The last wcha champ!!!!!!

[Dirty]

1. Minnesota
2-11. Don't care, doesn't matter.
12. UAA, because they really suck.

It will be nothing to be proud of though when Minnesota wins it with non-Minnesotans on the team.

[Brenthoven]

It will be nothing to be proud of though when Minnesota wins it with non-Minnesotans on the team.

You're talking to the wrong person there. I don't care who we have. We're going to win it.

[SCSU Euro]

I don't know why everyone's so high on Wisconsin, and if Schultz leaves I can't see them getting home ice let alone an NCAA bid

[Tipsy McStagger]

Not sure why people are high on Wisconsin and Omaha. Neither of them are going to get home-ice next year.

[seawolffan]

Adding to that, I'm not sure why everyone is picking UAA to finish last this year. Yes, they were bad, but they had a bunch of freshmen last year. They've got nowhere to go but up.

[SCSU Euro]

Adding to that, I'm not sure why everyone is picking UAA to finish last this year. Yes, they were bad, but they had a bunch of freshmen last year. They've got nowhere to go but up.

Mankato's most talented players were young, and they have a good class coming in, new coach, and they were DECIMATED with injuries. Wisconsin was real young especially with freshmen goalies. The only bottom team I could see taking a step back is Bemidji but Walsh was good in net and I think they were SO much better than UAA that I still think they won't fall that far.

Anchorage was THAT bad, but I guess my question is who do you see them finishing ahead of?

[seawolffan]

They could finish ahead of Bemidji and possibly Mankato, but that's unlikely. I see them finishing 10th or 11th.

The team showed some promise by knocking off top teams such as UMD and holding a 3-1 lead at one point in game two in the UAA-UM series, but they need to be more consistent. I lost track of how many leads the Seawolves blew over the course of the season.

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Adding to that, I'm not sure why everyone is picking UAA to finish last this year. Yes, they were bad, but they had a bunch of freshmen last year. They've got nowhere to go but up.

seawolffan - Don't worry about placing last until Tech fans start predicting it. Only the fans of Michigan Tech have the necessary understanding of what it takes to finish 10th of 10 or 12th of 12 due to our vast experiance in this area of the standings during recent years. Those who typically finish in the top half of the league don't have the first hand knowledge to accurately predict the lower bracket placings. You can disregard their predictions. You heard it here first - UAA is not finishing 12th next season. I will not predict exactly where because we are too busy trying to figure out what it takes to finish 4th through 6th for a change.
Ryan J

[seawolffan]

seawolffan - Don't worry about placing last until Tech fans start predicting it. Only the fans of Michigan Tech have the necessary understanding of what it takes to finish 10th of 10 or 12th of 12 due to our vast experiance in this area of the standings during recent years. Those who typically finish in the top half of the league don't have the first hand knowledge to accurately predict the lower bracket placings. You can disregard their predictions. You heard it here first - UAA is not finishing 12th next season. I will not predict exactly where because we are too busy trying to figure out what it takes to finish 4th through 6th for a change.
Ryan J

Exactly. I didn't watch every game, but I liked what I saw from several of the freshman (especially Coldwell). The team was great at the start of the season in the two Alaska tournaments, going 3-0-1 with wins against Mercyhurst, SCSU, and UNO, as well as a tie against Clarkson. This team has the potential to be good, but I think after last year, there's low expectations everywhere.

[Biddco]

I just don't know who will be worse than UAA. Msu will be better with the new coach and BSU works too hard to place last.

[JohnsonsJerseys]

I guess you haven't heard - UAH has been admitted as an associate member on the condition that they finish 13th so that whoever finishes 12th won't have to be last in the league standings.
Ryan J

[PhatKroger10]

Much, much too early. If everything stays the way it is (which it will not):

