Changes coming to the 'Final Five'?

Todd D. Milewski looks at the Final Five and what might happen next season. I don't mind the idea of keeping the tourney at five games, albeit now there will probably be two games on Thursday and only one on Saturday. I am also would not be opposed to the WCHA deciding to go ahead and making the it a Final Six or Super Six (6 teams, 6 games), this would allow them to play two games each day. Money drives college hockey and the league could make a little extra money for its member schools. Of course some of the teams wouldn't want to play a third place game. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

It appears that the postseason will include all 12 teams once the WCHA expands to include Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha next season. That would push six teams to the league’s playoff championship and require a reformatting of the three-day tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

Currently, the Final Five includes five games — a play-in contest Thursday night, two semifinals on Friday, a third-place game Saturday afternoon and the title game Saturday night.

The leading thought out of the meeting, the source said, was that the league could still use the Final Five title with a simple redefinition — five games, instead of five teams.

The third-place game has long been a source of contention in the league. While that game can be important — winning the 2006 version gave Wisconsin the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament over Minnesota, which it defeated — it also has been detrimental to some.

In 17 years of the Final Five, the consolation game loser has made the NCAA tournament 10 times. Seven times — including the last four years — that team has lost its first NCAA game.

The third-place game is important to the league’s coffers however, because it is a separate ticket that provides revenue, and therefore the league is reluctant to give it up.

Having six teams involved would allow the WCHA to keep a five-game format — two play-in games Thursday involving the teams seeded third through sixth, two semifinals Friday and the championship game Saturday — and please a vocal group of coaches by dumping the consolation game.
[Read the rest of the article]:

With the Final Five now becoming the Final six it’s time to kill the Minnesota rule, enough is enough. The Final Five is in the Gophers back yard and if they can’t take time off from work or school to see their favorite team play in the afternoon game that their tough luck. Last year proved that even with the Gophers only playing one game the tourney was attended well. I also believe that the “Minnesota Rule” is an unfair advantage; a team should play where they’re supposed to play. If the Golden Boys are supposed to play in the 2:00 pm game than I like other fans feel that is where they should play.

— Whether Minnesota would automatically be assigned to the night game on Thursday and Friday (if it is still alive in the tournament) to maximize local ticket sales. The so-called “Minnesota rule” currently sets the Gophers up with the prime-time semifinal spot, even if it causes the Thursday night winner to play Friday afternoon

Cross Posted on the Sin Bin.

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.

Mom says J.P. will play...

I thought this story was interesting and in a way kind of funny. Denver defenseman and student-athlete of the year in the WCHA J.P. Testwuide will play, mom says he will be fine. Hey you can't argue with the mom...

Gwozdecky said Sunday he hasn’t talked to Testwuide or the training staff about his leg injury, and sorry to say, I have no update today. J.P. (Testwuide) had class until 4 p.m. and I had to split to pick up my son. If you think “mama knows best,” assume J.P. will play. Janet Testwuide told me her son is going to be fine. I’ll be at practice Tuesday and update then.
(Click here for the full article)

Wow, Bulldogs make history.

A few weeks back after the Bulldogs had lost five games in a row and one of the local Duluth writers; Howie Hanson had wrote a scathing hit piece on the Bulldog hockey team and their coach. The article as called ANOTHER BULLDOGS MELTDOWN After reading this drive by shooting by Howie Hanson I wrote this blog post in response to Howie Hanson's ridiculous premature blog post.

The quote that is posted below, is the part that really struck a nerve cord with me. If you fast forward to this weekend Howie's hit piece was basically ruled to be irrelevant and a premature panic attack. Who could writtem this story any better than Scott Sandelin’s scrappy Bulldog team. UMD because the first play in game winner to win the Final Five, yeah I guess the WCHA was closer this season than you thought. Maybe those 9th place Seawolves weren't as bad as you made them out to be.

Competing for fifth-place and a home ice series in the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs in the final weekend, UMD’s once-proud program sunk to perhaps the most pitiful low in Coach Scott Sandelin’s mostly unproductive tenure last weekend — when the poorly-prepared Bulldogs lost twice at home to (drum roll, please) the mighty, ninth-place Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves.

This is the response that I wrote to Howie's blog post. I guess I was pretty close on my prediction eh? The Bulldogs winning the Final Five from the play in game is definitely one of the Cinderella sports moments.

To taking a quote out of the sports cliches' it isn't over until the fat lady sings. Hey Howie, the season isn't over for the Bulldogs, not yet anyways. Why don't you let the games play out first. In case you haven't noticed the Bulldogs get to play C.C. in the Springs this weekend where they have a record of 1-0-1 against the Tigers this year. Personally, I would wait till the end of the season before you start kicking dirt on the Bulldogs season.

