BC vs. Colorado College

[wolverineneshl]

CC is a skating team like BC. They gave UND a run for their money in the WCHA but BC should prevail with its depth on offense and defense. Prices for tickets are only 39.00 in St. Louis.

UNO will play Michigan in the other game. Looks like an even match as UNO plays a lot of freshman. Michigan has had some injury problems but getting some players back.

[BCEagle74]

I saw them have close games a few times. Best part about the Final 16, seeding is like a bad field in basketball...

All 4 games are pick'em. The only real powerhouse out there again, is North Dakota. BC has beaten down Miami, Yale and uND, so the revenge edge issue is huge.

Muse has to be more than perfect with all teams coming after BC. Defense has to be lock downed like last year Frozen Four from the start.

Wow... I sound like a stupid CBS analyst...

[eepstein0]

I had to spend Thanksgiving in St. Louis. Stay at the Marriott Union Station (right next to the arena) if you go and try not to get murdered.

[wolverineneshl]

If GDF was willing to host a regional BC would not be going West. We know he does not give as much support to hockey as football and basketball. We can't even listen to BC hockey on the radio. The only good thing about this is, he leaves York alone to run the hockey program. I've stopped donating to football until he leaves. 3000 bucks to park in Beacon Garage is ridiculous.

[claver2010]

Ok I can't remember the last time I watched Colorado College but here are some notes on them.

Like many of the "last teams in" they had an up & down year -this is the first appearance in the NCAAs since 2008. They finished .500 in the WCHA and 22-18-3 overall. They reached the Final 5 (which is now 6) winning the 1st round by squeaking by Wisconsin (lost 1st game, win 2nd in OT & 3rd 2-1 after playing the weekend before), beat Alaska 4-2 in the quarters, before falling to North Dakota 4-3 in the semis.

Out of conference they played several NCAA teams. They went 1-0-1 the 2nd week of the year against RPI (15th seed), won 6-4 @Air Force (16th seed), then got curb stomped by Yale (1st seed) 5-1 the following night, finally they lost 6-5 to fellow west regional participant Michigan (5th seed) at Joe Louis Arena.

Personel wise, they are somewhat similar to BC, the only play 3 seniors and want to skate up and down. They have 4 30+ point scorers. Led by Sr. Stephen Shultz 16-27-43. They also have freshman phenom Jaden Schwartz (15-27-42), his older brother Rylan Schwartz (SO) (8-25-33) round out their top line as well as #1 PP unit. Shwartz, Shwartz, & Shultz -the jokes just write themselves.

Anyways in net they have a sophomore in Joe Howe who started 34 games for them this year. He posted 17-14-2, .901, 2.94 very similar numbers as his FR year.

As a team they rank 23rd nationally in scoring at 3.12 goals per game, 32nd defensively at 2.91 goals allowed, 10th in powerplay 22.5%, 24th in PK at 82.5%.

I'll write up more on BC & the region as a whole later.

9 PM ESPNU & ESPN3

[claver2010]

York's weekly press conference: http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/media/audio/2011ncaacall/york.mp3

Some interesting stuff in there about:
Talking with the CC coach this past summer about scheduling a game with they were scouting U17s in Switzerland
Hosting
The crowds at HE Semis & Finals
Kreider

[bcsoxfan12]

Should be an interesting game, on paper they seem like a decent team. I’m confident York will have the boys ready to play Friday night…..now if I can only figure out what channel the game is on ESPNU?? Local coverage?

[claver2010]

It's on ESPNU

Nice to see GDF spring for a charter flight for them -team is leaving tonight.

[wolverineneshl]

Hopefully they (BC) stay away from stupid penalties as CC is not bad on the PP. BC's team defense should be able to blanket their offense.

[claver2010]

Agreed, the most likely way we lose in this tournament is taking stupid penalties.

That being said, us going down a man tomorrow might make a "just where we want them" scenario.

BC's scored the most SHG goals in the country & CC has allowed the most. On their 1st unit they play 4 forwards & an offensive defenseman who CC fans say has trouble holding the line. Could be a lethal combination.

[pick6pedro]

I just have no faith in Muse stepping up. Milner forevah!

[BCEagle74]

I just have no faith in Muse stepping up. Milner forevah!

John Milner of the Mets?

[flyingelvii]

I just have no faith in Muse stepping up. Milner forevah!

But how many games have you watched? UNINFORMED TO SPEAK YOUR OPINION!!!!!LOUDNOISES!!111!!!11!!!

[claver2010]

I just have no faith in Muse stepping up. Milner forevah!

Venti latte time

More itals less lo-cals

[flyingelvii]

I just have no faith in Muse stepping up. Milner forevah!

Venti latte time

More itals less lo-cals

Um, Venti lives closer to BC than Muse.

[claver2010]

I just have no faith in Muse stepping up. Milner forevah!

Venti latte time

More itals less lo-cals

Um, Venti lives closer to BC than Muse.

It was a joke playing of

[flyingelvii]

I just have no faith in Muse stepping up. Milner forevah!

Venti latte time

More itals less lo-cals

Um, Venti lives closer to BC than Muse.

It was a joke playing of

I understood that. And thinking more about it, I guess it fit perfectly. Disregard comment.

[DuchesneEast]

Is it too early to start planning game watches or do I need to wait for the frozen 4?

