RedFrog

Wanted to share a quick story from the regional. I have not had much luck watching the Sioux play when we have traveled to watch them in the NCAA tournament. Went to the 2006 Regional at the Ralph ... that one went well. Went to the 2007 Frozen Four in St. Louis (lost to BC - at least got to see Duncan's Hobey in person) Went to the 2008 Frozen Four in Denver (lost to BC) Went to the 2011 Frozen Four in St. Paul (lost to Mich) Went to the 2017 Regional in Fargo (lost to BU in double OT) Went to the 2021 Regional in Fargo (lost to UMD in 5 OT) I have been hesitant to travel to watch as it is depressing when they aren't successful, but I talked my wife into making the trek to Sioux Falls this year. Was just happy to get the win on Thursday and still be vested going into Saturday. My wife is a big fan, but doesn't get into the games much ... typically on her phone or visiting. All day Saturday leading up to the game she complained how nervous and anxious she was, to the point where her stomach was upset. Really unusual for her to get that vested. After we scored the third goal in the 1st period, I asked her if she was feeling better ... she said no and that she would feel better once it was 5-0. After the fifth goal was scored, she looked at me and said she was better and that she knew we were going to win. Glad to have gotten that monkey off our backs.

What did your evaluation reveal that brought you to this conclusion? Genuinely curious. I believe we got a good draw with Wisconsin taking out Michigan State ... I thought the Spartans were the team to beat, however, I think this the Wisconsin matchup is very similar to our Quinnipiac game in the regional final ... we are theoretically the better team and need to bring it out the gate and not let up. That other side scares me, regardless if it is Denver or Michigan. Denver has won 11 in a row and hasn't lost in their last 15. Michigan seems to have momentum and is creating a lot of puck luck. Their offensive prowess is obviously elite, the question is if their defensive play is as good as it needs to be. I think Denver is a nightmare matchup for them.

Reading a lot about the quality of the TV broadcasts … not much better production in the arena. Music playing over loud speaker during play, most ref announcements weren’t heard in the arena. Lucky to get a replay and then it was once from one angle. Enjoyed the bands during the UND game. It was also like sitting in the old Bill Jerome temperature wise … probably exacerbated by the fact we constantly had cold air blowing down directly on us.

Any updates on Strinden? Didn’t see him on the ice after he was down. He was for sure not on the ice for handshakes as we were looking for him. Any other potential injury concerns?

For the love of Parise, why can't sites get correct times for the games? Three different sources, three different times for the first game in Sioux Falls: https://www.uscho.com/ https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/ncaa-sioux-falls-regional-at-a-glance 4 PM is the start time I believe it to be.

I agree with this ... will be interesting to see how much homework he does though. Likely knows the highly touted draft picks, but not so good on the depth. Fortunately, I'll be in attendance, so I won't get to hear his commentary.

The question is what is the best answer for the 2 v 3 bands, specifically as it pertains to Dartmouth in the 2 band and the Queue and Cornell in the 3 band. Do you make three moves to fix it by putting UMD in Sioux Falls, Providence to Worcester, and Dartmouth to Albany? Or, do you simplify it by making 2 moves of UMD to Worcester and Dartmouth to Albany?

My shot at predicting the bracket: Albany 1 Michigan (1) v 4 Bentley (16) 2 Dartmouth (6) v 3 Penn State (9) Sioux Falls 1 UND (2) v 4 Merrimack (15) 2 Providence (7) v 3 Quinnipiac (10) Worcester 1 Michigan St (3) v 4 UConn (14) 2 UMD (8) v 3 Cornell (11) Loveland 1 Western Mich (4) v 4 Mankato (13) 2 Denver (5) v 3 Wisconsin (12) I'm swapping Dartmouth and UMD instead of Penn State and Cornell ... I'll admit, however, that I don't know the locations of some of these schools out east in contrast to Albany and Worcester. I know it's odd to move the higher seed to avoid an interconference matchup, but that is what I did. Otherwise, you go rock chalk jayhawk. If you want to protect certain teams, you go away from the current regional hosting system as it is. That ECAC issue with Dartmouth at 6, the Queue at 10 and Cornell at 11 is what makes this interesting.

Yup dates are set ... just no times yet that I am aware of. https://www.ncaa.com/championships/icehockey-men/d1/future-info Sioux Falls and Worcester are Thursday (26th) and Saturday (28th) Loveland and Albany are Friday (27th) and Sunday (29th).

