Midwest Regional, Miami vs. Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State vs. Michigan

[RedhawkBandMan]

If anyone in the Columbus area needs a place to watch the ESPNU games (Miami/UAH on Saturday and the championship game), there will be a game watch at Fado Irish Pub in Easton Town Center. Details are on a Facebook event here.

[MUhawks628]

Not saying that Victors doesn't do the job for your band and fans. It undoubtedly does. But certainly gets boring for the opposing fans when there's nothing on the ice worth watching.

Just be glad that USC does not have an ice hockey program, because that would mean their band would be there, and nothing can top the ******ness and sheer annoyance that is the USC Spirit of Troy (yeah, the spirit of ****ing Troy) band.

Personally I find the Victors pretty catchy, thank god for alternative lyrics so I can redeem myself when I accidentally say a "Hail" out loud

[RedhawkBandMan]

Personally I find Victors pretty catchy, thank god for alternative lyrics so I can redeem myself when I accidentally say a "Hail" out loud

That's the problem! I believe it was Sousa himself that said it was the best collegiate fight song ever composed. If it weren't for those alternative lyrics, I'd be in big trouble!

And, alfablue, I'm just trying to have some fun. You gotta give me credit for trying to make light of last Friday's game, considering it was the most painful one I've had to watch as a Miami fan all season! I truly did enjoy hearing the UM band because they're really good and, as a former band geek, I always appreciate a good band. I can only wish schools like Miami had the ability to fund their bands half as well as Big10 teams can.

Now as you've said, it's time to talk some hockey! I can only imagine that after the disappointment of this past weekend, we will see a reinvigorated Miami squad on Saturday. If we can get past the Chargers, hopefully they can build some serious momentum going into the Sunday game. Regardless of who we would end up playing in that case, I can't imagine Miami stumbling through another painful performance like we saw at the Joe. I would definitely anticipate a hard-fought and close game, regardless of the ultimate outcome. I also imagine we'll be seeing Connor Knapp between the pipes on Saturday...

[wooderson]

That's the problem! I believe it was Sousa himself that said it was the best collegiate fight song ever composed. If it weren't for those alternative lyrics, I'd be in big trouble!

And, alfablue, I'm just trying to have some fun. You gotta give me credit for trying to make light of last Friday's game, considering it was the most painful one I've had to watch as a Miami fan all season! I truly did enjoy hearing the UM band because they're really good and, as a former band geek, I always appreciate a good band. I can only wish schools like Miami had the ability to fund their bands half as well as Big10 teams can.

Now as you've said, it's time to talk some hockey! I can only imagine that after the disappointment of this past weekend, we will see a reinvigorated Miami squad on Saturday. If we can get past the Chargers, hopefully they can build some serious momentum going into the Sunday game. Regardless of who we would end up playing in that case, I can't imagine Miami stumbling through another painful performance like we saw at the Joe. I would definitely anticipate a hard-fought and close game, regardless of the ultimate outcome. I also imagine we'll be seeing Connor Knapp between the pipes on Saturday...

Is that the word on the street in Oxford....Knapp over Reichard? I asked this back on like page 2 but I never got a response, glad we're actually talking some hockey now.

As far as Michigan's chances this weekend I think the way the games are called will be crucial. Even though our power-play was good against NMU, I still think the more time Michigan spends on even-strength the better. As awesome as Hunwick has played so far, he's still 5' 6'' so if opposing teams get the chance to set up in front of him bad things will happen. Bemidji fans, how physical do you guys play? Based on what I read it seems like they are a bit more of a finesse team, which would be a good match-up for Michigan I think. But I'd like to hear some opinions from Bemidji fans.

[streaker]

Probably don't need to tell you all that our team is finally playing as we expected- streaker can supply the stats, but Loiue is scoring in bunches, once again, so our second line is quite strong. And the first line of Rust, Hagelin, and Lynch is doing their part- Hagelin has scored in 14 of the last 15??? Is that right?

Stats, did you say stats?

Michigan is 8-2 in their last 10 games and have scored 28 goals in the 6 playoff games.

Michigan has scored first in 8 straight games and holds a 22-4 record when doing so, including an 18-1 mark when leading after one period.

Caporusso is now 20-21-41 just off his 24 goal pace last season.
Hagelin is leading the team with 17-30-47 and has a point in 16 of the past 17 games.
Rust is 13-25-38 and has a point in 12 of the past 17 games. CCHA All-Rookie Chris Brown is 13-14-27.

