I've occasionally wondered over the past few months what college hockey could do to honor late Minnesota head coach Doug Woog.
On Tuesday, it hit me.
The Doug Woog Award should be awarded to the best Minnesotan playing college hockey for a D1 men's hockey team in the state.
This award exists in some form out east. For nearly 70 years, the best American-born player at a New England school has been awarded the Walter Brown Award. (Maine's Jeremy Swayman, a native of Anchorage, was the 2020 recipient.) For years, I've made an annual tweet about how the award should exist among the five Minnesota schools.
After all, there are few things Minnesotans love more than celebrating Minnesota hockey.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Quick Bracketology (March 4, 2020)
With the season winding down, I decided I wanted to use my bracketology degree to post a quick NCAA men's hockey bracket on the weeks I don't post a full version on NCAA.com.
Since it's a quick version, some of the details in the selection process might be overlooked. If you need a refresher for how the committee selects the 16 teams, this Bracketology 101 article should answer most of your basic questions.
Any others, I'm happy to answer in the comments.
The Teams (as of March 4, 2020):
1. North Dakota (NCHC)
2. Minnesota State (WCHA)
3. Cornell (ECAC)
T-4. Boston College (Hockey East)
T-4. Minnesota Duluth
T-4. Denver
7. Penn State (Big Ten)
8. Massachusetts
9. Clarkson
T-10. Bemidji State
T-10. Ohio State
12. Arizona State
13. UMass Lowell
14. Quinnipiac
15. Maine
27. American International (Atlantic Hockey)
In: UMass Lowell, Quinnipiac, Maine
Out: Northeastern, Minnesota, Western Michigan
First Four Out: Michigan, Minnesota, Northeastern, Western Michigan
Teams By Conference:
Hockey East: 4
NCHC: 3
ECAC: 3
Big Ten: 2
WCHA: 2
Atlantic Hockey: 1
Independent: 1
Notes:
-AIC bumps out Michigan this week, who moved up 4 spots after taking 5 of 6 points from Minnesota.
-Northeastern being swept by Vermont dropped the Huskies from a 3 seed to out of the bracket. It was good news for Arizona State, who sits waiting at home.
-The number of teams who can still earn at-large bids has dwindled down as postseason gets underway in four of the six conferences. Besides the first four out, Notre Dame, Providence and St. Cloud State are the only ones who technically can still make the NCAA Tournament without winning the automatic bid.
The Bracket:
Albany Region (Albany, NY - Host ECAC)
1. North Dakota vs. 16. AIC
8. Massachusetts vs. 9. Clarkson
Loveland Region (Loveland, CO - Host Denver)
2. Minnesota State vs. 15. Maine
6. Denver vs. 11. Ohio State
Allentown Region (Allentown, PA - Host Penn State)
3. Cornell vs. 13. UMass Lowell
7. Penn State vs. 10. Bemidji State
Worcester Region (Worcester, MA - Host Holy Cross)
4. Boston College vs. 14. Quinnipiac
5. Minnesota Duluth vs. 12. Arizona State
The only moves I made from the straight 1-16, 2-15, etc. bracket were to switch Quinnipiac and UMass Lowell in order to get rid of inter-conference matchups. I also essentially swapped the Penn State and Denver matchups for one another. Both hosts need to be in Allentown and Loveland, respectively. Switching the teams themselves creates an all-Big Ten matchup, which we need to avoid.
It makes more sense to have Cornell, who can drive to the PPL Center, in Allentown instead of Minnesota State. Same with Boston College in Worcester as much as I'd rather not reward the lowest No. 1 seed. It is a conversation for the committee to have, though.
Another issue popping up is attendance. This isn't the easiest bracket to move and fix attendance. The only two eastern teams in the No. 2 and No. 3 seeding bands are the 8th and 9th overall seeds. There might be some empty seats in Worcester for that UMD-Arizona State game, but there's not much we can do.
There are some fantastic matchups between another Denver-Ohio State rematch, Penn State's offense versus Bemidji State's defense, BC facing the last team it played in the NCAA Tournament, and the UMass-Clarkson matchup I wanted to see last year come to fruition.
Thoughts?
--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!
Since it's a quick version, some of the details in the selection process might be overlooked. If you need a refresher for how the committee selects the 16 teams, this Bracketology 101 article should answer most of your basic questions.
Any others, I'm happy to answer in the comments.
The Teams (as of March 4, 2020):
1. North Dakota (NCHC)
2. Minnesota State (WCHA)
3. Cornell (ECAC)
T-4. Boston College (Hockey East)
T-4. Minnesota Duluth
T-4. Denver
7. Penn State (Big Ten)
8. Massachusetts
9. Clarkson
T-10. Bemidji State
T-10. Ohio State
12. Arizona State
13. UMass Lowell
14. Quinnipiac
15. Maine
27. American International (Atlantic Hockey)
In: UMass Lowell, Quinnipiac, Maine
Out: Northeastern, Minnesota, Western Michigan
First Four Out: Michigan, Minnesota, Northeastern, Western Michigan
Teams By Conference:
Hockey East: 4
NCHC: 3
ECAC: 3
Big Ten: 2
WCHA: 2
Atlantic Hockey: 1
Independent: 1
Notes:
-AIC bumps out Michigan this week, who moved up 4 spots after taking 5 of 6 points from Minnesota.
-Northeastern being swept by Vermont dropped the Huskies from a 3 seed to out of the bracket. It was good news for Arizona State, who sits waiting at home.
-The number of teams who can still earn at-large bids has dwindled down as postseason gets underway in four of the six conferences. Besides the first four out, Notre Dame, Providence and St. Cloud State are the only ones who technically can still make the NCAA Tournament without winning the automatic bid.
