sbkbghockey wrote:
Overall this is a great schedule. Awesome that BGSU is hosting some NCAA Frozen Four teams. Union should be fun to see and a good measuring stick to wear the program wants to be. Union is an up-and-coming team over the past few seasons and has been very successful with a combination of speed/scoring, size and physical play, and quality goaltenders. A bit disappointed that BG is making the trip to Oxford again, it seems like we've been playing there much more than BG hosting. Union is very good, Colgate is good but Niagara and Canisius are not very strong non-conference opponents. I would have also liked to play more WCHA opponents since that's our future conference. Also like many fans around the country, it would have been nice to see the newest DI program, Penn State. Overall I give this schedule a B+.
No doubt Blasi probably jumped up and down and threatened to hold his breath to keep from coming here. But, instead of hosting Miami, we get OSU twice at home.
Niagara is a fill in that was scheduled to replace UAH, after they announced they were done. And remember, we were in talks with both Niagara and Canisius about league affiliation. Both teams are wanting to grow their programs but are stuck in the cost savings league. Depending on how the next few years go, I wouldn't totally count them out as future league opponents.
Union is replacing our games against Bemidji. We were supposed to host them next year, I believe, but cancelled because they will be in the same league the following year.
And Penn State won't be playing next year.