Badger Hockey 2010-2011

[danzig6767]

Badgers lose, their season is over.

Ugggggggggggg

 

There were a variety of reasons that the Badgers weren't able to make the tournament field, but one is that we need better goaltending. For a long time Wisconsin has had a long history of upper tier goaltending, but it's slipped some of late. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with Bill Howard leaving the program or not. Next year we'll likely have a freshman in goal.

[logan82]

As long as we don't have a mass exodus like we did last year we should be a pretty solid team next year.

[Baldkin]

I'm pretty sure going like 3 for 800 on power plays the last 6 weeks of the season had a lot to do with it as well.

[hawing]

The UW women claimed their fourth national championship Sunday afternoon with a 4-1 win over Boston University. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[trwi7]

Craig Smith turns pro a day after David Poile said he had a chance to make the Predators out of training camp.

[paul253]

Just wanted to bump the Badger hockey thread. This must be the ugliest hot team in the history of college hockey. They've won 9 of 10 and have points in 13 of their last 14 games but the team just doesn't look good. That being said, they are only 4 points out of 1st place in the WCHA right now. Good defense but they still haven't settled on a #1 goalie.

 

One other thing. I've been disappointed with the tv coverage this year. I have DirecTV and it I get more Minnesota games then UW games.

[trwi7]

TV coverage has been the best it has been in years for me. They've been on FS Wisconsin, FS Wisconsin +, NBC Sports Network and BTN and they always have replays at 10 on Wisconsin Public Television.

[paul253]

I don't get FSW + but I have noticed a lot of games on that channel. The Bucks are on FSW all the time but even when they aren't they'll broadcast like Pac 12 college basketball games before they'll put a Badger Hockey game on. I'm hoping with the formation of Big 10 hockey next season the Big 10 channel will broadcast more games then they do now.

[1e Corbeau]

I don't get FSW + but I have noticed a lot of games on that channel. The Bucks are on FSW all the time but even when they aren't they'll broadcast like Pac 12 college basketball games before they'll put a Badger Hockey game on. I'm hoping with the formation of Big 10 hockey next season the Big 10 channel will broadcast more games then they do now.

Considering it's going to be a six-team league, I'd imagine/hope you wouldn't have to go more than a weekend or two without the main BTN covering a Badger hockey game.

 

NBCSN seems to concentrate on ECAC and Hockey East games and I've seen a few UMN games on FSW, too. Are the PBS replays still in SD?

[trwi7]

I don't get FSW + but I have noticed a lot of games on that channel.

 

Really? What provider do you have?

 

Are the PBS replays still in SD?

 

I've watched them in HD.

[paul253]

I have DirecTV

[trwi7]

According to this the alternate channel is 658 SD and 658-1 HD.

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/146340005.html

[Jimbo]

We attempt to make it to one men's game and one women's game a year. Saturday night we checked out the men's team. I'm no hockey conaseur (sp?), just appeared to be to much sloppy passing in the defensive zone. Surprised UAA didn't score more than once.

[TooLiveBrew]

The ice looks absolutely dreadful today. Seemed like a good 1st period, though I admit I'm a complete novice when it comes to hockey.

[trwi7]

It was an awful 1st period for the Badgers offensively, which is par for the course.

[PeaveyFury]

Badgers taking it to Minnesota in period #2. The Gophers really seem to be struggling to adjust to the outside ice, as they are over skating passes and being beaten for contested pucks consistently by Wisconsin.

[logan82]

I think the ice is probably soft and a little slower and I believe that would favor Wisconsin.

[logan82]

Goodbye WCHA. I think the WCHA is going from being a power hockey conference to one of the worst.

[paul253]

I'm excited about Big 10 hockey and seeing Wisconsin playing Michigan, Michigan St and Ohio St every year. I hope within the next decade or so at least two more schools (Indiana? Illinois?) add hockey.

 

As far as this team goes.....wow. Who'd have thought a month into the season that this team would even be a contender for the NCAA tournament, let alone WCHA tournament champions. If they continue to play good defense like they have been they can beat anyone right now.

 

And hopefully all their eligible guys come back next season, particularly Mersch, Zengerle, and Kerdiles. They could have a really good team if that happens.

[ilikewisco]

I think the WCHA will be as good as the Big Ten. You still have UMD, UND, CC and Denver there and they are always competitive. And Omaha, St Cloud and Mankato have been much better lately. The only two teams they lose is UW and Minnesota and the other schools will still get a lot of Canadian imports before they'd go to Penn State or Ohio State I would think.

 

Great to see the Badgers win the last final five. Went to Thursday's game against Minnesota St and they looked pretty good. They are playing there best hockey now so we will see what happens.

[PeaveyFury]

What an amazing run by this team. Probably one of Eaves' best coaching seasons ever.

[paul253]

Ilikewisco a bunch of those teams you mentioned are also leaving the WCHA and joining up with a few CCHA teams to form a new conference. That conference will probably be better than the Big 10. I think some of the teams are Denver, CC, North Dakota, St Cloud, Minnesota Duluth, Western Michigan and Miami (OH).

 

What the Big 10 does have is name recognition. A casual fan who doesn't watch much college hockey would probably be like "St. Cloud St vs Minnesota Duluth? Who are they?" This as opposed to Minnesota vs Wisconsin or Michigan vs Ohio St. Plus the Big 10 Network obviously.

[trwi7]

The new WCHA will be Alaska-Anchorage, Alaska-Fairbanks, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State and Northern Michigan.

[logan82]

BIG TEN (6 teams, new)

Michigan (from CCHA)

Michigan State (from CCHA)

Minnesota (from WCHA)

Ohio State (from CCHA)

Penn State (from independent)

Wisconsin (from WCHA)

 

NCHC (8 teams, new)

Colorado College (from WCHA)

Denver (from WCHA)

Miami (from CCHA)

Minnesota-Duluth (from WCHA)

Nebraska-Omaha (from WCHA)

North Dakota (from WCHA)

St. Cloud State (from WCHA)

Western Michigan (from CCHA)

 

WCHA (5 new)

Alaska (from CCHA)

Alaska-Anchorage

Bemidji State

Ferris State (from CCHA)

Lake Superior State (from CCHA)

Michigan Tech

Minnesota State

Northern Michigan (CCHA)

Bowling Green (CCHA)

 

The NCHC looks like the new power conference though the Big Ten looks strong. The WCHA is left with only 2 teams that finished in the top 10 of the WCHA this year.(#4 and #10) Michigan Tech is the only ranked team.

 

It looks like after Wisconsin and Minnesota decided to leave most of the good teams left in the WCHA decided to jump ship. I am honestly not happy to see the end of the WCHA.

[trwi7]

If the Big Ten only stays at 6 teams it will be a pretty bad decision but if they can get say Nebraska and Iowa to join it looks better.