I am sure a sports bar will shut off basketball for BC. (I guess i just answered my own question)

[shockdoct]

Is it too early to start planning game watches or do I need to wait for the frozen 4?

I am sure a sports bar will shut off basketball for BC. (I guess i just answered my own question)

Going to try and convince thunder jacksons in greenwich village to show it on Friday.

[claver2010]

Is it too early to start planning game watches or do I need to wait for the frozen 4?

I am sure a sports bar will shut off basketball for BC. (I guess i just answered my own question)

Not sure where you are but I'm sure most places will turn on ESPNU if you ask....

Organized by BC, usually ATL has a handle on those

[claver2010]

Ok for those who haven't watch BC much this year, a quick (well maybe not so quick. edit: wow this is really long so I'll break it into pieces so you don't all fall asleep) summary of the team.

BC led Hockey East in essentially every category (is national rank): goals per game (3rd) 3.92, goals allowed per game (6th) 2.26, powerplay (6th) 24%, penalty kill (4th) 86.9%, short-handed goals (1st) 13. BC is 4 wins away from breaking the school record for wins with 34.

Up front this team contains some aspect of the prototypical BC team & some differences. Yes, the core of the team are the fast, short, creative players.

The 1st line of Joe Whitney-Brian Gibbons-Cam Atkinson have been together for a year and a half. Joined after the Fenway game last year they tore through competition leading BC to the championship. Most teams simply don't have an answer for their relentlessness (is that a word?). Joe, ever since he stepped on campus, has a knack for setting up goals. Brian is the most complete forward in the league. Cam has never seen a shot he doesn't like.

The 2nd line is where BC deviates from normal, Chris Kreider-Pat Mullane-Jimmy Hayes. This is an NHL line, they gain control and cycle creating some great opportunities. Chris is coming back from a broken jaw suffered when a puck caught him under the mask a couple of Friday's ago against UNH -he stepped in as a freshman the fastest kid any of the coaches have seen at BC. Pat Mullane without getting the accolades, is the straw that stirs the drink -the key to puck possession & cycling? Winning the faceoff, he's the top faceoff man on the team. Jimmy has really stepped up starting tourney time last year. He's the typical powerforward using his body well shielding the puck & screening the goalie.

The 3rd line is another typical BC line, Barry Almeida-Bill Arnold-Steve Whitney -they were put together after the Kreider injury and have really started to jell. Almeida is one of the more underrated players on the team and despite his size is a very good 2 way player. Arnold has been the top freshman for BC, I'll always point to one moment to show how York trusts him. Up 1-0 against NU in October BC was on the PK with about 1:40ish to go in the 3rd and who comes out? Arnold in his first college game. Steve Whitney, I think, has played very well every since being sat down back in November for a game. Once the top recruit in the country he flashed some of that skill against NU with a diving backhand over teh goalie's shoulder with 2 dmen on him.

The 4th line, Paul Carey-Kevin Hayes-Brooks Dyroff/Tommy Atkinson/Pat Brown isn't your traditional BC shutdown line. Maybe it points to the overall skill of the team but hopefully this line will develop to be used as such. No player has been bounced around more in the past 3 years than Paul Carey. A physical player that was playing with the 2nd line while Kreider was down. Kevin Hayes had trouble adjusting to the college game but has really come on of late. The 2010 1st round pick of the Blackhawks isn't as big as Jimmy but plays a similar game. It isn't clear who the 3rd forward will be on this line with Tommy Atkinson recovering from a brutal knee on knee hit (not called of course) against UMass a month ago.

Edit: the Vatican has spoke 4th line: Carey-Brown-Kevin Hayes

[claver2010]

The to be All-American, also takes about staying his JR year:

[shockdoct]

Wow the return of molly mcgrath...

[wolverineneshl]

It's on ESPNU

Nice to see GDF spring for a charter flight for them -team is leaving tonight.

Is ESPNU part of regular package or is it something extra you have to pay for? I have comcast.

[BCEagle74]

GAME DAY!

Here we go. I would like to see a 4-0 lockdown defense and balances scoring deal.

WIN4 starts tonight!

GO EAGLES!

[claver2010]

It's on ESPNU

Nice to see GDF spring for a charter flight for them -team is leaving tonight.

Is ESPNU part of regular package or is it something extra you have to pay for? I have comcast.

It's channel 286, but since you have comcast you also get ESPN3 (which is HD opposed to ESPNU). So if you have something that you can hook up to your tv it'll be a great picture. But you have options.

[pick6pedro]

It's on ESPNU

Nice to see GDF spring for a charter flight for them -team is leaving tonight.

Is ESPNU part of regular package or is it something extra you have to pay for? I have comcast.

It's channel 286, but since you have comcast you also get ESPN3 (which is HD opposed to ESPNU). So if you have something that you can hook up to your tv it'll be a great picture. But you have options.

ESPNU is not part of the regular package on comcast - requires the sports package that gives you the likes of ESPNEWS, SPEEEEEEEEEED, kickyball/falldown grabbing your shin network, and BETJazz.

[Bryn Mawr Eagle]

Just an FYI - on Verizon FIOS, ESPN-U in HD is part of the basic package.

[BCEagle74]

BC 5-3.

Although, 5-0 would be better.

[claver2010]

My guess is 4-2, BC's up 4-1 and CC adds a late goal.

Team to watch in our regional: Nebraska. Very well coached & the type of team that has historically given BC trouble (a big, well disciplined team)