Women's Frozen Four Thread

[RichH]

This definitely deserves it's own thread. As someone who remembers the days where just making the ECAC tournament field was a major accomplishment and the attendance rivaled the number of goals scored...two Frozen Fours in a row is just about unfathomable.  Congratulations to Coach Derraugh and the team!

There's an interesting quote mentioning us in this magazine article about Mercyhurst. It shows how far we've come:

"Every year, we are the little train that could," he says, comparing his team to the larger powerhouse teams of Division I schools like the University of Wisconsin, the University of Minnesota, and Cornell. "We are the team that no one expects or wants to be there with the heavyweights of women's hockey.

Which is funny to me, since MC was a powerhouse long before Cornell's great awakening last year. In fact, I saw Cornell's win over MC in the NCAA Semis as being a "shook up the world" moment for our program.

Unfortunately, none of the CU players named Kazmeier Finalists made it to be a ummm...Finalist.  Super-Finalist. Whatever. All three "Finalists" are Senior forwards: Agosta (Mercyhurst), Duggan (Wisc.), and Stack (BC).  Agosta and Duggan are the only 2 players in the NCAA scoring over 2 ppg.

As for the hosts, losing to BU had to be crushing. This article from Jan. has some choice quotes about the attendance & atmosphere in Erie being linked to MC's presence.  At least we won't have to battle a large hostile crowd.

I just hope we can get by Dartmouth in the Semis to set up a highly-anticipated Final against Dartmouth. ;-)

I really hope we get a good fan turnout. It's a 4-hour drive on the Southern Tier Expressway from Ithaca, which is much easier to justify than a flight to Minneapolis last year. We're easily the closest team geographically. The only bugger is the overlap of the Women's FF with the ECAC Men's Championship weekend.

LET'S GO RED!!

[ugarte]

Which is funny to me, since MC was a powerhouse long before Cornell's great awakening last year. In fact, I saw Cornell's win over MC in the NCAA Semis as being a "shook up the world" moment for our program.

That they were historically good is different from asking if they are a big-dog program. I'll bet Cornell's AD budget dwarfs that of Mercyhurst AND we spend more on the women's hockey program. I also would rather spout assumptions than go to Google.

I may not be a good person.

[mha]

I only got to four women's games this season, but I enjoyed every one of them. (My frequent road-trip habit means I miss most of the women's home games because I'm at the men's away games.) If I didn't feel as much of a connection as I do to the players on this year's men's team, and their parents, I'd be much more willing to let the annoyances piling up with Atlantic City push me westward instead of southeast.

If the women win their semifinal, you may yet see me in Erie on Sunday afternoon.

[Jim Hyla]

I only got to four women's games this season, but I enjoyed every one of them. (My frequent road-trip habit means I miss most of the women's home games because I'm at the men's away games.) If I didn't feel as much of a connection as I do to the players on this year's men's team, and their parents, I'd be much more willing to let the annoyances piling up with Atlantic City push me westward instead of southeast.

If the women win their semifinal, you may yet see me in Erie on Sunday afternoon.

Hey, it's only what, a 6 or 7 hour drive.

[David Harding]

I only got to four women's games this season, but I enjoyed every one of them. (My frequent road-trip habit means I miss most of the women's home games because I'm at the men's away games.) If I didn't feel as much of a connection as I do to the players on this year's men's team, and their parents, I'd be much more willing to let the annoyances piling up with Atlantic City push me westward instead of southeast.

If the women win their semifinal, you may yet see me in Erie on Sunday afternoon.

Hey, it's only what, a 6 or 7 hour drive.

Google Maps says 7:38, rink-to-rink.

[Jim Hyla]

I only got to four women's games this season, but I enjoyed every one of them. (My frequent road-trip habit means I miss most of the women's home games because I'm at the men's away games.) If I didn't feel as much of a connection as I do to the players on this year's men's team, and their parents, I'd be much more willing to let the annoyances piling up with Atlantic City push me westward instead of southeast.

If the women win their semifinal, you may yet see me in Erie on Sunday afternoon.

Hey, it's only what, a 6 or 7 hour drive.

Google Maps says 7:38, rink-to-rink.

But they don't drive like I do. And to be fair I'm starting from outside Philly. That is unless we lose Friday, at which point I'm leaving for Syracuse, and if I go to Erie, it'll be from there on Sunday.

[tburgfirefighter]

Are there any parties planned for Erie?

[CKinsland]

I'll be in Erie, but with young ones so I won't be partying.  I can loan out a man, but I need him back in reasonable shape.  I like getting him back like this ::dribble::  but I don't want him returned like this ::barf::

For those headed to Erie, we're planning to check out:

http://www.brewerie.com/draftselection.html  ::drunk::

and

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081016/ENTERTAINMENT0602/310159926  

Anybody from that area have other suggestions for dining and/or entertainment?  We'll be there Friday-Sunday so we've got all of Saturday to fill.  Presque Isle is on our docket (weather permitting), the maritime museum, etc.

CK

[mha]

Leaving Atlantic City by 6am Sunday sounds sufficiently painful that it's unlikely I'd pull it off, but it's still an option in the back of my head.

[billhoward]

>>> I'll be in Erie, but with young ones so I won't be partying. I can loan out a man, but I need him back in reasonable shape.

Now THAT was funny and pretty original. Twice unlike a Gilbert Gottfried Tweet.

[Jim Hyla]

Leaving Atlantic City by 6am Sunday sounds sufficiently painful that it's unlikely I'd pull it off, but it's still an option in the back of my head.

Same for me, see how I feel Sun AM.

[Tom Pasniewski 98]

I only got to four women's games this season, but I enjoyed every one of them. (My frequent road-trip habit means I miss most of the women's home games because I'm at the men's away games.) If I didn't feel as much of a connection as I do to the players on this year's men's team, and their parents, I'd be much more willing to let the annoyances piling up with Atlantic City push me westward instead of southeast.

If the women win their semifinal, you may yet see me in Erie on Sunday afternoon.

Hey, it's only what, a 6 or 7 hour drive.

Google Maps says 7:38, rink-to-rink.

I'm headed to Erie from Boston leaving very early Friday morning.  Plan to stay through Sunday and probably head up to Buffalo/Niagara Falls on Saturday since the honey has never been.  It will be a typical three-day jam packed weekend where I play beat the Monday crack of dawn home.  I have not ruled out driving from Erie to Atlantic City on Saturday if the men win Friday and the women don't make it to Sunday.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

It's about 400 miles from Philly, which makes it about 450 from AC.  Even averaging 70 mph, that's 6½ hours.  More likely closer to 7.

[Jim Hyla]

The next 2 are in Minnesota, and I'd guess conflicts with ECAC again, so this is a good one to try to get to.

And I love it. I click on the ECAC tournament link "All About AC" to see if dates for next year are up, and up pops:

ATLANTIC CITY FISHING, GOLF AND MORE!

How nice in mid March.

[Jim Hyla]

CornellBigRed announces free, live streaming of the women's games, via the NCAA.