2023-24 NCAA Hockey

[SW_Mustang]

Next week's game with the Mavs and Beavs will be interesting. The Mavs are a bit rough around the edges yet - almost seems like they can be a scary team if they want to be, but only want to be about 75% of the time.

I was there Saturday - probably should have stuck around for BSU/AU, but wanted to see the Mavs play one more time in case it's my last for a while. Lake would score, Mavs would immediately answer back. Herd alum Evan Murr slid one past for the GWG and I went home happy. And full - we ate at Maverick's pregame. That filled me up and kept me that way.

Attention was very split as a sizable contingent was closely paying attention to Moorhead/Stillwater. Now we're all just hoping Mason Kraft doesn't flip.

[Millsy]

So, if St. Thomas downs Bowling Green on Saturday (game is at 4 PM, I believe), the winner of the Bemidji-Mankato game at 7 PM will get the CCHA autobid to the NCAA Tournament. St. Thomas is still in their "transition period" and is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.

They still would get to play for the CCHA championship, though.

[Millsy]

St. Thomas over Bowling Green 3-1

Mankato over Bemidji 4-0

Mankato will host St. Thomas for the CCHA Championship Friday. Mankato already has clinched the CCHA's NCAA autobid, the seventh time in nine years (or something like that).

[SW_Mustang]

I really hope the Mavs don't pump the brakes tonight. They need to send every message they can to the NCHC that UST was the wrong choice.

Alex Tracy is also a Hobey Baker Finalist. Personally, while I know he won't win - I do believe he's a better goalie than Dryden McKay. DM had a lot more support on defense.

[Millsy]

I really hope the Mavs don't pump the brakes tonight. They need to send every message they can to the NCHC that UST was the wrong choice.

Alex Tracy is also a Hobey Baker Finalist. Personally, while I know he won't win - I do believe he's a better goalie than Dryden McKay. DM had a lot more support on defense.

St. Thomas gets the NCHC a "foot in the door" of the Twin Cities market, Mankato doesn't do that.

And lets face it, for the "casual" Twin Cities fan, do you want to see North Dakota, St. Cloud, and Duluth on a regular basis, or do you want to see Lake State, Ferris and Bowling Green? I can see why St. Thomas jumped, and why the NCHC was very quick to pull the trigger. Also, for teams like Arizona State, Denver and CC, a flight into MSP and a 15 minute bus ride to St. Thomas is a lot more palatable than a 90 minute bus ride to Mankato.

It's all about the $$$$.....

[SW_Mustang]

St. Thomas gets the NCHC a "foot in the door" of the Twin Cities market, Mankato doesn't do that.

And lets face it, for the "casual" Twin Cities fan, do you want to see North Dakota, St. Cloud, and Duluth on a regular basis, or do you want to see Lake State, Ferris and Bowling Green? I can see why St. Thomas jumped, and why the NCHC was very quick to pull the trigger. Also, for teams like Arizona State, Denver and CC, a flight into MSP and a 15 minute bus ride to St. Thomas is a lot more palatable than a 90 minute bus ride to Mankato.

It's all about the $$$$.....

I know - I don't blame UST for wanting to go, and I know there's a ton of reasons why they'd pick them that aren't necessarily hockey related. It's just frustrating that we can compete with much of that conference already, but get the cold shoulder in lieu of St. Cloud and Miami.

Facilities is the big factor I was told. Mankato just can't compete on that end. The Civic Center isn't awful, but it's not up to par with what the NCHC is probably looking for. UST also has a boatload of money, and their membership in the Summit League was the cherry on top (IMO).

I get location matters too, but realistically - UST isn't going to sell a ton of tickets playing St. Cloud or Colorado College to casual college hockey fans. If I'm a casual in the Cities, I'm watching the Gophers. Really can be said for all sports, not just hockey.

[laker]

Mavs defeat St Thomas 4-2. 0-0 after one, 2-2 after two. Late open net goal. It will be interesting to see which regional they go to.

[Millsy]

Mavs end up in the Fargo Regional, taking on Western Michigan in the first round. The other game is Minnesota and UMass, both games Thursday. Winners will play Saturday for a trip to St. Louis.

Hoping to get into the championship game on Saturday night. My son's Tier 1 hockey team has practice up Moorhead this weekend before Nationals next week, and they are hoping to get the boys and their families tickets to Saturday's game for a team outing.

[Millsy]

NCAA Tournament Starts today!

