, people spend their dough elsewhere. Very understandable in a large metro area with lots to offer. (No, I am not claiming that large metro areas are better than smaller cities.)
I know you all blessed with an amazing arena; how does Marriucci compare to non-REA venues?
Charlie, I just don't like the feel of the John. It's just got a stale/vanilla feel in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI don't know it's just me, I wouldn't trade the REA for the John under any circumstance... I look forward to seeing the new BREC this fall when the Sioux play the Beavers... I don't like the Concrete center as well, however, if it makes you feel any better the John is better than that the National Hockey Center.
Dave, the New BSU and UMD arenas aren't big enough to host a regional.
ReplyDeleteGoon,
ReplyDeleteThe new DECC is big enough to host a region. In fact they bid on the 2012 region and were not selected.
I forgot to mention in my last post the minimum capacity to host an NCAA regional is 5,000. The new DECC will seat 6,600 for hockey.
ReplyDeleteBulldog I didn't know that, how many does the new DECC seat?
ReplyDeleteI know the new BREC in Bemidji seats about 4500. I am supposed to get a tour of it on the 15 or 16th of July when I am over the Galen Nale Golf tourney.
ReplyDelete