WCHA Week.....

[binnyrus]

All of their resources including the fact that they have to walk from their locker room, across mats outdoors, and then into their rink. It's a great big ten school but their facilities leave a lot to be desired. OSU is a tough team to play against, their record doesn't really represent how good they are. If they could get some solid goaltending they'd be doing much much better.

I didn't realize that about the facilities!!! That's really a shame . . . I thought some of that had been resolved . . .

April Stojak! She was a better than average netminder . . . as I recall. (Of course, age may be taking it's toll there too!! ;) )

I guess I'm just surprised they haven't been able to string together a couple of really solid seasons. . . or maybe it has more to do with playing in the WCHA where all of the NCAA champs have resided. Still, a foot up in the WCHA is a foot up nationwide . . .

[ARM]

It's a great big ten school but their facilities leave a lot to be desired. OSU is a tough team to play against, their record doesn't really represent how good they are. If they could get some solid goaltending they'd be doing much much better.There are probably a bunch of different factors at play. Yes, they could use better goaltending, but is tough for either goalie to build confidence when they aren't getting much help. E.g., the first goal Saturday, where McKenzie is allowed to walk out of the corner with the puck while Ross stands alone in front of the goalie. The Buckeyes have a lot of offensive punch on their blue line, but at times, the D didn't seem that interested in playing D. If they played all of the time like they played in the 3rd period on Saturday, I'd suspect that their record would look better.

Also, I wonder how much travel hurts them. They must fly more miles each season than any other team in women's hockey.

[binnyrus]

Also, I wonder how much travel hurts them. They must fly more miles each season than any other team in women's hockey.

That's a really, really good point. I can't imagine what it's like to do all that travelling. Maybe another good reason to joing the CHA - or other centrally located league?

[pgb-ohio]

I'll file the last several posts under the category of understandable perception. Still, much of it is at least partially off the mark. Quick responses to several items:

1. Our facilities aren't a selling point, nor are they a drawback. Post-renovations, the OSU Ice Rink is adequate at this point in time. The ice is good. The number of seats is appropriate. The typical crowd provides a good atmosphere; but we aren't turning fans away. Add the pep band, and the atmosphere is excellent.

2. The walk from the locker room is unusual, but not a hardship. The set-up allows the team to have a much nicer locker room (in St. John Arena) than would otherwise be the case. Outdoors? Yes, under a covered breezeway for maybe 15 feet. The number of steps from the locker room to the ice sheet is no greater than average. Fans line up along the rope to encourage the team as it returns to the ice. It's actually kind of a neat ritual. Different isn't always wrong.

3. We have a fine coaching staff. This is a non-issue.

4. We've had good goaltending. Olympic stars, no. But solid nevertheless.

5. The travel issue is relevant. Within this group of 8 schools, geographical factors make OSU a somewhat more difficult road opponent than would otherwise be the case, and perhaps a slightly easier home opponent than would otherwise be the case.

At a more basic level, I think the wrong question is being asked. The core issue is why can't the five of us (OSU, MSU, SCSU, BSU & UND) crack the top three? The answers will vary from school to school. Each has advantages and disadvantages. I can comment further on OSU's situation if that's of interest. But the reality is that this group of schools have put fine teams on the ice, and have been quite successful in non-conference play. OK, UND has taken its lumps, but that's primarily because they joined the party a bit late. They'll continue to improve.

Over the history of the league, we've generally had a leg up on the rest of the group, typically finishing 4th. This year St. Cloud *probably* will grab that spot. But note how competitive our regular season series with the Huskies was. With a well-timed goal or two, we'd have the inside track for the 4th spot.

Bottom Line: IMHO, OSU's season is best understood as part of the long-term pattern. Missing out on home ice for the playoffs is a disappointment for us, but it doesn't reflect a dramatic change in the pecking order. Changing the pecking order itself is the challenge. But that's a challenge faced by five schools, not just OSU.

