ACHA Tournament Pairings Announced (Updated)

Yesterday afternoon, the ACHA tweeted (in three parts: 1, 2, 3) the pairings, schedule (for the first day) and bracket (sort of) for the national championship tournament, set to begin March 5th at the University of Delaware. They then followed up with the much-more-complete PDFs of the bracket and schedule early this morning. If you can't read the following adaptation of the bracket PDF, scroll down for most of the same information (minus the heavily-butchered PSU logo) in text form. Or click on the link two sentences ago, either way is good with me.

Saturday, March 5th

No. 3 Ohio vs. No. 14 Canton, 10:00 a.m., Fred Rust Ice Arena
No. 6 Minot State vs. No. 11 Oakland, 11:00 a.m., Gold Arena

No. 2 Davenport vs. No. 15 Rutgers, 1:00 p.m., Fred Rust Ice Arena
No. 7 Rhode Island vs. No. 10 Penn State, 2:00 p.m., Gold Arena

No. 1 Lindenwood vs. No. 16 Slippery Rock, 4:00 p.m., Fred Rust Ice Arena
No. 8 Arizona State vs. No. 9 Oklahoma, 5:00 p.m., Gold Arena

No. 5 Delaware vs. No. 12 Robert Morris (IL), 7:00 p.m., Fred Rust Ice Arena
No. 4 Adrian vs. No. 13 Stony Brook, 8:00 p.m., Gold Arena

The Fred Rust Ice Arena is an Olympic-sized (200' x 100') sheet, while the Gold Arena is NHL-sized (200' x 85').

Sunday, March 6th

Ohio/Canton vs. Minot State/Oakland, 10:00 a.m., Fred Rust Ice Arena
Davenport/Rutgers vs. Rhode Island/Penn State, 1:00 p.m., Fred Rust Ice Arena
Lindenwood/Slippery Rock vs. Arizona State/Oklahoma, 4:00 p.m., Fred Rust Ice Arena
Delaware/Robert Morris (IL) vs. Adrian/Stony Brook, 7:00 p.m., Fred Rust Ice Arena

The consolation games for Saturday's losers (9th, 11th, 13th and 15th place games) will all take place in Gold Arena at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Which teams go where on Sunday won't be decided until teams start to lose games on Saturday.

Semifinals and Championship

After a day off Monday for 12 of the 16 teams to blow town, teams are re-seeded for the semifinals, which take place Tuesday, March 8th at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Fred Rust Ice Arena. The championship game is Wednesday, March 9th at 7:00 p.m., also at Fred Rust.

Payday Memorabilia: 1992 ICHL Championship Banner

The ESCHL tournament gets underway tomorrow, but today, we're going back in Icers history to their conference home from 1984-1992. Of course, I'm speaking of the International Collegiate Hockey League (ICHL), also affectionately known as the "Iron League" after the league the Hanson Brothers supposedly came from in Slap Shot. You can probably deduce the intensity level of the games against teams like Buffalo, Buffalo State and Erie CC from this moniker. The "I" part of the conference's name, in actuality, came from Niagara College in Welland, ON and Conestoga College in Kitchener, ON.

Penn State plowed through this conference with a 14-1-1 record - the best ever in ICHL regular-season play - to earn the title in 1991-1992. The clincher took place against Erie on February 8th, a 6-1 decision that was satisfying on many levels.

[The Icers avenged] several disappointments in recent years. Penn State had lost last year's regular season title to Erie by a point. They had also lost, 7-6, in overtime to the Kats this season on Jan. 4. In that game, Coach Joe Battista was upset with several marginal calls that went Erie's way.

The tie in that record was against Niagara exactly one week after the loss to Erie, so that 2-1-1 record over two weekends was the closest thing to adversity Penn State faced during the regular season ICHL schedule. With the top seed in hand for the conference tournament, fifth-place Buffalo State (5-11-0) was the opponent, but things didn't go quite as well there.

The result was a 5-4 controversial loss for Penn State that ended its hopes of leaving the league with a championship. The team will be leaving the ICHL to join another league next season. Icer Coach Joe Battista also failed in his quest to become the first ICHL Coach of the Year to win a ICHL Championship in the same year.

Why "controversial?" The Icers trailed 5-4 in the waning seconds of the game, then...

Dave Murphy scored what appeared to be the game-tying goal with one second remaining. The ensuing celebration was stifled when the referee waved off the score, ruling that the net was dislodged before the shot went into the net.

After an seemingly endless debate involving referees, coaches and players, it was ruled that the net was intentionally knocked off by a Buffalo State defenseman. In the National Hockey League, such an infraction would result in a goal for the scoring team. But not in the college game.

"Knowing the rules, you have got to give the defenseman credit," Battista said. "He did what he had to do to win. I don't teach my players to win that way."