Kampfer leads the defense with 3-19-22 and is a +13 in the playoffs.

I also want to add that Tristin Llewellyn scored this weekend and only took one penalty.

[MUhawks628]

Is that the word on the street in Oxford....Knapp over Reichard? I asked this back on like page 2 but I never got a response, glad we're actually talking some hockey now.

I think that is what everyone is expecting. Cody has looked uncomfortable in net for the last few weeks, as we are fortunate enough to have two #1 goalkeepers I think you just have to make the switch to Connor regardless of how great Cody has been all year. Its not a bad situation to be in, but has definitely thrown some of us for a loop.

Knapp got the nod against Ferris, but so did 3 of our usual healthy scratches so who knows.

[wolverineTrumpet]

As far as Michigan's chances this weekend I think the way the games are called will be crucial...

What officials does the CHA use?

I originally thought given the location and the teams involved we'd probably have WCHA officials this weekend...but now I remember the games I went to at Bemidji had WCHA officials. I know the NCAA tournament they use officials from conferences other than the teams competing.

Might we still get WCHA officials? If so, I've noticed they tend to allow play to be a bit more physical (except the last 10 minutes of the game at Camp Randall wT, bitter? maybe)

I also want to add that Tristin Llewellyn scored this weekend and only took one penalty.

Only one penalty? Color me impressed.

[gfmorris]

What officials does the CHA use?

I originally thought given the location and the teams involved we'd probably have WCHA officials this weekend...but now I remember the games I went to at Bemidji had WCHA officials. I know the NCAA tournament they use officials from conferences other than the teams competing.

I don't know how the other schools do it, but in Huntsville, the linesmen are local refs and we usually have CCHA referees. I expect that what we're getting are CCHA AR's looking to become full refs, but I don't remember enough names to know. [Can look at our boxes to tell you.]

I think the other member schools were the same way. I figure BSU had WCHA refs, RMU had CCHA refs, and NU had ECAC refs.

GFM

[streaker]

What officials does the CHA use?

I originally thought given the location and the teams involved we'd probably have WCHA officials this weekend...but now I remember the games I went to at Bemidji had WCHA officials. I know the NCAA tournament they use officials from conferences other than the teams competing.

Might we still get WCHA officials? If so, I've noticed they tend to allow play to be a bit more physical (except the last 10 minutes of the game at Camp Randall wT, bitter? maybe)



Only one penalty? Color me impressed.

Considering that the Beavers are now part of the WCHA, the NCAA may re-think sending WCHA refs to do their game(s). I'm sure Chris Summers wouldn't mind that.

[MUhawks628]

Only one penalty? Color me impressed.

McKenzie only had one penalty too! But no points...and oh yeah...we sucked.

Curtis McKenzie, F, Fr 39 5 18 23 0.5897 86 1

[beaverhockeyfan]

Bemidji is not afraid to bang with teams if needed. They like to get up and down the ice and forecheck very aggressively. But with that said, they don't get caught very often in odd man rushes. Once in the offensive zone, they like to get it down low and cycle and get teams out of position. But with that said, they don't get caught very often in odd man rushes. They roll all four lines and try to keep eveyone fresh. It was kind of funny this year when they played UMD in Duluth, BSU started gaining momentum and Duluth shortened the bench while Bemidji kept rolling all four lines. BSU ties the game up with two seconds left and wins 30+ seconds into overtime.

Matt Read (junior), Jordan George (freshman) and Brad Hunt (sophomore) are the standouts, but this team plays very well as a team. The line of Read, George and Ian Lowe is the high scoring line, but all lines have chipped in this year, and that has really helped with the success of the team. Dan Bakala has filled in nicely in net, starting his sophomore season with nothing but three exhibition games under his belt. Not a flashy goalie, but controls the rebounds well and is sound positionally Freshman Mattheiu Dugas has been able to hold the fort nicely when called upon in relief.

The team went 9-5-2 outside of the CHA, but 11 of those games were on the road and went 3-2-0 in their non-conference home games. So road games don't seem to scare the team at all.

The last two + years, they have played a more aggressive and fast paced hockey style. People still brand them as a defensive or trapping team since they tend to play very tight defensively.

Bemidji uses WCHA refs for their home games. Niagara and Robert Morris used Atlantic Hockey refs (per their agreement with going to AHA next season), and I am not sure what UAH has used, but I think they usually got ECAC or CCHA refs.

Hope that helps! I better get back to work......

