<p>We had a pretty miserable season, but we finished strong. Obviously, if we win the CCHA tournament, we automatically qualify, but what if we lose in the semis, or in the finals of the CCHA, do we still qualify for the NCAA tournament? Thoughts?</p>
<p>There is absolutely no chance for us to make the tournament unless we get the automatic bid. We #31 in RPI and Pairwise ratings and they only take 16 teams. That being said, we’ve been dominant the last three games and Western has a pretty good hockey team so we seem to be peaking at a good time.</p>
<p>Our chances at the Joe will be significantly enhanced if Sparty can pull off the upset in Oxford tonight.</p>
<p>That’s what I thought. If we lose in the semis or even in the finals, we will be a sub .500 team. We have to win it all I suppose. Here’s hoping. If we do not qualify for the NCAA tournament, it will be the first time since I started following Michigan hockey, back in 1992!</p>
<p>1990 was the last time we didn’t make it. It’s been a long time since the days when the seats at Yost were empty except when they were filled with Sparty fans.</p>
<p>We need a big turnout of M fans at the Joe on Saturday.</p>
<p>Yeah zero chance unless we win the CCHA. They upset Western though and are in the CCHA semis so they just need to string together two more good games.</p>
<p>Moo lost so we will need to beat Miami on Saturday and then beat the winner of Notre Dame and the Ohio on Sunday. It won’t be easy but the team is pumped and playing as well as anyone at the moment.</p>
<p>I agree the NCAA tournament is kinda “hokey”. :)</p>
<p>Are they expected to be a lot better in the next few years? in other words did they have an off year because they have a very young team?</p>
<p>Alexandre, it would have been worth a trip from Dubai to see the Maize and Blue play hockey this afternoon. It was an amaizing effort as we took down the Dynasty. A win against Notre Dame tomorrow and we are in the tournament. We would be placed in Grand Rapids because we are hosting the regional. Most like opoponent would be the Gophers.</p>
<p>Lose and we go home.</p>
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<p>I don’t think anyone really knows why there was an off year this year. Something wasn’t clicking. There were goaltending issues without Hunwick but Racine has been playing well. It wasn’t all goaltending. Merrill was injured in the exhibition game and is just coming back to form. There were issues with leadership and the team just didn’t seem to be playing with a lot of heart.</p>
<p>We lose some players but are reloading.</p>
<p>So close…and yet so far! Oh well, at least we finished the season with a respectable 9-1 run. Too bad we could not hold on to our lead tonight.</p>
<p>Looking forward to B1G hockey. Just wish there were more than six teams. Still, some good rivalries should develop.</p>
<p>It wasn’t our afternoon. They looked like they were spent from yesterday. Playing in the second game doesn’t help. Looking forward to B1G hockey next year. The rivalries will re-develop. Minnesota and Wisconsin were rivals for years before Michigan and MSU bolted from the WCHA in the early eighties to save travel costs.</p>
<p>I would say given they were like 2nd in scoring in CCHA, the issue was goaltending, or rather not keeping the goalie who had committed. He did very well the past month though. Well, it was a good run.</p>