Frozen Four

[Jim Hyla]

My choice is BU. Although they are a rival, I've always enjoyed watching them, and for some reason they are my favorite HE team.

[Trotsky]

Man, that's tough.  Maybe the toughest choice ever.

I guess... Providence?  I guess?

Jeez, I dunno.  I thought I could at least kick UNO out, but the idea of the national champion coming from Nebraska is too funny to dismiss casually.

I think this will be one of those times where I figure it out midway through the game, like in the regional in the 90's where I found myself rooting for Harvard even though I thought that was impossible.

[gjp84]

Providence - mainly due to fondness for the battles we had with them from '78-81 and admiration for the style of hockey they played then, but not really anything they've done since. Their current team, though, reminds me of their teams from that era. Plus the Jankowski connection; he would have looked good in Red.

[RichH]

Man, that's tough.  Maybe the toughest choice ever.

Nah. 2005 all-WCHA. In Ohio. After a bitter OT loss. Bleah. I needed had a lot of Grain Belts to get through that one.

I think this will be one of those times where I figure it out midway through the game, like in the regional in the 90's where I found myself rooting for Harvard even though I thought that was impossible.

The heart wants what it wants.

I'll learn what that is come next Thursday, but let's go through the rationalization exercise:

Boston University
Eh. I'm OK with them winning it. They're like our HEA cousin. Our more successful cousin. Their fans are more like us and infinitely more tolerable than BC SuperFans. Uncle Jack no longer behind the bench. Downside: too much Eichel talk.

Providence College
A program that has lurked in the shadows of the HEA powers for so long. I don't know why they don't have more fans (basketball school? Hockey is option 2?). I like Gillies as a player, and there will be more opportunity for 1985 Chris Terreri (and by induction, 1985 RPI) highlights. I've always liked their jerseys. It would piss off Brown announcers fans, if they existed. Still theoretical.

Nebraska-Omaha
Haha, Nebraska. Well, it would be interesting if hockey got a mention in the Lincoln media. I usually want a program to pay its tournament dues before success (which could also apply to PC).

North Dakota
Sigh. Again? Their fans are everywhere. Like Wisconsin's, but indescribably more annoying. Fans will always wear the old logo as if they're fighting for something righteous. Return to the status quo? I hate green mylar wigs.


Eh. I want to see something memorable, like 2009. And I don't really care whose souls and dreams are crushed in the process.

[marty]

Providence with Kevin Sneddon getting an assist for helping them play at home or North Dakota as a kick to the NCAA for making them drop the mascot, because it will be 10 or 20 years before they drop the mascot.

[Trotsky]

North Dakota as a kick to the NCAA for making them drop the mascot, because it will be 10 or 20 years before they drop the mascot.

They're never really dropping it.  It's their green barchetta.

I love how they talk about the "no name" and then pan the crowd and 100% of the fans are still wearing it.

[Dafatone]

North Dakota as a kick to the NCAA for making them drop the mascot, because it will be 10 or 20 years before they drop the mascot.

They're never really dropping it.  It's their green barchetta.

I love how they talk about the "no name" and then pan the crowd and 100% of the fans are still wearing it.

You know how some states have strange logos for their state highways?  They still use a silhoutte of a similar headress thing on all their highway signs.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

I still remember when we played BU as a real rival.  Can't root for them.

I don't really have much against UNO or UND.  But the concept of the NCHC rubs me the wrong way.  Every other conference is regional and they're "National."  A little self-important, IMO.

So, Providence by default.  

But part of me also wants to see all of the Sioux uniforms in the crowd, just to thumb their noses at the NC$$.  So let's make it a PC vs non-PC final.  ::dribble::

[scoop85]

Providence by process of elimination

[Scersk '97]

North Dakota as a kick to the NCAA for making them drop the mascot, because it will be 10 or 20 years before they drop the mascot.

They're never really dropping it.  It's their green barchetta.

I love how they talk about the "no name" and then pan the crowd and 100% of the fans are still wearing it.

You know how some states have strange logos for their state highways?  They still use a silhoutte of a similar headress thing on all their highway signs.

What, you mean like this?

[Trotsky]

North Dakota as a kick to the NCAA for making them drop the mascot, because it will be 10 or 20 years before they drop the mascot.

They're never really dropping it.  It's their green barchetta.

I love how they talk about the "no name" and then pan the crowd and 100% of the fans are still wearing it.

You know how some states have strange logos for their state highways?  They still use a silhoutte of a similar headress thing on all their highway signs.

What, you mean like this?

Their state highway signs are awesome.

[Dafatone]

North Dakota as a kick to the NCAA for making them drop the mascot, because it will be 10 or 20 years before they drop the mascot.

They're never really dropping it.  It's their green barchetta.

I love how they talk about the "no name" and then pan the crowd and 100% of the fans are still wearing it.

You know how some states have strange logos for their state highways?  They still use a silhoutte of a similar headress thing on all their highway signs.

What, you mean like this?

Their state highway signs are awesome.

It may seem like a meaningless designation, but keeping headdresses out of these things is relatively important, from what I understand.  So, somehow, the Southern Tier Expressway sign is better.  Slightly.

[ACM]

For me, the hierarchy is pretty clear:

BU - Brian Kelley, BU's AAD for Communications, is an IC grad, and a former assistant director of athletic communications at Cornell, and an all-around good guy who I'd be happy to have associated with a national championship. And it's the only chance we'll have next year to knock off the defending national champions, when we play BU at the Garden.

Providence - Len Jankowski, Mark Jankowski's dad, played at Cornell. Nate Leaman is a former ECAC coach, a former Spencer Penrose winner as national coach-of-the year, and a two-time winner of ECAC coach-of-the year.

UNO - we played them earlier in the season, so if they win, we have a chance to move from like 33rd to 32nd in KVETCH or Crotch, or whatever your favorite metric for ranking mediocre teams is.

UND - nothing whatsoever.

[Bahnstorm]

For me, the hierarchy is pretty clear:

BU - Brian Kelley, BU's AAD for Communications, is an IC grad, and a former assistant director of athletic communications at Cornell, and an all-around good guy who I'd be happy to have associated with a national championship. And it's the only chance we'll have next year to knock off the defending national champions, when we play BU at the Garden.

Providence - Len Jankowski, Mark Jankowski's dad, played at Cornell. Nate Leaman is a former ECAC coach, a former Spencer Penrose winner as national coach-of-the year, and a two-time winner of ECAC coach-of-the year.

UNO - we played them earlier in the season, so if they win, we have a chance to move from like 33rd to 32nd in KVETCH or Crotch, or whatever your favorite metric for ranking mediocre teams is.

UND - nothing whatsoever.

That is pretty much my feelings on this one right down the line, particularly the UND part. I have perhaps the added incentive (for household harmony) to pull for BU as the significant other is a BU hockey fan and BU alum first followed by CU fan and CU alum later. (Though the degrees in the house are still 4-2 CU to BU, the Red Hot hockey game has been contentious) Mostly I just want exciting games.

[billhoward]

I'm rooting for BU on account of our son is one of the penalty box doorkeepers there, a paying job for students where at Cornell the same job is done by an associate vice president. I'm rooting for BU or Providence because I'd like to see the East win 4 in a row and 7 of the last 8. So much for that western supremacy crap (10 of 12) preceding the East's 2008-2014 run.