You have to wonder if this guy followed the rest of the WCHA very closely because seeding for the WCHA playoffs were not really decided until the last hours of the season. Maybe he should stick to high school hockey. Seriously, who is to say the Bulldogs don't go to Colorado College beat the Tigers in two or three games and get to the Final Five? UMD is also ranked 17th in Pair Wise Rankings so a series win in Colorado Springs and a couple of games in St Paul could put them into the NCAA tourney. During the 2005-2006 season the UMD Bulldogs were 11-25-4 and went to DU and won a WCHA playoff series against the Pioneers in Denver.

Badgers 4 Sioux 1

Today's effort was disappointing because we failed to show up and the Badgers handed it to us. Also, I am disappointed with the power play which was abysmal, pathetic and listless. We need remind a few of the players that when you put on the Fighting Sioux it means something. Losing two games at the final five is unacceptable and not a good way to launch the team into the NCAA playoffs.

I also think it is bushleague that a Blake Geoffrion would go after a Finley after Joe hit Jordy Murray with a clean a legal text book hit. Come on what a bush league move. Some Badger fan sitting next to me said that Finley is the Sioux version of Ryan Flynn. I told him what do you expect big Joe to do? Just let the guy attack him.

***I didn't bring my camera but will post some pictures later.


Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Ryan Duncan (19) (Jason Gregoire, Brett Hextall) 7:45
NDK (+): 16,17,26,14,24,G31 WIS (-): 16,24,14,3,7,G35
WIS-1 Blake Geoffrion (2-Roughing) 10:16
WIS-2 Blake Geoffrion (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) NDK 0x1 10:16
NDK-1 Joe Finley (2-Roughing) 10:16
WIS-3 Jamie McBain (2-Cross-Checking) 10:57
NDK-2 Brett Hextall (2-Slashing) 10:57
NDK-3 Matt Frattin (2-Holding) WIS 0x1 14:20
WIS-4 Ryan McDonagh (2-Interference) NDK 0x2 18:41
NDK-4 Ryan Duncan (2-Tripping) WIS 0x2 19:28

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WIS 1 - 1 6x6 Andy Bohmbach (10) (Ben Grotting, Craig Johnson) 3:37
WIS (+): 11,14,5,3,7,G35 NDK (-): 24,21,14,22,29,G31
WIS-5 Blake Geoffrion (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) NDK 0x3 4:31
WIS-6 Brendan Smith (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 6:16
NDK-5 Matt Frattin (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 6:16
WIS 2 - 1 6x6 GW LL Jordy Murray (7) (Michael Davies) 8:28
WIS (+): 18,9,19,21,7,G35 NDK (-): 16,17,6,25,26,G31
NDK-6 Darcy Zajac (2-Holding) WIS 0x3 8:41
WIS-7 Jake Gardiner (2-Hooking) NDK 0x4 11:16
WIS-8 Brendan Smith (2-Holding) NDK 0x5 15:29
NDK-7 Matt Frattin (2-Slashing) WIS 1x4 18:04
WIS 3 - 1 6x5 PP Brendan Smith (9) (Blake Geoffrion, Jamie McBain) 19:15
WIS: 7,5,2,9,21,G35 NDK: 6,25,22,17,G31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-8 Ben Blood (2-Interference) WIS 1x5 3:48
WIS-9 Blake Geoffrion (2-Hooking) NDK 0x6 4:08
WIS-10 Aaron Bendickson (2-Tripping) NDK 0x7 5:18
WIS-11 Patrick Johnson (2-Hooking) NDK 0x8 9:49
WIS-12 Cody Goloubef (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x9 12:30
NDK-9 Brad Miller (2-Hooking) WIS 1x6 14:27
NDK-10 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) WIS 2x7 15:20
Timeout - Wisconsin 15:20
WIS 4 - 1 6x5 PP Jordy Murray (8) (Andy Bohmbach, Brendan Smith) 17:04
WIS: 18,11,7,17,21,G35 NDK: 6,25,22,11,G31
WIS-13 Blake Geoffrion (2-Roughing) 18:38
WIS-14 Blake Geoffrion (2-Cross-Checking) 18:38
WIS-15 Blake Geoffrion (10-Misconduct) 18:38
NDK-11 Joe Finley (2-Roughing) 18:38
NDK-12 Joe Finley (2-Cross-Checking) 18:38
NDK-13 Joe Finley (10-Misconduct) 18:38

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DU 3 Wisconsin 0

It was a fitting end for the Wisconsin Badgers, this time the Denver Pioneers got sweet revenge on their hated rivals that had held a 11-0 record against them in the playoffs. The Pioneers returned the favor from last springs west regional in Madison Wisconsin. This time it was the Pioneers that ended the Wisconsin Badgers playoff hopes.

