Someone mentioned the lack of a thread for playoffs and Nationals, so I thought I would start one.
Predictions and thoughts on the three conference playoff teams/games and any University Cup gossip are welcome.
I'll throw in a quick off-the-cuff AUS prediction:
SFX over UdeM and Acadia over UPEI in 3 close games.
UNB knocks off SFX (no sweep by SFX this year) in four and Acadia over SMU in five.
UNB takes the AUS title in five.
I reserve the right to change my mind after the weekend.
I'd like to see a 'new' team at the tournament or at least a team we haven't seen in awhile; Nippising & UdeM are my choices
UdeM would be interesting - if they were to lose to UNB in the AUS Finals - they could come to Fredericton and ruin the party like we did to them in 2007. Also, their fans are great supporters.
Nippising from OUA-East would be great. Might help them get a successful bid to host.
The rest of the candidates have been to the tournament for a number of years; UWO, McGill, LKD, UNB and UA. SMU a year removed, UMan a year removed, UdeM is 3 years removed.
It is quite possible that McG, UWO and UNB could end up in the same pool - that would be interesting; a rematch of UNB's back-2-back 4-0 shutouts from last year's tournament.
Nippising from OUA-East would be great. Might help them get a successful bid to host.
Dont know where this love for Nipissing is coming from, but I have to disagree with you totally. They dont have the discipline OR the killer instinct to be deep in the playoffs. I've seen them play 3 times this season, beating RMC 3-1, 3-2 and 2-1 (OT). The first game we only had 3 lines (with line #3 with guys with a combined junior hockey experience of 0 games). They were at home and they should have smashed us. The 2-1 (OT) game we were coming off a long, snowy bus ride from Toronto and we were leading the game for a long stretch and killing every single one of their penalties. They dont have that killer instinct. You trap them, and they are done.
People are totally under rating McGill. They are a really good team in a not strong conference so they were good enough to mail it in for a bit and STILL be first. Plus in their last game againt UQTR, they smashed them 7-3
UPEI-Acadia is hard to predict. I'm pretty sure it is going three games, but really difficult do see an edge for either team. Most likely, as is often the case, goaltending will probably decide the series.
Next round? Who knows. Whoever plays UNB in the AUS finals (yes, I think the V-Reds will be there) will certainly be a threat at Nationals if they don't shoot their wad against UNB.
I feel pretty confident McGill will be one team coming out of OUA. Western out of the other side as long as Grieco keeps playing well in nets. Third team? UQTR would be the easy pick, but I think this may the year for a relative newbie like Carleton or Nipissing or someone else who gets hot in the playoffs.
Out west the top teams can all beat each other. Manitoba may be better defensively but Alberta certainly has lots of third period jump still. Again, and it sounds like a cop-put, it just may come down to who is the best goalie at the right time.
Last edited by FreddtFoyle: 02-14-2012 at 02:42 PM.
UPEI-Acadia is hard to predict. I'm pretty sure it is going three games, but really difficult do see an edge for either team. Most likely, as is often the case, goaltending will probably decide the series.
My rationale for SFX is that if Perricone gets hot, they are tough to beat. SFX has lost a lot of close games this year and if (that word, again) they can "assemble their merde" they can knock off the Aigles.
Parks is a very good goalie and Acadia a very skilled team. If all their injured guys are back to full health they can beat UPEI.
My rationale for SFX is that if Perricone gets hot, they are tough to beat. SFX has lost a lot of close games this year and if (that word, again) they can "assemble their merde" they can knock off the Aigles.
Parks is a very good goalie and Acadia a very skilled team. If all their injured guys are back to full health they can beat UPEI.
Good points. I agree that the big "if" is whether Perricone can regain his form of last season that's he's only shown flashes of this year.
UPEI-Acadia is hard to predict. I'm pretty sure it is going three games, but really difficult do see an edge for either team. Most likely, as is often the case, goaltending will probably decide the series.
Next round? Who knows. Whoever plays UNB in the AUS finals (yes, I think the V-Reds will be there) will certainly be a threat at Nationals if they don't shoot their wad against UNB.
I feel pretty confident McGill will be one team coming out of OUA. Western out of the other side as long as Grieco keeps playing well in nets. Third team? UQTR would be the easy pick, but I think this may the year for a relative newbie like Carleton or Nipissing or someone else who gets hot in the playoffs.
Out west the top teams can all beat each other. Manitoba may be better defensively but Alberta certainly has lots of third period jump still. Again, and it sounds like a cop-put, it just may come down to who is the best goalie at the right time.
Grieco plays for Asiago in Italy. Western will be rolling one of Unice or Valiquette, likely Unice, who tends to be streaky.
Good points. I agree that the big "if" is whether Perricone can regain his form of last season that's he's only shown flashes of this year.
there is also the big if, if the whole team decides to show up for a full 60 minutes. i have seen alot of games where some of their players seem to be mailing it in
Ryerson is up 6-0 over UQTR in the second period. Shocking.
Wow.
Interesting to see the 1-2 format in a best of 3. I understand the schools aren't as close as we have it here in the Atlantic but that's a tough format.
This 350 km distance rule in my opinion is completely unfair to the remote schools of the OUA. Depending on where you draw the line, Nipissing might have Ryerson & Toronto as two potential teams within that buffer zone. Lakehead does not have any rival schools in the OUA hockey circuit within that distance.
Which means under the current format, the Lakers & Thunderwolves will likely never have a chance to host game one and have true home-ice advantage (within a best of three). It would almost better serve the two teams to finish in the bottom 4...
u de m in 3.pei in 2.acadia has lost 6 of 7 going in to playoffs.same old story at acadia again.a team that faulters at the end of every year and bombs in playoffs.pei is hot and i think unless st. fx gets stellar goaltending u de m will prevail.
