USCHO: 'A few deep breaths for all ready to condemn the Big Ten to mediocrity'

I was reading this article over on USCHO and I think it’s worth a read. I thought it was thought provoking. It’s kind of funny, but a lot of the same things were being said about the NCHC last season after they had a poor out of conference record. Traditionally, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin  and Minnesota are strong hockey programs. I am thinking the two Michigan schools might be in line for a new head coach.

Paula C. Weston, USCHO.COM -- Relax. It’s the end of November. It’s the second week of conference play. For the love of all that is Hobey, it’s the second year of the league itself.

Yes, the Big Ten has a losing record (23-30-3) in its early play against nonconference opponents, and that doesn’t include the league’s 1-1 record against the U.S. Under-18 Team. Minnesota’s 5-4 overtime loss to the visiting youngsters last Friday prompted the Twitter discussion that resulted in the “fairly awful” proclamation. After all, the Golden Gophers had been swept the week before by Minnesota-Duluth, swept and kept to one goal in the series after having begun 2014-15 with one loss in eight games and entering that weekend with Duluth second in the nation in scoring offense, averaging close to four goals per game.

An exhibition loss to a highly touted and well-coached team with a roster full of young players that nearly every NCAA Division I program would at least take a glance at while recruiting was surely the end of the world for Minnesota hockey and a harbinger of bad things to come for the Big Ten, right?

I think it's too early to start kicking dirt on the Big Ten Hockey Conference, just yet. Right now, they're in line for one or two bids to the NCAA tourney, but there a lot of hockey to played between now and selection Sunday. There's also a good chance that someone could make a run in the B1G tourney. What's to say that Michigan, or Wisconsin couldn't get hot at the right time. All they have to do is win three games at the Joe.