Countdown!

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

To start counting down to the start of the season I thought it would be fun/interesting to gauge our expectations of this year's team. Below is a poll where you can enter the number of wins expected by series and a form where you can fill in the final WCHA standings. It's anonymous so even Drew can play along. Results and detailed responses are available in the links provided. Results are averaged across all entries but detailed responses will give you the results for each entry.

Entry Form

Results

Detailed Responses

[mbenecke]

I have high expectations for this year's team. We return lots of talent, the freshmen who were contributors last year are now established and experienced. We have Bednard/Dop back in net, Alec Rauhauser is back, and we have a good young group coming in.

Top 2 in the league should be our goal, and we should put huge stock into how we perform in the non-conference games against OSU and WMU. If we perform there, we may be in a position where we could theoretically get an automatic bid at the end of the year, depending on the rest of the season.

I see no reason why this squad can't compete nationally this year. Jut gotta score goals and continue to be dominant in net.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Sorry about the security on the links, I think I addressed it.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Here's what the group thinks:

Code: Select all

Overall Record   Wins   Losses
                  23      12

Code: Select all

Series Records		Wins	Losses
Mercyhurst	 	     1	   0
Western Michigan  	 1	   1
RMU		  	        2	   0
Ohio State	  	    1	   1
Northern Michigan 	 2	   2
UAA		  	        2	   0
Lake Superior	  	 2	   0
Alabama Huntsville	 3	   1
Ferris State		    3	   1
Minnesota State		 1	   1
Bemidji State		   2	   2
Michigan Tech		   1	   1
Alaska			       3	   1

Code: Select all

   Final Standings
 1 Minnesota State
 2 Bowling Green
 3 Northern Michigan
 4 Michigan Tech
 5 Bemidji State
 6 Ferris State
 7 Lake Superior
 8 Alabama Huntsville
 8 Alaska
10 Alaska Anchorage

Observations

• o Everyone has us winning at least 21 games (range was 21-26, mode was 23)
  o Consensus is an OOC record of 5 and 2 (sweep AHC, split B1G, split Nacho's) which I think we'd all take in a heartbeat as would the rest of the league
  o Strong consensus on top 4 teams, middle 2 teams, and bottom 4 teams; our league seems pretty predictable among these three bands
  o With that said, I was surprised to see the Lakers come in ahead of both Huntsville and Alaska
  o Seems like this result puts us in the conversation but on the bubble for an at-large if we can't close the deal for the tournament hardware

[mbenecke]

Very interesting. I really am looking forward to the season. I think we'll win a lot of games, and I really hope that leads to some good attendance numbers this year. Overall, we only averaged 2,300 fans per home game, which was 6th in the WCHA.

We need a big turnout for home games this year, so I hope many of you plan to get to as many games as you possibly can!

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I polled the USCHO fandom, here are their season rankings (there were 66 submissions):

o Mankato picked to repeat
o 3-way pick-em between BG, Northern, and Tech for 2-4 and home ice in the first round
o Bemidji and Ferris sew up the 5 and 6 spots respectively
o UAH sitting pretty in 7th
o Toss-up between the Lakers and Nanooks for that last playoff spot (fascinating that after 66 entries only 4 points separate these teams)
o Seawolves in 10th

Code: Select all

Rank	Team					Score
1	 Minnesota State		 119
2	 Bowling Green			170
3	 Northern Michigan	  204
4	 Michigan Tech			231
5	 Bemidji State			321
6	 Ferris State			 411
7	 Alabama Huntsville	 466
8	 Lake Superior		   534
9	 Alaska					 530
10	Alaska Anchorage		644

[mbenecke]

The reason I like us over Minnesota State is our experience in net, while they lost their starter.

[BGDrew]

The reason I like us over Minnesota State is our experience in net, while they lost their starter.

They actually lost all of their goalies.

[mbenecke]

Right, I should have clarified. Their starter was fantastic and started most games, but they aren't returning any goalies at all. They've well-coached and have a lot of talent, but I like our chances with Mankato.

In conversations close to the team, I've heard that the players certainly feel like they have a really good squad. One senior forward said this was the best hockey team he's ever been on.

[mbenecke]

The WCHA media and coach preseason polls will be posted on Monday at 1:00pm, in addition to the USCHO national preseason poll. I'm looking forward to garnering the first impressions of our team!

[mbenecke]

Our friends over at BGSUHockey.com posted their poll picks for the upcoming season. Give their piece a look!

http://www.bgsuhockey.com/2018/09/drews ... 2018-2019/" target="_blank

[mbenecke]

WCHA Preseason Polls:

Coaches have us at 3rd. Media has us at 2nd.

USCHO Poll has us at #23 in the country.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

WCHA Preseason Polls:

Coaches have us at 3rd. Media has us at 2nd.

USCHO Poll has us at #23 in the country.

We also have home-and-homes with the #3 (Ohio State) and #19 (Western) ranked teams during the first 3 months of the season along with a season opening road trip to visit the team picked to win the AHC (Mercyhurst). By November we will have a good sense as to where this team stands. Win the 3 AHC games and split with OSU and WMU and we're in pretty good shape going into league play. But going 5-2 in Oct will be really tough given our lack of OOC success.

[pdt1081]

WCHA Preseason Polls:

Coaches have us at 3rd. Media has us at 2nd.

USCHO Poll has us at #23 in the country.

No. USCHO Poll ranks the top 20, BG is receiving votes.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

WCHA Preseason Polls:

Coaches have us at 3rd. Media has us at 2nd.

USCHO Poll has us at #23 in the country.

No. USCHO Poll ranks the top 20, BG is receiving votes.

I think he’s saying if you keep counting the teams past 20 who received votes we’re 23rd.