The College Hockey NIT--The Selection Show

JohnN · 03-19-2001, 09:26 AM

My College Hockey NIT will be up and running again this year. There have already been some good suggestions for brackets, however, my official tournament field, brackets, dates and sites will be announced here at 1:00 pm EDT today.

The field consists of eight teams with games played on campus in the first and second rounds. The final is played each year in a historic college hockey arena.

The committee is pleased to announce that this year the College Hockey NIT final will be played at Olympic Arena in Lake Placid, New York. The date is still TBD, but tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by calling 1-800-HCKY-NIT. Last years final in Colorado Springs was a sell-out. No television plans have been announced as of yet.

As some of you may know, The College Hockey NIT began in 1974 and was played on real ice in Duluth, Minnesota. Minnesota-Duluth beat St. Louis in the semi-finals and then beat Vermont in the finals.

Here's a review of last years tournament:

First Round games:

Cornell upset Providence 3-2.

RPI beat Quinnipiac 5-2.

Lake Superior State beat Colorado College 4-2.

Mankato State beat Northern Michigan in OT 6-5.

Semi-finals.

RPI knocked off Mankato 4-2.

Lake State beat Cornell 4-1.

The final in Colorado Springs.

LSSU 4
RPI 3

The tournament MVP was Jayme Platt of Lake State.

Any fond memories from last years event?

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John

www.hungersite.com

Please visit once a day.

03-19-2001, 11:48 AM

I'll be very interested to see if a CHA team ends up in the final field, and takes the place of a far better team in the "BIG FIVE".
The CHA has proven nothing, and to have a team like Wayne State, or UAH, take the place of a deserving team like Iona, QU, Union, Merrimack, UAA, or UAF would be a travesty. I have nothing against the players or coaches of the CHA teams, but if they are allowed in I hope whoever they play from the "Big Five" runs up the score, and I mean runs up the score, anything short of a 10 goal spread would be an embarrassment. The CHA teams all belong back in Div.II or III, and have no business in the Tourney. There is no way to justify their inclusion, and I don't care what kind of criterion the Selection Committee uses, if there is a CHA team in this dance, I can only assume members of the Selection Committee were paid off, like they were when the MAAC got it's bid. I mean for crying out loud the CHA still has Div.II teams in their League. Army even had to leave the League because they did't want to play Findlay any more. If a CHA team is allowed in, then this whole NIT is a fraud, and hurts college hockey as a hole.

MavRick · 03-19-2001, 11:50 AM

I've seen Findlay. Findlay played in our barn. Findlay is a friend of mine.

MAAC, you're no Findlay.

03-19-2001, 12:00 PM

So what, Wayne is a friend of mine, but this goes beyond friendship. I stand by what I've said!

JohnN · 03-19-2001, 12:38 PM

Well posted bradyszott, LOL!

Seriously, there is only one criteria for selection to the NIT.

1. A team must have a winning record.

That means from CHA only Huntsville and Wayne State are eligible.

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brady,

I know you are a MAAC fan so I need to point out that the NIT has a long history of accepting emerging programs. Last season Quinnipiac was invited to the NIT despite questions about the teams overall strength.

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John

www.hungersite.com

Please visit once a day.

[This message has been edited by JohnN (edited March 19, 2001).]

03-19-2001, 12:47 PM

Oh, sure let two teams from an inferior league in, of course they have winning records look who they played.

I suppose the next thing you will do is exempt the Service Academys from the winning record rule because they have to eat square meals!

JohnN · 03-19-2001, 12:56 PM

I'd like to aplologize for my little tantrum last night about others doing the NIT. I guess I should be thankful and I don't have any hard feelings. Thanks for trying to keep a good idea going!

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bradyszott,

The academies gave up square meals years ago.

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John

www.hungersite.com

Please visit once a day.

Britney Spears · 03-19-2001, 12:57 PM

The best highlight was me singing the National Anthem!

Can I come back this year?

03-19-2001, 03:58 PM

I too will be interested to see how things go in Miami's 3rd visit to the Granite State this year.
Miami played two of their weakest games this year in the previous UNH encounters and Burleigh got knocked out twice.
Both teams were upset on their home ice in their conference 1st round.

03-19-2001, 04:55 PM

Rumor has it NH Public TV will broadcast from the Whitt with Dan Parkhurst and Pete Webster performing the duties. Any confirmation?

3W · 03-19-2001, 04:57 PM

First of all, I have no argument with Miami's making it. My original 8 were consistent with yours minus UAH and Miami (strict RPI) and plus Quinnipiac and Western Michigan. In fact, I even had Denver v. NMU. (though I think it was at the Berry) Go figure. No interest from FSD on the Denver-NMU game. Maybe if they make the final...

As for the "game", I read that Magness Arena is an Olympic-size sheet. That's good. NMU and Denver have two common opponents, the rather lackluster Minnesota-Duluth and Michigan Tech. Both NMU and Denver are 4-1-1 this season against that ghastly duo. NMU's loss came on their home ice to Tech, 4-2, while Denver also lost to Tech this year, 5-2 at home. Both teams swept UMD. (Go figure.)

Other NIT opinions:

1. I'm not running this show, but this is the second year in a row NMU had to go on the road to face a WCHA team, in this case a very good one. Why can't we play at the BEC?

