Windsor gets by York 3-2 in OT
Carleton pounds Queens 10-2
Nipissing over McGill 4-2
Waterloo 7-2 against Lakehead (Lakehead now has 2 at home in Thunder Bay)
UQTR up 4-2 against Ryerson
Toronto and Ottawa tied 2-2
May only get to see 1 of those 2 at home if they dont get it together fast. Last year Quesnele gets 5 + 2 + 2 in playoffs vs Windsor (plus a multiple game suspension), now Caria takes a stupid 5 + match penalty. I think he's out for Friday as well. This team is quite frustrating.
The talent is there to win the OUA, without question. The lack of consistency and discipline is going to make every series a battle. Even though I know we are capable of winning the OUA, I also wouldnt feel comfortable against any of the other 8 OUA West teams.
It's puzzling how they are such a different team from game to game. Never know what you're going to get out of them on any given night. Let's hope that they show up on Friday!
I've always felt the 1-2 format really hurts Lakehead. They are almost unbeatable at home so if they played a 1-1-1 series they most likely would be up 1-0 going on the road, with game 3 back at home if necessary. I think that is a much, much better situation than being down 1-0 with games 2 and 3 at home.
I've always felt the 1-2 format really hurts Lakehead. They are almost unbeatable at home so if they played a 1-1-1 series they most likely would be up 1-0 going on the road, with game 3 back at home if necessary. I think that is a much, much better situation than being down 1-0 with games 2 and 3 at home.
When Kelly Nobes was coach at Laurier, he was adamant that he much preferred Lakehead having "home ice" advantage in the playoffs. Similar to you, he felt the opportunity to go up 1-0 and then only win one of the next possible 2 on the road was easier, then coming back down 1-0, and having to win two back to back.
I'm not surprised that Moncton beat Acadia but I am surprised in the manner in which it happened. Not one expected 12 goals in this game. Les Aigles managed 7 goals on just 24 shots while Guay faced 60 in nets.
I didn't get to see the game. Was DiSalvo that bad in nets for the Axemen?
When Kelly Nobes was coach at Laurier, he was adamant that he much preferred Lakehead having "home ice" advantage in the playoffs. Similar to you, he felt the opportunity to go up 1-0 and then only win one of the next possible 2 on the road was easier, then coming back down 1-0, and having to win two back to back.
Lakehead's advantage playing at home, especially in the playoffs, has been huge over the years. Since they entered the league in 2001/02, they have met Western 6 times in the playoffs when Western finished higher than them in the standings. and Lakehead has won that first home game all six times, including in 01/02 when Western went 22-0-2 during the regular season and in 02/03 when Western went 24-0-0 during the regular season. The 'Wolves went on to win 4 out these 6 series. I agree that a team's best shot against Lakehead in the playoffs is when Lakehead has the 2 home games and the series starts in your own rink.
I'm not surprised that Moncton beat Acadia but I am surprised in the manner in which it happened. Not one expected 12 goals in this game. Les Aigles managed 7 goals on just 24 shots while Guay faced 60 in nets.
I didn't get to see the game. Was DiSalvo that bad in nets for the Axemen?
Dasilvo was not sharp last night. I think 4 of the 7 goals were "stoppable" by most AUS standards. Acadia played well as a team and generated lots of scoring chances. They missed a couple of open nets as well. Guay gave up 1 "bad" goal, Acadia's 5th. The game itself resembled an All Star game; with little attention to defensive play or close checking. River Hockey is fine if your goalie is up to the task.
Normally, if you score 5 goals you have a high expectation of winning. The Axemen need a huge game (and a couple of routine saves) from whomever is between the pipes on Friday night to give themselves a chance to play again on Sunday.
Dasilvo was not sharp last night. I think 4 of the 7 goals were "stoppable" by most AUS standards. Acadia played well as a team and generated lots of scoring chances. They missed a couple of open nets as well. Guay gave up 1 "bad" goal, Acadia's 5th. The game itself resembled an All Star game; with little attention to defensive play or close checking. River Hockey is fine if your goalie is up to the task.
Normally, if you score 5 goals you have a high expectation of winning. The Axemen need a huge game (and a couple of routine saves) from whomever is between the pipes on Friday night to give themselves a chance to play again on Sunday.
Should be interesting to see who they star in goal Friday.
Lakehead's advantage playing at home, especially in the playoffs, has been huge over the years. Since they entered the league in 2001/02, they have met Western 6 times in the playoffs when Western finished higher than them in the standings. and Lakehead has won that first home game all six times, including in 01/02 when Western went 22-0-2 during the regular season and in 02/03 when Western went 24-0-0 during the regular season. The 'Wolves went on to win 4 out these 6 series. I agree that a team's best shot against Lakehead in the playoffs is when Lakehead has the 2 home games and the series starts in your own rink.
I agree, it works both ways. It's a big advantage for us as the lower seed, but seems to hurt when we are the higher seed. We were pretty much unbeatable at home for the first few years of the program. Not sure on the exact numbers, but a home game feels like a lot less of a sure thing for us these days. I still wouldnt be worried one bit about not having "home ice" vs Western if we make it that far cause, as you said, that Game 1 has a good chance of going our way and is a huge momentum swing.
