Jack Connolly is MVP for Second Straight Season
The college hockey season is well over. This post should have been done almost a month ago, but sometimes life gets in the way. That being said, we would not forget to honor those UMD Bulldogs who stood out this season. And we will honor them with our 4th running of the College Hockey HighHorse Awards.
A quick look back at the season includes UMD taking 2nd in the WCHA en route to their third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years. And in those four years one of the constants in a Bulldog jersey was Jack Connolly who was the fifth UMD player to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, college hockey's highest individual honor. That leaves UMD again alone at the top as the school with the most winners of the Hobey.
Unlike last year, the Bulldogs did not get out of the Regional round being beaten 4-0 in the Northeast Regional Championship by eventual National Champion Boston College.
The awards as decided by the staff:
Huffer Christiansen Award (MVP): Jack Connolly. The 2011-2012 season end for UMD with the 5th Hobey Baker award winner in school history. It is pretty hard to look past a Hobey Baker award winner when picking the team MVP. Jack Connolly is again the HCA winner for the second straight season. This past year's team produced three players that had over 40 points, two players with more than 50 points and two players that were All-Americans one might think that it would be hard to pick out a MVP, but a Hobey does trump all.
Runners-up: Travis Oleksuk and JT Brown who had 53 and 47 points respectively.
Rookie of the Year: Caleb Herbert. This past season had good play by several Bulldog freshmen, but the best was Caleb Herbert. Chris had 2 goals, 11 assists for 13 points, pretty good for a freshman defenseman. As a forward Caleb Herbert had a terrific year 14 goals 19 assists for 33 points in 41 games. He also showed his strength in keeping the puck and getting to the net and the ability to checks. His development should continue also assuming he will be able to take on a bigger leadership role with the team. Caleb showed that he could be star in the college hockey in the coming years and is this years Rookie of the Year.
Runner-up: Chris Casto who had a strong freshmen year on the blueline for the Bulldogs and looks like he should have a great college career. Casto played in all 41 games this past season.
Most Improved Player: Travis Oleksuk. Is it possible to have the same player win it two years in a row? Travis Olesuk finished the season with 21 goals 32 assists for 53 points and he had six game winning goals. He was also and absolute monster on face off, arguably the best I have ever seen in a UMD jersey. If Travis had another season of eligibility, he very well could be a Hobey candidate with the way he has played progressed.
Runner-up: Scott Kishel went from playing seven games as a junior to 35 games as a senior while scoring three goals and 15 assists for 18 points. Scott stepped up early in the season and played very well. He did see his ice time drop at the end end of the season; however he was still a very important player to the team overall.
7th Defensemen: Scott Kishel. Given to the defenseman who steps up, becomes a regular player for the team and makes an impact. Scott Kishel as stated above provided offense when we honestly thought we would not see much from him this past season. Kishel is the type of defenseman we had when we instituted the 7th Defensemen Award.
Runner-up: Tim Smith who will be relied upon next season.
#29 Award: JT Brown. This past season leading goal scorer was J.T. Brown with 24 goals. Brown also added another 23 assists for a total of 47 points. He had two hat tricks on the season, one of which was a 4 goal game against UAA. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs J.T. has signed and played with the Tampa Bay Lightning, so his 2nd team All-WCHA and 2nd Team All-American honors will definitely be missed next season.
Runner-up: Travis Oleksuk with 21 goals.
There they are, the 2011-2012 College Hockey HighHorse Award winners. As we move towards the normal down time for college hockey, we will have articles dealing with expected announcements of more details of the NCHC. Otherwise, we look forward to the fall when Bulldog Hockey commences a new season.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Frozen Four: Quick Preview and Pick
BC, Minneosta - Twin Cities, Ferris State and Union Take it to the Wire
Tonight starts the last chapter to the college hockey season, the Frozen Four. Debate still lingers as to why it is being held in Tampa and what the benefit is to college hockey. But that is not for this article.
Tonight’s games have been maligned and heralded both for being a game of new comers to the Frozen Four (Union vs. Ferris State) and the old timers (BC vs. Minnesota – Twin Cities). The bottom line for me is Boston College is a force to behold. If the Eagles play the same type and level of hockey they did in the regional round, they are hands down your national champion.
One doesn’t have to far into history to find a dominant team on a winning streak that enters the Frozen Four as the favorite and doesn’t perform to expectation.