[brookyone]

http://wcha.cstv.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/021208aaa.html

[nvrpld]

Just a quick note on the earlier posts on officials: IMO the consistency in WCHA womens hockey is pretty bad game to game period to period...the past two weekends both Ludwig at MSU and Mendal at No Dak were as inconsistent as I have seen (note although a Huskie backer they were terrible both ways ) note to Boomer .. the pretenders not contenders comment may be used for WCHA officials... :)

[The Boomer]

Just a quick note on the earlier posts on officials: IMO the consistency in WCHA womens hockey is pretty bad game to game period to period...the past two weekends both Ludwig at MSU and Mendal at No Dak were as inconsistent as I have seen (note although a Huskie backer they were terrible both ways ) note to Boomer .. the pretenders not contenders comment may be used for WCHA officials... :)

Yeah, that's it! That's what I reallly meant . . .;)

[CrazyDave]

So here's the Friday night/Saturday morning ;) update.

Wisconsin 4, Bemidji State 0 at Madison.
Minnesota 4, St. Cloud St. 2 at St. Cloud.
Ohio State 3, Minnesota St. 2 at Columbus.

Minnesota trims idle UMD's lead to 3 points in the standings, while maintaining a 3-point lead over Wisconsin. St. Cloud St. remains in fourth, and now cannot be caught by Minnesota State. OSU and MN State are now tied for 5th, and despite tonight's loss the Mavericks still hold both tiebreakers (conference wins and head-to-head wins) over the Buckeyes going into tomorrow night. North Dakota will finish seventh, and Bemidji State eighth.

All this, of course, is barring anything self-imposed by UMD. Check out the UMD thread for all the discussion about that.

[The Boomer]

Good news for SCSU fans=home ice for the first round of playoffs.

Second, the Huskies seemed to play better in this game than they have in the past few weeks. Total shots were about even, and the Huskies had the better scoring chances in the first period.

Then Marvin and Co. took the play to St. Cloud. Kendall Newell had to be sharp on several occasions and played well despite giving up four goals.

I'll give referee Ludwig credit--he kept the marbles even through the course of the game.:confused: Unfortunately, lots of non-calls on both sides, then penalties on the next play that were "iffy" at best. By the third period, neither team had a clue what, if anything, would be called.

Then the play at the end of the game. Empty net for the Huskies, Bobbi Ross attempting the empty net goal, and a check behind the play on Rachel Drazan. A scary moment for all spectators as Drazan caught a stick (from reports from a SCSU fan closer to the infraction) in the neck. As others have mentioned, I did not see the hit, either. It seems that Ludwig did get this call right--5 minute major and a DQ.

Hopefully, officials will look at the video and decide if more than a one game suspension is warranted. I hate when a team is obviously going to lose the game, and a "frustration" penalty is committed. With a minute left to play.

Megan McCarthy was the penalized player. In the two years I have watched her play hockey, there have been NO like or similar actions. Watching her in the penalty box while Drazan was down, she may have been the most horrified and scared person in the building. Lets hope both teams just focus on hockey tonight.

[CrazyDave]

Hopefully, officials will look at the video and decide if more than a one game suspension is warranted.

Given that Drazen didn't miss a game, I doubt McCarthy's suspension will be extended, but I had the same thought.

Here are the WCHA updates for Saturday night:

From Minneapolis: Minnesota 5, SCSU 2
From Madison: Wisconsin 3, Bemidji St. 0
From Columbus: Ohio State 4, Minnesota State 0

So at the top, it's UMD by one point over Minnesota and four points over Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Ohio State moves into sole possession of fifth place with a two-point lead over the Mavericks.

Minnesota can clinch at least second place with a tie or win against the Badgers next weekend, but they need help from St. Cloud St. to catch the Bulldogs (at least a tie). Wisconsin has a lock on third and can move to second with a sweep of Minnesota, but would need an SCSU sweep of UMD as well to reach first. St. Cloud St., UND, and BSU have locked their spots (4th, 7th, and 8th, respectively).

OSU plays Bemidji next weekend -- we'll keep an eye on it, but more than likely the Buckeyes will be 5th and travelling to St. Cloud to open the playoffs.

Just a hypothetical for the OSU and MN State situation... what would happen of OSU loses twice and MN State ties North Dakota twice? Records would be the same, including the same number of conference wins, and the head-to-head would be 2 apiece. Is goal differential the third tiebreaker?

