Dick Baker has a great feature on Will Ortiz as part of his weekend preview. I know I’ve mentioned this a few times but watching Will have a tremendous senior season has easily been one of the best parts of what has become a pretty good season. His energy combined with his physical play is unmatched on the ice. And I don’t think he’s done yet. I’m guessing he has a few more game-changing goals up his sleeve for the last two months of the season.
The Collegian previews this weekend’s series with Paul Dainton talking about the spanking they took over break as a needed wake-up call. They also have a sidebar focusing on special teams and the improved play of Dainton.
USCHO’s weekly Hockey East column talks about the lack of a nationally dominant HEA team and that Lowell is overrated. He also picks UMass to sweep, which means four points this weekend is officially not happening.
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James Marcou remains on top of Inside Hockey’s Hobey Watch.
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The LA Kings site has this story on Jon Quick and some of the in-season adjustments he has had to make.
Here’s an interesting article on how Nebraska-Omaha considering building an on-campus arena to help retain more of the revenue from their hockey games.
Fear The Triangle - UMass Hockey Blog 
Ryan
/ January 22, 2010UNO building a rink on campus is complete nonsense IMO. The Qwest Center is probably like Tsongas, a city owned facility (although now owned by UML) but has a good attendance record. The Mavs consistently gain the highest attendace in the CCHA and don’t need an arena on campus. This would most likely lower their capacity, although Dean Blaise may be behind this entire thing, and he is a pretty smart guy.
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rocks22
/ January 22, 2010Based on the article though it looks like it’s all about finances. You don’t have to pay rent in an arena you own. Tsongas isn’t exactly the same situation as it was built with half city money and half UMass money, so the River Hawks got a break on rent.
Maybe they’re just doing this to try to get an improved lease out of Qwest.
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Wardy
/ January 22, 2010Quest is too big for UNO and their 6,000 crowds look and feel small in the huge building. UNO had a great home-ice advantage at their old building which was smaller.
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Matt (OutlawPete)
/ January 22, 2010Got a question…was looking at the NCAA tournament tickets (I know too early) because I’m really bored and somehow ended up there. Can you only buy the 3-day pass? If so that would cost $85. That seems rediculous for college hockey considering the Frozen Four has $40 tickets.
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Alan
/ January 22, 2010The Frozen Four has $40 tickets THIS YEAR because it’s stupidly being held at Ford Field in Detroit. I attended the 2004(?) FF in Boston, and the ticket for both days was $125, and well worth it. I believe you can buy individual nights at the regionals once they know the teams, and the respective fans/season ticket holders get first dibs. There are usually plenty of tix left over, unless you’re talking about UNH games in Manchester.
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Matt (OutlawPete)
/ January 22, 2010thanks for the info. I don’t have much money now, let alone when tourney time will come around. hopefully UMass, if we make it, offers a bus trip at a lower price or something. Let’s focus on Vermont however.
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Jeff
/ January 23, 2010Don’t count on lower priced bus trips, especially if we get shipped out west which could happen. The NCAA sets the prices and the only way they could be lowered is if UMass paid a portion of each student ticket.
But as you said *WAY* too early for it right now, and it would be kinda silly to buy Worcester or Albany since as I just mentioned we could be in Ft. Wayne or St. Paul.
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