[gfmorris]

Bemidji is not afraid to bang with teams if needed. They like to get up and down the ice and forecheck very aggressively. But with that said, they don't get caught very often in odd man rushes. Once in the offensive zone, they like to get it down low and cycle and get teams out of position. But with that said, they don't get caught very often in odd man rushes. They roll all four lines and try to keep eveyone fresh. It was kind of funny this year when they played UMD in Duluth, BSU started gaining momentum and Duluth shortened the bench while Bemidji kept rolling all four lines. BSU ties the game up with two seconds left and wins 30+ seconds into overtime.

Matt Read (junior), Jordan George (freshman) and Brad Hunt (sophomore) are the standouts, but this team plays very well as a team. The line of Read, George and Ian Lowe is the high scoring line, but all lines have chipped in this year, and that has really helped with the success of the team. Dan Bakala has filled in nicely in net, starting his sophomore season with nothing but three exhibition games under his belt. Not a flashy goalie, but controls the rebounds well and is sound positionally Freshman Mattheiu Dugas has been able to hold the fort nicely when called upon in relief.

The team went 9-5-2 outside of the CHA, but 11 of those games were on the road and went 3-2-0 in their non-conference home games. So road games don't seem to scare the team at all.

The last two + years, they have played a more aggressive and fast paced hockey style. People still brand them as a defensive or trapping team since they tend to play very tight defensively.

Millsy nailed the scouting report on Bemidji quite well. I'm getting tired of losing close games to Bemidji at home [three overtime games, one tie, three one-goal losses]. They kill us at their barn, so I wonder what would happen on neutral ice. Thought I'd find out in the CHA tournament, then Niagara knocked them off.

UAH isn't, as some might argue, "Talbot and Train and Pray for Rain". Talbot is obviously our key defensively, although the boys typically pack it in and play good defense in front of him. We're usually out-shot and can handle that.

Offensively, our weapons are typically underclassmen, including freshmen centers Matti Jarvinen and Justin Cseter and winger Keenan Desmet. Andrew Coburn moved from wing to center and has been a solid contributor this year. Cody Campbell is dangerous on the power play.

Essentially, UAH plays the game that the Beavers did about three years ago. Our guys love to hit people---sometimes a little too much, as they get out of position. UAH is playing their best when they're hitting well, blocking shots, and forcing turnovers.

GFM

[houseote]

We rode Talbot hard the last time he played in Bemidji!! They pulled him in the beginning of the second during a game and then he had to come back on in the third.... I guarantee you they can hear you on the ice in our barn, as many of our players stated over the years.

One year during the Div. II Nat'l Championship tourney, we bagged on Puppa so badly he took off his glove and flipped us off!! LOL!! I miss those days... The Swingers were awful to opposing goalies... Of course it didn't hurt to have drunken college buddies to help out with the cheers and jeers...

Didn't UAH have a goalie from Quebec in the mid 90's? We learned french taunts and hollered them at a teams goalie a few times. That worked really well too....

I think Mills forgot about Ian Lowe, he's a threat as of late.

[mmb5]

What officials does the CHA use?

I originally thought given the location and the teams involved we'd probably have WCHA officials this weekend...but now I remember the games I went to at Bemidji had WCHA officials. I know the NCAA tournament they use officials from conferences other than the teams competing.

Might we still get WCHA officials? If so, I've noticed they tend to allow play to be a bit more physical (except the last 10 minutes of the game at Camp Randall wT, bitter? maybe)



Only one penalty? Color me impressed.

It has to be Eastern officials. Can't be CCHA because three of the four teams use CCHA officials. WCHA is unlikely because Bemidji uses them in the regular season, and why bring a set of officials that could only be used in potentially one game.

[tnlong]

It has to be Eastern officials. Can't be CCHA because three of the four teams use CCHA officials. WCHA is unlikely because Bemidji uses them in the regular season, and why bring a set of officials that could only be used in potentially one game.

UAH mostly used WCHA ref's in the early years of the CHA. They allowed the style of play I most enjoy watching. Then UAH moved to mostly using ECAC ref's. Their tendency to try to call the slightest of infractions led to stagnant play that was frustrating to watch and filled with many "phantom" calls that were based on what they thought had happened rather than what they had actually seen (or had not seen). The CCHA officials who have been mostly used by UAH over the past several years have been a good compromise and have exhibited a fairly good level of competence. While I know HE officials have done some UAH games, I haven't noticed their work enough to make any comments. If "it has to be Eastern officials", I sure hope it's not the typical ECAC officials that I remember.

