College Hockey:
Potsdam Holds On for 5-3 Win Over Cortland

Wlodarczyk Scores Two Goals

USCHO Staff Report • Oct. 27, 2000

POTSDAM, N.Y. — Potsdam survived Cortland’s late rally Friday night and beat the Red Dragons 5-3 at the Potsdam Pepsi Invitational. The game between the two SUNYAC clubs does not count toward the league standings.

Potsdam led 1-0 after two periods, then used power-play goals by Erik Curtis and Joe Wlodarczyk to take a 3-0 lead midway through the second period.

Then, goals by Scott Louis and Steve Aiello brought Cortland within 3-2. The teams exchanged goals — by Potsdam’s Anthony Greer and Cortland’s Jeff Olson — before Wlodarczyk’s empty-net goal with seven seconds left.

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KAW
“one would think Miami is the annual host school for the Northeast Regional …”
OR Miami continues to get shafted for locations like they did last year (UNH in New Hampshire) since once again none of the sites are anywhere near the CCHA’s home turf.
- bronxbomberz41
  Miami needs to put in a bid for it. or any other CCHA team.
  - After Further Review
    Exactly, all these schools complain about not being able to stay home, but they don’t want to put in the work. They don’t want to lose a home game during the season to prove they can sell tickets, they don’t want to advertise, they don’t want to be responsible for all the work that goes into it and not make any money (or very little). But, that’s the only way to be a host school and insure your team is not sent somewhere else.
Davyd83
For attendance purposes, I’d move NMU-UMLowell to Green Bay and Michigan-Denver to St Paul, or just simply swap NMU and Michigan. NMU would be a much stronger draw than Michigan in Green Bay
- Anonymous
  I like Davyd83′s suggestion. Mainly because it also preserves bracket integrity. It keeps #4 with #5 and #2 with #7 like god intended.
  If Jayson Moy would of simply started out with bracket integrity and then made changes based on the ”rules” (i.e. Gophers need to play in MN), I think he would of got to Davyd83′s bracket as well.
Bloomy18018
Screw the Gophers….. UMD should be the host team, Defending NCAA Champs should get the recognition they deserve.. if they worked hard all year to get in the Regional close to home, keep em in it. Higher seed, Better record, send the lower seed PACKING!!!!!!
- After Further Review
  Maybe UMD should try to host and your problem would be solved.
- jmsptrk
  perhaps you should learn how the regionals work before posting your uninformed diatribe. if that’s what you feel, blame UMD.
- Jason
  Try getting a arena that fits more than 6,000 and change, and then maybe the NCAA will consider it.
  - Guest
    Without opening up more SRO tickets, Amsoil seats 6,600. If your going to make a point about it being to small of an arena, at least get your numbers right.
    - Jason
      wait…is 6000 and change (what I said) somewhat equivalent to 6,600? some would say yes. Sorry I didn’t please you with a specific number.
  - Joe C
    Actually, attendence at the NCAA Regionals is usually far smaller than the conference championship weekends or the Frozen Four. The reason is logistics.
    For the Frozen Four, there are many people that buy the tickets and plan the vacation a year in advance. The schools that make it to the Frozen Four have nearly two weeks to make their plans. Not to mention, being one of four teams that could win it. There is a trophy handed out at the end of the weekend.
    For the conference championship weekends, most schools are either a long drive to the arena or travel well in any case. Those teams that fail to make it to the weekend sell tickets to the teams that do. There is a trophy handed out at the end of the weekend.
    For the regionals, there is typically five days from announcing the field to dropping the puck. Your team might be playing 1,500 miles east/west in an AHL-size rink in a medium-sized city hours away from an airline hub airport, meaning connecting flights. No offense to Worcester, Albany, Grand Rapids, Green Bay, etc. but these are not glamour destinations with major airport hubs.
- UofMGoldenChokers
  I love how it seems like every year that the goophs are hosting a regional. Who schedules these things? They suck at it. I think that D bad Maturi has something to do with it.
- UofMGoldenChokers
  I love how it seems like every year that the goophs are hosting a regional. Who schedules these things? They suck at it. I think that D bag Maturi has something to do with it.
- UofMGoldenChokers
  I love how it seems like every year that the goophs are hosting a regional. Who schedules these things? They suck at it. I think that D bag Maturi has something to do with it.
- Slambammy
  I hate to say this but I agree. I am a Gopher fan but if this plays out like this to the end UMD should host in St Paul. They should also put the Gophers in the other game in St Paul so there is an opportunity for UMD to play the Gophs. They would sell out the first two games and if UMD did end up playing the U of M…oh man would it be an awesome crowd. There would be 6 people at the Lowell / N Michigan game. How does that make sense?
  But of course we know they are really wiping out any chance of a WCHA Frozen Four. That is what it is really about.
  - After Further Review
    Then maybe you need to speak with UMD about trying to host one. They can’t just be made the host now and the Gophers already did their work and are hosting.