Take North Dakota last season who entered the Frozen four on a 15 game unbeaten streak, 14-0-1, but lost in the semis to Shawn Hunwick and the Michigan Wolverines. It has been overstated everywhere that this is a one game playoff and anything can happen.
All that being said, I fully expect BC to roll through the tournament and be the national champion. If they don’t, I only see the Gophers being able to beat the Eagles. And if the Gophers do beat BC, I see them losing to Ferris State in the Championship. A game against BC will take too much out of the Gophers to have them finish the deal.
That is my take. All we can do now is sit back and watch it all play out.
Tonight starts the last chapter to the college hockey season, the Frozen Four. Debate still lingers as to why it is being held in Tampa and what the benefit is to college hockey. But that is not for this article.
Tonight’s games have been maligned and heralded both for being a game of new comers to the Frozen Four (Union vs. Ferris State) and the old timers (BC vs. Minnesota – Twin Cities). The bottom line for me is Boston College is a force to behold. If the Eagles play the same type and level of hockey they did in the regional round, they are hands down your national champion.
One doesn’t have to far into history to find a dominant team on a winning streak that enters the Frozen Four as the favorite and doesn’t perform to expectation.
Take North Dakota last season who entered the Frozen four on a 15 game unbeaten streak, 14-0-1, but lost in the semis to Shawn Hunwick and the Michigan Wolverines. It has been overstated everywhere that this is a one game playoff and anything can happen.
All that being said, I fully expect BC to roll through the tournament and be the national champion. If they don’t, I only see the Gophers being able to beat the Eagles. And if the Gophers do beat BC, I see them losing to Ferris State in the Championship. A game against BC will take too much out of the Gophers to have them finish the deal.
That is my take. All we can do now is sit back and watch it all play out.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Bulldog Season Ends With Loss to BC
BC Blanks UMD 4-0 to Win the Northeast Regional
UMD ran into a buzz saw, plain and simple. Boston College is a team that has it all clicking and the tune is a beauty. The final was a 4-0 win for BC, a team that seems destined to not lose again until maybe next autumn.
UMD skated well with BC in the first period. But when the goals started for the Eagles in the second, it was all over for UMD. BC had momentum and the Bulldogs just couldn’t break it. Both teams made mistakes, it’s just that BC capitalized on UMD’s and snubbed the Bulldogs when they had chances.
By no means did UMD play poorly; it was just BC was that much better. And that is what made it the most difficult for Bulldog fans, to watch their team get dismantled knowing it was the last game for seven of UMD’s players to wear the Bulldog.
The Eagle’s 4-0 win Sunday night over the Bulldogs not only sent BC to the Frozen Four, but extended their winning streak to 17. Their last loss was January 21 against Maine. At that time BC was 14-10-1 and with last night’s win are 31-10-1.
UMD ends their season at 25-10-6 after beating Maine 5-2 Saturday night prior to the BC game.
Does the streak sound familiar to Bulldog fans? UMD had their own run of 17 games, but theirs was an unbeaten streak, 14-0-3, in the early to mid-season. It was quite a feat for the Bulldogs and will be one of many highlights of a very good, respectable season.
UMD’s own streak came on the heels of a heartbreaking sweep at home against the Gophers. Many said they looked forward to getting another crack at UMTC in the season, but it would have to wait for a tournament. This was the last chance and it will be BC, not the Bulldogs, getting the Gophers.
UMD ran into a buzz saw, plain and simple. Boston College is a team that has it all clicking and the tune is a beauty. The final was a 4-0 win for BC, a team that seems destined to not lose again until maybe next autumn.
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| The best legal hit of the night was a hip check delivered the Bulldogs Wade Bergman. Photo: NewsTimes |
By no means did UMD play poorly; it was just BC was that much better. And that is what made it the most difficult for Bulldog fans, to watch their team get dismantled knowing it was the last game for seven of UMD’s players to wear the Bulldog.
The Eagle’s 4-0 win Sunday night over the Bulldogs not only sent BC to the Frozen Four, but extended their winning streak to 17. Their last loss was January 21 against Maine. At that time BC was 14-10-1 and with last night’s win are 31-10-1.
UMD ends their season at 25-10-6 after beating Maine 5-2 Saturday night prior to the BC game.
