posted 22 March 2010 19:45
The brackets have now been filled, and thanks to Mr. Love, I have a direct, 1-click access. Helena starts with Dubuque, who had a 39-9-0-1- season while averaging 4.4 goals a game and giving up 2.0 goals per game. This game is followed by the Boulder Bison, who took second in the WSHL playoffs, although they were only 2nd in their division. The Bison went 35-16-0-1 on 5.0 goals per game while giving 3.1. (First went to the Polar Bears who had finished the regular season only 3rd in their division. Neither of our teams plays them during the first 3, at least.) Last, they get the Monarchs, who beat them last year and are again the champs of the EJHL. They posted a 36-5-4-0 season, with 5.4 per game scored and 2.4/game given up.
Seattle starts with the Rochester Ice Hawks, who had a 41-8-0-1 season on 5.8 scored and 2.8 given. This is followed by the St. Louis Jr. Blues, with their 44-4-0-0- season, scoring 6.1 and giving 1.7 goals per game average. They finish with the NY Bobcats, 34-4-0-4. 4.3 scored. 1.7 let in. Neither team appears to have a cake walk into the final 4. Seattle appears to have a bit the tougher schedule, at least on paper.
Good luck and good skating to both of them there teams.
--------------------
Them boys shore do chase them little rubber blobs around, don't they?
Posts: 498 | From: Western Washington | Registered: Mar 2007 | IP: Logged
S.R. Love
Rookie
Member # 6411
posted 23 March 2010 11:21
I was bored, looking forward to Friday in Marlborough.
Horns 52-7 GP 59 GF 326 GF Avg 5.53 GA 115 GA Avg 1.95
Totes 46-12 GP 58 GF 336 GF Avg 5.79 GA 131 GA Avg 2.26
Posts: 36 | From: Plano TX | Registered: Mar 2009 | IP: Logged
NewFan
Vet
Member # 6070
posted 23 March 2010 12:21
I should point out that the stats I put up were regular season only, not including playoffs, for the 6 teams mentioned.
--------------------
Them boys shore do chase them little rubber blobs around, don't they?
Posts: 498 | From: Western Washington | Registered: Mar 2007 | IP: Logged
S.R. Love
Rookie
Member # 6411
posted 23 March 2010 13:35
Righto, here you go
Horns 43-5 GP 48 GF 270 GF Avg 5.63 GA 89 GA Avg 1.85
Totes 40-8 GP 48 GF 295 GF Avg 6.15 GA 100 GA Avg 2.08
Posts: 36 | From: Plano TX | Registered: Mar 2009 | IP: Logged
AJ REIS
Vet
Member # 440
posted 23 March 2010 16:48
I have tried to avoid all of this madness for a bit but I have to chime in on a couple of things.
Every team that has earned the right to participate at nationals is tough. Granted, one pool might be a little tougher then another but it more often comes down to contrasting styles of play between the 2 teams on the ice and how each adjusts. We can watch all of the film you want but it matters not when the puck is dropped.
While Seattle must face a very good Ice Hawks team with a depleted Totems roster, St. Louis will be the biggest challenge for them. Very similar styles of play. They can beat the Bobcats. The AJHL is right on par with NorPac, Mnjhl and the WSHL. The level of play is down in T-IIIA all across the land except for the EJHL. The 2 teams from the CSHL are very good this year but the same 2 teams in the last 2 years tournaments wouldn't have been anything special.
The Bighorns start off with Dubuque then face Boulder. Boulder has Shaffroth (one of the playoff stars from Helena last season), Turgeon (good hands, demanded to be let out of Billings) and the better half of what was a pretty fair team in Puget in 08/09. And the prize for winning NorPac? The Monarchs. Once again they have a very very impressive lineup. 14 D-1 commitments and 3 D-3's. These aren't run of the mill D-1 schools either, Boston College, Maine, Vermont, UMASS, Miami of Ohio and more. Thats 17 of 25 before the national tournament. I beg you to find an NAHL team that can boast those numbers. Heck their goalie last season (Dumoulin) went in the 2nd round of last years NHL draft (51st overall).
All of the teams are tough. Heck, Helena took these same Monarchs to the ropes last year, you never know what might happen in Marlborough.
Last thing, I love the notion of either seeding the top 8 playoff teams and letting crossover begin in playoffs or the idea of crossover in the 2nd round. Not real cost efficient but Yellowstone was an extremely talented team. But lets put it all to rest here. Seattle(the team that will never get any respect from anyone) earned the right to go to Boston. I can show you 2 maybe 3 teams that had stronger rosters then either the Totems or Bighorns but they aren't going. It wasn't their time, bad coaching, etc... In fact if you want get on the "The best teams aren't going" kick how do you feel about the fact that the New Jersey Hitmen aren't going?
It isn't about the 12 best teams in T-IIIA going, it's about the teams that rose to the top when they had to so they could win their leagues.
Good luck to both clubs, see you there. Enough Said
--------------------
"We are all watching the same game, we're just not seeing the same game"
posted 23 March 2010 17:58
Good point on the Hitmen, AJ. They lost in their playoffs 3-2 in a game where they outshot South Shore 45-25, but couldn’t get anything into the back of the net except a couple of PP goals. During the regular season, they had one more OTL and one fewer win than South Shore. Ended up one point back and this affected the seedings and ultimately they couldn’t quite get it done in the playoffs. Still, the top seed in each of their divisions ended up going to Nattys, and the Hitmen weren’t one of them – just like Yellowstone wasn’t in Norpac. I think Seattle has a shot at beating 2 of their opponents – but not likely can they rise over the Jr. Blues. Helena could go all the way; could lose 2; but likely will win 2 and lose to the Monarchs in a replay of last year. They could still get into the semi’s if they get enough goal differential. A max of 3 teams can go 3-0. This leaves room for one 2-1 or 2-0-1 team to also get there. Like AJ and SR, Friday can’t come soon enough for me.
Lastly, I don't remember any recent (or not so recent) bashing of Seattle coming from my quarter. The Totems stepped up pretty well this year, given the roster that they had (which was pretty short at the beginning of the season)and the bad start. It took all season, but they slowly overtook the Generals to win the Pacific. The Generals may have had more talent, but just couldn't seem to get a good flow going on any consistent basis. AJ and Shooter have both talked about this, earlier.
As for overall talent in T III, it can't go anyplace but down so long as NAHL continues to add teams, depleting the ranks of quality players for the next level down. So the next level down reduces their threshhold and take a few player from the next level below that. There just aren't enough good players to roster up everyone. Especially when some who are good enough drop out along the way before playing out their eligibility due to cost, mistreatment, lack of adequate supervision, and a plethora of other maladies that seem to plague organized hockey. I often think it something of a wonder that as many stick and do well as actually do. But that's a topic for a different day.
Good Luck to our 2 reps. They both got there within the rules so far as I know, and I expect them to comport well.
--------------------
Them boys shore do chase them little rubber blobs around, don't they?
Posts: 498 | From: Western Washington | Registered: Mar 2007 | IP: Logged
posted 22 March 2010 19:45
posted 23 March 2010 12:21
