Gopher Hockey Season Thread 25-26

[upnorthkid]

Thought I'd get this started as we get closer to the new year.

Proposal from the coaches to be voted on to condense BTT to 2 weeks (about damn time) by the ADs. Will be interested to see how they elect to do so if they shorten things and if this means a move back to neutral site vs hosted by the 1 seed? Regardless, the being spread over 3 weekends was stupid on so many levels. Would expect this will have unanimous support.

 

[bonin21]

Neutral site is not an improvement.

I think they'd sacrifice semifinal attendance. Semis on Wednesday or Thursday at the higher seed. Even with that it'll be a scramble to organize both the semis and final hosting.

 

[upnorthkid]

Neutral site is not an improvement.

I think they'd sacrifice semifinal attendance. Semis on Wednesday or Thursday at the higher seed. Even with that it'll be a scramble to organize both the semis and final hosting.

Not an improvement for atmosphere I agree (the BT fan bases aren’t probably going to travel super well for this unless it’s on a back to back set of nights). Much better regardless from a prep for postseason standing and how you manage your schedule through the year

Agree on how you figure out hosts if doing on campus, esp as you may not know until late.

Think the trouble of same weekend if you're going semis and finals each hosted separately is that you may have some rough travel (like if a team has to go to PSU then turn around and play MN in the final).

Agree you could maybe do something like (all hosted at home institutions or whatever rink they choose)
Fri, Sat, Sun
2v7 BO3
3v6 BO3
4v5 BO3

Wed
At highest remaining seed
1v4
2v3

Sun
title game

Maintains some atmosphere, longest you're off prior to postseason is 2 weeks

Alternatively, 1st round the same and then Fri/Sun at 1 seed is fine (let's them set up logistics given they're off first week) and let's people plan for just one trip if they want to attend. Regardless, think you should put it at a home site as the atmosphere is just so much better than even the final five that's turned into a clunker unless UND is there.

 

[Gophers1992]

Not sure which thread to put this in but I attended the WJC Summer Showcase featuring 6 current or future gophers. Some quick takeaways.

Ziemer was one of the best players on the ice in his game. Makes sense as one of the older guys out there. I'm really optimistic about a big year from him.

Mooney definitely stood out with his skill level. Had a beautiful goal and assist. Can really shoot the puck. Made a couple bad mistakes trying to make fancy passes. Think he will be an impact freshman.

Rombach is enormous. His play didn't necessarily stand out good or bad, but he looked like a solid stay at home D Man. Could see him taking some lumps early on but being a good player by the second half.

Whipple was up and down. A few bad mistakes but also looked really impressive at times. Will need him to take on a big role this year.

Kvasnicka plays hard and has some speed - not sure he will be a superstar but a solid 4 year guy.

Moe - similar to Kvasnicka, high energy guy maybe lacking high end skill. Took a dumb penalty but otherwise plays a nice 200 foot game.

 

[bonin21]

Ryker Lee and Vansaghi, both MSU were all over the ice in game 1. Overall it was definitely summer hockey though. Hagens looked half interested considering he's a lock for the team.

Unfortunately had to leave for game 2 so missed Mooney, but saw most of the stars sat that game out anyway.

 

[Gophers1992]

If I had to project I'd say Ziemer is a lock, Mooney on the bubble about 50/50, Rombach and Whipple each unlikely, maybe an outside shot for Whipple. Moe and Kvasnicka almost certainly won't make it.

 

[bonin21]

I'm just not that pumped about the Big Ten Tournament format updates. Feel like there could be more creative ways to do it.

Last weekend of regular season is now Thursday/Friday - You'll have Thursday attendance hit
First round on Wednesday, only one game - Much more likely for the better team to lose one game than a best of three at home

If you lose on Wed, you still play one game in 18 or 19 days before the tournament.

 

[upnorthkid]

I'm just not that pumped about the Big Ten Tournament format updates. Feel like there could be more creative ways to do it.