Matt Caria, our leading scorer, has been suspended for 2 games. That's going to make the comeback that much tougher. Hope the rest of the guys show up.
Quesnele missed Game 1. Not sure how serious his injury is. Would be nice to get him back
OUA WEST DIVISION MAJOR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-STARS
MVP - Ryan Daniels (Laurier)
Rookie of the Year - Andrew Bathgate (Guelph)
Defenceman of the Year - Steve Ferry (Windsor)
Top Goaltender - Ryan Daniels (Laurier)
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Steven Reese (Western)
Randy Gregg Award Nominee - Brett Vandehogen (Windsor)
Coach of the Year - Greg Puhalski (Laurier)
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
G Ryan Daniels (Laurier)
D Steve Ferry (Windsor)
D Ken Peroff (Guelph)
F Justin Larson (Waterloo)
F Matt Clarke (Western)
F Evan Stibbard (Windsor)
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
G Josh Unice (Western)
D Joe Underwood (Waterloo)
D John de Gray (York)
F Steven Reese (Western)
F Zach Harnden (Western)
F Spencer Pommells (Windsor)
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
G Bryce O'Hagan (UOIT)
D David Corrente (Western)
D Derek Holden (Laurier)
F Andrew Bathgate (Guelph)
F Daniel Erlich (Western)
F Colin Behenna (Waterloo)
#7 York picks up only one nomination, #8 UOIT with only one as well. #9 Brock and surprisingly, #3 Lakehead are both fully snubbed.
OUA WEST DIVISION MAJOR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-STARS
MVP - Ryan Daniels (Laurier)
Rookie of the Year - Andrew Bathgate (Guelph)
Defenceman of the Year - Steve Ferry (Windsor)
Top Goaltender - Ryan Daniels (Laurier)
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Steven Reese (Western)
Randy Gregg Award Nominee - Brett Vandehogen (Windsor)
Coach of the Year - Greg Puhalski (Laurier)
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
G Ryan Daniels (Laurier)
D Steve Ferry (Windsor)
D Ken Peroff (Guelph)
F Justin Larson (Waterloo)
F Matt Clarke (Western)
F Evan Stibbard (Windsor)
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
G Josh Unice (Western)
D Joe Underwood (Waterloo)
D John de Gray (York)
F Steven Reese (Western)
F Zach Harnden (Western)
F Spencer Pommells (Windsor)
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
G Bryce O'Hagan (UOIT)
D David Corrente (Western)
D Derek Holden (Laurier)
F Andrew Bathgate (Guelph)
F Daniel Erlich (Western)
F Colin Behenna (Waterloo)
#7 York picks up only one nomination, #8 UOIT with only one as well. #9 Brock and surprisingly, #3 Lakehead are both fully snubbed.
Hard to believe that Caria for Lakehead wasn't recognized.
Puhalski did a nice job for Laurier, but I don't know how Pat Powers of Western doesn't win coach of the year - a rookie, interim coach with a 50% roster turnover leads the Mustangs to a decisive first place finish in a division that is arguably the most competitive it has ever been.
Hard to believe that Caria for Lakehead wasn't recognized.
Puhalski did a nice job for Laurier, but I don't know how Pat Powers of Western doesn't win coach of the year - a rookie, interim coach with a 50% roster turnover leads the Mustangs to a decisive first place finish in a division that is arguably the most competitive it has ever been.
If I had to guess, some of Caria's extracurricular activities (specifically the racial slur suspension last year) might have hurt him. Also, the top-end talent up front in OUA West was ridiculous this year: OUA West forwards made up 7 of top 9 CIS point-getters, and 6 of top 12 goal scorers.
I read Foyle’s comments to you Miami Hockey and it bothers me. He hides behind “I am all about facts” and “show me the proof”. It is under the table stuff that Miami Hockey is talking about Foyle and you know it. How do you prove it? I doubt UNB is publishing their under the table accounts on the internet. If Miami Hockey is in fact a coach then he has more than likely heard about players getting paid. I doubt that envelope filled with cash is something that can be proved. And isn’t that the point to you always arguing “prove it”? You know we can’t. I guess you got us.
What I can say with a little bit of certainty is that when a cost saving measure such as a roster cap comes into place to level the playing field, the folks that like the table to be tipped in their favour are going to be upset by it. And so far you haven’t disappointed.
What I can say with a little bit of certainty is that when a cost saving measure such as a roster cap comes into place to level the playing field, the folks that like the table to be tipped in their favour are going to be upset by it. And so far you haven’t disappointed.
Talk about spin. The roster cap is and was designed to "reign in" UNB's recruiting because competing coaches got the sads that the V-Reds sometimes had a healthy scratch in the stands that they wish was in their line-up. The coaches then got their AD's to make it an AUS rule. This "cost saving" talk is just after the fact b.s.