Does the streak sound familiar to Bulldog fans? UMD had their own run of 17 games, but theirs was an unbeaten streak, 14-0-3, in the early to mid-season. It was quite a feat for the Bulldogs and will be one of many highlights of a very good, respectable season.
UMD’s own streak came on the heels of a heartbreaking sweep at home against the Gophers. Many said they looked forward to getting another crack at UMTC in the season, but it would have to wait for a tournament. This was the last chance and it will be BC, not the Bulldogs, getting the Gophers.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
UMD Bests Maine; BC Next
Trip to Frozen Four on the Line
Busy day here so we just have the UMD - BC game StatPack:
Of note:
Busy day here so we just have the UMD - BC game StatPack:
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| Images via Wikipedia: Bulldog, BC |
- There is definitely a reason BC has the #1 overall seed and the stats are just a start.
- BC on a 16 win streak currently.
- UMD has to again limit exposure to penalties as a key to the game.
Friday, March 23, 2012
UMD and Maine, First Round NCAA
#2 UMD and #3 Maine Square Off in the Northeast
UMD takes their game on the road, or air as Massachusetts is a flight destination, to start their NCAA Tournament quest on the East Coast.
The Tournament starts today, but the Bulldogs have to wait for the last first round game of the weekend stating at 6:30pm CDT. The game will be on ESPN3 (online only) and picked up locally by FSN Plus.
In talking about keys to the game, and we will go one game at a time, team is it.
Team defense comes to mind first. The Bulldogs will be facing a high scoring top line of Maine that may or may not contain Spencer Abbott, the nation’s top point producer. All reports as of this time say he is a game time decision due to an upper body injury. Either way, the team defense in UMD’s last game was atrocious allowing multiple odd man rushes and breakaways for the Pioneers. It was the goals on those defensive lapses that allowed the Pioneers to build a lead that UMD could not overcome in the end.
Team offense is not a facet of the game we talk about much as UMD is the top scoring team in the nation. But just as UMD will match-up their best defenders against Maine’s top line, Maine will do the same to the Bulldogs. Scoring has to come from the second and third lines. And that was one ingredient to last season’s NCAA successes.
Special teams is the last of the teams we will mention, but don’t think it the least by any stretch of the imagination. We put it last because it is what it is, decent to abysmal. Power play is decent to good now that they are connecting over 20% of the time, but Maine’s power play is better. The penalty kill was terrible, but did show signs of life in the most recent game going 5 for 5 kills. Unfortunately that still leaves UMD at #53 in the nation out of 58 teams.
Bottom line, the more 5 on 5 hockey that UMD can play, the better the Bulldog chances are.
By the Numbers. StatPack for the UMD – Maine game Saturday:
Of note:
UMD takes their game on the road, or air as Massachusetts is a flight destination, to start their NCAA Tournament quest on the East Coast.
The Tournament starts today, but the Bulldogs have to wait for the last first round game of the weekend stating at 6:30pm CDT. The game will be on ESPN3 (online only) and picked up locally by FSN Plus.
[BE AWARE: FSN Plus is also televising the Gopher game that is scheduled at 4:30pm CDT, so the UMD game will not be shown in its entirety. It will only be picked up after the Gopher conclusion. With any delay in the start or end of the Minnesota – Twin Cities game, like OT in the Gopher game or the earlier North Dakota – Western Michigan game, and the UMD game will be preempted even more than scheduled. Check if you can get ESPN3 for Internet viewing because not all providers have it.]The trend starts in the conference tournaments of one game elimination and continues into the NCAA Tournament. A hot team, a hot goaltender, or just a bad game eliminates a team, and maybe the better team. But it is the rules of the tourney and all 16 teams play knowing the consequences.
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| UMD Will Need a Team Effort to Make NE Successes |
Team defense comes to mind first. The Bulldogs will be facing a high scoring top line of Maine that may or may not contain Spencer Abbott, the nation’s top point producer. All reports as of this time say he is a game time decision due to an upper body injury. Either way, the team defense in UMD’s last game was atrocious allowing multiple odd man rushes and breakaways for the Pioneers. It was the goals on those defensive lapses that allowed the Pioneers to build a lead that UMD could not overcome in the end.
