ECACHL Championship weekend

[coolhandtouc]

Harvard 10 Dartmouth 1

Talk about firing on all cylinders. :eek:

[coolhandtouc]

Cornell and Colgate still no score about 8 min to go in the first. Four shots a piece.

2nd Period
Cornell 1 'Gate 0

[Goldie Knight]

Saturday, March 18, 2006 7:15 AM

Hey Mr. Cool,

It looks like that was the final score. When you and Rich went to Ithaca, did little red play as well as they did last knight? Here's hoping Harvard can get at least as many goals toknight as they did last knight. How embarrassing a game for Dartmouth.:confused:

However, it still aggravates me to know that the team which places first in the ECAC (or any other segment of Division I hockey) doesn't receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. That should be a given, as oftentimes, these schools cannot control whether or not a big name school will agree to play against them. I believe the PWRs have some consideration based on difficulty of schedule. The TV announcers were saying that both Cornell and Harvard would probably get NCAA bids, regardless of how they do in Albany this weekend.

KNOW NO LIMITS CLARKSON GOLDEN KNIGHTS.

[Todd '86]

cornell added an empty-netter with a few seconds left for a 2-0 final.

[Goldie Knight]

Thanks, Todd. I must have fallen asleep and did not check the score this morning before I replied to Mr. Cool's post. But, of course, you must realize that I have never fallen asleep during any Clarkson game:)

[coolhandtouc]

Yes, Goldie they played very well in Ithaca. Cornell is big, strong and plays very disciplined positional hockey. Everybody on the team plays both sides of the puck.
Yes, I heard Harvard and Cornell were both in, and Dartmouth and Colgate had to win out to get in.
The Hahvahd Cornell game should be a very good one tonight.......but who do we root for???

[Goldie Knight]

My instantaneous and irrevocable answer is

HARVARD

That choice should come as no surprise to anyone.:)

If the Golden Knights played well enough to take both of the quarterfinal games against little red to two overtime periods, then Clarkson's efforts need to be commended. It's no wonder they were so devastated by their losses.

KNOW NO LIMITS, CLARKSON GOLDEN KNIGHTS.

[Stemmer]

I was able to watch the first two periods of the Colgate-cornell game kast night at a bar here in NJ. Not much happened offensively, but that's no surprise.

Colgate matched cornell's physical game in th efirst two periods, which we were unable to do last weekend. As ususal, cornell's offensive game was simple, almost boring usually, but they did cash in on a PP chance. They rarely let Colgate get anything going offensively. Both goalies looked very good.

Gotta give the red credit, they are very good at doing what they do, boring though it may be to watch their offense. For hockey purists, their defensive game is a pleasure to watch, well, it wasn't a pleasure last weekend, but they suck the life out of you and you just have to hope they make a mistake and can capitalize.

Now I see the elynah gang is all worked up and practicing their "Harvard sucks" cheer. Talk about boring.......

Oh yeah, I heard that O'Byrne got a questionable penalty last night. Recall that he got a 5 min major for hitting Dodge last Saturday in OT. That O'Byrne...he really is a "goon"! Just applying the same "logic" that do to Clarkson players...:rolleyes:

[coolhandtouc]

Harvard really took it to Cornell 6-2. I thought this would be a close game, Harvard seems to be peaking at the right moment and should receive a #1 seed. Let's see where Cornell ends up.

[vicb]

Harvard really took it to Cornell 6-2. I thought this would be a close game, Harvard seems to be peaking at the right moment and should receive a #1 seed. Let's see where Cornell ends up.

They will not since BU Won Hockey East.

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan State and BU will be the #1 seeds.
Hahvad will likely end up in Albany and Cornell will be going west according to Dave Starman on the CSTV broadcast.

Edit

However this morning on USCHOL Jayson Moy has Cornell staying east in Worcester playing BC. If Moy is right in his bracketology you will not see a repeat of an all WCHA Frozen 4 as the 4 WCHA teams would be placed in the 2 Western Regionals.

[vicb]

Well Starman was right and Moy wrong. Here are the brackets:

Grand Forks
2 Minnesota vs 15 Holy Cross
7 North Dakota vs 9 Michigan

Green Bay
1 Wisconsin vs 16 Bemidjii State
8 Cornell vs 10 Colorado College

Albany
4 Michigan State vs 13 New Hampshire
5 Harvard vs 12 Maine

Worchester
3 Boston U vs. 14 Nebraska Omaha
6 Miami vs 11 Boston College

[slufan7]

Anyone know what Ted Donato is feeding his team for breakfast these days? Whatever it is, I want some of it!!
Harvard 5-10 and Cornell 0-8 on the PP! How amazing is that!!

