Drew's Views: Got a minute for the WCHA Final Five this weekend?

Posted 3/21/01

Drew's Views: Got a minute for the WCHA Final Five this weekend?

A little piece of advice. No matter what you are doing, at least give a good old college try in attempting to make it to the WCHA Final Five this weekend. Now I realize that in the midst of a Minnesota winter there are so many things to do (can you feel the sarcasm?) but if you miss this tournament it will be a mistake. Okay subtract the fact that since the high school hockey tournament is over, you are still craving great hockey.

Overlook the fact that for the first time in years, the five best teams in the conference have made it. I suppose that you could even deny yourself of another opportunity to visit the new Xcel Energy Center but I will give you several more reasons that will make the decision for you.

I always believe that I should start off with my strongest argument so when I tell you that it will pair the Gophers and the St. Cloud State Huskies on Friday night, you shouldnít be surprised. Sure just the whole in state rivalry thing should be enough for you to want to see the game but this year, unlike years in the past, it actually has more riding on it than bragging rights. St. Cloud State and the U have split the season series.

After the Huskies swept the Gopher in the last week of the season, St. Cloud leaped frog the U into second place in the WCHA, their highest finish in the history of the school. Yes revenge is definitely going to be a factor for both teams but thatís all. Thanks to the late season loss to SCSU, the U had to settle for third and they dropped to fifth place nationally which currently leaves then one spot out of a bye position for the national tournament (they give byes to the top four teams). The winner of Friday nightís game will get a bye in the first round of the NCAA tournament, an obvious advantage on the road to a championship.

If that isnít enough, I have more. I agree that there has been years when college hockey has been, oh how do I say, weak! This year is different. Several future NHL stars are currently roaming around on WCHA rinks. Several of those players will be in attendance this weekend. Take Wisconsinís Dany Heatley for example. He was the highest North American player drafted in the NHL draft last year but to the surprise of many, including myself, he stayed in college and is back for one more jaw-dropping performance. Make no mistake, he will not be around next year and this will be the last time to see him play in a college uniform. As great as he is, he still is not the only star skating for his last time as a non-professional this weekend. Players such as Scott Meyer, Erik Westrum, Jeff Panzer, Karl Goehring, and Jeff Dessner will be there as well and believe me when I say that missing them in action would be a mistake.

Okay so if revenge and talent arenít enough then maybe understanding the level of competition will do it. The NCAA tournament takes 12 teams throughout the country. The selection process is almost an exact mirror image of the Pairwise ranking, which explains a team's strength of schedule, and the national rankings. Of the five teams that are competing this weekend, all five are in the top 12 in both. Three of those teams are competing for first round byes. I agree that the rankings are confusing and you are probably asking what any of this means? To put it in the simplest terms possible, a loss by any of the five teams will severely hamper their chances in postseason play. What that means is an all out war.

Whether itís because of the great rivalries, the outstanding players or the competition, hopefully I have convinced you to take a trip to the Xcel this weekend. After all, as a hockey fan, to deprive yourself of outstanding hockey is a crime, isnít it? Well crime or not, I know you will never forgive yourself and that is justice enough.