    And, not that it will stay this way, but if you look, there couldn’t be an all WCHA Frozen Four because there would only be 3 teams in. Also, by putting two of the top WCHA teams in the same Regional, you just decreased your chance of an all WCHA FF, because one of them would have to lose, so your logic is backwards.
    - Slambammy
      Honestly…this is a fantasy schedule. Do you not think there is even a remote possibility there will be more than 3 WCHA teams in the tourney? Lasts weeks had 5. Not really all that backwards. All I am saying is if there are enough WCHA teams…they will do anything they can to keep a WCHA Frozen Four from happening.
      Hosting does not necessarily mean the game would be in Duluth. It just means they would be the home team at the Xcel. What makes more sense. Eight thousand people up at the DECC or 17000 at the Xcel?
      - After Further Review
        But it has absolutely NOTHING to do with deserving to host, it’s a very simple process that some teams actually do their homework, put in the paperwork and try to host a good regional… others do not.
      - After Further Review
        Oops, that was sent a while ago to another post, not sure why it went here… anyways, no, I agree with you that there will be more than 3 WCHA teams by the end of the season. I am not so sure that they intentionally would not allow another all WCHA FF to happen, but in this scenario, 2 of the top WCHA teams together means one would have to lose. I was strictly talking about this scenario.
        I agree, UMD could host in St. Paul, but they need to get that straightened out well ahead of time, not now. U of M is the host and that is the way it is. I wish more teams would want to host and go through the process, then we could have more areas and schools hosting instead of the same ones over and over.
      - Slambammy
        Totally understand. I just remember the last all WCHA FF and the other conferences being…well…upset (diplomatically speaking). What I confused about in your post is what if MN puts in the paperwork to host and does not make it? Isn’t the host the highest ranked team in the region versus who petitioned for it?
      - After Further Review
        I remember that as well and even though I am not a WCHA fan, I go to all of them and was there, it was a fun tournament. We know things will change a ton in two months.
        MN would still be the host and the closest (geographically) #1 seed would be placed in that regional. Although, they would not have to place the closest team there, more than likely, they would. In this case, it would be UMD. If MN makes it, their seed can be anywhere from #1 to #4 and they would still host. That would be the point where they would have to move a “better” team out to prevent intra-conference match ups or having a high seed having to potentially play a host team. I don’t think it’s the best set up, but since hockey doesn’t have the following that basketball does, it makes the most sense for them to make money. Just another reason it would be nice to have other schools try to get involved and wanting to host.
      - Slambammy
        What do you think about the single elimination knowing that Pro Hockey goes 7 games? I know there isn’t the fan base/TV for it but I am interested in hearing peoples thoughts on at least a three game NCAA series (probably just at the FF and final game level)
      - After Further Review
        I think it would be great, if it could be done. Unfortunately, I don’t know if it’s realistic to expect fans to be able to be away from home and at the games for an extended period of time like that. I also don’t think hockey has the following that they could draw good crowds for 6 days of FF play. I don’t like the one and done format, but I don’t think there is a choice.
      - Slambammy
        6-7 days in Tampa FL this year might be easier to swallow though. :)
      - After Further Review
        Agreed!
      - Joe C
        In this week’s bracketology, BU and BC have a potential 2nd round matchup in Worcester, with the winner heading to the Frozen Four in Tampa. Should we realign the brackets to prevent this? This BU Alum says no. That game in the DCU would be EPIC!
        The criteria to place teams (and then adjust the placement) is defined. The host instituion rule is just that, a rule, which could be changed. Personally, I would prefer that the leagues act as hosts, Northeast and East being Hockey East, ECAC and AHA in a rotation. West and Midwest being CCHA and WCHA in rotation, changing to a rotation of NCHC, WCHA and BTHC in 2013.
        Does the host situation mess things up? In 2009, BU played UNH in Northeast Regional final, then played Vermont in Frozen Four semi-final. They might have played Northeasten in the final. No one I know complained about any of that, teams just played the bracket where they were placed.
        There seems to be a lot of bruised egos and conspiracy theorires about brackets and “shutting out” leagues, except when the opposite happens and then we get “the committee wanted an all-X conference Frozen Four”
        Do schools with playing their biggest rivals in the championship make for a great story? Sure. So did Duluth-Michigan and BU-Miami.
      - After Further Review
        I totally agree with conferences hosting, not schools, but it seems like that is not happening either. It is a rule that can be changed, but doesn’t seem likely to be changed in the near future.
        They really only split up first round match ups anyways, not looking so much at the second round. The past 2 times UNH has hosted it has been a very weak #3 and #4 seed, so there certainly wouldn’t be any reason to move anybody out because UNH had a strong team. Also, many years the WCHA and HE have enough teams that a possible 2nd round match up is inevitable.