[Goldie Knight]

Thanks, Vic. I always thought there was something wrong with JM's wishful dreaming.

Best of luck to Colorado College:)

And, of course, congratulations to that team from Cambridge, MA, on their impressive victory last knight.:) :) Evidently, there were many unhappy fans at the Pepsi Arena last knight.

KNOW NO LIMITS, CLARKSON GOLDEN KNIGHTS

[Stemmer]

Harvard really took it to Cornell 6-2. I thought this would be a close game, Harvard seems to be peaking at the right moment and should receive a #1 seed. Let's see where Cornell ends up.

Yep, Harvard turned it up at the right time...FIVE PP goals against cornell is unheard of. I find it amusing that a few elynah faithful have turned on both McKee and Schafer. Apparently the latter did a lot of ranting at the officials last night.

And the criticism of his coaching or lack thereof is surprising. This guy can do no wrong...or so we thought.

Harvard's PWR wasn't high enough to get a # 1 seed but hopefully these two teams represent the ECACHl well.

Goldie, you're rooting against the "little red"? I'm shocked! :D

[Goldie Knight]

Sunday, March 19, 2006 7 PM

Hey Rich,

I am certain you won't be shocked when I tell you, that in addition to watching most of the Harvard versus little red game last knight, I was so impressed that I just finished watching the same game rebroadcast again on CSTV.

I was just as thrilled to watch little red lose again, even though it was the same game.:cool:

Harvard seems to be playing their best hockey at this time of the year....their timing is great.

Also, I imagine you and Mr. Cool were not saddened by the results of that game either.....right?

KNOW NO LIMITS, CLARKSON GOLDEN KNIGHTS.

[fan from 69]

NCAA bracket:
Hockey East; 4
ECAC; 2

Of what value is it to finish at the top of the ECAC - colgate.

[vicb]

NCAA bracket:
Hockey East; 4
ECAC; 2

Of what value is it to finish at the top of the ECAC - colgate.

It is of great value if you combine it with a good out of conference record against good competition. Colgate and Dartmouth did lousey out of conference and hence had to win the ECAC Tourney. Cornell and especially Hahvad had good out of conference results.

[Goldie Knight]

Monday, March 20, 2006 7 AM

It has always been my contention that the team which wins its conference should be given an automatic bid to the tournament. Right now, I am glad I am not a Colgate fan, and especially pleased that I am not a Dartmouth fan. But, you know what? I am very happy to be a Clarkson fan, even though we did not quite get where we wanted to be at the end of the season. It practically unglued me to cancel our reservations in Albany this past weekend. At least, Clarkson had an overall winning record. And, we have a lot to look forward to next season.

The end-of-the-year awards banquet will be held on April 1, and we will bid our fond farewells to Chris Brekelmans, Jeff Genovy, and Jamie McKinven.

KNOW NO LIMITS, CLARKSON GOLDEN KNIGHTS

[andy]

i'm sure i'll get jumped all over for pointing this out, BUT, the ECAC puts a team in the Frozen Four about once every four years (sort of similar to the Olympic scheduling), and until the league actually starts winning games in the NCAA's, frankly, it doesn't deserve the same respect the other 3 conferences, who consistently send teams to the highest level, deserve.
My best memory on recent ECAC frozen four appearances to back up what I say, feel free to correct years, if there's an error there:

Cornell 2003
SLU 2000
Vermont 1996

That's not going to get your conference a lot of national respect, nor is the weak schedule a lot of teams in the league play out of conference. I know its won that silly commissioners cup thing, but that's sort of a joke. It's based on handpicked games prior to the start of the season, it doesn't truly weigh the best league. I'd take that more serious if it compiled EVERY out of conference game and was given to the league with the best win percentage overall. Be sort of like taking the Yankees schedule this year and basing some trophy only on one game they played each month.

[chuck]

Monday, March 20, 2006 7 AM

It has always been my contention that the team which wins its conference should be given an automatic bid to the tournament. Right now, I am glad I am not a Colgate fan, and especially pleased that I am not a Dartmouth fan. But, you know what? I am very happy to be a Clarkson fan, even though we did not quite get where we wanted to be at the end of the season. It practically unglued me to cancel our reservations in Albany this past weekend. At least, Clarkson had an overall winning record. And, we have a lot to look forward to next season.

The end-of-the-year awards banquet will be held on April 1, and we will bid our fond farewells to Chris Brekelmans, Jeff Genovy, and Jamie McKinven.