Penn State was thusly awarded the penalty shot.

And of course, why would it be controversial if the penalty shot was successful?

[Andy] McLaughlin took the puck at center ice, skated to his right. He reversed his direction, cut across mid-ice and attempted to juke the goalie with a backhand shot to the left side of the net. Economou never bit, and the puck died amidst his pads. The red light never flashed. No goal. The Bengals' celebration begun.

One unusual quirk of those days: this season-ending game took place after Penn State had already finished third at the first national championship tournament under the ACHA banner (incidentally, this was also the only time PSU hosted nationals). This odd timing led to situations like 1989, when the Icers skipped nationals to focus on the ICHL tournament - can you imagine that happening today? The tactic proved successful, as PSU won their only other ICHL title, this one of the tournament variety, on home ice against Buffalo 8-6 after twice overcoming two-goal deficits in front of a raucous, standing-room-only crowd.

So what of the actual banner? Well, there's a reason I waited until the end to talk about it. I assume they were given to members of the team or something. I have no idea though. A bunch of years later, someone found a box of them somewhere, and they sold them at a game. I bought one. It measures about 9.5" x 17.5" and is made of a felt-like material that may actually be felt for all I know about fabric. Riveting stuff there.

We Made It (and Iowa State Didn't)!

Has Neal Price been avenged?

Just moments ago, the ACHA announced the field for the 2011 Division 1 national championship tournament, held March 5th through March 9th at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE. The teams will include:

• Lindenwood (CSCHL autobid)
• Davenport
• Ohio
• Adrian
• Delaware (host autobid)
• Minot State
• Rhode Island
• Arizona State
• Oklahoma
• Penn State
• Oakland
• Robert Morris (IL)
• Stony Brook (ECHA autobid)
• Canton (ECHL autobid)
• Slippery Rock (CMHA autobid)
• Rutgers (NECHL autobid)

The seeding and brackets haven't officially been released yet (the ACHA says they're coming Wednesday), but it doesn't take a rocket scientist (or a Silvis) to figure out that the ACHA ordered the teams by current ranking in the release, moving the Icers up a spot to No. 10 and into a first-round matchup with No. 7 Rhode Island. Even less cool than that: the possibility of hitting No. 2 Davenport in the second round, then No. 1 Lindenwood in the semifinals. Pretty daunting.

For the record, I'm glad the ACHA did the right thing with respect to Iowa State, leaving out a team with sixteen losses that had climbed back into consideration during the spring semester largely by beating Division 2 teams. This news is significant on the Penn State side too, as the Icers (I think) now stand as the only team to have qualified for the national championships each season since the ACHA's founding in 1991-1992.

More on this as details continue to trickle out from the guy on a computer in his basement who runs the entire ACHA...

Pegula Ice Arena Lobby: Gone

Not in the literal sense of course, ground hasn't even been broken yet. But forget about it if you want your name hanging there in shiny letters for generations to admire. That privilege now belongs to Paul and Nancy Silvis of State College, who donated $1 million to the Penn State Ice Campaign. The pertinent clippings from the link.

The main lobby of the Pegula Ice Arena will be named after the Paul and Nancy Silvis family. The couple will also co-chair the Penn State Ice Campaign Committee, which will help to raise an additional $10 million to complement the gift from the Pegulas for the ice arena and ice hockey program endowments.

Wasn't the starting number $10 million? Shouldn't it be $9 million now? This is like the time the ice arena was supposed to cost $30 million, then cost $75 million a few years later! Here's Mr. Silvis gratuitously dropping hockey metaphors.

"Nancy and I felt compelled to give to the project because of the important role hockey has played in our lives as well as the opportunities this new facility will bring to the youth of our community," said Paul Silvis. "Joe Battista and I have been discussing strategies to build a new ice facility for many, many years. While the Pegulas' initial gift gets us much closer to the goal, it doesn't quite get the puck in the net. Terry and Kim are looking for assists from others in the community to show their passion for a new ice arena. Through additional gifts from the community we can transform Penn State and the Centre Region into Hockey Valley. It will take a team of passionate players to turn this ice arena into reality."

Where do you get enough money for such a generous donation?

Paul Silvis founded Restek Corporation (Bellefonte, Pa.) in 1985. Restek has grown into an international business manufacturing chromatography columns and supplies that are represented in more than 110 countries...In 2009, Paul Silvis formed SilcoTek, an offshoot of the Restek Corporation. Located in Bellefonte, SilcoTek uses CVD technologies to impart many of the properties of Teflon into steel.

I have no idea what any of that means, which explains in part why I'll never have a lobby of an ice rink named after me. How much for a urinal or two? And what of Mrs. Silvis?