        A BU/BC match up in Worcester would be fun, but unless BC finds and sticks with a goalie, they won’t have to worry about it… fading fast!
      - scrvet
        I like the idea of conferences hosting. I find it more interesting to see matchups from schools from different conferences. How do you know a hockey east team is any good if they beat an ECAC and another HE to get to the Frozen Four?
        How fair is it for 2 WCHA teams to play each other 4 times during the season knowing the lower seed has learned something and has a better chance of winning when it really counts?
http://www.ohioquotes.com/ Health Insurance Ohio
Just a prediction, but look for Miami and Ohio State to make big moves before the season ends!
streaker
It’s a little early to be getting knickers bound up. Let’s see where Miami ends up in March. And if you think 7 CCHA schools will be there also….
scrvet
I thought there was discussion last year that a host school had to be a # 1 seed so as not to give an unfair advantage.
- streaker
  HUH? I don’t think so. You have three host schools that, short of a miracle, won;t even be in the tournament and another that has an annual opportunity to host because of the lack of adequate western facilities.
  - Jason
    Kinda confused, you must be referring to Minnesota as the ones who get the annual opportunity. I think you fail to recognize that we are THE state of hockey, so naturally hosting in Minnesota makes sense.
    For all those puppies complaining about not hosting, try telling your idiots at your school that they were idiots building a hockey arena so godd*mn small and that it’s their own fault when the NCAA doesn’t want to sell 4,000 less tickets than they potentially can. Even the Green Bay Gamblers have a bigger arena! lolol
    - nogofer
      gofers are .500 for the last 3 months. They do not deserve to host. They haven’t earned it. The point is moot, however, as the gofers won’t be in the post-season as they continue to split the remainder of this season…
      - After Further Review
        But it has absolutely NOTHING to do with deserving to host, it’s a very simple process that some teams actually do their homework, put in the paperwork and try to host a good regional… others do not.
      - Jason
        If the gophers play .500 (like they have been) and stay in first (or second if by W%) place in the WCHA I can’t see them not making it in the NCAA. If the WCHA doesn’t get 4 or more teams in I will be shocked.
      - nogofer
        The gofers are 13th currently in the pairwise and a #4 seed in their own region… As they split-out the rest of the season they won’t go up. Unless they spank Duluth and win the WCHA Tourney it is not unreasonable to see the gofers 15 or 16 on the outside looking in (again).
Whosondope
Northern Michigan is 3 games above .500. Ferris State. The #3 team in the country, tied for most wins, is #13 in PWR. What about Collarado College. Holy Rocks Smokey!
- Jason
  If you lose to UAH you don’t deserve to be in the tourney. Also if other teams played them (UAH) four times they would have more wins too…
Guest
This bracketology is a complete crock, IIn what regional are the University on North Dakota Fighting No Names?
Jason
LOLOLOL 7 CCHA teams going to the NCAA. Everybody knows the WCHA is and has been the best conference in the nation. The only reason why you don’t see anymore teams in right now is because we beat up on each other.
Also since when do you determine conference leaders by winning percentage? Last time I checked it was by who had the most points, having the Gophers in first place. Even if you did do it by winning percentage how are ties worked in? And make certain that if more WCHA teams make it in, which they should, the NCAA will make sure they match them up for there isn’t a possibility of all 4 teams in the Frozen Four being WCHA teams, like it happened in the early 2000′s.
- yougotschooled
  Also since when do you determine conference leaders by winning percentage?
  When it’s the middle of the season and not everyone has played the same number of games.
  Even if you did do it by winning percentage how are ties worked in?
  Ties count as half a win.
  The only reason why you don’t see anymore teams in right now is because we beat up on each other.
  No, it’s because the WCHA as a group did not perform as well out of conference this year. It’s that simple.
Leroilaw
Didn’t you forget to put in a team from the Atlantic Hockey conference in the mix?
cmlobue
Am I the only one who thinks they should lock in the Worcester regional now and just play for the other 12 spots? A rematch of the incredible 2009 final in the first round, and the possibility of BU-BC in round two? Leave Ferris as a possible Cinderella and I can;’t think of a better setup for a regional.
ChrisBiceFanClub
Question. Doesn’t the committee guideline state: “Conference matchups in first round are avoided, unless five or more teams from one conference are selected, then the integrity of the bracket will be preserved” – and I’m sure it does since I just cut and pasted it? If the tournament were picked today, with 7 CCHA teams, doesn’t that mean that there is no need to split up the three first round matchupsthat result from the first run through the pairings? Or that only the Gopher-Bulldog game must be broken? Or am I missing something.
Lhth2000
The Gophers are ranked 3rd and are a 4th and UMD is ranked number 1 and are the defending national champions and yet are not the number one overall seed. What a total joke of a ranking system.