Last weekend of regular season is now Thursday/Friday - You'll have Thursday attendance hit
First round on Wednesday, only one game - Much more likely for the better team to lose one game than a best of three at home

If you lose on Wed, you still play one game in 18 or 19 days before the tournament.

i'm not real worried about the whole thurs/fri the last week of the season. Really don't love the making the 1st round best of 1 though get it from logistics. Seems like it addressed some issues but not really all. does make it though if you don't drop your QF game you will be closer to it than the prior 2 weeks off if you lost in the semis before. Now the SF are 1 week out from the NCAA tournament which is a good change

 

[bonin21]

i'm not real worried about the whole thurs/fri the last week of the season. Really don't love the making the 1st round best of 1 though get it from logistics. Seems like it addressed some issues but not really all. does make it though if you don't drop your QF game you will be closer to it than the prior 2 weeks off if you lost in the semis before. Now the SF are 1 week out from the NCAA tournament which is a good change

What? The SF is still the same distance out.

2024-25 Gophers:
Lost in Game 3 of first round
Played on Thursday in NCAA
No games in 17 days
One game in 18 days

2025-26 format if you lose in first round
One game in 19 days or in 20 days before tournament

It's no real improvement and now more risky that you lose in the first round.

 

[upnorthkid]

What? The SF is still the same distance out.

2024-25 Gophers:
Lost in Game 3 of first round
Played on Thursday in NCAA
No games in 17 days
One game in 18 days

2025-26 format if you lose in first round
One game in 19 days or in 20 days before tournament

It's no real improvement and now more risky that you lose in the first round.

yeah misread. thought SF was midweek (the 17th, not 14th). agree this is a silly change that doesn't do much for me other than now it limits number of postseason games slightly. Guess it gives you another mid season bye week. Must've been selling point for coaches.

 

[vonner]

I'm just not that pumped about the Big Ten Tournament format updates. Feel like there could be more creative ways to do it.

So how would you do it? Not offering an alternate solution feels like just complaining for complaining sake.

 

[bonin21]

So how would you do it? Not offering an alternate solution feels like just complaining for complaining sake.

Last weekend of regular season: Fri/Sat
First weekend of conf tourney: best of three thurs/fri/sat or fri/sat/sun
Semi: Wednesday
Final: Saturday or Sunday

Sacrifice attendance for Semis at two campuses for more butts through the doors of a three game first round weekend instead of one mid week game at 3 different campuses

The kids can play that much hockey no problem.

So ya, way better solution was easy.

 

[upnorthkid]

Last weekend of regular season: Fri/Sat
First weekend of conf tourney: best of three thurs/fri/sat or fri/sat/sun
Semi: Wednesday
Final: Saturday or Sunday

Sacrifice attendance for Semis at two campuses for more butts through the doors of a three game first round weekend instead of one mid week game at 3 different campuses

The kids can play that much hockey no problem.

So ya, way better solution was easy.

This would also be my preference

 

[TNGophfan]

Last weekend of regular season: Fri/Sat
First weekend of conf tourney: best of three thurs/fri/sat or fri/sat/sun
Semi: Wednesday
Final: Saturday or Sunday

Sacrifice attendance for Semis at two campuses for more butts through the doors of a three game first round weekend instead of one mid week game at 3 different campuses

The kids can play that much hockey no problem.

So ya, way better solution was easy.

The only change I would make to yours is semis on Thursday.

 

[bonin21]

The only change I would make to yours is semis on Thursday.

They'd want that extra day to sell tickets, but ya, look at us coming up with solutions fans actually want.

The excuse is probably the schools without a dedicated arena can't plan stuff like that. Too bad for them. If you can't find an arena to host in, the game is held at the other team.

 

[TNGophfan]

They'd want that extra day to sell tickets, but ya, look at us coming up with solutions fans actually want.