Nancy Silvis is co-owner of the historic Mount Nittany Inn in Centre Hall.

Sweet. Now we just have to get Fight On State, the booster club and Shaner Hotels to chip off a million each and we'll be in great shape! Even the namesake was impressed, saying about three times as much about it as he has about the Buffalo Sabres to this point.

"My wife, Kim, and I, along with the rest of the Penn State Hockey family are thrilled that Paul and Nancy Silvis have stepped forward to be the first major gift after our contribution," said Terry Pegula. "A project of this magnitude can only be accomplished through the efforts and generosity of many dedicated people. Having a family that shares our love for the game involved as we move forward is a major asset. I commend Paul and Nancy on their offer to chair our fundraising committee and hope many more people like Paul and Nancy look to get involved with the hockey program in the future."

In all sincerity, I'd like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Silvis. Thanks for helping to bring this reality closer, and I hope the view from your lobby is as good as it sounds!

UPDATE: I've just been informed by a guy who knows such things (broadcaster Steve Penstone) that Mrs. Silvis happens to be the mother of Icers forward Kurt Collins. So that explains a lot.

Scoreboard Watching (Part V)

Time for the final edition of this feature, in light of the tournament cut-off rankings coming this week. Hopefully it's the last for quite a while - I would prefer to not use it next year, for obvious reasons.

Just to review, I've already deemed Lindenwood, Davenport, Ohio, Delaware, Adrian, Rhode Island, Minot State and Arizona State (the teams ranked 1 through 8 in the last poll) locks to make the tournament. Lindenwood and Delaware, in fact, are in already, thanks to the CSCHL autobid and the host autobid, respectively.

Stony Brook (ECHA), Canton (ECHL), Slippery Rock (CMHA) and Rutgers (NECHL) have also earned autobids. These four will almost certainly be the 13th through 16th seeds in Delaware, as they are ranked outside of the top 16 at present.

What's left? Six teams for four spots. Let's take one more look, with a final verdict for each.

9. Oklahoma (27-14-1)

February 3rd vs. Eastern Washington (ACHA D2), W 5-3
February 4th/5th vs. Oakland, W 6-1/W 5-4 (OT)
February 6th vs. Eastern Washington (ACHA D2), W 6-4
February 11th/12th at Illinois, L 2-6/L 2-3

The Sooners didn't do themselves any favors by getting swept on the Big Pond, however in my opinion, Oklahoma was playing with house money - there's no way they drop below Oakland, not with just having swept them a week ago.

Verdict: In

10. Oakland (20-10-5)

February 3rd at Central Oklahoma, W 3-2 (SO)
February 4th/5th at Oklahoma, L 1-6/L 4-5 (OT)
February 11th vs. Davenport, L 2-7
February 12th at Davenport, L 0-4

I'm really not sure what to make of the Grizzlies. Tough schedule, yes, but 1-3-1 since the last ranking is hard to ignore. I'll go out on a little bit of a limb here and say that OU pays the price for being the least consistent of these teams down the stretch.

Verdict: Out

11. Penn State (20-9-1)

February 4th/5th vs. Rhode Island, W 4-3/L 4-5 (SO)
February 11th/12th vs. Robert Morris, W 6-4/L 5-8

I've already aired my grievances with the Icers, so I'll just say that we're extremely fortunate that tripping against RMU won't cost us anything more than a spot or two in the final seeding.

Verdict: In

12. Iowa State (23-16-0)

February 4th/5th vs. Kansas (ACHA D2), W 9-0/W 11-0
February 11th/12th at Lindenwood, L 2-6/L 0-2

I won't lie, I'm slightly miffed at the fact that the Cyclones are even under consideration with sixteen losses. The primary things they have going for them at this point: their two wins against RMU (IL) in early January and Al Murdoch's status within the ACHA. They don't deserve it, but I really can't imagine it otherwise.

Verdict: In

Murdoch Dougies in celebration.

13. Robert Morris (IL) (25-8-1)

February 4th/5th at Ohio, L 2-4/W 3-1
February 11th/12th vs. John Carroll, W 8-1/W 13-6

The Eagles followed up their attention-grabbing split at Ohio with the more-expected pair of blowouts against John Carroll. As mentioned, they'll have a tough time jumping Iowa State, but if Oakland takes the hit I just predicted, they won't have to.

Verdict: In

14. Illinois (19-9-1)

February 4th/5th at Kent State, W 5-3/W 3-1
February 11th/12th vs. Oklahoma, W 6-2/W 3-2

There's still a shot here, believe it or not, it all just depends on the voters. If two of Oklahoma, Oakland and Iowa State take a massive tumble, the Illini could still sneak in the back door. I'm just not seeing it though.

Verdict: Out