2023-24 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[the green team]

Quick question for those that really dive into this at this time of year. because of the pair wise predictor/calculator- if everything is entered as the weekend goes correctly, there is essentially no surprises to the selections come Sunday?  Because the numbers are what they are by Saturday night, as well as the auto-bids, so The field will be known Saturday night &  even the seeds? Would the only real unknowns come Sunday morning be which region teams get sent to?   

[TheEagle]

11 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

So a win on Friday night would probably lock up a #1 seed?

FWIW, in 2016 we were the #3 overall seed.

It looks like we could backdoor our way to a #1 seed with a Denver loss to SCSU and a Michigan State loss to Michigan, but I think a win on Friday wraps up a #1 seed.

[Sweethockey]

27 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

So a win on Friday night would probably lock up a #1 seed?

FWIW, in 2016 we were the #3 overall seed.

FWIW- I am not confident that we could win without last change this year. In 2016, I was confident if we had to play short-handed.

[Kevin G]

6 minutes ago, Sweethockey said:

FWIW- I am not confident that we could win without last change this year. In 2016, I was confident if we had to play short-handed.

With that top line and d-core, Dane could’ve skated a few shifts and we probably would’ve been alright. (Well not against DU.)

[farce poobah]

22 minutes ago, the green team said:

Quick question for those that really dive into this at this time of year. because of the pair wise predictor/calculator- if everything is entered as the weekend goes correctly, there is essentially no surprises to the selections come Sunday?  Because the numbers are what they are by Saturday night, as well as the auto-bids, so The field will be known Saturday night &  even the seeds? Would the only real unknowns come Sunday morning be which region teams get sent to?   

The Pairwise Ratings have correctly predicted the tournament field for the last 20+ years.    They are also committed to placing tournament hosts in their home regional. 

Beyond that is where uncertainty lies.   

Specifically, does the Committee protect the #1 ans #2 overall seeds?  (The Committee Chair this year is from Vermont FWIW.) 

Also, and related, how far do they bend to avoid intra-conference matchups in round one?  

[fightingsioux4life]

9 minutes ago, Sweethockey said:

FWIW- I am not confident that we could win without last change this year. In 2016, I was confident if we had to play short-handed.

Yeah, I am not worried about that. With a #3 overall seed, we would have last change against all but two teams.

In any event, championship teams find a way even if everything isn't entirely in their favor.

[Oxbow6]

They will basically be home games for UND in the Sioux Falls regional. That needs to be the objective moving forward. Get a #1 seed.  Winning the NCHC tournament is secondary IMO.

[stoneySIOUX]

5 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

They will basically be home games for UND in the Sioux Falls regionsl. That needs to be the objective moving forward. Winning the NCHC tournament is secondary IMO.

But, winning the NCHC tournament would basically guarantee we'd be in Sioux Falls, correct? 

[Oxbow6]

11 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

But, winning the NCHC tournament would basically guarantee we'd be in Sioux Falls, correct? 

Beating Omaha gets them a #1 seed if I'm understanding it all correct. My guess if UND is a 1 and UNO is a 3 both well be on SF.....$$$$

 

[stoneySIOUX]

25 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Beating Omaha gets them a #1 seed if I'm understanding it all correct. My guess if UND is a 1 and UNO is a 3 both well be on SF.....$$$$

 

Yep, totally agree.

[fightingsioux4life]

52 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

They will basically be home games for UND in the Sioux Falls regional. That needs to be the objective moving forward. Get a #1 seed.  Winning the NCHC tournament is secondary IMO.

Denver and North Dakota do not need to win the NCHC tournament.

Omaha probably wants to win at least one game to secure an at-large bid.

St. Cloud probably needs to win the tournament for the auto-bid.

[nodak651]

When 5 teams of the same conference make the tournament, conf vs conf matchups are allowed in the first round.  They should give UND the option if this situation arises, imo.

[skateshattrick]

1 minute ago, fightingsioux4life said:

Denver and North Dakota do not need to win the NCHC tournament.

Omaha probably wants to win at least one game to secure an at-large bid.

St. Cloud probably needs to win the tournament for the auto-bid.

Omaha is already in the tournament and is a 3 seed. 

[jk]

Just now, fightingsioux4life said:

Denver and North Dakota do not need to win the NCHC tournament.

Omaha probably wants to win at least one game to secure an at-large bid.

St. Cloud probably needs to win the tournament for the auto-bid.

Omaha is 100% in the tournament.  They actually have the least to play for.  

My question is that if DU is the higher seed, and Omaha and perhaps another area team (MN?) is there, do they not need UND's money and can they put Denver, who earned it, there.

