Ice Surface

Does anyone know how much practice time the Red will have on the larger ice surface? Is there a rink closer than Lake Placid with the olympic sheet?

A couple of other things:

I watched some of the OSU/Mich game from last weekend. OSU played close with Michigan. This OSU team is quite different from the slow team many of us saw lose 1-0 to BC in Providence a couple of years ago.

I've seen a lot of posts about how the selection committee used discretion to bump DU ahead of CC. They also went away from the "rule" that No. 1 seeds should play as close to home as possible. Although I guess DU was flying no matter what -- Amherst or Grand Rapids.

They didn't, actually.

That's the thing. CC was 2 and went to GR, DU was 3 and went to Amherst. You can tell that based on the home seeding thing which is a *rule*

However, the committee did decide to give DU the easier first round draw, which isn't a rule. The 1-16, 2-15 thing is just a suggestion. The only rule is that a #1 must play a #4. So you can see that CC *was* 2 via their placement, but the committee decided to give DU a nod by giving them the easier draw.

[Q]DeltaOne81 Wrote:

They didn't, actually.

That's the thing. CC was 2 and went to GR, DU was 3 and went to Amherst. You can tell that based on the home seeding thing which is a *rule*

However, the committee did decide to give DU the easier first round draw, which isn't a rule. The 1-16, 2-15 thing is just a suggestion. The only rule is that a #1 must play a #4. So you can see that CC *was* 2 via their placement, but the committee decided to give DU a nod by giving them the easier draw.[/q]
Actually, they did make Denver #2. See
[www.ncaasports.com]
Perhaps they decided that to be "fair" to both teams, the one sent east would be called #2 so they could rationalize giving them the easier first round game to make up for the added travel. You can't tell for sure anything based on the rules now that subjectivity is part of the process.

Well, more proof that the committee has no idea what they're doing. Cause if that's the case, then they flat out broke their own rules (two of them).

They must have taken the #1s as BC, CC, DU, Minn and placed them, and then *later* decided to call DU #2 overall, but there is a definite acknowledgement by the locations that CC initially was #2. That said, the committee talks and acts out of their ass.

The new rink in Syracuse has an olympic ice surface, but I doubt Cornell would bother to drive up there for practice.

They would probably rather go up there than to Lake Placid. I hope they figure something out to get some work on the big sheet. We are so strong on the boards that the extra width really will be a huge factor if we can't figure out a way to set up our traps.
I remember watching the juniors during the winter and they played on the big sheet - the games were extremely fast, no traps (maybe it was b/c of the players on the teams). Still, Minnesota is an offensive team b/c of the big sheet, or the other way around. We are a defensive team and a small sheet helps us. Thus, in my opinion, we need to get some practice on the big sheet to figure out a way to set the traps.

Yes, they would rather drive to Syracuse than Lake Placid...

There are some pretty significant differences to playing on the big ice so I would hope they get some time to practice on it before Friday.

I'd imagine they'll get some skates at Mariucci ... Anyone know when the team is flying out?

There are scheduled practices at Mariucci for all the teams; they do publicize some for anyone who wants to attend. They'll probably have more than an hour and a half of ice time there.

[Q]mjh89 Wrote:

I'd imagine they'll get some skates at Mariucci ... Anyone know when the team is flying out?[/q]

Thursday afternoon

In 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002, Mike Schafer prepared Cornell to play on the big sheet in Lake Placid. He has plenty of experience coaching the team to make the adjustment to the wider ice surface.

The only time Cornell lost to a lower seed in Lake Placid in those six seasons was the 2002 ECAC Championship game, and the big sheet had little to do with that upset.

I'm confident that the coaching staff will make good decisions regarding the practice schedule.

Of course, The best way to prepare for the Olympic-size rink is to play games on it. Cornell and Ohio State will be in the same boat with respect to their lack of experience playing games on a 200x100 rink this season.

it is probably safe to say that they are flying out of ithaca? maybe some people who can't make the trip should show up at the airport to see them off. show them that those of us who can't go to the game(s) will still be pulling for them.

If you are talking about the Wolrd Juniors, they were on the NHL-sized rink at UND. The players just looked like they were on the big sheet because they are that good and that fast.

[Q]cbuckser Wrote:
Cornell and Ohio State will be in the same boat with respect to their lack of experience playing games on a 200x100 rink this season.[/q]
Ohio State opened their season at the Ice Breaker Tournament played at UNH's Whittemore Center, where the ice is 200x100. They were beaten 5-1 by UNH and 3-1 by St. Cloud. Their coach doesn't seem to remember it, either--or maybe he couldn't tell the difference.

cornell practices at mariucci at 3:15 pm on friday

[www.gophersports.com]