Hello to all NC$$ Hockey Observers:
 
I can't vouch for all potential UNH posters, but, perhaps some of our
reluctance to talk may be that we can exactly crow about our position
within the seedings without further alienating the Lowell adherents (and,
of course, Mr. Rollie himself :-) ). Certainly, it appears that the right
combination of the RPI (and perhaps certain favorable phases of the moon)
contributed to UNH's position, and I can see by the groundswell of
support from other posters, particularly from the East, for Lowell's
fortunes in the "Big Dance", that others question how the Wildcats could
be so highly-seeded in the East Regional as well. As others have aptly
noted, it all came down to algorithmic analysis, at the behest of coaches
who may have felt that politics too frequently intervened in selections
in the past. The result is, what you see is what you've got, and, I guess
we'll have to live with it until another selection process (perhaps a
*combination* of "qualitative" and algorithmic inputs?) rears its head in
the future.
 
As for the Wildcats, themselves, there must be focus on objective and purpose
in this pursuit of national honors. They certainly did *not* distinguish
themselves with their skating-on-sand play against Lowell in the HE
semifinals, particularly in some truly clueless power play setups. They
came on with inspired play near the end of that game, but the air was out
of the balloon before anybody thought to blow it up in the first place for
them. The 4-4 tie redeemed some of their NC$$-seeking mandate the next
evening, but the deadlock probably served Northeastern's fortunes better
than it helped UNH. The bottom line is: several key performers for the
Wildcats left their emotions behind with their street clothes in the
locker room. It seemed incomprehensible that a game of that magnitude saw
players skating half-heartedly, and having an impossible time even
completing short passes. But, that's hockey, in all its physical and
emotional variation, I guess.
 
Irregardless of the above "emotional disclaimer", I believe that UNH, as
well as all the other teams, will come out this weekend highly-charged
for action. This is what all who made it strove long and hard all season
to accomplish, and IMHO, all the teams will work that much harder to make
a good accounting of themselves in the NC$$'s. Good luck to all!
 
                                Bob C.
 
                                [The (former) Corner Man]
 
                (No "open corners" at the "New Snively") :-(