[pgb-ohio]

Just a hypothetical for the OSU and MN State situation... what would happen of OSU loses twice and MN State ties North Dakota twice? Records would be the same, including the same number of conference wins, and the head-to-head would be 2 apiece. Is goal differential the third tiebreaker?It's actually defined as lowest goals against in the 4 game series. Doing the addition, it looks like the Mavs have the tiebreaker, with 12 goals against -- as opposed to 13 against the Buckeyes.:eek:

As I know you realize, this exact scenario is unlikely to come into play. But wow. It just goes to show you how incredibly close the competition was this year between the Buckeyes, Huskies and Mavericks.

From a Buckeye point of view, the key is to finishing 5th is take at least three of the four points next weekend. That way, there's no tie to break, regardless of the results from Mankato...

[brookyone]

http://wcha.cstv.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/021708aaa.html

[brookyone]

http://wcha.cstv.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/022008aaa.html

[binnyrus]

As a fan of the WCHA, I just have say . . . does anyone besides me sense an 8th consecutive NCAA title coming our way???

[brookyone]

As a fan of the WCHA, I just have say . . . does anyone besides me sense an 8th consecutive NCAA title coming our way???
I'd certainly like to think so, but honestly, I'd have to say I'm a little less confident than at anytime in the past. If I'm betting...right now I think UNH & Harvard are FF teams...actually thought so prior to the season. I do feel strongly that the top three WCHA teams are completely capable of taking the hardware.

[CrazyDave]

So Ohio State solidified their hold on fifth place with tonight's win. They only need a tie or win tomorrow or an MSU tie or loss to book their trip to St. Cloud to open the playoffs.

But watch for some harsh words from the league office for Minnesota State and North Dakota. The two got into two battles that led to 140 total penalty minutes, including 4 major-game misconducts. The first time, all 10 forwards and D on the ice received at least two minutes. The second time, the four misconducts were issued, and the 6 that didn't get the gate did get double-minors; the MSU goaltender (Kehler) got a minor as well. Minnesota State won the game, but we'll see what the price is.

[brookyone]

So Ohio State solidified their hold on fifth place with tonight's win. They only need a tie or win tomorrow or an MSU tie or loss to book their trip to St. Cloud to open the playoffs.

But watch for some harsh words from the league office for Minnesota State and North Dakota. The two got into two battles that led to 140 total penalty minutes, including 4 major-game misconducts. The first time, all 10 forwards and D on the ice received at least two minutes. The second time, the four misconducts were issued, and the 6 that didn't get the gate did get double-minors; the MSU goaltender (Kehler) got a minor as well. Minnesota State won the game, but we'll see what the price is.
Holy $&#! :eek:

http://www.collegehockeystats.net/0708/boxes/wmnsndk1.f22

[CrazyDave]

I'm wondering if there's an unwritten rule that women's hockey refs can't call a fighting major, which would include a game DQ and a 1-game suspension. We saw last weekend that the game DQ can be called as part of another penalty (following that wicked cross-check on Rachael Drazen). But after looking at that MSU-UND box score, I was actually surprised that no DQs were handed out.

And guess who the ref was... Yup, Leah Wrazidlo. :rolleyes:

[taz91]

So Ohio State solidified their hold on fifth place with tonight's win. They only need a tie or win tomorrow or an MSU tie or loss to book their trip to St. Cloud to open the playoffs.

But watch for some harsh words from the league office for Minnesota State and North Dakota. The two got into two battles that led to 140 total penalty minutes, including 4 major-game misconducts. The first time, all 10 forwards and D on the ice received at least two minutes. The second time, the four misconducts were issued, and the 6 that didn't get the gate did get double-minors; the MSU goaltender (Kehler) got a minor as well. Minnesota State won the game, but we'll see what the price is.
Based on what the WCHA did with some North Dakota players after the Gopher men's series, the league office will do zip. They won't want to deal with the paperwork. Based on track record, I wouldn't count on Wrazidlo calling much tomorrow night.

[taz91]

I'm wondering if there's an unwritten rule that women's hockey refs can't call a fighting major, which would include a game DQ and a 1-game suspension. We saw last weekend that the game DQ can be called as part of another penalty (following that wicked cross-check on Rachael Drazen). But after looking at that MSU-UND box score, I was actually surprised that no DQs were handed out.

And guess who the ref was... Yup, Leah Wrazidlo. :rolleyes:Don't know if you caught it or not, but MSU was nailed with an extra minor in both incidents. Don't want to venture a guess as to what happened in either situation but most like the ref was letting too much go and tried making up for it later. We've all seen enough hockey to know that always works well.