KNOW NO LIMITS, CLARKSON GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Goldie,
It was nice when they gave the RS champion and the Tourney Champ both an autobid. It helped the admittadly weaker ECAC a little, but now there are 6 hockey conferences. With that scenario it would be possible, not likely, but possible to have 12 automatic bids in a 16 team tourney. That would be a bad situation. If the autobid was given to the RS champ (btw the conference can give it's autobid to whoever they choose, tourney champ, rs champ) the end of year tourny would be meaningless, anticlimactic. As it is the RS is just a long seeding process for the tourny. I'd like to see an 8 team ECAC playoff system to make the RS mean more, but I understand that has problems too.

Anyway as andy stated the ECAC has not performed on the same par as the other 3 big conferences. I do think that improvement has been made in the past couple of years, and hopefully that will continue, but until then I'm happy the conference has 2 representatives. Here's hoping Harvard makes the final game.... and loses. And here's hoping Colarado College (fellow DIII school) makes it to the FF.;)

[SpongeRob]

Here's hoping Harvard makes the final game.... and loses. And here's hoping Colarado College (fellow DIII school) makes it to the FF

Unfortunately, from what I've seen this season, the reverse of that will be more likely to come true. Maine, if they play up to their ability, is going to be one hell of a tournament-type team. Ben Bishop and that defense are not going to give up 6, or 10, or anything close to that, and they boast one of the top five PP's in the country. Cornell, being a defensive team with a (struggling or not) very solid goaltender and a strong pp, is more likely to shut down that CC offense than Harvard is to outscore Maine.

[chuck]

Unfortunately, from what I've seen this season, the reverse of that will be more likely to come true. Maine, if they play up to their ability, is going to be one hell of a tournament-type team. Ben Bishop and that defense are not going to give up 6, or 10, or anything close to that, and they boast one of the top five PP's in the country. Cornell, being a defensive team with a (struggling or not) very solid goaltender and a strong pp, is more likely to shut down that CC offense than Harvard is to outscore Maine.

I will not argue that Maine is going to be an aweful lot for Harvard to handle, I'm just hoping they advance, but I do believe that Cornell is gonna be a one and done. Now that's a bold statement and any Cornell lurkers will have fun with this post especially if Cornell happens to win. I just don't see that they're playing at a level that's gonna win games in the NCAA's.

Rich- let me know if this shows up on eLynah:p

[berbs91]

Does anybody think the price to the NCAA's are a little outragrous?

$36 a session... the only thing is the Sunday's "session" is only one game.. I dont mind paying 36 to see two game, but to see 1 quarter-final college hockey game? ..

they should do a study as to see what price would get the maximum amount of people in the stands or at least the maximum profit... and definitely shouldnt charge the same price for 1 game that they should charge for two

I would probably pay $30 for two games and $20 for one for the regionals...

[andy]

Does anybody think the price to the NCAA's are a little outragrous?

$36 a session... the only thing is the Sunday's "session" is only one game.. I dont mind paying 36 to see two game, but to see 1 quarter-final college hockey game? ..

they should do a study as to see what price would get the maximum amount of people in the stands or at least the maximum profit... and definitely shouldnt charge the same price for 1 game that they should charge for two

I would probably pay $30 for two games and $20 for one for the regionals...

That seems reasonable. Maybe find out what it costs to see a final 8 game of the men's ncaa hoops tourney to draw a comparison?

[Brett Gobe]

That seems reasonable. Maybe find out what it costs to see a final 8 game of the men's ncaa hoops tourney to draw a comparison?
Hockey is not basketball. Basketball regionals will sellout nearly any venue you can put them in.

The NC$$ needs to realize that when you charge people these kinda prices people are not going to go, and if they do go they will not go again and bring kids, aka the next generation of fans. I'm not saying give the tickets away, but $72 for a weekend of hockey plus whatever ticketmaster is charging on top of that, plus concessions, merchendise, programs, for a family of four to see top level college hockey you're starting to look at a $500 investment. People aren't going to pay that.

Just my 2 cents.

[andy]

Hockey is not basketball. Basketball regionals will sellout nearly any venue you can put them in.

The NC$$ needs to realize that when you charge people these kinda prices people are not going to go, and if they do go they will not go again and bring kids, aka the next generation of fans. I'm not saying give the tickets away, but $72 for a weekend of hockey plus whatever ticketmaster is charging on top of that, plus concessions, merchendise, programs, for a family of four to see top level college hockey you're starting to look at a $500 investment. People aren't going to pay that.

