Mid-season evaluation

16 games into the 2012-13 season and we are in last place in the WCHA. In league play we are 1-8-3, which is good for five points. Looking up to two teams directly above us, they have nine points each. We could very well catch up to those teams, surprisingly one of those teams are the Wisconsin Badgers. Who we can say are on the downswing right now, last season they finished 11-15-2 in league for 24 points which saddled them with a tenth place finish. And, the season before that finished one point ahead of us for 8th place. Which means they have reacted negatively to the addition Bemidji State, and Nebraska-Omaha, who would have thunk it? Even more surprising, they only have two more league goals then us in league play this season (23 vs. our 21). Speaking of them, we play them at the Sullivan Arena at 7:07 AKST Friday and Saturday night.

Courtesy of the wcha.com website, current as of 1/2/2013

There has been some legitimate concerns for us Seawolves fans that we might once again finish last. There are various reasons, but I think we all know what these are so I will not mention them. I have hope that is blind, unfiltered, and what some sane people would describe as a fool's paradise. But we all have to be a little crazy to be a Seawolf fan. I have stated before that being a Red Sox fan is easier than being a Seawolves fan, and this is true. Well, pre-October 2004 to say before the 2009 season for being a Red Sox fan. Both of these respected teams have easily snatched away defeat from the jaws of victory on such a regular basis that it has hardened me both mentally and emotionally.

From the past three seasons, 28 points or more have resulted in home ice for the playoffs. This includes the pre-Bemidji and UNO WCHA. Which means we would need 23 points to finally boo and badger (see what I did there!?) a fellow team in our Sullivan Arena. This is asking a lot, considering we have 16 league games left. Let's take a look at our upcoming schedule:

Shamefully ripped from goseawolves.com

Looking to this weekend, I project a series split with Wisconsin. I'm looking out for Wisconsin to come out guns blazing Friday night looking for some "easy" points, and our boys shaking the rink rust off Saturday night. This would leave us with 21 more points to take from seven more WCHA weekend affairs. To accomplish this from a split with Wisconsin, it would require us to at least win and tie every weekend to close out WCHA play. This is a tall order, but I look amped to see we face Minnesota next weekend. This might be our last hope of home-ice in the dominate WCHA. Now of course this is all under the premise that the 28 point ticket to home ice is still in force. Upon further inspection, only once since the 2006-07 season has this not been the case, St. Cloud State in 2008-09 missed the playoffs by one point, they had 28.

At times we have look liked a home-ice team, but other times we have looked young and maybe in awe of our opponents. Most of our freshmen have at least got their feet wet, we can still do this. We have to believe. The emergence of Blake Leask, kid has got numbers of 3-7-10 to lead the team in points, and the goal-scoring of Scott Allen 7-2-9 have got to be corner stones of our offense. Bailey, Gellert, and Kwas have put up some nice numbers so far too. Where are we? Well, were down looking up. Is it time to just give up? No, a 8th or 9th place finish would still please me. But I want more. I need more. Feed me more!

Imagine sitting in your seat at the Sullivan Arena and you hear this song come on, and out come the Seawolves at out at the 25 second mark. Next, hold up the visiting team until the 1:10 mark when the lyrics go, "You're so damn weak...". Would that not pump you up? It would pump me up, and the music at times is not much worse that this. So why not? It would certainly give us an identity, my absolute dream is to have this song come out before we play this season's Governor's Cup against UA_. This song hits, we win the game, and win the shootout, or OT, or goal differential, or whatever the hell actually decides the Governor's Cup. That folks is my dream. After that happens, this song will live on and follow us into the watered down WCHA. Where we will very well eat our opponents because face it, what else do the Seawolves actually eat?

Friday morning/afternoon I put up another post, regarding other people's write-up's. Hope everybody had a great holiday season, and I look forward to MOAARRRR hockey!!