The excuse is probably the schools without a dedicated arena can't plan stuff like that. Too bad for them. If you can't find an arena to host in, the game is held at the other team.

True, I just like little longer rest after a possible 3 game series and don't think they need up to 4 days between semis and finals.

 

[vonner]

I prefer the way that they have it. Having the week off between the semis and championship for more build up feels better to me than the week off between the final regular season series and a first round best of three. Also, it's playoffs, the one and done aspect provides more intensity/immediacy, to me, than a best of three.

 

[bonin21]

Would you rather the Stanley cup playoffs be single elimination? I think many hockey people would rather the NCAA tournament had best of three, as well... So the best team can win...

 

[TNGophfan]

Would you rather the Stanley cup playoffs be single elimination? I think many hockey people would rather the NCAA tournament had best of three, as well... So the best team can win...

I don't see the NCAA (or hockey powers) changing to best of 3 for the national tournament. 1 and done has worked well for hockey and basketball.
Leagues, obviously, can do what they want, but don't think you want to stretch them out too much. I'm ok for best of 3 for quarterfinals, but single elimination rest of way works well for me.

 

[upnorthkid]

I'd be fine with 1 and done postseason if it was all in the final week. The problem is the layoff when you're playing one and dones. There's really no added "hype" with the week off. Maybe to us who are diehard fans, but whether it's a week off or two days, the students will be the same as will the players. The rest of the community doesn't care (not like the Strib is/was running wall to wall coverage leading up to our games with Michigan in 22-23 despite them being the perceived best teams in the country coming in)

These guys have private tutors, fly, and hosting is not that difficult logistically (cry me a river if you say you can't sell tickets; give them to your students then).

Ideal: Best of 3 first round Thurs-Sat; Semis Wed, Title game Sat; fit it all in just over one week.
I'd also be just fine with them putting the semis/finals at the 1 seed (they will have plenty of lead time) so people can just make one trip if they want and make a weekend out of it. College rinks will be just fine selling tickets most places as they are small (do not put it at the Joe or the X) and you add the intimacy of the student section, people seeing these campuses/arenas, etc.

Would also be ok with BO1 all in the same week. Can easily do 1st round at host site followed by rest at 1 seed if you want to minimize travel.

They did this to ensure lead time to try sell tickets to fans who they can make more money off of and have the lead time to hire security, parking, etc.

 

[bonin21]

1 and done has worked well for hockey

Boy would I love the reasoning behind this... What are you comparing it to?

If next year they did best of three first round NCAA at higher seed, people would forget how stupid the neutral site regionals are very quickly.

"Worked well" for just getting the tournament over with. These kids want to play hockey. Fans want to watch hockey. Thinking outside the box, which they never do...

You could find a way to do best of three round of 16 and best of three round of 8 and it would be INCREDIBLE hockey.

 

[TNGophfan]

Boy would I love the reasoning behind this... What are you comparing it to?

If next year they did best of three first round NCAA at higher seed, people would forget how stupid the neutral site regionals are very quickly.

"Worked well" for just getting the tournament over with. These kids want to play hockey. Fans want to watch hockey. Thinking outside the box, which they never do...

You could find a way to do best of three round of 16 and best of three round of 8 and it would be INCREDIBLE hockey.

We will agree to disagree. I like the stress and immediacy of 1 and done. Other than hard core fans, think most agree. Kids are already playing 40 games if they make the playoffs. I don't see NCAA or schools advocating for more. I may be wrong, but don't see it.

 

[vonner]

Would you rather the Stanley cup playoffs be single elimination? I think many hockey people would rather the NCAA tournament had best of three, as well... So the best team can win...

To be honest, I'd rather it go back to at least best of 5 in the first two rounds. It drags out too long.

 

[vonner]

people would forget how stupid the neutral site regionals are very quickly.

This I agree with. Neutral site regionals have not been working for some time, attendance/atmosphere wise, for some time. The benefits of home site regionals would out weigh the drawbacks, IMO.