Team offense is not a facet of the game we talk about much as UMD is the top scoring team in the nation. But just as UMD will match-up their best defenders against Maine’s top line, Maine will do the same to the Bulldogs. Scoring has to come from the second and third lines. And that was one ingredient to last season’s NCAA successes.
Special teams is the last of the teams we will mention, but don’t think it the least by any stretch of the imagination. We put it last because it is what it is, decent to abysmal. Power play is decent to good now that they are connecting over 20% of the time, but Maine’s power play is better. The penalty kill was terrible, but did show signs of life in the most recent game going 5 for 5 kills. Unfortunately that still leaves UMD at #53 in the nation out of 58 teams.
Bottom line, the more 5 on 5 hockey that UMD can play, the better the Bulldog chances are.
By the Numbers. StatPack for the UMD – Maine game Saturday:
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| Images Via Wikipedia: Bulldog, Black Bear. |
- Although UMD holds advantages in goals for and against, those categories are quite similar.
- Special teams is lopsided in favor of Maine, but the Black Bears are more penalized on average.
- UMD’s save percentage, fueled by Kenny Reiter, is a key for this game and any more games in the NCAA this season.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Writers Make Their NCAA Picks
Frozen Four Participants is Part 1 of the Process
Here we are again on the eve of the NCAA Hockey Tournament. This is our annual segment where the writers here, both of us, take a shot at prognosticating the Frozen Four.
We will start with the picks of the regional finals and have writers’ notes at the bottom. And as usual, feel free to comment below or even add your picks.
So without further delay the picks:
Northeast Regional
Andrew Craig (AC): Boston College defeats UMD
Andy Fiskness (AF): UMD over BC
East Regional
AC: Miami defeats Union
AF: UMass – Lowell over Union
Midwest Regional
AC: Ferris State defeats Michigan
AF: Ferris State over Michigan
West Regional
AC: Boston University defeats North Dakota
AF: UND over BU
Comments:
AF: College hockey fans have been watching and waiting all season for the biggest and most exciting weekend of games. So many games have been played, trends have developed, conference championships won and lost. Now who will prevail in a one and done format? When it comes to evaluating the teams I have had a hard time deciding who will make it to the final four and the ultimate winner. I have changed my bracket so many times that I am sure I picked it right at one point, but maybe not the final version. Recent years have seen big underdogs advance to the final four and in many years teams that experts thought had no chance went far in the tournament.
So I will start with the a few thoughts about UMD. This year’s Bulldog team went 17 games without losing and during that time I don't think there was a team in the country that was better all around. Since then UMD has been just over .500, which team will show up Saturday? This year's team success in the tournament will come down to penalty kills. If they are good on the PK they will go far, if not they will be going home. Ever since Scott Sandelin took over UMD they have been a great underdog team and not as good of a team as the favorite. To me it seems that UMD will be able to get through Maine and then they will likely be the underdog and I think they will be win and keep playing.
AC: Hey, I might actually get some correct this year as Fiskness and my picks line up pretty well. I will take heat from friends and others over not picking UMD in the NE, but they have been so streaky this spring, I really don’t see them putting two games together.
As far as the Gophers, I was at the game against North Dakota and went to the press conference afterward. If those players can bounce back after those displays, I will be surprised. Players in the presser didn’t act or sound resilient at all and that was definitely what was observed in the game.
Here we are again on the eve of the NCAA Hockey Tournament. This is our annual segment where the writers here, both of us, take a shot at prognosticating the Frozen Four.
We will start with the picks of the regional finals and have writers’ notes at the bottom. And as usual, feel free to comment below or even add your picks.
So without further delay the picks:
Northeast Regional
Andrew Craig (AC): Boston College defeats UMD
Andy Fiskness (AF): UMD over BC
East Regional
AC: Miami defeats Union
AF: UMass – Lowell over Union
Midwest Regional
AC: Ferris State defeats Michigan
AF: Ferris State over Michigan
West Regional
AC: Boston University defeats North Dakota
AF: UND over BU
Comments:
AF: College hockey fans have been watching and waiting all season for the biggest and most exciting weekend of games. So many games have been played, trends have developed, conference championships won and lost. Now who will prevail in a one and done format? When it comes to evaluating the teams I have had a hard time deciding who will make it to the final four and the ultimate winner. I have changed my bracket so many times that I am sure I picked it right at one point, but maybe not the final version. Recent years have seen big underdogs advance to the final four and in many years teams that experts thought had no chance went far in the tournament.