The Bracket:
Albany Region (Albany, NY - Host ECAC)
1. North Dakota vs. 16. AIC
8. Massachusetts vs. 9. Clarkson
Loveland Region (Loveland, CO - Host Denver)
2. Minnesota State vs. 15. Maine
6. Denver vs. 11. Ohio State
Allentown Region (Allentown, PA - Host Penn State)
3. Cornell vs. 13. UMass Lowell
7. Penn State vs. 10. Bemidji State
Worcester Region (Worcester, MA - Host Holy Cross)
4. Boston College vs. 14. Quinnipiac
5. Minnesota Duluth vs. 12. Arizona State
The only moves I made from the straight 1-16, 2-15, etc. bracket were to switch Quinnipiac and UMass Lowell in order to get rid of inter-conference matchups. I also essentially swapped the Penn State and Denver matchups for one another. Both hosts need to be in Allentown and Loveland, respectively. Switching the teams themselves creates an all-Big Ten matchup, which we need to avoid.
It makes more sense to have Cornell, who can drive to the PPL Center, in Allentown instead of Minnesota State. Same with Boston College in Worcester as much as I'd rather not reward the lowest No. 1 seed. It is a conversation for the committee to have, though.
Another issue popping up is attendance. This isn't the easiest bracket to move and fix attendance. The only two eastern teams in the No. 2 and No. 3 seeding bands are the 8th and 9th overall seeds. There might be some empty seats in Worcester for that UMD-Arizona State game, but there's not much we can do.
There are some fantastic matchups between another Denver-Ohio State rematch, Penn State's offense versus Bemidji State's defense, BC facing the last team it played in the NCAA Tournament, and the UMass-Clarkson matchup I wanted to see last year come to fruition.
Thoughts?
--
If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Introducing the 2019-20 All-How Do They Still Have Eligibilty Team
"How do they still have eligibility? I thought they graduated two years ago!"
Every college hockey player receives four years of eligibility. Not all cases of eligibility are created equal, however. From time to time, a player ends up being on the Van Wilder plan.
While most players complete their four years and graduate, the names on the 2019-20 All-"How Do They Still Have Eligibility" Team are those who stand out for spending what seems like an eternity in college hockey.
What makes a player fit for the honor? Every player has their own reason. Sometimes it's due to transferring schools, like Michigan Tech goaltender Matt Jurusik, who played at Wisconsin for Mike Eaves. Other times, they get lumped in with a relative, such as St. Cloud State's Nick and Jack Poehling, or Robert Morris' Luke Lynch.
On the women's side, an Olympian can stand out for having a redshirt year or two. There are also players with outstanding rookie seasons who have dominated for three or four years, making it seem like they have been around longer than they actually were.
Finally, there's a group of players who are well known before college. Maybe it's because they committed early and took their time to get there. For example, Quinnipiac's William Fallstrom committed to Minnesota in June 2014. He's currently a sophomore in the year 2020. For years, Seth Ambroz was the go-to example. If Oliver Wahlstrom stayed at Boston College, he'd be the rare underclassman to have made the list.
For whatever reason, the select names on the 2019-20 All-"How Do They Still Have Eligibility" Teams - which for the first time include several suggestions from readers like you -
Without further adieu, let's get to the teams and individual awards.
Every college hockey player receives four years of eligibility. Not all cases of eligibility are created equal, however. From time to time, a player ends up being on the Van Wilder plan.
While most players complete their four years and graduate, the names on the 2019-20 All-"How Do They Still Have Eligibility" Team are those who stand out for spending what seems like an eternity in college hockey.
What makes a player fit for the honor? Every player has their own reason. Sometimes it's due to transferring schools, like Michigan Tech goaltender Matt Jurusik, who played at Wisconsin for Mike Eaves. Other times, they get lumped in with a relative, such as St. Cloud State's Nick and Jack Poehling, or Robert Morris' Luke Lynch.
On the women's side, an Olympian can stand out for having a redshirt year or two. There are also players with outstanding rookie seasons who have dominated for three or four years, making it seem like they have been around longer than they actually were.
Finally, there's a group of players who are well known before college. Maybe it's because they committed early and took their time to get there. For example, Quinnipiac's William Fallstrom committed to Minnesota in June 2014. He's currently a sophomore in the year 2020. For years, Seth Ambroz was the go-to example. If Oliver Wahlstrom stayed at Boston College, he'd be the rare underclassman to have made the list.
For whatever reason, the select names on the 2019-20 All-"How Do They Still Have Eligibility" Teams - which for the first time include several suggestions from readers like you -
Without further adieu, let's get to the teams and individual awards.
Monday, March 2, 2020
BLOG: Why The First Half Pairwise Predicts The NCAA Tournament Field
There's an old saying to not look at the Pairwise rankings until the holiday break. By then, the rankings settle down. Teams do not move around.
However, that does not feel like the case this year. It seems like 2020 has been one where several high-profile teams have made giant leaps into the bracket.
Each week a new school hops into contention making the jump on the heels of a hot weekend or month. Maine. Minnesota. Bemidji State. New Hampshire. Michigan. All have made noise in the last six weeks.
Still, for all the noise being made, is this year vastly different? Turns out, not as much as one would think.
However, that does not feel like the case this year. It seems like 2020 has been one where several high-profile teams have made giant leaps into the bracket.
Each week a new school hops into contention making the jump on the heels of a hot weekend or month. Maine. Minnesota. Bemidji State. New Hampshire. Michigan. All have made noise in the last six weeks.
Still, for all the noise being made, is this year vastly different? Turns out, not as much as one would think.
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