WCHA "Final Five" Semis vs. Michigan Tech

[Falcon Commander]

Frozen Four 2016 = TAMPA !!

[jbakerifm]

We'll see what the next few days bring. It sucks worrying about early departures, but it's part of college hockey. While I don't think anybody had an absolutely stellar stand out season, a lot of guys played good solid hockey, and could get some interest. I won't be surprised at all if the 4 seniors who played all year end up on ECHL teams for the rest of the season.

Fingers crossed for no early departures. After the second half I don't feel like anyone really should make the jump, but who knows what might happen with academics etc. Hawkins and Friedman both probably need another year of bulking up and improve all around play. Dufour kinda fell off a cliff after his hot streak. All three goaltenders seem solid in school and committed to the program but maybe one decides he's tired of the endless comptetion?

Right now I'm more worried about the coaching staff. Seems like just a matter of time before someone starts trying to poach one of them, given the turnaround they've pulled off. It seems silly to me that they'd leave after all it took to "bring back the glory" but in my opinion, any program would be lucky to have any of our three coaches.

[Falcon Fanatic]

Next year the depth of the conference will be better. LSSU, Alaska, Ferris, and Bemidji will be tougher games. Not that they won't be beatable, but the team isn't going to be able to be inconsistent and get away with it next year. This year there were a few series where we came out flat in game 1 or 2 and other teams didn't have the skill to make the BG pay for it. I don't think they'll be able to get away with that next year.

You just keep thinking that.

The rest of us know that we have another stellar freshman class coming in and with that class, even more depth. You almost speak as if we'll have the same kids playing next year, playing the exact same way, but obviously we will not. Every new class brings in a new dynamic to the character of the team. Not only do I go into our games EXPECTING to win games, but next year I also expect to be ranked, win more than 23 games and be in both the WCHA Championship game AND the NCAAs. This class raised the bar considerably and the kids who return know that. They will want nothing less.

2015-2016 season can't come fast enough for me!!!

GO FALCONS!!
YOU MADE US PROUD!!
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BACK THE GLORY!!!

[Falconfreak90]

A very exciting year and it sucks to see it come to an end...but this team is gonna accomplish BiG things going foward. the 2015-2016 year has the potential to be huge with football, hockey and men's hoops.

[mscarn]

Is hockey the only NCAA sport where a team ranked nationally in the Top 10 doesn't make the postseason? Such an omission would be unheard of in other sports. The system, transparent and mathematical as it might be, should be revised to include more worthy teams. If basketball and football can expand than hockey should as well.

[Lord_Byron]

Is hockey the only NCAA sport where a team ranked nationally in the Top 10 doesn't make the postseason? Such an omission would be unheard of in other sports. The system, transparent and mathematical as it might be, should be revised to include more worthy teams. If basketball and football can expand than hockey should as well.

16 out of the 59 D1 programs make the tournament. That's 27.2% and compares pretty favorably to the 68 out of 351 (19.3%) of basketball teams that make the tourney.

I think they've got it right giving the conference champions auto bids and letting the rest shake out. No need to expand.

[footballguy51]

Is hockey the only NCAA sport where a team ranked nationally in the Top 10 doesn't make the postseason? Such an omission would be unheard of in other sports. The system, transparent and mathematical as it might be, should be revised to include more worthy teams. If basketball and football can expand than hockey should as well.

We were #12 in the RPI, not top 10. We were #9 in the opinion polls of USCHO and USA Today, but those are just opinion polls. I actually really like that hockey ignores opinion polls and only goes with formulas. If the opinion polls mattered and hockey were to gain a stronger following, we'd have Ohio State ranked in the top 10 in mediocre years. The current formula rewards success and it should remain.

[Schadenfreude]

Is hockey the only NCAA sport where a team ranked nationally in the Top 10 doesn't make the postseason? Such an omission would be unheard of in other sports. The system, transparent and mathematical as it might be, should be revised to include more worthy teams. If basketball and football can expand than hockey should as well.

At least everyone knows why Bowling Green was on the outside looking in. They have a computer doing the analysis, and it is absolutely objective.

The system for selecting hockey playoff teams seems far better than they systems used in college football or basketball.

I wouldn't change a thing.

[gmartin]

Which is why I mentioned in the basketball forum that I would love basketball to adapt to a pairwise system.

[apollo]

You would think just by sheer probability that the team would eventually qualify..,..."maybe next year" take 23 or so.

[Freddie]

You would think just by sheer probability that the team would eventually qualify..,..."maybe next year" take 23 or so.

Are you a total a-hole in every aspect of your life, or is this just a special treat you reserve for this website?

[poltergeist]

Is hockey the only NCAA sport where a team ranked nationally in the Top 10 doesn't make the postseason? Such an omission would be unheard of in other sports. The system, transparent and mathematical as it might be, should be revised to include more worthy teams. If basketball and football can expand than hockey should as well.

the PWR isn't perfect--the formula still needs (and gets) occasional tweakings--but hockey easily has the best postseason ranking system in major college sports.

congrats to coaches and players for taking Falcon hockey to the best season in 20 years. the future is bright!