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Would we rather play Fairbanks or Lake Superior? I personally don't think it matters, we smoked Fairbanks and played Lake so long ago it doesn't matter for next weekend. Plus we were without some key guys. What does everyone think?

Given the choice, I'd rather play UAF.

The only team I really want to avoid is Miami, they have been playing some decent hockey as of late. UAF would be my top pick, LSSU's goalie can just stand on his head at times.

After Saturday night part of me wouldn't mind beating the Sparty's a couple more times at home either.

I really dont care who we play as long as it is not MSU, UM, or OSU. I think those three teams can give us fits even if we do have home ice advantage, but since UM and OSU are out of the question MSU is the only logical opponent of the three.

Of the two you mentioned, I would rather play Fairbanks since we bit them pretty good both games where as LSSU beat us once.

Be it rational or otherwise, I am slightly scared of Alaska Fairbanks. I'm not sure why, but for some reason I don't have a good feeling about them. Of course I don't feel much better about LSSU. How about a go straight to CCHA champion card??

A little more rationally, I think we'd do better vs Fairbanks. I'm not a huge fan of either choice, but I think Fairbanks is the slightly better draw.

rc_ziggy84 wrote:The only team I really want to avoid is Miami, they have been playing some decent hockey as of late. UAF would be my top pick, LSSU's goalie can just stand on his head at times.

After Saturday night part of me wouldn't mind beating the Sparty's a couple more times at home either.

I agree with the first part. Miami would also have revenge on their mind from a couple years ago when they were the #2 seed in the conference. LSSU has a hot goaltender but can be beaten. UAF will be looking to upset after the sweep a couple weeks ago. Still, I'd rather see UAF than LSSU.

As for MSU, look at the reffing last weekend. There is no way they will lose two games in the first round. When they are winning, a lot of their fans will travel, especially to Detroit. UNO fans also travel in herds when they are successful. These are two teams the CCHA definately wants to be at the Joe along with UM. No other teams fans really travel as much as these teams and a matchup between any combination of the three will produce a very large crowd in the Joe. More people means more money for the league.

It's still quite possible for MSU to get home ice. They sweep Notre Dame, tOSU sweeps Miami; Spartans get sixth.

if it were my choice I'd take Fairbanks; if we smoked them last time, just go with what we know!

As for MSU, look at the reffing last weekend. There is no way they will lose two games in the first round. When they are winning, a lot of their fans will travel, especially to Detroit. UNO fans also travel in herds when they are successful. These are two teams the CCHA definately wants to be at the Joe along with UM. No other teams fans really travel as much as these teams and a matchup between any combination of the three will produce a very large crowd in the Joe. More people means more money for the league.[/quote]

Phi,

You're not saying that the league, more importantly their instructions to the refs would in any way sway our chances, IF we were to play MSSU (Michigan State Sucks University), now are you?

Just kidding, I am not so naive as to think it could not, would not happen just that way.

Of the four teams we could face in the first round, here's the way I see it:

Miami is the best of the bunch. They were missing several key players (due to injury) when we took 3 of 4 points from them in November. They have played some pretty good hockey since Christmas, and their coach will remind them of 2001 when we upset them in Oxford. We ought to root for them to take a couple of points from OSU this weekend so they'll stay in the 6 or 7 seeding.

Michigan State is the 'wild card'. The good news is, we know we can beat them...the bad news is they know they can beat us. Considering the favorable edge they always seem to get from CCHA officials, I'd rather not have to play them...luckilly as long as they take care of business against Notre Dame, we won't see them in the first round.

Fairbanks is a better team than they looked like when we played them a few weeks ago. Anyone who watched those games knows they were closer than the scores indicated. Even so, we match up well against them, and are clearly a better skating team.

Lake Superior has shown improvement this year, but their lack of offense makes them the most 'beatable' in the bunch.

We ought to be favored no matter which of these we play, but I'd rather play LSSU or UAF instead of MSU or MU.

I don't want to look past anything, but (if the seedings hold up) the best game of the CCHA season could be the quarterfinal between BG and UNO. These teams are very similar, and don't care for each other.