EHM The Blue Line

I wanted to both continue testing the NCAA-abilities of EHM but also document it in an interesting story-type format. Not sure how long I'll take this but I'll start it now!

Leagues turned on in full detail: NHL, USHL, NAHL, Frozen Four, Hockey East, NCHC, Big Ten, ECAC, WCHA, Atlantic Hockey
Start Date: 2016-17 Season

Keep in mind that in EHM's player rankings, the game tends to "project" potential into them - so you'll see lots of freshman and higher-end prospects get ranked probably higher than you might expect given current ability.

EDIT: Ok - write-ups, although fun, were taking way too long...I'll just let the screencaps do the work for the most part:

HOCKEY EAST SEASON 2016-17 PREVIEW:







NCHC SEASON 2016-17 PREVIEW:







BIG TEN SEASON 2016-17 PREVIEW:







ECAC SEASON 2016-17 PREVIEW:







WCHA SEASON 2016-17 PREVIEW:







ATLANTIC HOCKEY SEASON 2016-17 PREVIEW:

2016-17 NCAA TOURNAMENTS:
Some of college's premier programs face-off in non-conference or inter-conference battles prior to the conference season. Here's a recap of this year's slate:

The Beanpot
The Beanpot is an all-time college classic is a yearly event that features the four traditional powers in the Boston area:
- Boston College (Hockey East)
- Boston University (Hockey East) WINNERS
- Harvard (ECAC)
- Northeastern (Hockey East)
A an absolute clinic by BU in this tough, tough tournament which features the top 3 clubs in the Hockey East pre-season poll and the top team (Harvard) in the pre-season ECAC poll. BU beat each of the other 3 teams with tournament MVP being Terrier defender and Boston first rounder Charles McAvoy, who had 4 points and a +3 in 3 games.


Colorado Classic
The Colorado Classic featured the following programs:
- Denver (NCHC)
- Air Force (Atlantic Hockey)
- Massachusetts-Lowell (Hockey East)
- Notre Dame (Big Ten) WINNERS
Notre Dame, newly of the Big Ten, are crowned champs with wins over Mass-Lowell and Air Force and a tie against Denver. Bruins draft pick Anders Bjork won MVP, pacing the Irish with 4 goals and an assist in 5 contests.


Omaha Invitational
The Omaha Invitational featured the following programs:
- Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)
- Quinnipiac (ECAC)
- Robert Morris (Atlantic Hockey)
- Wisconsin (Big Ten) WINNERS
A young but talent-laden Badger team breezed through the field with 3 wins in 3 games to win the title with Minnesota WIld first rounder Luke Kunin leading the way with 3 goals and 2 assists in 3 games.


Catamount Cup
The Catamount Cup featured the following programs:
- Vermont (Hockey East)
- Michigan Tech (WCHA)
- Union (ECAC)
- Ohio State (Big Ten) WINNERS
Ohio State proved too powerful for the rest with wins against each of the other teams to take home the title with Buckeye senior defenseman Josh Healey taking home tournament MVP honors with 2 points in 3 games, playing 22 minutes per game.


Nittany Lion Invitational
The Nittany Lion Invitational featured the following programs:
- Penn State (Big Ten)
- Cornell (ECAC)
- Providence (Hockey East)
- Western Michigan (NCHC) WINNER
The NCHC's Broncos win the title with wins over Cornell and Providence and a tie against the Nittnay Lions while Penn State senior center David Goodwin was the standout performer with 8 points in 3 games.


Minnesota VS North Dakota
Last but certainly not least, North Dakota (NCHC) and Minnesota (Big Ten) resumed their storied rivalry. Historic foes from the old WCHA conference, the two schools are now in different conferences but the passion remains. Led by 2 goals and 2 assists from senior standout Justin Kloos, the Gophers prevailed in Grand Rapids this year, signalling their Frozen Four aspirations for this season.

NCAA PLAYERS IN PRELIMINARY 2017 NHL ENTRY DRAFT RANKINGS:
Here's a look at the college stars and college commits who have made the grade in the preliminary NHL Entry Draft rankings for next summer's draft:

First Round
#9: Casey Mittelstadt, C, Eden Prairie/HS-MN (Minnesota - 2017)
#10: Jake Oettinger, G, Boston University
#21: Luke Martin, D, Michigan
#28: Eeli Tolvanen, LW, Sioux City/USHL (Boston College - 2017)

Second Round
#33: Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo/USHL (Boston University - 2017)
#48: Brannon McManus, RW, Omaha/USHL (Minnesota - 2017)
#49: David Farrance, D, USNDTP/USHL (Boston University - 2017)
#52: Evan Barratt, C, USNDTP/USHL (Penn State - 2017)
#57: Cayden Primeau, G, Lincoln/USHL (Northeastern - 2017)
#61: Cale Makar, C, Brooks/AJHL (Massachusetts - 2017)

Third Round
#75: Mikey Anderson, D, Waterloo/USHL (Minnesota-Duluth - 2018)
#78: Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State
#82: Cameron Crotty, D, Brockville/CCHL (Boston University - 2017)
#85: Jacob Tortora, LW, USNDTP/USHL (Boston College - 2017)
#88: Josh Norris, C, USNDTP/USHL (Michigan - 2017)

Fourth Round
#108: Jesse Bjugstad, D, Stillwater/HS-MN (Uncommitted)
#111: Ben Myers, C, Delano-Rockford/HS-MN (Maine - 2018)
#112: Max Gildon, D, USNDTP/USHL (New Hampshire - 2017)
#114: Baker Shore, RW, Chicago/USHL (Harvard - 2018)
#117: John Maniscalco, D, USNDTP/USHL (Minnesota - 2017)

Fifth Round
#130: Keith Petruzelli, G, Muskegon/USHL (Quinnipiac - 2017)
#134: Ty Amonte, RW, Penticton/BCHL (Boston University - 2017)
#135: Reilly Walsh, D, Proctor/NEPSH (Harvard - 2017)
#144: Ethen Frank, RW, Lincoln/USHL (Western Michigan - 2017)
#146: Scott Reedy, C, USNDTP/USHL (Minnesota - 2017)
#150: Griffin Mendel, D, Penticton/BCHL (Denver - 2017)

Sixth Round
#171: Tommy Miller, D, USNDTP/USHL (Michigan State - 2017)
#174: Dayton Rasmussen, G, Chicago/USHL (Denver - 2017)
#176: Kasper Kotkansalo, D, Sioux Falls/USHL (Boston University - 2017)
#184: Zach Solow, C, Dubuque/USHL (Northeastern - 2017)
#186: Mick Messner, LW, Madison/USHL (Wisconsin - 2017)

Seventh Round
#187: Grant Mismash, LW, USNDTP/USHL (North Dakota - 2017)
#188: Ian Mitchell, D, Spruce Grove/AJHL (Denver - 2018)
#191: Jesper Mattila, D, Boston College

While it remains to be seen how the rankings playout over the year and just how accurate these predictions are, it is quite surprising to see some highly-touted USNDTP stars like Scott Reedy and Grant Mismash ranked so low while some lesser-known talents like Mikey Anderson, Cameron Crotty and Jesse Bjugstad - to name a few, rank quite highly. Also surprising to see dynamic Cale Makar ranked as a second rounder although we will see if more exposure over the course of the year will increase his standing.

2016-17 SEASON HALFWAY MARK UPDATE:
We've made it to the end of the calendar year so let's check and see how things are shaking out in each of the conferences:

Hockey East


NCHC


Big Ten


ECAC


WCHA


Atlantic Hockey