Two WCHA teams are in the Frozen Four, as Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota punched tickets at their respective regionals this weekend. They will play Notre Dame and Michigan, respectively April 7-9 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
No eastern teams this year as the other two teams are CCHA teams (Michigan will be a Big 10 team in a couple of years).
Sadly, the nearly two-week wait between regionals and semifinals completely kills the momentum of what's been a pretty good NCAA tournament, with four overtime games — one a double-OT — and one controversial ending over the weekend. Too bad the North Dakota-Denver game didn't live up to the hype eight days after their own double-overtime thriller in the WCHA Final Five. The Sioux topped the Pios 6-1 on Sunday.
North Dakota and Michigan will play the night game on April 7 at the X. What a matchup between a pair of teams with 16 national titles between them.
31 comments:
Any Maverick hockey news Shane? I know it is the doldrums of the season but I am still thirsty for any information you have. Maybe some info on Lietner?
Players moving on, Youds, Davis, Sackrison?
Okay this is all I can find out. Youds straight to NHL next fall unless something changes. Davis waiting to hear AHL. Sakrison next year , time to heal and get stronger AHL /NHL. Elbrecht could leave AHL but is coming back.
Tim- if you leave for a paid league (AHL, ECHL, etc) you can't come back to a NCAA team. It's against the rules, so no way does Elbrecht leave for that and come back. Not allowed at all and he wouldn't go back to juniors (the only place you can go and come back really). If he leaves, he leaves...which I highly doubt he's leaving.
As for Youds, I doubt even more than he's going straight to the NHL next fall. Don't know where you're getting your information but whoever it's from really fed you a line of bull. If you're believing it, I've got some ketcup popcicles to sell you for when you wear white gloves!
Yes if Elbrecht left he would be making that decision but I believe if you read what was written he is choosing to come back. Youds could easily be going to NHL. Chances are he will sign a two way and then see how things go over the summer. Try to put your dislike about certain players out of judgement about their playing ability. Jouds was hands down the best two way D on this team. He will go very far.
I'm confused why you think elbrecht would leave and come back? He would leave to play professional hockey. Don't get your line of thinking.
Hockeyfan- it's not about like or dislike. When is the last time you saw a college player go "straight to the NHL"? I can't think of ANY. I think 99.9% of them spend time in the ECHL or AHL.
I don't watch stats on this or anything but I would be very interested to know of someone who went "right to the NHL" because I'm thinking it's extremely rare and certainly someone like Ben Youds isn't going to be one of them.
Well I already have beer bets from last year that Elbrecht would leave early probably after Jr. yr so lets make another. I bet that next year Youds will play in the NHL. Not saying he won't spend some time in AHL but he will play in the NHL next yr (only condition is he doesn't get hurt). Any takers?
Playing at some point in the NHL is a huge difference than going "straight to it". I tried to find stats on people going straight to the NHL and couldn't find anything. All things I found indicated that players spend time in the "minors" or "farm system" first.
On Youds, if he signs with a crappy team it's possible. If he signs with a decent one, doubtful for next year. All depends on injuries and things like that. IMO he has a lot of developing to do before being called up to the NHL.
As for Elbrecht, I say he stays. In any conversations I've had with NHL scouts watching Mavs games, he hasn't even been on their radar.
Wow can you tell me in any of the discussion anyone said Elbrecht is leaving. Said he could. As far as you talking to scouts. They don't talk to anyone let alone tell fans what they are looking at. Laughable.
Hockeyfan- have you ever been around a scout? They don't shut up! They talk and talk and talk. It's not like I'm the only one they've chatted an ear off of. I know several people. They like to ask questions of fans and get some insight. It's an interesting job they have and how they go about it.
Heck, one of the ones I was chatting with handed me over his Blackberry and had me put a good website on there for him! He even cracked up when I picked on another team's player about being a Goon and it was one of the guys he had chose for his team to draft.
Obviously YOU have never ran into any of them at games or the bars or anything if you think I'm just making stuff up here.
Also, you asked if anyone wanted to take your bet on Elbrecht and I was just stating that I wouldn't bet on him leaving on what I know..but anything is possible. I'm just saying I think he'll be here next year and that he for sure can't leave and come back to a paid team. Anyone that doubts that can look at NCAA rules. Once you're paid, you're done.
I hate to keep this stupid conversation going but once again. The original post and mine both say he is NOT leaving only that he could. I know that to be a fact. Also please listen. NOONE is saying he could leave and come back. He would be making the decision to turn PRO. Still don't know what is confusing? No you cannot come back to college if you turn pro. No different for any player that leaves and plays pro like Pittlick. You can't come back. Maybe we should just be happy he made the decision to come back next year and leave it at that since your having trouble undertanding what was written.
Ah yes, read the original comment too fast. I must stop multi-tasking. I thought Tim was saying Elbrecht was leaving and coming back. My mistake. Sorry, we all make mistakes and read too quick.
Anyways, that doesn't make sensef or your bet then either. Why are you betting he leaves if you're arguing that Tim says he's staying? Now who's not making sense?