[siouxweet]

I could see a scenario in Sioux Falls of UND, Omaha and CC all there with there being 5 NCHC teams.

[stoneySIOUX]

15 minutes ago, jk said:

Omaha is 100% in the tournament.  They actually have the least to play for.  

My question is that if DU is the higher seed, and Omaha and perhaps another area team (MN?) is there, do they not need UND's money and can they put Denver, who earned it, there.

A flight is a flight. DU flying to St. Louis or Sioux Falls is about a half hour of flight time difference. The committee will put UND in Sioux Falls if UNO and UND aren't aligned to play in the first round.

[The Sicatoka]

My bracket prediction? 

Somebody ain't gonna be happy. 

Most likely cause of great consternation and trepidation? UMass as a regional host and the region's four-seed gets (likely) BU shipped west and 3 or 4 overall shipped east. Next most likely is Omaha as a regional three and host. 

[Oxbow6]

10 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

My bracket prediction? 

Somebody ain't gonna be happy. 

Most likely cause of great consternation and trepidation? UMass as a regional host and the region's four-seed gets (likely) BU shipped west and 3 or 4 overall shipped east. Next most likely is Omaha as a regional three and host. 

All of this is why top 4 seeds need to host. The nonsense that we possibly see like above is just another nail in the coffin to these type of regionals.....hopefully.

[brianvf]

47 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

My bracket prediction? 

Somebody ain't gonna be happy. 

Most likely cause of great consternation and trepidation? UMass as a regional host and the region's four-seed gets (likely) BU shipped west and 3 or 4 overall shipped east. Next most likely is Omaha as a regional three and host. 

 

35 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

All of this is why top 4 seeds need to host. The nonsense that we possibly see like above is just another nail in the coffin to these type of regionals.....hopefully.

If BU gets sent west because of UMass hosting, maybe some of those eastern hockey writers will change their tune about wanting to keep the regional format as it is now. 

[brianvf]

Every player practiced at the Ralph today, including Albrecht & Persson.
Still no word on which goalie will take the start on Friday.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-not-expecting-to-announce-starting-goaltender-until-friday-afternoon?fbclid=IwAR0ioQFYDoTzCPUFeDpNskIeCzOK628xK8WqhM__QssrW4I0yIbmV1FjDPc

Quote

An illness made its way through some UND hockey players last week. But there was a bit of good news Tuesday. Every player was on the ice for practice.

That included senior forward Carson Albrecht, who was one of the ill players. Albrecht missed both games of UND's sweep of Miami. It also included goaltender Ludvig Persson.

Quote

"We're going to go through the week here, and when you get close to the weekend, we'll make a decision on who that is," Berry said. "Ludvig Persson has been our goaltender for the majority of the year here. Hobie Hedquist came in and played three games during the regular season and he won them all. He came in for two games this weekend and won his first two playoff games, so he's 5-0."

 

[Kevin G]

4 hours ago, brianvf said:

 

If BU gets sent west because of UMass hosting, maybe some of those eastern hockey writers will change their tune about wanting to keep the regional format as it is now. 

Maybe but some of those guys really believe that on-campus regionals are inherently unfair. 

[Benny Baker]

I thought the perennial powers were in favor of onsite regionals (im thinking UND, Minny, Michigan, BU, BC, etc) but it’s the other 50 or so schools who are against it?

For example, the Yale’s, Union’s, and Providence’s of the college hockey world probably don’t win national championships the last decade if they have to go into Grand Forks to win national tournament games.  They have better odds beating UND in Toledo, OH in front of 1,166 generic fans instead 11,667 Sioux fans in Grand Forks.

[farce poobah]

6 hours ago, brianvf said:

 

If BU gets sent west because of UMass hosting, maybe some of those eastern hockey writers will change their tune about wanting to keep the regional format as it is now. 

If BU gets sent west, its possible that UND gets sent east.  That would trigger a LOT of discussion. 

[brianvf]

1 hour ago, farce poobah said:

If BU gets sent west, its possible that UND gets sent east.  That would trigger a LOT of discussion. 

I feel like that has a pretty good shot at happening.  Even if UND beats UNO.
It's either that, or the committee puts three NCHC teams in one regional, which would suck as well.

[thUNDer]

On 3/15/2024 at 10:33 AM, 90siouxfan said:

I always hope for a play by play guy that calls the action and a color guy that only speaks when the puck is not moving.

So it’s not just me then who thinks Alex’s preparedness, professionalism & personality detracts from him doing more pxp. His knowledge is impressive to listen to though as well.