clutterbuck22 wrote:You're joking right? You're saying that a team like Fairbanks or Texas couldn't beat a team like St. Mary's, Bethel, Gustavus, or even Hamline? The Rochester Ice Hawks of the MNJHL played St. Mary's last year and it was supposed to be the jv team, but St. Mary's sent 14 of the varsity players and started their number one varsity goalie in the game and only beat the Hawks 4-2. They would have lost to the Hawks if the goalie wasn't on his A game. So to say there is "no way" that an NA team could beat a MIAC team must be a joke.nickel slots wrote:There is no way that a team from the NA would beat any team from the MIAC. Almost all of the guys in the MIAC have played in the NA (or higher), plus they are older, stronger, and smarter than they were when they were 18 or 19. 3rd & 4th liners from the NA have a hard time making the game day lineup their freshmen and sophomore years. You can make the argument that there is some D1 talent on some of the NA rosters, but that is negated by the fact that just about every MIAC team has at least one D1 transfer on their roster.The Exiled One wrote: I'd argue that some D3 teams are playing at a higher level too. (St. Olaf, for example)
All that aside, I would still recommend that anybody with a love for the game - or aspirations of playing after high school - go check out a game. Heck, go check out a D3 game, too. You might be surprised at the level of play at both levels.
A team like Bethel or Gustavus? Gustavus started the season out ranked #5 in the country in D3 (they made the D3 frozen four in 2010-11, national quarterfinals last year) before getting swept by BETHEL. Might want to reexamine which MIAC teams you pick on...but that being said, your point is valid for some of the perennial MIAC bottom feeders, St. Marys, etc.