Lakehead had no buisness losing that game last night. They had a 4-1 lead in the second and lost 5-4. They give up so many pp opportunities with their ability to take rediculous amount penalties. Their poor play once they get the lead. The team has no discipline at all. It's clear to most fans that these guys are not playing for this coach. Looks like another long off season for hockey fans in thunder bay unless something drastically changes.
This 350 km distance rule in my opinion is completely unfair to the remote schools of the OUA. Depending on where you draw the line, Nipissing might have Ryerson & Toronto as two potential teams within that buffer zone. Lakehead does not have any rival schools in the OUA hockey circuit within that distance.
Which means under the current format, the Lakers & Thunderwolves will likely never have a chance to host game one and have true home-ice advantage (within a best of three). It would almost better serve the two teams to finish in the bottom 4...
I think it depends on the team and I think it also depends on who wins the first game. I have always felt this rule benefitted Lakehead because of the huge boost they have historically gotten from their home crowd. When they don't have home ice advantage, they get the first game at home and have more often than not won that game, which means the higher placed team is facing elimination in each of the next two games. A great example of this was in 2003 when Western had a 24-0-0 regular season. Lakehead won the Wednesday game at home and then won game 2 in overtime in London. Same thing happened the next season, except Lakehead did it in 3 games. In the other scenario, when Lakehead starts on the road, they have been unbeatable when they win the first game on the road and come home up 1 - it's been very rare over the years for anyone to win 2 straight at Fort William Gardens.
What bothers me more is that I think there are too many teams making the playoffs in the OUA and not enough of a reward for finishing high in the standings. I'd like to see them go back to the old model where six teams from each division make the playoffs and the top two teams get a first round bye.
Interesting to see the 1-2 format in a best of 3. I understand the schools aren't as close as we have it here in the Atlantic but that's a tough format.
I agree...I am willing to bet there are more upsets with that format than the traditional 1-1-1 format.
I would want to host games 2 and 3. If you win game 1 then your opponent is really in a confidence crisis. If you lose, it is way better to be going home then going away for game 2.
I would want to host games 2 and 3. If you win game 1 then your opponent is really in a confidence crisis. If you lose, it is way better to be going home then going away for game 2.
It all comes out the same, anyhow. No excuses.
Definitely no excuses, because I really don't have a better alternative to the 1-2 (besides longer series, which would be ideal but unrealistic, and charter flights...Alumni, open up the chequebooks).
But, it warrants mentioning that four higher-seeded OUA teams opened up on the road last night, and they were a combined 0-4. Now, Guelph (7th West), Ryerson (7th East), Ottawa (6th east) and Carleton (5th east) only need a weekend split on the road to pull off a major first round upset.
It victimized Lakehead last year, as well - Waterloo (6 seed) shut them out at home in game 1 before sweeping them in Thunder Bay (LU scored no goals in those 2 games; they probably weren't going to win that series no matter where they played - but you get the idea).
In any event, looks like an exciting playoffs in Ontario/Quebec. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't OUA have the Uni Cup at-large bid this year? With the short series format, any one of 6 or 7 OUA teams could make the tourney - especially if Guelph and/or Ryerson completes the upset.
My thinking is that if the lower seed can pull off the first game at home (which isn't completely unreasonable as last night showed) than they might gain a bit of confidence/momentum and carry it to a series victory...also, maybe the higher seeded team starts second guessing themselves. But like Holly said, if the higher seeded team wins the first game on the road it is pretty much 'lights out' for the lower seed. I wonder how many times in recent memory the lower seed lost the first game at home and then went on to take the last two on the road to advance.
And yes...the OUA gets the extra berth this year - 3 in total.
This 350 km distance rule in my opinion is completely unfair to the remote schools of the OUA. Depending on where you draw the line, Nipissing might have Ryerson & Toronto as two potential teams within that buffer zone. Lakehead does not have any rival schools in the OUA hockey circuit within that distance.
Which means under the current format, the Lakers & Thunderwolves will likely never have a chance to host game one and have true home-ice advantage (within a best of three). It would almost better serve the two teams to finish in the bottom 4...
So you would rather have teams travel 1-1-1 lets say from Nipissing to UQTR, making for unreal and dangerous travel on a bus for a 16 hours round trip. Total waste of money. I wouldnt want to FLY to Thunder Bay for one game. Its a waste.
Maybe Nipissing should have won last night and stop Touchette. Drove up to watch the game. Lakers had really nothing. Plus down 3-1 going into the 3rd it would be "rah-rah, lets go boys" but I was sitting over the tunnel of where the Lakers came out, and you had Marcoux and O'Donnell staring at girls and not being focused.
It hasnt seemed to affect Lakehead, why should it affect Nipissing?
This 350 km distance rule in my opinion is completely unfair to the remote schools of the OUA. Depending on where you draw the line, Nipissing might have Ryerson & Toronto as two potential teams within that buffer zone. Lakehead does not have any rival schools in the OUA hockey circuit within that distance.
Which means under the current format, the Lakers & Thunderwolves will likely never have a chance to host game one and have true home-ice advantage (within a best of three). It would almost better serve the two teams to finish in the bottom 4...
I dont really understand the 350 km rule.
out west that would be just about every where and our series are all best of 3 BUT the higher seed hosts all. TOO much thinking going on in the OUA in my opinion!! geez did anyone see last nights upsets coming? 9 -2 Ryerson over UQTR yikes. Lakehead in a hole as is the boys from SIngsing ouch. How is that 350 km format working for u??
If anything the higher seed should get first two game, no?
