Top 16 DII Teams?

[gloveside]

[B][ Congradulations to all DII teams that qualified and traveled to the Big Dance. Having said that, what teams looked out of place and what teams would have made a stronger field. By reviewing some scores and seeing who finished 0-4 I would have to say there were at least 4-5 DII teams that would have made a better field. Gloveside

[FAUplayer]

My personal opinion, the teams that "looked out of place" were very obvious, and they do not need to be trashed on here for it. On the other hand, teams that shoudl have been invited, I definitely think Elon should have been invited; they looked to deserve it more than some other teams.

[betteronice]

Brockport, Elon, Miami, maybe Western Carolina should have replaced a few of the weaker teams at nationals

[Snipes09]

I think Brockport deserved to make it in the 1st place let alone over some of the teams that got in but in the end I doubt they would have changed the final results

[FAUplayer]

Brockport, Elon, Miami, maybe Western Carolina should have replaced a few of the weaker teams at nationals

I have heard a lot about Brockport; would have been nice to see them there. As for Miami, I am friends with a few players on the team so I feel kind of bad saying this, but realistically they are not able to compete at that level. I did not see a lot of Western Carolina, but they lost all hopes in making it to Nationals when they did not make final four at regionals.

[GSJaguars11]

i'd say drexel deserved to be there, they tied WCU in regionials and they have the best goalie i've played against so far in d2

[thereal54]

I'm going to derail this argument right here... The point of a National tournament is to have a National bank of talent represented. There seems to be arguments every year about some teams getting in that don't "deserve to be there". There's a National selection committee, they make sure the best teams from each region are there and that everyone is represented equally. It's in a equal yet weighted manner so that stronger regions get more representation but that doesn't mean the top 16 teams in the country (necessarily) are there.

This is completely similar to the NHL. While there (typically) are the top 8 teams from east and west represented, who doesn't remember the weak south-east division last year where the cap's got 3rd overall seed and knocked another team completely out of the playoffs (Carolina went from 3rd to 9th).

So, please don't rag on other teams that "shouldn't have been there". While it may not seem to make sense that a National tournament doesn't have the BEST teams nationally, some teams had to knock of power-houses to get there in order to represent their region. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't glad to not have to play some ECRHA teams at Nationals as we had a harder time with some of them then a few of the National teams (again, a few...UNNAMED teams).

[Patn Lawton]

I'm going to derail this argument right here... The point of a National tournament is to have a National bank of talent represented. There seems to be arguments every year about some teams getting in that don't "deserve to be there". There's a National selection committee, they make sure the best teams from each region are there and that everyone is represented equally. It's in a equal yet weighted manner so that stronger regions get more representation but that doesn't mean the top 16 teams in the country (necessarily) are there.

This is completely similar to the NHL. While there (typically) are the top 8 teams from east and west represented, who doesn't remember the weak south-east division last year where the cap's got 3rd overall seed and knocked another team completely out of the playoffs (Carolina went from 3rd to 9th).

So, please don't rag on other teams that "shouldn't have been there". While it may not seem to make sense that a National tournament doesn't have the BEST teams nationally, some teams had to knock of power-houses to get there in order to represent their region. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't glad to not have to play some ECRHA teams at Nationals as we had a harder time with some of them then a few of the National teams (again, a few...UNNAMED teams).

This isn't an argument, its a discussion. It is actually nice to see a topic like this talked about constructively instead of people attacking one another or attacking teams.

[thereal54]

You just like that some one said you should have been there (not that I disagree with that) ;)

[mixingitup15]

To have more than 3 teams from a region is absurd. I know its not feasible but I would like to just see the top two teams from each region qualify for nationals. Take the two teams from the regional championships to nationals and play a best of three series set up. I just dont see the point in having so many teams from the same region. Do I think some of the teams that were left out fared better, definately, win your region and you dont have that issue.

[Patn Lawton]

You just like that some one said you should have been there (not that I disagree with that) ;)

I am an alumni, but fortunately I did have an opportunity to play at two national events while in school.

[mixingitup15]

Brockport def should have been in the tournament over some of the teams. What years did you play there? Do you think this was the best team they have ever had?

[BLowe7]

not the best team Brockports ever had, and thats nothing against the team they had this year, but when nationals was in NC, I think 05-06, they went to the final four I believe, and they were a real good team then, this years team wasnt that good

[mixingitup15]

Ah got ya thanks. Just saw the previous years. No current Piha or Aihl players. Is ncrha much stronger now, it seems all the top players are playing in one of the two.

[chickentender65]

in the majority of sporting playoff tournaments, there will ALWAYS be a few teams that "shouldve made it" over teams that "shouldnt have been there". NCAA basketball.... Penn State and Florida (NIT teams) are clearly better teams than any 15 or 16 team that made the dance. thats just an example. its always cool to have those teams there for possible upsets and the excitement for those schools.

[teamcarramrod]

so far nobody has really answered the question. does anybody plan on doing it?

[rowanhockey]

brockport, shippensburg, an drexel all easily could have been there and been competive, west carolina? they tied millersville i do not belive they would have desrved a bid, other teams that possibly should have i think are cincy

[Patn Lawton]

Brockport def should have been in the tournament over some of the teams. What years did you play there? Do you think this was the best team they have ever had?


I played 02-08....6 seasons...undergrad and grad school. The best team we had was 05-06, when we made it to the final four before losing in overtime to UMSL.

I can't really comment on which team has been the best because I did not have a chance to see Brockport play this year. I do know a lot of the guys from last year, and am just happy they had such a successful season. Hopefully the returners will take the disappointment with national bids and use it as motivation to make nationals next year.