2. I consider Western Michigan to be a good deal more deserving than Alabama-Huntsville. Here's why.

PWR: WMU-20th, UAH-26th
RPI: WMU-17th, UAH-26th
Best Win: WMU-over Michigan St. UAH-over Western (possible point there)
Worst Loss: WMU-to Notre Dame (RPI #43) UAH-to (RPI #49 Niagara)

Overall, I think that WMU would have been better candidates. However, I will shut my yap because if Western had made it, that would have made 4 CCHA team of 8, and very well could have kicked NMU out.

Thoughts on other games:

Miami-UNH
Talk about the disappointment bowl. Both team were possibilities to make it high into their conference tournaments. However, they both bombed out. Perhaps this one is a question of who will choke the least? I like Hockey East in this one (Sorry, CCHAers) My pick: UNH 4-2.

UAH-UNO
The Chargers can't handle the Bullpen. Expect them to be outclassed by the more talented Mavs. My Pick: UNO wins easily 6-2.

Lowell-Clarkson
Who knows? Who cares? Clarkson 2-1 in 2OT.

03-19-2001, 05:22 PM

How in the world can a selection committee, which I understand is made up of a bunch of math Geeks, select UAH when UAH ranks far below other deserving teams in the RPI/PWR?

I'll tell you how! THEY HAVE BEEN BRIBED!!! and I have proof, a review the CHA threads clearly documents that one of the leading members of the selection committee, sought and recieved valuable items from a foreign country, UAH utilized their influence with certain representatives of the foreign country to secure these items, and subsequently used them to influence the selection committee. Only a fool would not be able to see there was a prid quo pro involved here. These people are worse then the Clintons!! I demand a full scale investigation!!!

Britney Spears · 03-19-2001, 05:28 PM

I've been lurking for awhile, haven't much time, but now that I do, I think I can get to Lake Placid!

unofan · 03-19-2001, 05:36 PM

Ticket sales are going fast in Omaha, as the Mav faithful want a full house to assure UNO a home game in the 2nd round.

Also, while the Mav faithful were hoping for Fox Sports Detroit to come out to Omaha, the prospect of televising a CCHA team without a weasel or a Spartan for a mascot ruined that idea. Therefore looks like the local cable company will broadcast around the Omaha area.

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Ben Flickinger
Omaha, NE, USA
All your base are belong to us

03-19-2001, 05:44 PM

Hey WWW, I got the tickets for Denver. We will take my car, if it still is running and not crashed by then. Don't worry about the drive, I will not get behind the wheel. (We have a certain person for that, and yes she is a good driver)

As for the game, NMU will win. Raggy should be pretty mad about the BGSU goal, and doesn't want his career to end like that.

Go Wildcats, lol,
Phil

Douglas · 03-19-2001, 06:18 PM

Jeez, UAH vs UNO on the 22nd, and at UNO! You didn't leave me much time to find a super-saver fair to Omaha.

WWW, the Chargers have played there before.

After winning a season and blowing the tourney, this will give them a chance to possibly redeem themselves. But, both of their true seniors have signed pro contracts (minors) and are gone, so we will have to call them back! One nice thing about the Bullpen is that they sell BEER, the answer, so I can drown out the memory of the full-fare airline ticket I bought!

Brady, If a valuable item from a foreign country found its way to your mailbox...

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Doug

GO CHA! GO CHARGERS!!

03-19-2001, 06:59 PM

Douglas,
I'm a MAAC fan, your not going to be able to buy me for what you bought the NIT Committee with.

I'm upset about this, and if you think getting some of the conspirators, out of the States and back to hide in Canada is going to work, you sir are wrong, remember I'm from Canada, maybe some people don't know where 150 Mile House is but I sure as hell do, and I also know that the States and Canada have an extradition treaty. If I were you I'd worry more about memorizing that often used American phrase "Your Majestry, I will stand on my 5th ammendment rights", because I fully intend to bring this matter to the attention of the proper authorities, unless some equitable agreement can be reached.
Which reminds me... my understanding is that the concessions contract has not yet been awarded, and you know as well as I, that when you have a hand to hand exchange of cash, such as the concessions at athletic events it is impossible to obtain a full accounting of the monies taken in by the concessionaire, the rotten bas@ards, not only short tax people, they also short the event, so if I may suggest an honest hard working company out of NY, "BS Food Services LTD." I'm sure if they got the contract they would not only be a great concessionaire, but I'm sure they would help you out with the legal problems it looks like you "MAY" have.

Douglas · 03-19-2001, 07:18 PM

I'll speak to the proper authorities of the NIT.

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Doug

GO CHA! GO CHARGERS!!

Section96 · 03-19-2001, 07:19 PM

Tickets for the March 22 game with UNO vs. Huntsville have been sold out.

Wait.....this just in.....THERE'S NO ICE IN THE BULLPEN!!##@@ To add insult to injury, the 63rd annual Nebraska Home/Garden/Tractor/Rose Pedal show is already booked and operating in the Civic Auditorium, and can't be moved.

I hear the NIT committee is meeting behind closed doors. Some alternative sites being considered are:

1) The Omaha Central Park Lagoon
2) The Missouri River
3) The frozen diesel fuel in the big hole being dug for the new convention center
4) Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln; but, only roller skates allowed
5) AK-SAR-BEN Coliseum. However, the Omaha Lancers want to play the winner.

The Nation awaits the committee's decision......

nanookfan · 03-19-2001, 07:22 PM

Hey folks,

There might still be ice on the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks. You could play an outdoor game on the river!

Just make sure it's not -30 that day!

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Let's Go 'Nooks!