It seems like I jinxed it, but I am sticking to my claim. BC is the better team. This one ain't ending 2-0.
2020-23 College Hockey thread
- Thread starter Ale Xander
- Start date
Quinnipiac grad, but BC fan here. (older daughter is a graduate).
Told my friends I'm rooting for the 18 year old future millionaires over the guys who are old enough to be playing in the AHL.
Buccigross and Cohen are two terrible announcers.
Told my friends I'm rooting for the 18 year old future millionaires over the guys who are old enough to be playing in the AHL.
Buccigross and Cohen are two terrible announcers.
Yup, knew it would be a grind.
Missed the game but happy to move on to Michigan.
I found that BC game to be uncanny -- at any minute it felt like BC was about to just open the flood gates and yet, you'd look up and Quinnipiac had someone slinging a puck into the back of the net. Really fun hockey. I'm looking forward to next weekend and I don't really care who wins (although I'm probably pulling for BU just 'cause).
If Denver gets to bring those refs with them into Saturday night's game, just hand the trophy to the Pioneers right now. That was fucking disgusting. And the issue was not the penalties called on BU, it was the penalties that were not called on Denver. Fucking joke.
They let a LOT go on both sides. It was a Big 10 crew that had also officiated the Big 10 championship game, and per my friends from Michigan, didn't call much of anything in a game between UM and MSU (where both teams normally will take quite a few).
My armchair speculation is that an ECAC crew is tabbed for the finals, but given that the Big 10 team is out, they might use the Big 10 crew too. (Or I suppose they could consider the CCHA or even Atlantic Hockey, but it seems to me like the ECAC is the next best conference after Big 10, Hockey East, and NCHC.)
I felt like Michigan played a lot better than the score would indicate. They had a lot of looks from high-danger areas and missed the net. BC was very opportunistic, which I guess should be expected given the offensive talent on the team. I'll be interested to see how the next game goes; Michigan seemed happy to play an open and flowing game, but I don't think that's the style Denver will want.
No, they didn't let a LOT go on both sides. They let a LOT go for Denver. They missed two tripping calls and a borderline roughing perpetrated against Celibrini. Again, the calls against BU were correct, they just didn't make the same calls against UD. And it wasn't just that the calls were not made, it was when the calls were not made. The Big Ten crew missed an obvious trip against UD with approx. 3:30 left. Not only does that deny BU from a PP, it also allows UD to stay on the offensive that final 3:30.
Throughout the tournament UD has been employing a defensive set up that clogs the middle, contests the neutral zone, denies open ice against more talented teams, and turns the game into a slog, the opposite of what UM did against BC. Denver did this against both UMass and Cornell. UD will definitely use this style against a more talented BC team. They have used this effectively, to their credit. But it also depends on officiating favorable to this style. I hate any competition that relies so heavily on letting officiating decide the outcome as opposed to skill and talent.
There were at least two pretty obvious (from my seats) trips on BU that weren't called. I stand by my statement.
(FWIW, it's not an officiating style that I care for, because I think in most cases it benefits the less skilled team.)
(FWIW, it's not an officiating style that I care for, because I think in most cases it benefits the less skilled team.)
Going back to the regionals issue....it would be solved if they just seeded the teams 1-16 and the top 4 seeds host a 4 team pod and the winners go to the Frozen Four. Would create some buzz trying to get those top 4 seeds. Sold out arenas with great atmospheres would be such a better look than going to the places they are now.
I like this except what if the top 4 are Ferris State, Colgate, Providence, and Air Force? All with 3000 or less capacity. Plenty of buzz for sure though.