Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

[johnnypohlfan]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

I'm gonna just leave that hanging curveball for someone else to hit out of the park.

[SCSU Euro]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

Darkhorse to win the conference is Wisconsin, I believe they are a favorite to win the conference

Anyone else find that an odd statement?

Actually, I think they're too high up, and believe DU, UND and UW are all not allowed to be anyone's Darkhorse this year. I think the consensus has Wisconsin finishing higher than Minnesota, so I have no problem with the Gophers being a darkhorse, but I think the Badgers is too much of a stretch, especially because they finished 3rd last year.

Also, I think Wisconsin could be very good, but who has the easiest schedule isn't a great argument to make. They talk about it all the time in the NFL, but you never know how teams will be from one year to the next, and at least in the NFL you don't play similar teams, whereas in the WCHA there isn't a huge difference in schedule... you either play a team twice or four times. Not something to make a case on IMHO.

And while I too have faith in Bennett, that is the BIG question mark for UW. You can't ever say that an unproven goalie is for sure gonna come in and succeed. I'm not even saying that Mike Lee is a slamdunk... he's probably the most likely goalie to succeed, but even that I wouldn't call a 3 to 1 bet.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

you're joking, right? Really?

You're going to owe me 2 appetizers...thats what he is talking about

[Puck Swami]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

Wisconsin is no darkhorse. I don't think anyone who really follows the league would be very surprised to see the Badgers win the league this year. Plenty of talent and leadership there. They will be very hard to beat, IMHO.

I think DU, UW, UND and Minn will be all be very capable upper division teams, with SCSU, CC, UMD, MSUM and UAA all capable of stepping into the upper half if favorites falter. I don't think MTU is upper division material this year, but even they can be hard to play against when they get good goaltending.

Our league is a meatgrinder, pure and simple.

[goldy_331]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

Anyone else find that an odd statement?

Not given the source. Seems par for that course.

[Greyeagle]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

Anyone else find that an odd statement?

Not given the source. Seems par for that course.

Paint thinner, it's not just for breakfast.

[SCSU Euro]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

Not given the source. Seems par for that course.

tgat was the kindler, gentler, more subtle shot at someone. Apparently my posts make some feel that I really take any of you people seriously.

[First Time, Long Time]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

St. Cloud sucks as always this year.

If the D improves, and yes that is the big question, but if they improve, even to "average" IMO, this team has the scoring and will get the goaltending to be a team to be reckoned with.
They may not win it all, or even hit top 3, but the Huskies will not be a team to be taken lightly.
Losing Weslosky hurts in experience but Lee is more talented so it could balence out.
IMO, the days of freshmen goalies automatically being a liability in college hockey are over, especially given what we've seen in the league and nationally the past few seasons.

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

If the D improves, and yes that is the big question, but if they improve, even to "average" IMO, this team has the scoring and will get the goaltending to be a team to be reckoned with.
They may not win it all, or even hit top 3, but the Huskies will not be a team to be taken lightly.
Losing Weslosky hurts in experience but Lee is more talented so it could balence out.
IMO, the days of freshmen goalies automatically being a liability in college hockey are over, especially given what we've seen in the league and nationally the past few seasons.

A few examples and the exception has now become the rule? This Mike Lee has the weight of the world on him already and the first puck hasn't dropped yet.

[state of hockey]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

I think CC will be better than a lot of people believe.

Then again, I suck.

[dogs2012]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

My theory is mostly based on who they'd likely have to beat to make such a run. Tech is Tech , CC is pretty much depleted, and tUMD lost just about everybody. Mankato doesn't seem to be anything special, but could also be a lower-middle pack dark horse (don't know too much about them, though.) You're telling me UAA can't sneak in the back door and nick most or all of those teams by one point in the standings?

And keep in mind, that 9th place finish was with 23 points. 8th had 26, 7th had 27, 6th had 28, 5th had 29. The WCHA is so tight that one point could be (and has been) equal to one position. The bottom half of this conference is wide open.

It's a possibility. Not a guarantee by a long shot, but a possibility.

CC may be depleted but they're a top caliber program, they'll find a way to bounce back and put together a pretty good year. Mankato ISN'T anything special, and will continue to be that way. I'm glad you didn't say anything about SCSU, because I'm just sick and tired of hearing about Jesus Christ (Mike Lee) savior of all going in goal this year. And how do you figure we lost everybody at tUMD? Last time I checked we still have the Connelly's, Fontaine, a good physical core of defensemen, and a heck of a goalie taking Stalock's place in Brady Hjelle. Not to mention we're gaining Dylan Olsen, preseason pick to be rookie of the year, and Mike Seidel, who I know has proven nothing but is said to be a great goal scorer. You can sit here and say all you want that the only reason we made that late season run is because of stalock, but that would be a total load of crap. Any goalie can look good when you get one shot on you in the third period of the championship game. (as beersong stated) A strong physical defense (which will only get better when you add a couple of talented 6 foot something 200 and some odd pound defenders in) can get you a long ways, and tends to help unseasoned goalies. I'm not saying tUMD is going to be a dark horse, or that UAA can't be. All I'm saying is don't write people off without knowing all the facts first.

[First Time, Long Time]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

A few examples and the exception has now become the rule? This Mike Lee has the weight of the world on him already and the first puck hasn't dropped yet.

Doubtful as he likely doesn't read anything from any fan on here and I doubt Motzko is telling him he has to be the savior and win a bunch of 2-1 games as the team in front of him can't score, this team can score.
He will get pushed by Dunn as Dunn knows that with Weslosky gone this his shot to start and I'm sure he doesn't want a rookie beating him out.
But hey, he had massive expectations last year for Fargo and all he did was lead them to the Finals and be named Goalie of the Year.
Somehow I don't think pressure is going to be a massive problem.

[Puck Swami]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

I think CC will be better than a lot of people believe.

Then again, I suck.

I said the same thing earlier in the thread.

Maybe we both suck.

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

Doubtful as he likely doesn't read anything from any fan on here and I doubt Motzko is telling him he has to be the savior and win a bunch of 2-1 games as the team in front of him can't score, this team can score.
He will get pushed by Dunn as Dunn knows that with Weslosky gone this his shot to start and I'm sure he doesn't want a rookie beating him out.
But hey, he had massive expectations last year for Fargo and all he did was lead them to the Finals and be named Goalie of the Year.
Somehow I don't think pressure is going to be a massive problem.

Yes, and we all know that performance in the USHL is directly proportional to what happens in the WCHA.

My post was specifically about your rule change. The rule was that freshmen goaltenders coming in right away and being effective is rare. You've now stated that that has changed. I'm questioning that.

[Slap Shot]

Re: Who will be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season?

Will "Thank Parise" or, "Dear Parise" now be replaced with, "Thank Lee"?