Dustin

Man did we get lucky none of the those under-the-basket shots went in in the closing seconds.

Seems crazy that BC hasn’t won the Beanpot in 10 years.

Michigan State has a better history than you've given credit for. They played in their first championship game in 1959 (lost to UND), and won their first title in 1966, which is before Boston U, Wisconsin, and Minnesota won their first. While several programs are streaky, with several titles over a short period and big gaps in between, Michigan State (so far) has consistently won a title about every 20 years, which means they are due, and in great position to maintain that, I might add.

I agree exactly with the 7 blue bloods you mentioned. If Michigan State added 2 more titles in the next, say, 20 years, I would consider them as well. But right now, there's a sharp cut off between those 7 schools and the rest of the field.

That's a thought, however, I believe there have been past charts with the cut line after 15.

I was sort of thinking the same thing.

So the current MVFC schedule is invalid?

NCAA Hockey National Rankings Why would this NPI chart show the cut line after 14? There are 5 conferences represented in the top 15, so only Atlantic Hockey would be left for the 16th team.

I hoped for failure for them in 2004. Didn't happen. I can hope again but also need to see better (and sooner) action from UND. I believed then and still believe now that NDSU is trying to run away from UND, knowing they had caught up. For shame. Should do what's right for the state, not themselves.

I think pretty much every UND fan would have been cheering for UMD in that game, including me. Not only the Sandy connection, but UMD had only one title at that point, while Denver was aiming to tie us (again) at eight.

1. Minnesota - have friends and family on both sides of this one, so everything cuts a little deeper. 2. Denver - too many big games against them to not be #2. 3. Duluth - rivalry has been elevated since their first Natty. Throw A few big games in there and they’re easily number 3 now, but maybe not historically. 4. Wisconsin - mostly stemming from the early ‘80s (a time I was too young to remember) but for me I don’t actively cheer against them; in fact quite the opposite. It’s good for college hockey when the Badgers are relevant. 5. St. Cloud State - not as easy to explain as the others, but their attitude towards UND and its fans just seems off-putting. 6. Any of the remaining “blue bloods” - Boston college, Boston university, Michigan I would consider switching the order of 4, 5, and 6.

This could play out big time come playoffs.

I’m intrigued by this, but I’m not sure if it would incentivize scoring, unless that point was needed late season for home ice or regular season conference championship. I feel this would return to the previous OT strategy of “don’t lose.”

Question about Wisconsin - during the “Wisconsin Wars” of the early ‘80s, wouldn’t they have been #2 outright, or did Denver still have a hold on #2 then? I was born at the height of the Wisconsin rivalry, so I was too young to remember any of it. Also, from what I’ve gathered through experience and conversations, Wisconsin was more of a friendly rivalry, with each team’s fans rooting for the other if playing Minnesota.

Is this official yet or still speculation?

They’re also not their in-state rival.

Im glad Eric is HC for this moment and not Bubba.

Totally spaced on the game last night, but came here to read the thread this morning and then watched the highlights. UND needs some way to honor Eli King. He's been an absolute warrior for this program.

Last time UND had players from eastern Europe things worked out pretty well.

Interesting history that I was not aware of.

No. Denver is the only school that will make the tournament that is remotely close to Loveland. The make-up (or assumed make-up, at this point) of this year's tournament teams is not suited very well geographically for where the regional sites are. Right now, 3 of the 4 top seeds are based in Michigan, yet the closest any of them is to a regional site is a 9 hour drive. Not a great set up for fans or the optics of the sport. If the NCAA is not going to allow home sites for hockey regionals, the best idea I've come up with is two 8-team super regionals set in (major) cities within the geographical footprint of college hockey, like Boston, Detroit, Chicago, and St. Paul (and maybe Denver). They would function just like the four 4-team regionals, but essentially you take two of those and lump together in one more appealing (and accessible) site. Then, the Frozen Four should be rotated between two or three warm-weather sites like Tampa, Nashville, and Las Vegas, sort of like a "reward" for the fans who've been in the cold all winter.

Thanks for the reminder. Seems like I always here about the games after they've been played and never actually remember to watch them.

Current NPI would put us in the Denver-hosted regional, however, there's a first round problem in spots 7-10, with 3 ECAC teams, potentially shaking up the straight NPI formula with (a) swap(s) that could affect where those teams get sent. Obviously too early to worry or speculate, just interesting. (3) UND vs. (14) Wisconsin (6) Providence vs (11) Denver

I see. I think also has family ties to northern Minnesota, like Iron Range area.

Are you sure? Unless he's moved in the last few years, he lives in Grand Forks.