Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

University of Illinois

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • University of Illinois

    So it looks like the NHL is going to announce tonight the financing of a study targeted at adding D1 hockey at U of Illinois. I wasn't aware of it, but they already have a (admittedly old and only 2000 seat) rink on campus and their ACHA men's club team regularly sells out games. AD is on record as saying that it would take something similar to the $100M Pegula gift at Penn State to get hockey started at UI because they would need a new and better rink. So admittedly a real long shot (NHL is going to sponsor studies at 4 other TBD schools as well).

    All that being said, let's assume somehow it happens (they use the existing rink to start, NHL ponies up some money, donor comes forward, etc.). Presumably this throws Title IX at UI out of whack and they may have to add a women's sport. Would it be women's ice hockey or, after the UND experience, something else? If they added WIH, does the Big Ten conference then form (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois) without an autobid?

    Summer is here - discuss.....

  • #2
    Re: University of Illinois

    Originally posted by HockeyEast33 View Post
    So it looks like the NHL is going to announce tonight the financing of a study targeted at adding D1 hockey at U of Illinois. I wasn't aware of it, but they already have a (admittedly old and only 2000 seat) rink on campus and their ACHA men's club team regularly sells out games. AD is on record as saying that it would take something similar to the $100M Pegula gift at Penn State to get hockey started at UI because they would need a new and better rink. So admittedly a real long shot (NHL is going to sponsor studies at 4 other TBD schools as well).

    All that being said, let's assume somehow it happens (they use the existing rink to start, NHL ponies up some money, donor comes forward, etc.). Presumably this throws Title IX at UI out of whack and they may have to add a women's sport. Would it be women's ice hockey or, after the UND experience, something else? If they added WIH, does the Big Ten conference then form (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois) without an autobid?

    Summer is here - discuss.....
    The women's Big Ten conference wouldn't form until there are 6 teams... but it's definitely an interesting thought on whether Illinois would start a women's team at the same time.
    Last edited by TonyTheTiger20; 06-23-2017, 02:03 PM.
    Grant Salzano, Boston College '10
    Writer Emeritus, BC Interruption
    Twitter: @Salzano14


    Click here for the BC Interruption Pairwise, KRACH, and GRaNT Calculators

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: University of Illinois

      My thoughts are that the women's WCHA is very much a cost containment league and unless forced to the current B1G teams in the league will not leave it. That said, Illinois is closer than OSU, so if they started a program in the near future I think they could get an invite to join the WCHA. Now if that happened I can see Penn State getting upset...

      Sean
      Women's Hockey East Champions 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010
      Men's NCAA Champions 2009, 1995, 1978, 1972, 1971

      BU Hockey Games
      BU Hockey highlights and extras
      NCAA Hockey Financials
      Women's Division I Longest Hockey Games
      I need a kidney; looking for a donor

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: University of Illinois

        Originally posted by Sean Pickett View Post
        My thoughts are that the women's WCHA is very much a cost containment league and unless forced to the current B1G teams in the league will not leave it. That said, Illinois is closer than OSU, so if they started a program in the near future I think they could get an invite to join the WCHA.
        Particularly with UND dropping the sport
        Grant Salzano, Boston College '10
        Writer Emeritus, BC Interruption
        Twitter: @Salzano14


        Click here for the BC Interruption Pairwise, KRACH, and GRaNT Calculators

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: University of Illinois

          Originally posted by HockeyEast33 View Post

          All that being said, let's assume somehow it happens (they use the existing rink to start, NHL ponies up some money, donor comes forward, etc.). Presumably this throws Title IX at UI out of whack and they may have to add a women's sport. Would it be women's ice hockey or, after the UND experience, something else? If they added WIH, does the Big Ten conference then form (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois) without an autobid?

          Summer is here - discuss.....
          They won't use the existing arena at all, and they won't get any financial help from the NHL beyond what they just got. They will have to add another women's sport, but haven't decided if it's hockey or something else. That's likely part of the study in terms of figuring out what it would cost for women's hockey vs. women's lacrosse/water polo/bowling, and then figuring out how much they'll be able to raise in donations.

          The Big Ten would need six teams before they even thought about it. But if they had six, that would be interesting. For most of the schools, travel costs would probably be a wash, if not improved. Minnesota would have to be dragged kicking and screaming, but ultimately they don't have a choice in the matter if the conference wants it to happen.
          Originally posted by dicaslover
          Yep, you got it. I heart Maize.

          Originally posted by Kristin
          Maybe I'm missing something but you just asked me which MSU I go to and then you knew the theme of my homecoming, how do you know one and not the other?

          Western College Hockey Blog

          Comment


          • #7
            Re: University of Illinois

            This would be great if it happens.

            Comment

            Working...
            X