#MNCAA Episode 143

Presented by #TheSotapod🌲

Stay WILD & up to date in the world of NCAA Division One College Hockey in Minnesota! New Podcast Every Thursday!

Host: Nick Maxson, Play-by-Play/Analyst for St. Cloud State Men's Hockey @ThePuckScribe

Social Media @thesotapod @mn_ncaa

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General Questions:

-Is there a region that you think is Easiest? Hardest?

-Most attendance has to go to Allentown, right?

-Tinfoil hat time: We’re used to a ton of Minnesota programs in the same regional. Happens every year. Do we think it was deliberate to keep all the Western Schools on one side of the bracket?

- Only 3 of last 10 years had an eastern winner.

- Only 7 eastern schools to make the championship game in that range

-Thoughts on the North Dakota situation?

- Fired Sunday, position closes Wednesday

- Where is the line for this decision to be made? Playoffs? Playoff Win? FF

Appearance? National Title?

Manchester, NH - Host: UNH

1) Boston College vs 16) Bentley

Only real chance for a “blowout” in this year’s bracket IMO (Refer to 2023)

Bentley’s only advantage statistically is FO% (54.2 vs 47.4)

7th oldest (22Y 10M) vs Youngest (20Y 10M) team in College Hockey

8) Providence vs 9) Denver

Experience could give the edge to Denver - Buckberger injury lingering

Denver’s PP is still lethal (29.4 - 3rd Nationally) while Providence is 16%

Zero PPG players on providence, only 5 over 20 Pts on season

They play .500 games and seem to come out on top routinely

Fargo, ND - Host: UND

4) Western Michigan vs 14) Minnesota State

Western Michigan looks like an unstoppable monster

Bump, Slukynsky/Rowe, G Slukynsky, Washe

41st SOS - None of the teams MSU-M faced made the tournament

5) Minnesota vs 11) UMass

Which Gophs team shows up? They’ve got the talent to beat ANYONE

Which Goalie is getting the start? Both have shown signs of weakness.

Allentown, PA - Host: Penn State

3) Maine vs 13) Penn State

Albin Boija vs Aiden Fink - Richter vs Hobey - Force/Object

TOUGH draw for Maine - Playing as the higher seed (#3OA) at host’s site

Penn State is also one of the hottest teams coming down the stretch

Atmosphere is going to be the best of any opening round game

Maine’s Bread & Butter is limiting offense - 1.9 GPG & 25.5 SPG for opps

Charlie Cerrato (PSU) and Taylor Makar (Maine) shouldn’t be overlooked either.

6) Uconn vs 12) Quinnipiac

Battle of Connecticut

QPac has best PP in country (29.9) and 3rd best PK (87.5)

Top 10 scorers have played all 37 games - 5 w/ 30+ points

UConn’s last Loss (before H.E. Title) was Feb 7th

Joey Muldowney (27-18-45) - 6 GWG

Can’t have a Basketball school taking over Hockey

Toledo, OH - Host: BGSU

2) Michigan State vs 15) Cornell

Real upset potential - Cornell playing for their coach - Mike Schafer

Is Michigan State finding themselves in the villain role?

Portal Merchants, Personalities, Etc.

7) Boston University vs 10) Ohio State

I have NO read on this game

BU wins on paper, but Ohio State has been finding ways to grind out games

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine knows what it takes to beat boys from Boston - does nothing but score big goals.

MNCAA - Ep144 - NCHC Huskies & Bulldogs | NCAA FROZEN FACEOFF! | NCHC Championship | Full Tournament Preview

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