The score of today's game was 3-0. For the most part the Denver Pioneers kept the Badgers shots to the outside and didn't allow them space between the dots. This afternoon's game turned out to be a relatively uneventful game and the fans were given little cheer about. Wisconsin scored a goal with about two minutes left to go in the game but it was ruled that the puck was kicked in with a skate.

Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WIS-1 Andy Bohmbach (2-Slashing) DEN 0x1 11:07
DEN 1 - 0 6x6 GW LL Brian Gifford (4) (unassisted) 15:20
DEN (+): 22,8,27,11,7,G1 WIS (-): 12,17,18,10,27,G35
DEN-1 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Holding) WIS 0x1 15:34

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEN 2 - 0 6x6 Kyle Ostrow (14) (Luke Salazar, Patrick Mullen) 13:40
DEN (+): 19,18,7,12,6,G1 WIS (-): 16,2,24,19,14,G35
DEN-2 J.P. Testwuide (2-Holding) WIS 0x2 17:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WIS-2 Brendan Smith (2-Hooking) DEN 1x2 5:35
DEN 3 - 0 6x5 PP Patrick Wiercioch (12) (Patrick Mullen, Joe Colborne) 6:01
DEN: 28,7,12,9,16,G1 WIS: 5,18,17,27,G35
DEN-3 John Lee (2-Interference) WIS 0x3 9:11
DEN-4 Jesse Martin (2-Cross-Checking) WIS 0x4 18:07
WIS-3 Blake Geoffrion (2-Elbowing) 18:46
DEN-5 John Ryder (2-Slashing) WIS 0x5 19:27

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A couple of things (Dubay sighting)

***This is the most emotion you will probably see Coach Hakstol display. Props to Bob from BadgerSioux.

***Last night I ran into Jeff Dubay formally of P.A. and Dubay show and Jeff wanted me to relay to the Sioux fans that he was very gracious for how he was recieved in Grand Forks, ND during the Sioux and Gophers series. I told him that a quite a few of us just want to see him get well and turn his life around. Personally while I still listen to the P.A. show, it isn't the same without PUFFY.
I want to see Jeff turn it around and will be pulling for him.

Play-in Game (Sioux7)

Well, their you have it, the Bulldogs upset the Gophers in the first game of the final five. This will definitely help the Bulldogs with their chances of getting into the NCAA tourney next week. The Bulldogs took advantage of their scoring opportunities tonight to jump on top to 1-0 lead in the first, and then they extended their lead to 2-0 in the second period. The Gophers put a plethora of shots on UMD goalie Alex Stalock and were finally able to solve him in the 3rd period to cut the lead to 2-1, but they just couldn't get the equalizer. The UM had a chance in the first to even the game at one when they had a 5 on 3 power play for over a minute, but the Bulldogs stood their ground and killed it off.

The Bulldogs advance to play the Sioux tomorrow night at 7pm.

I and the Goon are off to get some food...

Sioux 3 Huskies 2 (three wins in a row)

The Sioux beat the Huskies 3-2. It would be interesting to see if the SCSU radio announcers are still excited about playing the Sioux after this game. Solid effort by the Sioux, Ryan Martens continues to play at a very high rate. Martens has 8 points in the last three games (4-4-8). That is three wins in a row for the Fighting Sioux. Brad Eidsness continues to play great in net; 8-5-1 Gaa 2.63 and a SV% of .913.

als Scoring/Penalties Time

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Tripping) STC 0x1 1:36
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Ryan Martens (6) (Darcy Zajac) 5:04
NDK (+): 8,11,6,20,25,G31 STC (-): 16,11,6,26,25,G33
STC-1 Chris Hepp (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x1 6:39
NDK-2 Matt Watkins (2-Holding) STC 0x2 10:17
STC 1 - 1 6x6 Jared Festler (6) (Sam Zabkowicz, Jordy Christian) 12:40
STC (+): 11,26,21,5,7,G33 NDK (-): 16,29,10,14,24,G31
NDK-3 Andrew Kozek (2-Boarding) STC 0x3 18:54

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-4 Matt Watkins (2-Interference) STC 0x4 5:13
STC-2 John Swanson (2-Interference) NDK 0x2 5:27

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STC-3 Nick Oslund (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) NDK 0x3 2:06
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 LL Ryan Martens (7) (Darcy Zajac) 5:25
NDK (+): 8,11,20,5,3,G31 STC (-): 25,5,13,3,19,G33
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 GW Mario Lamoureux (1) (Brett Hextall, Brad Malone) 12:35
NDK (+): 9,26,22,24,14,G31 STC (-): 6,17,25,26,12,G33
STC 2 - 3 6x6 EA Sam Zabkowicz (1) (Garrett Raboin) 19:59
STC (+): 3,6,11,7,12,16 NDK (-): 11,20,29,5,25,G31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

Falcons fall and so do their numbers.