[gfmorris]

We rode Talbot hard the last time he played in Bemidji!! They pulled him in the beginning of the second during a game and then he had to come back on in the third.... I guarantee you they can hear you on the ice in our barn, as many of our players stated over the years.

One year during the Div. II Nat'l Championship tourney, we bagged on Puppa so badly he took off his glove and flipped us off!! LOL!! I miss those days... The Swingers were awful to opposing goalies... Of course it didn't hurt to have drunken college buddies to help out with the cheers and jeers...

Didn't UAH have a goalie from Quebec in the mid 90's? We learned french taunts and hollered them at a teams goalie a few times. That worked really well too....

I think Mills forgot about Ian Lowe, he's a threat as of late.

I wonder if Grady Hunt still misses me.

GFM <-- is well heard at UAH home games.

[tnlong]

We rode Talbot hard the last time he played in Bemidji!! They pulled him in the beginning of the second during a game and then he had to come back on in the third.... I guarantee you they can hear you on the ice in our barn, as many of our players stated over the years.

One year during the Div. II Nat'l Championship tourney, we bagged on Puppa so badly he took off his glove and flipped us off!! LOL!! I miss those days... The Swingers were awful to opposing goalies... Of course it didn't hurt to have drunken college buddies to help out with the cheers and jeers...

Didn't UAH have a goalie from Quebec in the mid 90's? We learned french taunts and hollered them at a teams goalie a few times. That worked really well too....

I think Mills forgot about Ian Lowe, he's a threat as of late.

That would be Cedric Billequey (1995-99).

UAH had a goalie named named Manny Butera (1991-1992) who was losing 5-2 at Army on 1/31/1992. The "Corp" was there in full force, and I was totally impressed with their work to get after Manny. To this day, I can still hear those "Manny" chants. And with Manny only being at UAH for one season, it's probably the only reason I remember his name. However, the chants were apparently so infuriating to the UAH team (including Lance West as a freshman who got a 10-minute misconduct both nights) that they scored three goals in the last 15 minutes to tie it and then won it in overtime.

[streaker]

If "it has to be Eastern officials", I sure hope it's not the typical ECAC officials that I remember.

Based on conversations I had with RPI fans at the Great Lakes Invitational, I hope you are right. Then again, they got to witness McInchak and Hall IIRC and weren't too impressed after five or six straight calls against RPI.

[tnlong]

...

UAH isn't, as some might argue, "Talbot and Train and Pray for Rain". Talbot is obviously our key defensively, although the boys typically pack it in and play good defense in front of him. We're usually out-shot and can handle that.

Offensively, our weapons are typically underclassmen, including freshmen centers Matti Jarvinen and Justin Cseter and winger Keenan Desmet. Andrew Coburn moved from wing to center and has been a solid contributor this year. Cody Campbell is dangerous on the power play.

Essentially, UAH plays the game that the Beavers did about three years ago. Our guys love to hit people---sometimes a little too much, as they get out of position. UAH is playing their best when they're hitting well, blocking shots, and forcing turnovers.

GFM

Don't forget Roswell GA's Neil Ruffini. He's been a major contributor down the stretch.

Also, Boom Boom's grandson is a presence on the ice.
http://www.nuvo.net/sports/article/i...tian-geoffrion
I hope the TV color commentators do a tiny bit of internet research (which the CHA final game crew did none) on the Geoffrion family before joking about a UAH player named Geoffrion from Brentwood TN.

[redhawkman10]

I think that is what everyone is expecting. Cody has looked uncomfortable in net for the last few weeks, as we are fortunate enough to have two #1 goalkeepers I think you just have to make the switch to Connor regardless of how great Cody has been all year. Its not a bad situation to be in, but has definitely thrown some of us for a loop.

Knapp got the nod against Ferris, but so did 3 of our usual healthy scratches so who knows.

It was pre-determined going into last weekend that it would be Cody Friday and Connor saturday to have each get one final game in before they decide who to go with. Cody has been struggling over the last month but he was not the reason they lost on friday. I think we see Connor saturday just for a change of pace. Not to mention he isn't a bad option to go to. Although he doesn't have any tournament experience so that is an issue. I would be surprised to see more Garry Steffes this weekend, senior kid who didn't see much action this year. But he is a vet and played in the tourny run last year. It will be interesting to see for sure. This team has confidence in either goaltender, but maybe feel more comfortable with Connor. Can't say for sure, but if whoever is in net makes a big save or two early this team could gain a ton of confidence and play well as was the case last year.