So I will start with the a few thoughts about UMD. This year’s Bulldog team went 17 games without losing and during that time I don't think there was a team in the country that was better all around. Since then UMD has been just over .500, which team will show up Saturday? This year's team success in the tournament will come down to penalty kills. If they are good on the PK they will go far, if not they will be going home. Ever since Scott Sandelin took over UMD they have been a great underdog team and not as good of a team as the favorite. To me it seems that UMD will be able to get through Maine and then they will likely be the underdog and I think they will be win and keep playing.
AC: Hey, I might actually get some correct this year as Fiskness and my picks line up pretty well. I will take heat from friends and others over not picking UMD in the NE, but they have been so streaky this spring, I really don’t see them putting two games together.
As far as the Gophers, I was at the game against North Dakota and went to the press conference afterward. If those players can bounce back after those displays, I will be surprised. Players in the presser didn’t act or sound resilient at all and that was definitely what was observed in the game.
On To the Northeast!
Bulldogs Head East For Second Straight Year
Rags to riches, riches to somewhere in the middle, that is where Bulldog fans are left now that the final PWR is out and the NCAA field has been announced. It is old news now, but something that stuck in my craw; the lost opportunities of Playing close to home.
So how did the team get here, to the #7 seed and in the tournament and in the Northeast Regional, the same as #1 Boston College? It wasn’t said outright, but it had to be a team goal to get to the West Regional in Saint Paul. And the West looked likely until the Bulldogs and Gophers both lost in the WCHA semi-finals. If it wasn’t on the radar of the team, it certainly was of the fan base. The Bulldogs had to travel out east last year and go it alone without a large fan base to work back to the Frozen Four at the X. This year the Bulldogs have to go out east again without the possibility of playing close to home again.
Yes, UMD was tops in the PWR and national polls for weeks during the year and went into the WCHA playoffs bouncing between #2 and #3 in the PWR. Yes, the Bulldogs lost to a good Denver team, but Denver was ranked lower so it was a game UMD had to win to get the high seed.
North Dakota as a counter example to UMD, came into the Final Five on the cusp of the bubble for the NCAA Tourney. UND made the most of their opportunities winning all three of their possible games to shoot up to the #4 overall seed in the NCAA and were thus rewarded with a return trip to Saint Paul for the West Regional. Easy trip for UND and their fans, and UMD will go east again with a likely small fan base.
So this year again, UMD is left to potentially take on #1 in a far off region because they couldn’t win when they needed to in the WCHA playoffs. The difference this year is the Bulldogs have the championship even if they may not be able to play in front many of their faithful fans again.
Rags to riches, riches to somewhere in the middle, that is where Bulldog fans are left now that the final PWR is out and the NCAA field has been announced. It is old news now, but something that stuck in my craw; the lost opportunities of Playing close to home.
So how did the team get here, to the #7 seed and in the tournament and in the Northeast Regional, the same as #1 Boston College? It wasn’t said outright, but it had to be a team goal to get to the West Regional in Saint Paul. And the West looked likely until the Bulldogs and Gophers both lost in the WCHA semi-finals. If it wasn’t on the radar of the team, it certainly was of the fan base. The Bulldogs had to travel out east last year and go it alone without a large fan base to work back to the Frozen Four at the X. This year the Bulldogs have to go out east again without the possibility of playing close to home again.
Yes, UMD was tops in the PWR and national polls for weeks during the year and went into the WCHA playoffs bouncing between #2 and #3 in the PWR. Yes, the Bulldogs lost to a good Denver team, but Denver was ranked lower so it was a game UMD had to win to get the high seed.
North Dakota as a counter example to UMD, came into the Final Five on the cusp of the bubble for the NCAA Tourney. UND made the most of their opportunities winning all three of their possible games to shoot up to the #4 overall seed in the NCAA and were thus rewarded with a return trip to Saint Paul for the West Regional. Easy trip for UND and their fans, and UMD will go east again with a likely small fan base.
So this year again, UMD is left to potentially take on #1 in a far off region because they couldn’t win when they needed to in the WCHA playoffs. The difference this year is the Bulldogs have the championship even if they may not be able to play in front many of their faithful fans again.
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