<<I have to say, I am surprised that no North Dakota fans, or for that matter,
WCHA/CCHA fans, commented on the lack of respect shown for North Dakota in the
build-up to the UNH@Maine game last night. I suppose that most of the guilty
media outlets are eastern based, and were not seen/heard by the majority of the
western fans, although I thought Fox was broadcasting the game to some markets
out west.
 
Anyway, FoxSports New England was the prime (although far from only) offender.
Throughout the pregame and the game itself the announcers continuously referred
to the game as a "battle for first place in Hockey East and probably the nation
as well." I also heard at least two radio stations (one NH, one Vt) refer to the
game as a fight for "first place in the nation." I'm a little unsure as to how a
game between the #2 and #3 teams becomes a battle for the #1 spot when it is
already known at game time that the current #1 team has swept its weekend
series. (I notice the votes for #1 in the USCHO poll remain 27 for NoDak and 3
for Maine; they didn't pick up a single first place vote.)>>
 
IMO, I think it depends on how literal you want to interpret their plugs.
TECHNICALLY, # 2 & #3 can't battle for #1 unless #1 has lost (or plays some real
patty-cake who drags their rating down far enough, or...), none of which
happened.  However, in the grander scheme of things, I'm sure teams seeded this
high do have aspirations of the top spot, so if only to keep pace with the #1
team, they are in effect battling for "first place in the nation" (with the
current #1 team).  Taken another way, the UML/PC game I attended last Friday was
not a battle for #1 because neither team has a chance in hell of getting there
(no flames, please :-)).  Accordingly, the commentary was not on NCAA rank, but
on HE playoff seeding, which is more relevant for these teams (PC #4, UML/BU
#5).
 
Now, I would expect good commentators to mention who the current #1 team was, &
possibly that they had won over the weekend, so both teams needed this win to
keep pace, bla, bla, bla.  Since it appears they failed to do that, I think
that's just poor commentary, & perhaps a case of "Eastern provincialism".
 
And don't even get me started on Eruzione on WABU...and other "homie"
commentators.  They make me long for the days of unbiased, objective commentary
on Boston sports teams...like Johnny Most.  ;-)
 
Anyway, my 2 cents...
 
Dave Hatfield
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UML'86
Go Chiefs, er, RiverHawks!
 
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