Thursday 3/27

**Toledo, OH**
Boston U 8 vs Ohio State 3 1 PM CT
Michigan State 3 vs Cornell 4 4:30 PM CT

Region Final 3/29 3 PM
Boston U vs Cornell

**Fargo, ND**
Western Michigan 2 vs Minnesota State-Mankato 1 (2 OT) 4 PM CT
Minnesota 4 vs UMass 5 (OT) 7:30 CT

Region Final 3/29 5:30 PM
Western Michigan vs UMass

Friday 3/28

**Manchester, NH**
Boston College vs Bentley 1 PM CT
Providence 1 vs Denver 5 4:30 PM CT

Region Final 3/30 TBD
Boston College vs Denver

**Allentown, PA**
UConn 4 vs Qu4nnipiac 1 4 PM CT
Maine vs Penn State 7:30 PM CT

Region Final 3/30 TBD
UConn vs

Frozen Four in St. Louis, 4/10 and 4/12

[SW_Mustang]

-Mavs season ended rough. Bad bounce in the crease gets past Tracy in 2OT. That was a tough pill to swallow. That being said, this season was a massive success and unfathomable to think of just two years ago. If the underclassmen can buy in, they'll be back next year.

-Gophers - LOL! See ya.

-Big10 is 0-3 on Day 1, so hoping Maine can bully Penn State today for the clean sweep. How about Cornell/Michigan State? I actually picked Big Red on one of my brackets because I knew they had the talent. I'm sure the preseason voter that was pro-Cornell had the day of his life yesterday though haha.

-Since the Mavs are done, I'm turning my hockey attention to the USHL. Not a lot of the remaining matchups intrigue me that much, maybe except for Bentley/BC and UConn, but only mildly.

[Millsy]

-Mavs season ended rough. Bad bounce in the crease gets past Tracy in 2OT. That was a tough pill to swallow. That being said, this season was a massive success and unfathomable to think of just two years ago. If the underclassmen can buy in, they'll be back next year.

-Gophers - LOL! See ya.

-Big10 is 0-3 on Day 1, so hoping Maine can bully Penn State today for the clean sweep. How about Cornell/Michigan State? I actually picked Big Red on one of my brackets because I knew they had the talent. I'm sure the preseason voter that was pro-Cornell had the day of his life yesterday though haha.

-Since the Mavs are done, I'm turning my hockey attention to the USHL. Not a lot of the remaining matchups intrigue me that much, maybe except for Bentley/BC and UConn, but only mildly.

I went to bed last night when the Goofs were up 3-1... Even though I am not a Goof fan, that lack of a call in OT is tough. 98% of the time, that is getting called (right or wrong, not going to debate that), about the only time is like last night, when the game is in OT. But, up 3-1 going into the third, you can't allow yourselves to get in a position where something like that costs you your season.

[SW_Mustang]

I went to bed last night when the Goofs were up 3-1... Even though I am not a Goof fan, that lack of a call in OT is tough. 98% of the time, that is getting called (right or wrong, not going to debate that), about the only time is like last night, when the game is in OT. But, up 3-1 going into the third, you can't allow yourselves to get in a position where something like that costs you your season.

Agreed, whether or not the no-call is correct is one thing, but what can't be argued is the Gophs never should have allowed themselves to get into that position in the first place. It's not like it was a neck-and-neck game, they had full control and lost it.

[Millsy]

Agreed, whether or not the no-call is correct is one thing, but what can't be argued is the Gophs never should have allowed themselves to get into that position in the first place. It's not like it was a neck-and-neck game, they had full control and lost it.

I think I have seen more arguing online about whether it was a trip or not then I have about calling penalties in OT. I would say yes, it was a trip.

[SW_Mustang]

I think I have seen more arguing online about whether it was a trip or not then I have about calling penalties in OT. I would say yes, it was a trip.

I'm guessing most of that is people trolling Gopher fans.

The one call I'm genuinely curious about is not allowing the goalie to fix his gear - I don't know the rules on that. Also lead to a goal.

IMO - I'm not condoning bad calls/no-calls, but the reality is - they are bound to happen and especially in a fast paced sport like hockey. They can be overcome, just like any other obstacle. It's why I try not to blame refs in a loss... which... I might be the only MSU fan to do so.

EDIT: It was weird seeing Hrabal play for UMass. It wasn't that long ago I was going down to SF just about every time he came through with Omaha just to see him play. He was a very highly touted prospect at that time, but I don't think I ever saw him in net.

[SW_Mustang]

BC 3, Bentley 1. Not a surprising result, but it's cool that Bentley made the dance for the first time.

This doesn't warrant it's own post so I'll share it here - but I got bored this winter so I started sending out hockey cards to retired players to sign and return to me, like I did as a kid. Recently heard back from Mr. Steve Wochy which was super cool. Made his NHL debut in 1944. Also heard back from Mr. Joel Otto, and Martin Brodeur, among many others. Thought I'd share.