brianvf

Something tells me that DU will beat WMU. I would be very surprised to see DU exit in the 1st round for a third straight season... Especially with how well they played on Saturday against UND. I think a DU/UND rematch (should UND beat RPI, of course) would be a toss-up. I still think that UND hasn't played their best hockey yet against DU, and if they did they should be able to beat them. But anything is possible in a one and done.

I got shafted.

Western? You think DU will lose in the 1st round again?

We can hope so. That would be great to see.

Agreed.

No conspiracy. It's just maintaining bracket integrity. It's what many of the "experts" predicted last night. Can't think about BC yet, still two games to get through before that. Same for BC, they are in a tough regional as well.

The only time Gopher teams play on the East coast is if they get shipped there for a NCAA game.

I hate having to possibly play DU again in a week (don't want them to flip the tables on us like we did with MN a few years ago), but that's life. Can't overlook RPI like we did with Yale last year.

Predicted bracket from USCHO: I'd hate to have to face DU again in a potential regional final matchup (they're a tough team and would be out looking for revenge for tonight), but these brackets would be doable. I think UMD could challenge Yale. The NE regional is a toss-up IMO. The West regional is the bracket of death. If BC wants to repeat, they would have their work cut out for them there.

The only way we get shipped out to Manchester is if UNH is a #4 seed AND Merrimack gets the final #1 seed. The latter is the one that isn't as likely. Could still happen, but it looks like Miami has the best shot at the final #1 seed.

Voted...but he's now in 3rd place.

Go Sioux!

I would love if this actual bracket happened. Miami's bracket is brutal. Any of those four teams could end up in StP. BC would have to play a tough UMD or UNH team to advance. Yale and DU? A toss-up, but at least Yale wouldn't have a cakewalk to StP like in other brackets. I think UND could win that regional...

http://www.uscho.com/hobeywatch/2011/03/14/checking-out-the-frat-party/

After watching Gregoire the last month or so, I'd be very pleasantly surprised if he was back next season. I'd love to see it, but I'm not sure...

Any NCAA-bound WCHA team could win that East regional. Cupcake classic there. The NE Regional, however, is brutal. Wow, hopefully the Sioux don't get sent to a regional like that. I could see any of those four teams making it to the F4...

Brad posted his picks as well: http://undhockey.areavoices.com/ Definitely some homers picks from him (Trupp probably won't be on many ballots, nor will Hakstol), but I think he makes valid points on many of his other selections.

I agree with Chuck on the bolded above.

The question about Ciskie...is he a homer? He says it himself. It is humorous to me how many UMD players are on his All-WCHA ballot: 1st place UND has 2 players on his entire ballot (not including Rookie). 2nd place DU has 4 players. 3rd place UNO has 1 player. 4th place UMD has 4 players and the POTY. Homer much, Bruce? The funny thing about MConnolly over Frattin is that Frattin has 3 more goals and 3 more assists in league play, and he wasn't out on the ice every other shift like the Connolly line was for UMD. If UMD was more than a 1.5-line team, Connolly would be even further down that list.

And the whole Dell vs Patterson thing is crazy. It doesn't matter...they're both good goalies. One has better save %, one has better GAA. Ciskie is crazy though. Brittain as 1st team goalie...Bakala as 3rd team? Has he not watched DU's struggles in net during the last month or so?

There still is a good chance that the Gophers will make the NCAA tourney. They pretty much NEED to sweep UAA this weekend though to do it. If they lose one game (even if they advance to the F5), their chances take a serious hit.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the Frozen Four team comment. I bet that if Maine would have made it to the F4 last season, Nyquist may have gotten more votes, but with UW making it...Blake kind of wrapped it up. If Miami fails to advance to StP and Frattin helps lead the Sioux to the F4...I think he would definitely garner a few more votes from that.

I would be thrilled if both Gregoire and Kristo come back next season. They would form a formidable offensive tandem that a young team could build off of...especially with a stud like Grimaldi coming in. That said, anything can happen in the offseason. Gregoire would honestly be a Hobey candidate if he came back. He's such a great 2-way player. Kristo...not sure if he would want to jump ship this year after his frostbite incident and the slow start he had points-wise. But anything is possible when money is thrown your way.

Disappointing. But great season from the women...I look forward to an even bigger improvement next year!