I didn't think Air Force would go through the rest of their conference games without losing. This is why the RPI, PWR and KRACH don't mean much till after the first of the year and probably later into February and March. The Numbers change all of the time and mean little until you have played about 2/3 of your schedule. Even then the numbers can change drastically with a bad loss or a quality win. Losing to RIT would be considered a bad loss. Again nothing is won till ALL the game have been played out and the Brackets have been set. There is no award for winning the most games at the beginning of the season.

CHN: RIT forward Andrew Favot scored with 38 seconds left in overtime to lift RIT. Air Force suffered its first home loss and first conference loss of the season. The Falcons fell to 14-2 overall this season and 11-1 in the AHA. The win for RIT marked the highest ranked team the Tigers have ever defeated. The Falcons immediately dropped from No. 1 to No. 11 in KRACH, most likely a more reasonable assessment anyhow. “This was a gut-wrenching loss,” head coach Frank Serratore said. “The story of the game was our inability to score on the power play and our 5-on-3’s in the game. When you let a team hang around like we did, it is going to come back to haunt you. We played a lot better than we did last night, but our inability to convert on the power play cost us. The only thing you learn from losing is losing.”

Ben Scrivens is no sieve.

I hope the Sioux forwards were working on their passing and shooting drills this week in practice, because they are going to have their work cut out for them this weekend. Check this goalie that Cornell has. This doesn't bode well for the Sioux hockey team that is averaging under 2 goals per game. The Sioux forwards are going to have to get traffic in front of the net and get Scriven's feet moving and hope they can catch him out of position. If Scrivens sees the puck/shot he is going to stop it. Scrivens is also a big goalie at 180 lbs and is 6'2".

Their goalie? He’s also ranked No. 1 in the country in both major categories. Junior Ben Scrivens has a 0.81 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage.

Cornell perspective.

Here is a story from the Ithaca Journal. This is going to be a great series and there is something for the Sioux to play for this weekend. This is a must win series. Frankly, I can't wait till 7:37 pm tonight.

College hockey: Cornell enters national spotlight at North Dakota
ITHACA — One year ago, everyone in the Cornell hockey program circled Thanksgiving on their calendars. The Big Red took on Boston University in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden in a chance to make a statement while what seemed to be the entire college hockey world watched. But then the Terriers won a 6-3 game that wasn't even as close as the score indicated.

And while the Terriers aren't on the schedule until next year, Cornell (4-0-2) gets its crack at the national spotlight tonight and Saturday with games at perennial power North Dakota (4-7-1).

The games kick off a span of nine games in which all seven of the Big Red's non-conference contests are staged — and the opponents will never be confused with cupcakes.

The Fighting Sioux, although currently struggling, was the fifth-ranked team in the nation in preseason polls; St. Cloud State (Cornell's first-round opponent in the Florida College Hockey Classic) and Massachusetts are currently ranked and Niagara is the defending College Hockey America conference champion.

Links to Cornell Hockey.

Tim V from the Lynah hockey Forum was kind enough to post some required reading for the weekend non conference match up with the Cornell Big Red. (Thanks Tim)

Here is the hockey blog from the Ithaca Journal


There is the Cornell Daily Sun (Cornell Student Newspaper)

Here is the blog that was linked earlier today Cornell hockey in North Dakota.

Here is a really nice read that I found in the Cornell Sun.

It’s a North Dakota Holiday for Men’s Hockey
For the second year in a row, the men’s hockey team will spend its Thanksgiving break playing in one of the premier hockey facilities in the country. After suffering a 6-3 loss last year at the hands of Boston University at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden, a more experienced Red (4-0-2) is looking for a better result during this vacation — this year, Cornell will head to Grand Forks, N.D., to face North Dakota, a school which has made it to the Frozen Four in each of the last four years.

The Fighting Sioux’s Ralph Engelstad Arena, which opened in 2001, has a capacity of over 11,000 and will host a pair of games with the Red — the first on Friday at 8:30 p.m. (EST) and the second 8 p.m. (EST) the next day.

Currently in seventh place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, North Dakota has had a rocky going so far. The Fighting Sioux (4-7-1, 4-5-1 WCHA) started the season with three consecutive losses, including a season-opening defeat at then No. 9 Boston University, 5-1.