Have we determined the actual time of the selection show tomorrow?

OK, so let's figure this out. Top 11 in NPI are locks Mankato is in AHA winner is in, loser is out That leaves 3 spots up for grabs. Wisconsin is in as long as any one of Merrimack, Ohio State or Princeton lose ... if all three win, Wisconsin is out. UConn can get in if they lose to Merrimack, but Ohio State and Princeton both lose. If either of Ohio State or Princeton win, UConn has to win to get in. Augustana needs no upsets meaning they need Merrimack, Ohio State, and Princeton to all lose. One of those wins tomorrow, Augustana is eliminated Ohio State and Princeton need to win to get in. Am I missing anything? EDIT: Wisconsin getting in is only dependent on Ohio State and Princeton, the Hockey East final doesn't impact them as both UConn and Merrimack are below them in the NPI and will take one of the at larges in the 13-16 range. If Ohio State AND Princeton win, Wisconsin is out.

This is what I want ....

Any update on Ollie's injury status?

Why would they get shipped to CO in this scenario? Natural seeding still goes 2 UND v 15 UMass and 7 Cornell v 10 Penn State

Probability Matrix is updated: https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ratings/probabilityMatrix.php Winner of St. Thomas and Mankato is in, the loser is out. Augustana can still sneak in.

Will have to play with a predictor ... with them currently at 16, they would need a team ahead of them (St. Thomas, UMass or UConn) to fall behind them. and then that would be if there aren't any spot stealers that win their conference.

Added Princeton and Clarkson who both move on to the ECAC semis next weekend. Also, Bentley is currently 25 in NPI.

BU ties it up with 7 1/2 to go in the 2nd ... 2-2 I agree with the benches on opposite sides of the rink ... If it is allowed, then the penalty boxes also need to be on the opposite side of their bench.

UConn PPG - 2-1

BU ties it 1-1 early in the 2nd period.

UConn up 1-0 over BU with 2 mins left in the 1st. Sacha is in the lineup.

Big Mac Attack Swanson

Here is my take (bubble spots are #13, #14, and #15 in NPI): AHA: Eliminates the NPI #16 ECAC: Quinnipiac is a lock (Down 1-0 in best of 3 v Clarkson) Cornell is a lock (Down 1-0 in best of 3 v Harvard) Dartmouth is essentially a lock (Up 1-0 in best of 3 v Colgate) Princeton is up on Union 1-0 in best of 3 If anyone other than Queue, Cornell or Dartmouth wins the ECAC, they take a bubble spot away. Union has a slim chance to get in as an at large, but that would likely only be possible by winning the auto bid anyway. NCHC: All remaining teams are locks (UND, UMD, Denver and Western) and won't take any bubble spots. B1G: Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State are locks and still alive. Ohio State is the only one here who could steal a bubble spot. Wisconsin is essentially in, but would be a team that could sweat with multiple conference upsets. Hockey East: Providence is the only lock. UMass and UConn could get in if they get to the championship but don't win it ... but will likely need to win it to get in, which would also then put them in the top 15 of NPI. Merrimack, BU, Northeastern, and BC would steal a bubble spot if they won the AQ. CCHA: Augustana has the best chance of making it as an At Large ... Michigan Tech will need to win it to get in and would steal a bubble spot. St. Thomas and Mankato need to get to the championship game to have a chance at an at large. Conclusion: There are essentially 12 locks (current NPI 1-12) leaving 3 bubble spots up for grabs (AHA takes one of the 4 remaining spots). Out of those ranked 13-18 in the current NPI, current NPI #13 Augustana has the best chance of getting an at large without winning their conference tournament, but they would be sweating out the other conference tournament results leaving 2 bubble spots for the other five teams to battle over. UMass (14), UConn (15) and BC (17) from Hockey East and St. Thomas (16) and Mankato (18) are 5 teams battling for those 2 spots. 14-18 are currently separated by only 0.328. After tomorrow we'll know who is still in the running from the CCHA, If St. Thomas and Mankato win, they along with Augustana would still be alive. If either of them lose, their season will be over. The Hockey East is only in their quarter finals and will have their semi finals and finals next weekend, so less will be decided. Providence is the only one who can lose tomorrow and not have their season essentially ended. UConn and/or UMass would still have life, but would need Providence to win Hockey East, Augustana win the CCHA, and for Ohio State to lose in the B1G.

Good goal ... Bentley wins.

Announcers aid they have no video of the review to show. Wonder what the stripes are looking at then? Still under review.