3/25 draft: Who's going to win it all in Detroit?

Bummed that football is over? Saddened that our boys in maroon and gold couldn't get it done on the hardwood this season? Never fear, Jerry York has the Eagles skating right at the right time once again. Recently the Eagles took the Hockey East crown defeating Maine in OT and earning a #1 seed in the NCAA tourney in the process.

So the big question now is...who's going to take it all in Detroit (other than the looters)?

--------------------------------------------------------------------

1M) Denver

While some may argue that Miami is a better team or that BC is hotter—both valid points…the fact is that the Pioneers have the easiest road to get to the championship game in my opinion. The opener vs. RIT may well as not be played, and only have to face Cornell or UNH, both of which Denver’s just much more talented than. In the Frozen Four, it’s likely that they would face either Wisky or SCSU, which are both strong teams but don’t have the goal-tending the Denver has. Given the way the bracket is set up, I have to go with Denver with my first pick here.


2W) Boston College

They are the hot team, there is no doubt about it.. and as you see in most other sports thats what matters getting hot when it counts. They definitely had a few odd losses in the start of the season, and of course losing the match-up with BU at Frozen Fenway, but I am going to put that one squarely on the shoulders of bcmike. but they are playing great as of late.








3M) Miami (OH)

Great call with BC, Wesley. The Eagles are playing some of the best hockey anywhere as of late. Muse giving up six vs. the Black Bears does give me cause for concern, though...even though there were no weak ones let in.

I'm going with Miami (OH) here. The Redhawks get a first round bye, more or less, as they face the only team with a losing record in the tourney in Alabama-Huntsville in the first round. The Redhawks are solid throughout and are going to be a tough out for any team at this point. They’ll face a challenge from Michigan assuming the Wolverines can keep hot, but talent-wise Miami’s still a much better team. In the FF they’ll likely have to face BC or NoDak, teams they’ve historically struggled with…but again, on paper, are better than this year. Their biggest challenges come from their own side of the bracket, but if they can get by Michigan and BC, you have to like their chances.


4W) Alabama-Huntsville

this is a case of me rooting for the home team, Uah is a pretty good team really and has been consistantly. I feel with everything going on here they may have a good chance. UAH has had a tough time as a university in general with the recent shooting by a crazed teacher and could really use something like winning the championship to help the school rally together.









5M) Wisconsin

UAH? Come on now Wesley. While I'm all for hockey getting some love in the south, this would be a pretty darn monumental upset. However, I do have to agree with you that stranger things have happened.

This I have to admit I’ve taken Wisky here largely because my buddy Chuck who knows more about College Hockey than I ever will feels they are currently the team to beat in the tourney. While I agree they should breeze by Vermont in the first round, I like St. Cloud giving them a run for their money in the second (assuming they dispatch with Northern Michigan). Wisky is a big, physical team that could give Denver problems in the FF and would be a very even match-up for Miami or NoDak should they make it.

Those of you who follow College Hockey know that BC last faced Wisky in the NCAA’s several years back when the Badgers last took the NCAA title in their home rink. Detroit is close enough for enough Bucky fans to make the trip so if they do make it, expect them to be the home team unless the Wolverines pull off an unlikely run to the finals.


6W) North Dakota

There isn't much I can say about the Fighting Sioux, that hasnt been said before, they are a tough team, and they come into the tourney pretty hot. They have also won 7 previous hockey championships, and looking for an 8th. I truly feel like thier matchup with Yale could determine who wins it all.








7M) Michigan

The Wolverines enter the tourney on a super hot streak. The year started off slowly for the Maize and Blue, but they picked it up at the right time behind walk-on goaltender Hunwick (sound familiar, Sid Vicious fans?) winning the CCHA tourney and the league's automatic berth.

Sure, the Wolverines are living on borrowed time, but a solid D and a hot goalie can get you pretty far. If the carriage hasn't turned into a pumpkin yet, why expect it to now?


8W) Alaska-Fairbanks

First, let me ask you, what is a nanook? don't google it yet, cause I will do that for you. (In Inuit mythology, Nanook or Nanuq[1] (Inuktitut syllabics: ᓇᓄᖅ[2]), which is from the Inuit language for polar bear, was the master of bears, meaning he decided if hunters had followed all applicable taboos and if they deserved success in hunting bears.)Now, the question will be has Alaska followed all taboos to seal the deal in the NCAA Tourney.First they are going to have to play a very hot BC team who is definitely seasoned in being at the show, and this will be Alaska's first appearance. I honestly feel if Alaska could somehow come off with an upset over BC, that they could ride that wave all the way through


9M) St. Cloud State

The Nanooks? Listen, I'll give you credit for a team that has a cool name and an Angry Polar Bear that Bombs Ohio State (they can't be all bad if they're bombing the Buckeyes, right?), but this is the first tourney appearance....EVER by the kids from Alaska. While anything is possible, playing a team with the speed BC has a couple miles outside of Boston makes me think our boys aren't going to break much of a sweat in the game Saturday early afternoon (1:30 EST, ESPN3).

With my last pick I'm going with St. Cloud State. Sure, you can say I'm being a bit like a girl here because I do love their Habs-like logo, but it's more than that. St. Cloud has had a solid team the whole year 'round but never much of a NCAA darling. They're not going to roll over for anyone and I really think these guys could be a legitimate dark-horse candidate for a team to emerge from the right side of the bracket.


10W) Yale

the Bulldogs had a great year, they led the nation in offense, were second in power plays and very respectable in other areas as well Yale plays a high level of competition through the year so I feel they are very prepared for the tourney, but starting it off with North Dakota will definitely test that!












RECAP

BCMike drafted: Denver, Miami-OH, Wisky, Michigan, St. Cloud State
Wesley drafted: BC, UAH, North Dakota, Alaska-Anchorage, Yale

3-25 draft: Who's going to win it all in Detroit?
	BCMike drafted: Denver, Miami-OH, Wisky, Michigan, St. Cloud State
	Wesley drafted: BC, UAH, North Dakota, Alaska-Anchorage, Yale
pollcode.com free polls