1. Minnesota (No matter what, if Bjugstad stays, they're #1)
2. North Dakota (Goalie will be a strength whether Dell, Saunders or Gothberg)
3. UNO (I think they'll surprise, White needs to stay)
4. St. Cloud State (Hanowski NEEDS to stay, I liked Faragher, I think he competes for WCHA GoY)
5. Denver (Will have year similar to UND this year, get hot late, fantastic goalies)
6. Wisconsin (I think they'll surprise, they just need SOME road success)
7. Michigan Tech (Tech could compete for home ice, they're young and had a good year)
8. Collorado College (Rylan Schwartz is good, so is Thorimbert, the rest of the team is not)
9. Minnesota-Duluth (Going to have to rely on no-names, maybe a guy like DeLisle steps in?)
10. Minnesota State Mankato (They have young good forwards, but they're Mankato.. Mankato sucks)
11. Alaska-Anchorage (Maybe someone will decide to score goals..)
12. Bemidji State (George is very good, but who gives a sh*t)

In all fairness, I wouldn't separate 3 to 10 by more than 8 points or so. I could realistically see 3-10 flip flopped and I wouldn't be surprised.

Broadmoor goes to Denver, they have good goalies and their program is too good to have a rebuilding year.

[MavsFan]

...they're Mankato.. Mankato sucks)

Brilliant in-depth analysis. Great hockey mind.

[PhatKroger10]

Brilliant in-depth analysis. Great hockey mind.

I was being brief and humorous. Mankato won't be bad by any standards, but (what is currently) the WCHA, is too good for them to compete. Lafontaine and Lehtner were good, but they will not have a competent goaltender (again) and will continue to have atrocious defense. They'll be a one line team who will be close in a lot of games, but I couldn't see them much higher than 7th. There most significant win last year was at home over Wisconsin. With a new coach I can't imagine their progress will be anymore significant than other WCHA teams. However, I'm sure many said that of MTU last year and they certainly surprised us all.

While I think they will be a nonfactor next year, I think they deserve serious consideration to win/compete for the title in the 2013-2014 WCHA.

[scsutommyboy]

I was being brief and humorous. Mankato won't be bad by any standards, but (what is currently) the WCHA, is too good for them to compete. Lafontaine and Lehtner were good, but they will not have a competent goaltender (again) and will continue to have atrocious defense. They'll be a one line team who will be close in a lot of games, but I couldn't see them much higher than 7th. There most significant win last year was at home over Wisconsin. With a new coach I can't imagine their progress will be anymore significant than other WCHA teams. However, I'm sure many said that of MTU last year and they certainly surprised us all.

While I think they will be a nonfactor next year, I think they deserve serious consideration to win/compete for the title in the 2013-2014 WCHA.

Hastings is very defensive minded. I have a feeling as long as the players by in to the system they will be much better defensively. Will that be good enough for home ice? Not sure but that 6-8 range seems about right for them.

[uaafanblog]

Hastings is very defensive minded.

When he was in charge at UNO it seemed to me that the lunatics ran the asylum and he let it happen. I would be pretty skeptical if he was going to be the next head coach of any hockey team for whom I cheer.

[SCSU Euro]

Hastings is very defensive minded. I have a feeling as long as the players by in to the system they will be much better defensively. Will that be good enough for home ice? Not sure but that 6-8 range seems about right for them.

It they could finish 6-8, then name 4-6 teams they will/should finish ahead of?

[Jimjamesak]

Mankato's most talented players were young, and they have a good class coming in, new coach, and they were DECIMATED with injuries. Wisconsin was real young especially with freshmen goalies. The only bottom team I could see taking a step back is Bemidji but Walsh was good in net and I think they were SO much better than UAA that I still think they won't fall that far.

Anchorage was THAT bad, but I guess my question is who do you see them finishing ahead of?

UAA also dealt with injuries a lot last year, I don't think we played a consistent lineup all year, especially on defense.

Everybody nearly always picks UAA last every year. I stopped caring about 2000-2001, it means nothing.

[ScoobyDoo]

UAA also dealt with injuries a lot last year, I don't think we played a consistent lineup all year, especially on defense.

Everybody nearly always picks UAA last every year. I stopped caring about 2000-2001, it means nothing.

I usually like to pick them as an up and comer. Something always happens though. The new WCHA set up after next year is going to be interesting for everyone.

[Jimjamesak]

I usually like to pick them as an up and comer. Something always happens though. The new WCHA set up after next year is going to be interesting for everyone.

With UAA's youth they are primed in my mind to make a run in the new WCHA. Honestly at this point it's about having some on-ice leadership. 2 years ago Parkinson and Grant ran that team and last year we basically had nobody and ran into the ground.