Anyways...it is what it is and I'll go on my merry way knowing what I know and you can go on your way knowing what you think I don't know. No skin off my back!
Again stop multitasking . I said last year and just now that he will leave after Jr. Year. Not Now.
Naw, I say he stays all 4 years. Too bard to develop as a D man in the NHL farm system to make up for missing a year of college. I think he'll stay and get his education and then move on. At least I would like to think he's smart enough to do that, as the diploma will always be worth something.
Doesn't seem like that many D in the WCHA are leaving early as before. However, I really didn't think Big O would leave SCSU early and he bolted after this year to the Flyers (shocking to me) so I could be wrong.
Personally, given the amount of time these guys spend in a farm system "developing" I wish the NHL would just leave them in college to get their degrees. If the kids stay, there's more than enough talent in the WCHA for some good hockey to put skills to the test, IMO. Leaving early just sucks...for fans, college programs, and a lot of players, as in the end it doesn't pan out.
Holy cow! Lots of discussion here today. I was out working on some non-hockey stories for The Freep and didn't check the blog until tonight. Now I have some time off but will try to get updates when I can.
A couple of things though ...
1. Haven't heard about the the seniors who haven't signed yet, other than there have been discussions. I believe all are set to graduate in May so that may be a factor in their decision to sign/not sign right now.
2. Youds and Davis went to NHL rookie camps last summer as non-drafted invitees (they have to pay their own way). Youds went to Chicago's camp, and Davis went to Washington's camp. So they're definitely on teams' radars. I wouldn't be surprised if they signed and went to camp next summer and then were assigned to an AHL team afterwards. Who knows what happens after that. They both seem capable of making the most of their opportunities.
3. As for underclassmen, my hunch is no one leaves early. It doesn't seem to be a concern right now.
4. Nice to see people are still reading the blog, even with not much going on right now.
Shane, when will the team announce year end awards,or did I miss it already? Also Galiardi went to a camp last summer and Elbrecht was invited to two, both camps cancelled, he also attended St.Louis the year before.
If this blog had a preposterous statements tournament, I think LGM might have just wrapped up the championship: National Hockey League scouts ask for yours and other fans opinions? You cannot possibly be serious. Ask fans for insight? DOH-KAY!
Shane , when will captains for next year be announced? Also year end awards. As the team signed all the players it needs for next year or are they still working on some? Thanks
The biggest thing I hear on tv is commentators saying the college schedule is too light and they don't think those kids can always adjust to the heavy schedule. I don't really totally agree since more and more kids come from Jrs. who play plenty of games. I don't understand why college schedules get off weekends. They don't play during the week ( obvious that school is number one) and don't really play that many games so why do they need off weekends. Also non-conference games should be against other great programs. Why don't our nonconference games play Michigan, Boston etc. instead of St.Lawrence? It would be a nice house full if Michigan came to Mankato. Also why just one weekend of pre-season? Why not three weekends and let teams get their legs and work out lines before they get going? Just some thoughts for discussion during a very long off season.
Dan- you're completely right. I'm totally making it up. Scouts would never ask about the character of a kid or if a fan knows him or really...anything. Silly of me to say something so out there! Scouts NEVER EVER EVER talk to people around them at games, they never read blogs and message boards, they never talk to bloggers or anything of the like. I'm lying..caught ya! Yeah, and players, coaches, alumni, refs, and people associated with programs never ever talk either. I just like to pull your leg. Shane knows it's a big fat lie from me and I say these things for fun...or does he?!? Hmm.....that's for me to know and you to wonder.
Two new commits for the Mavs over the past couple of days:
Chris Rial - D - Kenai River Brown Bears (NAHL)
and
Dan Carlson - D - USNTDP (USHL)
Correction, Dan Carlson is a Forward. My mistake.
Just checking in while during some time off (making sure everyone's behaving themselves). I'll update the blog later this week. However ...
Rial is actually a Gophers recruit.
Ah crap, I swear it said Minnesota State like an hour ago. I just looked, though, and it does say Minnesota now. Oh well.
Thanks for the heads up Shane.
Is carlson for next yr or the following?
Looks like Carlson is coming the following year, 2012. He has a '93 birthday, and based on his stats, it looks like he could use another year of development with the USNTDP.
hockeyfan- Michigan and Boston wouldn't waste their time with an 11th place WCHA school. You say OTHER great programs. MSU is not a great program. Bigtime programs schedule bigtime programs. MSU does not fit that criteria.
Isn't it up to the ncaa to schedule games? I don't know how that works. Plus we are one goal away from the top programs in the country. Look at our losses to the best teams. We are very close to a top program. Hopefully that is going to change ( please lets not have the Judding hate parade start). I guess I think we are closer than many of you to that point. Thats okay , not worth debating since it is all personal opinion and everyone is entitled to one. Didn't we beat two of the frozen four teams Duluth and Notre Dame? I think we are very close. Although with losing so many D I hope next yr isn't a maturing yr. But like I said everyones entitled to an opinion, and thats what makes sports fun.
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