USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

[agfire]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

As the top ranked schools get most of the fodder (deservedly so) Is there any discussion as to the middle of the road to the bottom dwellers as it pertains to chances of moving up the polls? Seems as though there is usually one or two schools that are sleepers that ascend the ranks, maybe not top ten, but factor into the movement. Are there any schools out there that seem to be lurking that may make some solid upward movement? With all of the Coaching changes in the last year there could be some "non traditional" players.......thoughts?

[zoofer]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

First thing that comes to mind Agfire, for me is Merrimack.......I have no idea, at all what the team is like but I'll gladly bet on Erin Whitten and Kacey Bellamy! If anyone can create and forge a team in 2 years that makes a difference, they can!

[KTDC]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

agfire, I think Bemidji State is in this category. Maybe they are old news for this, but since 2000-01 season their wins per year were: 9-12-9-5-9-11-11-4-6-12-14-17-6-11 Clearly a bottom dweller to MOR team.
Under their new coach, Jim Scanlan, they posted 21 and 22 wins the last two seasons.

They lost their goal scorers and a major 'D' after last year. So this season will tell if they remain in rarified air or fall back down. Lots of difference of opinion on the board about whether they do or not. I think Scanlan will keep them up there.

[agfire]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

Good call on both Merrimack and Bemidji, I think SLU is going to be interesting this year as well. Obviously UMD isn't hiding from anyone this year.

[Timothy A]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

I don't buy UMD @ 3/4. They beat BC once and they go from unrated to top 4. Too reactive, there's no way they jump other solid eastern teams like Q and Cl.

[PuckRush]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

First thing that comes to mind Agfire, for me is Merrimack.......I have no idea, at all what the team is like but I'll gladly bet on Erin Whitten and Kacey Bellamy! If anyone can create and forge a team in 2 years that makes a difference, they can!

If Merrimack appears in the top 10, that will be quite an accomplishment. I would say it's a bit premature.

[PuckRush]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

Colgate had a great 15-16 campaign with a young team, and I think their results will improve. But your post does give me pause.

In reading all the viewpoints posted of the national top 10, I seem to be surprisingly hopeful! I know that most of you, if any, watched the 2 games between Colgate and UNH, but as I wrote in the UNH thread, they were much closer than anyone expected! Both games were close checking, fast paced affairs which really were not decided till half-way through the third, if that early! For those that don't know, UNH's class breakdown is Jonna Curtis the lone senior, followed by 7,7 and 8 freshman! So it is with great optimism in seeing most of you placing Colgate in the 4-7 position! This upcoming weekend will be a good tell for the Wildcats, as they take on Quinni and BU...... but given what the Brain Trust on this thread has said, I'm totally optimistic for this team! Thanks Guys.....

[pokechecker]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

Colgate had a great 15-16 campaign with a young team, and I think their results will improve. But your post does give me pause.

last year MN beat lowly MSU-Mankato 2-1, 3-2, and 2-1 and everybody said "what's wrong with the Gophers?
a win is a win, and winning close games is good for a team

blow outs do nothing except make stats look impressive

[Timothy A]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

blow outs do nothing except make stats look impressive

And make you hoarse and give you a sore arm from sieving all night. Love the blowouts!

[zoofer]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

I totally understand your misgivings PuckRush, as in both threads I'm reaching, but in the case of Merrimack, Agfire was asking for possible longshots that might have good years....whether they attain the top 10 nationally, I doubt it but I do feel that because of Erin and Kacey, the team has a leg up! As for my comments on Colgate/UNH, I wrote it because after watching the 2 games, how close they were, especially given UNH's youth, and then seeing how everyone kept ranking Colgate so high, it made me feel pretty good! All I'm saying is I'll be watching how UNH handles this weekend more closely now......in the end PuckRush, I'm just an old guy hoping that his friends and Alumni have a good and interesting year! I will say though that I do think UNH will get home ice in HockeyEast and then hopefully make some noise! I don't know enough about Merrimack's team......

[agfire]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

I don't think those scores were a fluke. I think JH is doing some great things at MSU and may become part of the conversation in the next couple of years!

last year MN beat lowly MSU-Mankato 2-1, 3-2, and 2-1 and everybody said "what's wrong with the Gophers?
a win is a win, and winning close games is good for a team

blow outs do nothing except make stats look impressive

[D2D]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

I don't buy UMD @ 3/4. They beat BC once and they go from unrated to top 4. Too reactive, there's no way they jump other solid eastern teams like Q and Cl.

I agree with this, having ranked them No. 5 in the poll here, just one ahead of BC. I see that the USCHO poll has the two reversed, with BC just ahead of UMD at 5/6, which I also question given the result this past weekend.

http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-womens-poll/

The first USA Today poll also has BC at No. 5, but they have UMD at No. 8 which IMO seems further off the mark.

http://www.uscho.com/rankings/usa-today-womens/

I guess we'll get a little better sense of where UMD belongs after they host Minnesota State this weekend.

[KTDC]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

I don't buy UMD @ 3/4. They beat BC once and they go from unrated to top 4. Too reactive, there's no way they jump other solid eastern teams like Q and Cl.

I agree with this, having ranked them No. 5 in the poll here, just one ahead of BC. I see that the USCHO poll has the two reversed, with BC just ahead of UMD at 5/6, which I also question given the result this past weekend.

The first USA Today poll also has BC at No. 5, but they have UMD at No. 8 which IMO seems further off the mark.

I guess we'll get a little better sense of where UMD belongs after they host Minnesota State this weekend.

I generally agree as well, it is difficult to believe UMD belongs that high! But after playing only two games, with a decisive win and a tie against BC it also was tough to not put them high in the ratings. (They also had a clear exhibition win against the Whitecaps which had an impressive roster despite the changes from the night before.)

I also need a lot more evidence before I'm convinced BC won't be good. To me, Katie King-Crowley is the premier recruiter out east. I think they need some games to get themselves together but will be a good to very good team by the end of the season.

[Rightnut]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

I generally agree as well, it is difficult to believe UMD belongs that high! But after playing only two games, with a decisive win and a tie against BC it also was tough to not put them high in the ratings. (They also had a clear exhibition win against the Whitecaps which had an impressive roster despite the changes from the night before.)

I also need a lot more evidence before I'm convinced BC won't be good. To me, Katie King-Crowley is the premier recruiter out east. I think they need some games to get themselves together but will be a good to very good team by the end of the season.

I'm not sure she is such a great recruiter as much as the school recruits itself and players simply want to go there for a variety of reasons including that its a strong team, great city and great education (and scholarship school). I haven't seen much evidence that she herself is a premier recruiter.

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: USCHO Poster's Poll: '16-'17

I'm not sure she is such a great recruiter as much as the school recruits itself and players simply want to go there for a variety of reasons including that its a strong team, great city and great education (and scholarship school). I haven't seen much evidence that she herself is a premier recruiter.

Oh, come on. Look, I know Kinger takes a lot of flak here, but what else could she possibly do to persuade you she's not a premier recruiter?

Why do you think it's "a strong team"?