Other Hockey Games - Thursday NCAAT Open Thread
I am willing UMass to beat Denver because I want the absurdity of UMass getting to host a 1 seed like 30 minutes from campus to be on full display so we can inch closer to home site regional games
What about playing PSU in Allentown last year? Didn’t bring change.
But we won so I guess no one cared.
Well, in college hockey no ones gonna care about Michigan or Minnesota getting shafted. But they might care a little bit about a smaller school like Denver getting hosed
Yeah. Poor little Denver never wins anything.
I guess if more top seeds lose far from home, maybe someday it'll make a difference? (I'm skeptical though.)
The absurdity of this will pale in comparison to tomorrow's absurdity - 3 Michigan teams playing their regional in St. Louis, which has to be hundreds of miles from ANY college hockey program, right? In front of dozens of fans I'm sure.
Thought I saw somewhere the arena sold out and were going for big money on the secondary market.
What's the capacity of the arena? 6?
That's because Centene Ice Center has a capacity of 2,500 tip-up seats (NCAA hinted at trying to add seats to 3,000 total), with multiple well-traveled/attended teams in the regional. The powers that be, in all their wisdom, combined the least possible supply with the highest demand.
You know that's a rink where the hockey dads are standing along the boards in the corner to avoid listening to that one hockey parent in the stands. I fully expect to see people standing along the boards for these games.
I think it's Lindenwood's home ice, which is a new program. I guess that's allowed because Lindenwood isn't eligible for the postseason until 2026-27.
I'm *hoping* that this is a trial run of a smaller arena to get some data on how home ice regionals might work.
Well, Lindenwood is D1 and they are....9 miles from Maryland Heights
but to your point, yes it remains absurd to have neutral site regionals for a niche sport. North Dakota and MSU could both easily sell out home games if we just did higher seed hosts and no one would have to fly to Missouri to see their team
Aha! I stand corrected, then. I did not see Lindenwood listed among the DI programs. But I guess that makes St. Louis a real hotbed of college hockey.
Gotta love the empty arena!
reminds of those great cardboard-covid crowds. so much excitement....
Don't forget the piped in crowd noise!
Denver gets the first PP (Boarding on UMass @ 18:11).
[Edit] Still 0-0, end of 1.
Denver scored ESG @ 5:12, still 1-0 mid 2nd.
UMass tied it @ 12:52. 1-1, late 2nd.
[Edit] Still 1-1 after two.
UMass called for Hooking @ 8:26.
There is a lot of fishing nearby, so makes sense.
Denver gets [its] first penalty, Interference @ 13:06. Still 1-1.
It would be hilarious if UMass pulls this off, while strengthening the case for home regionals.
1-1 after three, going to OT.
Still 1-1, going to 2OT.
[Edit] Maine & Cornell get to wait even longer.
UMass needs to come out at win it early in 2OT. Toward end end of 1OT they looked like they were slowing down, getting tired.
RIT & BU scoreless, mid 1st.
[Edit] BU scores 1st @ 11:56.
[Edit 2] And again, 13:01, 2-0 them. 2v1 OMR.
Tripping on Denver! [@3:13]
Denver goalie makes a save, is down. Groin? Made a kick save.
[Edit] 1:47 left in penalty.
He's staying in.
Shoot the puck! Good grief
Penalty killed. Denver had SH chance just before penalty ended, missed the net.
The NCAA Men's basketball tournament is one of the greatest events in sports, so I don't blame the organizers for trying to adopt the format for hockey. However, I think we've proven that it doesn't work. College hockey is too niche and the sports are too different. It's fine to sit through 5 hours for back to back basketball games, but most people aren't willing to do that for 7-8 hours of hockey. And there are definitely not enough fans willing to travel to do that and take Thursday or Friday afternoons off work.
Single-game home site regional and super regionals, like pretty much all other NCAA tournaments have, would be so much better for fans and programs. We should hope that the big conferences realize this and push for it.
RIT scored PPG @ 15:40, down 1-2 to BU after one.
This GWG is going to be very dumb.
Wow, UMass not getting the puck luck on passes in front. Always seems to get deflected or something.
They sure had some nice chances.
Denver wins.
Sparty got that call UMass should get it.
Edit: Nope. Not. B1G refs.
Review for goalie interference. Looks like Denver player was outside the crease & getting checked.
Good goal.
Goals only get taken away if you're in East Lansing...
And touchdowns….
still a little bitter about 2021
BU scores @ 8:16, 3-1. RIT goalie was there, but got beat 5 hole?
Fucking Denver, man
Denver G stayed in after going down. But playing in a couple of days could be an issue.
Coincidental Crosschecking minors @ 13:13.
RIT scores just after penalties over. 2-3.
BU challenge for offsides.
Ooohh, very close. Was back skate still over the blue line when puck crossed?