[hockey1]

brockport, shippensburg, an drexel all easily could have been there and been competive, west carolina? they tied millersville i do not belive they would have desrved a bid, other teams that possibly should have i think are cincy

They tied Temple too, who was one of the worst teams in the ECRHA this year.

[Drexel63]

I have to come to Temple's defense here...
While having a poor record this season, Temple was definitely not one of the worst teams in D2 ECRHA this season... They are the harshest product of the unbalanced conference schedule in D2... And have been for the past two years, though you'd never hear them use that as an excuse. Also, their goaltender was top 5 in the division this year, and tied us (Drexel) in Regionals almost on his own...

Having seen almost every Brockport team first hand, I think the 05-06 team was more well rounded, and thus better, but I think the goaltending and defense on this years team was the best I've seen out of Brockport... And, looking back, that is really saying alot, sincerely.

Thanks for the mention to Drexel... My guys worked hard all year, and came out on the wrong end of a quarterfinal matchup, and with only 16 teams in the field, we didn't get it done when we needed to to make the dance... Bottom line...

I truly believe Brockport should have been there, hands down. However, I did not see any of the tournament, and therefore, cannot comment further... sorry guys...

[Hockeyguy22]

Western Carolina played with 6 guys all season and still held there own in a pretty good diviision where all teams had depth. The weekend they played millersville and temple they played their worst hockey all year. They also lost to college of Charleston in which they redemed themselves in regionals. I think if they had had another shot at millersville, temple, and kennesaw they would have won

[thereal54]

Ah got ya thanks. Just saw the previous years. No current Piha or Aihl players. Is ncrha much stronger now, it seems all the top players are playing in one of the two.

Yes. At least in my 5 years of play the overall strength of players / the league has seemed to increase. I think this is due to the quality of roller hockey players in general improving. I know when I was a kid there were very few oppurtunities / formal leagues for roller hockey players (I played mens league for 10 years before joining the ECRHA). Now kids have the HS league, Mite leagues and those State Wars / National teams have really helped improve exposure and the quality of players going forward.

I know a few B players who have gone on to play PIHA / AIHL or are currently active in those leagues in the last few classes of people we've had and that never would have happened based on the quality of players I saw (even on my own team) when I started 1/2 a decade ago (wow I'm old..)

[rowanhockey]

Western Carolina played with 6 guys all season and still held there own in a pretty good diviision where all teams had depth. The weekend they played millersville and temple they played their worst hockey all year. They also lost to college of Charleston in which they redemed themselves in regionals. I think if they had had another shot at millersville, temple, and kennesaw they would have won

i have never seen western carolina play, but by judging on who they played and there record the best team they played seemed to be kennesaw which they lost to, an i would bet money on atleast 6-7 teams just from echra beating either team, im not trying to take anything away from either team just saying.

[two2tango]

Im not quite sure that this years Brockport team had a better goalie than in 2005-2006. Their goalie was the onyl reason their game with UMSL was close. They had some really strong players..

[dan sangiorgio]

Im not quite sure that this years Brockport team had a better goalie than in 2005-2006. Their goalie was the onyl reason their game with UMSL was close. They had some really strong players..

there goalie was a brickwall but they also had alot of div 3 ice hockey players who ran out of ncaa eligibility and jumped on the roller team while they finshed college. brian baumen also played pretty much every minute of every game for them while never getting tired. we beat them 7-6 in the ecrha final that year he came off the rink only when he got a penalty yet managed to be a huge factor the whole game. he also played against umsl with a severly dislocated shoulder in the final 4.

[JLambertUMSL]

there goalie was a brickwall but they also had alot of div 3 ice hockey players who ran out of ncaa eligibility and jumped on the roller team while they finshed college. brian baumen also played pretty much every minute of every game for them while never getting tired. we beat them 7-6 in the ecrha final that year he came off the rink only when he got a penalty yet managed to be a huge factor the whole game. he also played against umsl with a severly dislocated shoulder in the final 4.

Bauman was awesome. His shoulder hurt so badly the night before that he could barely stand up, but he showed up and gave them a chance. It ended when Adam Clarke scored on my brother's rebound. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-166517577511455389&ei=ycTnSZ3dGpOm-QGniqmgCw

Tomy Ames was excellent in that game too.

[Patn Lawton]

Bauman was awesome. His shoulder hurt so badly the night before that he could barely stand up, but he showed up and gave them a chance. It ended when Adam Clarke scored on my brother's rebound. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-166517577511455389&ei=ycTnSZ3dGpOm-QGniqmgCw

Tomy Ames was excellent in that game too.

That was a great game. That season we had three Division 3 ice guys out of eligability, and Shrauger (goalie) also played on year before playing roller. Craig Brodmerkel (Stony Brook Goalie) also played Division 3 ice at Brockport, before going to grad school at Stony Brook and winning a D2 title.

[MAmato]

I remember playing the 05-06 Brockport team for five reasons:

1) There were, to the best of my knowledge, four ECRHA records set that game (most shots in a period, most saves in a period, most shots in a game, most saves in a game)
2) half our team couldn't make the game and our best player was suspended; after taking a penalty against Vermont in a 3-2 game, he tossed his stick into the netting, where it promptly rebounded and hit AJ Frey right in the head in the score booth
3) Getting pretty loud applause from the crowd after the game
4) Xavier getting 1st star for his shutout with one shot on goal
5) Brockport offering to take a timeout because we had one sub and the goalie was a fatass

Actually, I take it back, the reason I remember that game was because Northeastern got smoked by Rutgers 21 to 1 or something the game before, and as we're waiting to file on and get ravaged by this ridiculous team, dude from Northeastern skates by. This conversation follows:

NU Forward: Hey, good luck out there. We ****in' suck.
Captain: Dude, don't worry, we are about to go out there and get killed.
NU Forward: Yeah, well... at least you guys have futures.