Just my 2 cents.

last time i went to a regional in worcester the place was jam packed. Dont confuse the regionals with ecachl type championship weekend

[Brett Gobe]

last time i went to a regional in worcester the place was jam packed. Dont confuse the regionals with ecachl type championship weekend
OK, but take a look at the regional final in Albany last time it was held there:

http://www.collegehockeystats.net/0304/boxes/mmnewis1.m27

5480 for a regional final. That's about 1/3 full. Worcester is going to bring in fans from Boston to support BU and BC and the other New England schools, but I'm not going to be surprised to see Albany struggle again.

[Stemmer]

Does anybody think the price to the NCAA's are a little outragrous?

$36 a session... the only thing is the Sunday's "session" is only one game.. I dont mind paying 36 to see two game, but to see 1 quarter-final college hockey game? ..

they should do a study as to see what price would get the maximum amount of people in the stands or at least the maximum profit... and definitely shouldnt charge the same price for 1 game that they should charge for two

I would probably pay $30 for two games and $20 for one for the regionals...

The NCAA do a study to find out how to max their revenue? :rolleyes: We're asking quite a lot from them there. They've never shown an interest in doing anything that's fan friendly. :D

[berbs91]

OK, but take a look at the regional final in Albany last time it was held there:

http://www.collegehockeystats.net/0304/boxes/mmnewis1.m27

5480 for a regional final. That's about 1/3 full. Worcester is going to bring in fans from Boston to support BU and BC and the other New England schools, but I'm not going to be surprised to see Albany struggle again.

so that 5480 x $36 = $197,280 .... if they lowered the price to $20 and brought in 10,000 people that would be $200,000.. making about the same from ticket sales, but the atmosphere would be better from having more people, and the arena would do better with conscessions...

[berbs91]

The Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan holds 12000 people

In 2004 they hosted the regionals and drew 5325 for the semi's and 3206 for the finals. Michigan St., Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, and Notre Dame all played in that regional.

This is proof that they are charging too much, because im sure on a given night all those teams draw better during the regular season. Not to mention that the finals drew 60% of what the semi's drew and 25% of the capacity.

[berbs91]

Last year Denver, UNH, Bemidji, and Harvard played the regionals in Amherst, Ma at the William D. Mullins Center.

the center holds 8400 people

The attendenance for the semi's was 3622 and 3441 for the finals.

absolutely pathetic...

How come no one from the NCAA has thought about this? almost makes me want to lobby for a job... because someone isnt doing a good one...

[chuck]

Last year Denver, UNH, Bemidji, and Harvard played the regionals in Amherst, Ma at the William D. Mullins Center.

the center holds 8400 people

The attendenance for the semi's was 3622 and 3441 for the finals.

absolutely pathetic...

How come no one from the NCAA has thought about this? almost makes me want to lobby for a job... because someone isnt doing a good one...

I agree that the prices are far too high. At least for my wallet. But does that necessarily mean they're not doing the research? Would lowering the price a few bucks bring in more people? I live close enough to Amherst to go to a game once in a while. But if Clarkson isn't playing I'm not likely to put out more than $10 bucks a seat, since I need 4 at least. 5 to be comfy. So, back to the family of 4 thing. If a family is not a fan of one of the teams in the regional how much is he gonna shell out to go to the games? These things are marketed, I believe, toward die-hard hockey fans. Especially true in Albany and Worcestor and Boston where there are AHL or NHL games there all year long.

I'm all for lowering the price, just to be reasonable, but I'm not convinced that lowering the price $16 would even come close to doubling the attendance.

[chuck]

BTW - since I can't even afford to think about going to these games are any on TV? Time Warner Albany sometimes broadcasts things from the Pepsi. Any chance a deal on this was cut for this year?

[Todd '86]

BTW - since I can't even afford to think about going to these games are any on TV? Time Warner Albany sometimes broadcasts things from the Pepsi. Any chance a deal on this was cut for this year?
Chuck,

Try this link: http://www.ncaasports.com/broadcast/schedule/espnhockey

[chuck]

Brett,
Excellent piece (on the 'blog) on the prices of the games this weekend. It makes me cringe to think what I'm gonna do when Clarkson makes it. I have 4 kids. Right now I might be able to get away with 2 on laps (if they allow that). Plus I fall into the need a hotel category.

Todd,
Thanks for the link. It's strange though, Time Warner Albany's site says they're broadcasting every regional game (either on TW3 or TW1). I can't find TW Alabany on that link at all. Anyway, enjoy the games.