College Hockey '04

[Jimmy Carter]

Cornell? They've got a shot. They're ranked by both INCH and USCHO at the moment. The only team I see getting into the Frozen Four without problems is BC.

This week's DI schedule: click here

[Rich]

The only team I see getting into the Frozen Four without problems is BC.

w00t.

I was in their locker room last year and as you walk in, there's a huge mural of one of their past championship teams. Cool shit.

[Jimmy Carter]

They're a fantastic team. Without a doubt, the only stable force in Hockey East. UNH and Maine are good, but Maine got pummeled.

Teams capable of making it to the Frozen Four, in my opinion, are Wisconsin, Minnesota, UMN-Duluth, UND, Michigan, BC, UNH, and Maine.

The important games this week would probably be...

UMN at UND (which team got hit hardest with the departures?)
Michigan at Lake Superior (testing the viability of Michigan)
SCSU at Denver (this is Denver's last test... if they can't destroy us, they've no hope for the year)
AK-Anchorage vs. AK-Fairbanks (always a fun series to watch)

[Spammy]

I think Minnesota has a shot this year. Even without ballard and vanek.

Should make a fun year as long as I can still watch my games out here in South Dakota. I had to listen to the frontier classic and was confused...sinceI don't know that many of the freshmen yet.

Should be a fun year a hockey for anyone in the wcha..

Plus I don't see why michigan is ranked so high.

[Yoshi]

I dont follow hockey too much. But our girls came in second in the nation last year (division III)

It's not hockey if there are no "sticks".

w00t.

I was in their locker room last year and as you walk in, there's a huge mural of one of their past championship teams. Cool shit.

Rich, the greatest fair weather fan in the history of sport.

[Rich]

Rich, the greatest fair weather fan in the history of sport.

I want to go to BC more than any school, so if you wan to call me fair weather fan for liking the teams of the school I want to go to, then so be it. Hell, the only NY based team I even like is the Yanks, and the Giants though suprassed by the Colts.

[Yoshi]

Hell, the only NY based team I even like is the Yanks, and the Giants though suprassed by the Colts.

I rest my case.

[Rich]

I rest my case.

Ah yes, someone who doesn't support all of their hometown teams deserves ridicule!

[Jimmy Carter]

I think Minnesota has a shot this year. Even without ballard and vanek.

This is true, if only for one reason: Lucia. That man is the best coach in college hockey. Last year, the Gophers started slow and then ended up as contenders, only because of that man's ability to get the team to work like a well-oiled machine.

Gopher women are dominating right now. They just destroy anyone who gets near them, which is awesome.

Should be a fun year a hockey for anyone in the wcha..

Any year is a fun year in the WCHA. The teams are the best in the nation, bar-none. Maybe not all title winners, but our teams serve as spoilers for the rest of the teams. They knock each other out until they play another WCHA team, and then get knocked out.

Hoping to see North Dakota suck it up, but that probably won't happen. They're the only team in the conference that I would refuse to cheer for if they went against a coast team. I'll even chear for the Badgers against a coast team, and I hate Wisconsin with a passion not seen since Christ gave his body for the sins of the world.

Plus I don't see why michigan is ranked so high.

Ditto. They haven't been contenders for ages. Don't know what changed in the off-season to get the respect. Montoya is a great goalie, but goalies don't win seaons, they win playoffs (Denver, anyone?). And if you can't win the season, you're not going to come strong into the playoffs.

[Spammy]

This is true, if only for one reason: Lucia. That man is the best coach in college hockey. Last year, the Gophers started slow and then ended up as contenders, only because of that man's ability to get the team to work like a well-oiled machine.

I fully agree Lucia is a fantastic coach, I'm personally a bigger fan of woog but I really enjoy him as a comentator so all is well in the world.

Gopher women are dominating right now. They just destroy anyone who gets near them, which is awesome.

UofM women are always good, I'd just wish they got more press...then maybe more people would know and go see them play..I've enjoyed watching them play.

Any year is a fun year in the WCHA. The teams are the best in the nation, bar-none. Maybe not all title winners, but our teams serve as spoilers for the rest of the teams. They knock each other out until they play another WCHA team, and then get knocked out.

I fully agree, I see no problem ranking the wcha as the best conference. Granted Hockey east and CCHA will have a couple good teams, but the WCHA breeds some high caliber teams..look at Minnesota state(or whatever they are called now) they've become a great team in a short amount of time.

Hoping to see North Dakota suck it up, but that probably won't happen. They're the only team in the conference that I would refuse to cheer for if they went against a coast team. I'll even chear for the Badgers against a coast team, and I hate Wisconsin with a passion not seen since Christ gave his body for the sins of the world.

I'm not sure if there is a team I "hate" but nodak would be up there.When it comes to the frozen four I like seeing a wcha team win...it just cements us as a great conference

Ditto. They haven't been contenders for ages. Don't know what changed in the off-season to get the respect. Montoya is a great goalie, but goalies don't win seaons, they win playoffs (Denver, anyone?). And if you can't win the season, you're not going to come strong into the playoffs.

I believe the gophers faced them both times on their way to win...and they hardly ever made a dent in Minnesota. I think they always get ranked high, because they are only one of the decent teams in the ccha..so if they win their conference they are already in the tourney.

You could also compare the goalie situation to brodeur in new jersey. He's had some fantastic years in the pipes..but when he has no one in front to score points to help him..they haven't gone far. You can have the best goalie in the world, but someone on your teams needs to score to still win.