Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

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

  • Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

    Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA (just northwest of Worcester) will be adding men's and women's ice hockey for the 2018-19 season. Apparently they'll play their games way off-campus at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, replacing Becker who just moved their games to the new Worcester Ice Center. Anna Maria will be an independent to start, but will presumably try to join the NEHC to be with their fellow GNAC teams Norwich, Johnson & Wales, and Suffolk.

    Also interesting to note that Castleton is moving from the North Atlantic Conference to the Little East next year. That will bring the number of Little East schools with hockey to five; three in the NEHC (UMass-Boston, Castleton, and Southern Maine) and two in the MASCAC (Plymouth State and UMass-Dartmouth). They'll need another couple of schools, but hopefully there's not a big realignment on the horizon.

    Finally, SUNY-Canton is joining the North Atlantic Conference, not the SUNYAC, as a full member. With the SUNYAC apparently uninterested, do you think Canton will look to one of the New England conferences for hockey as well?
    Last edited by Buckeye22; 12-23-2017, 11:53 PM.
    Frozen Four: 1998, 2018

    NCAA Tournament: 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019

    The Ohio State University '18
    University of Western Ontario '19

  • #2
    Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

    Originally posted by Buckeye22 View Post
    Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA (just northwest of Worcester) will be adding men's and women's ice hockey for the 2018-19 season. Apparently they'll play their games way off-campus at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, replacing Becker who just moved their games to the new Worcester Ice Center. Anna Maria will be an independent to start, but will presumably try to join the NEHC to be with their fellow GNAC teams Norwich, Johnson & Wales, and Suffolk.

    Also interesting to note that Castleton is moving from the North Atlantic Conference to the Little East next year. That will bring the number of Little East schools with hockey to five; three in the NEHC (UMass-Boston, Castleton, and Southern Maine) and two in the MASCAC (Plymouth State and UMass-Dartmouth). They'll need another couple other schools, but hopefully there's not a big realignment on the horizon.

    Finally, SUNY-Canton is joining the North Atlantic Conference, not the SUNYAC as a full member. With the SUNYAC apparently uninterested, do you think Canton will look to one of the New England conferences for hockey as well?
    Is there a reason the SUNYAC wouldn't want a SUNY school?

    As for Anna Maria, the school really seems to be investing a lot in athletics over the past few years. They added football 5 or so years ago and the school seems really excited about the program even though they're terrible. It's good to see. Football has the benefit of playing on campus, but if it's any indication I expect hockey to get a similar reception.

    From what I have read, Anna Maria really seems to get the importance of athletics for a small school in terms of branding and attracting students to campus who otherwise wouldn't have considered the school.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using Tapatalk
    Norwich '13

    2017-2018 Last Person Standing Champion

    Comment


    • #3
      [QUOTE=NU Pastime;6575521]Is there a reason the SUNYAC wouldn't want a SUNY school?/QUOTE]

      Rumor has been that the SUNYAC rejected Canton based on their “Academic Profile” not matching that of the existing members... whatever that means...
      Plattsburgh CARDINALS
      SUNYAC Champ x24: 78, 79, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 90, 92, 93, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 04, 08, 09, 11, 12, 15, 17, 23
      ECACW Champ x11: 81, 82, 87, 92, 06, 07, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
      NEWHL Champ x5: 18, 19, 20, 22, 23
      NCAA DIII Champ x10-ish: 87, 92, 01, 07, 08, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19
      NCAA DIII Runner-up x4-ish: 86, 90, 06, 08
      NCAA DII Runner-up x2: 81, 82

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

        Originally posted by NU Pastime View Post
        From what I have read, Anna Maria really seems to get the importance of athletics for a small school in terms of branding and attracting students to campus who otherwise wouldn't have considered the school.
        Ya I've heard a lot of small colleges throughout New England have been struggling financially over the last few years. Hopefully investing in sports works out for them. I can't imagine their hockey teams will get a huge turnout just based on the fact that they'll play almost 40 minutes away from campus, but I hope students still get behind the team.

        Originally posted by CARDS_rule_the_Burgh View Post
        Rumor has been that the SUNYAC rejected Canton based on their “Academic Profile” not matching that of the existing members... whatever that means...
        Generally I'm ok with conferences having some academic standards, but when your conference is clearly just based off whether or not you're a SUNY school, it seems kind of silly to keep out Canton. If they're good enough to have the SUNY name, they should be good enough to join in the reindeer games. I mean the SUNYAC has a little bit of a range of schools academically speaking as it is. As for hockey, the only conference that seems to have consistent academic standards is the NESCAC. Everyone else runs the gamut. They have an on-campus arena and everything, so I would think Canton would be a desirable addition for any conference.
        Last edited by Buckeye22; 12-24-2017, 11:17 AM.
        Frozen Four: 1998, 2018

        NCAA Tournament: 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019

        The Ohio State University '18
        University of Western Ontario '19

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

          Anna Maria adding hockey is the most shocking thing I’ve heard in years. I’ll be even more shocked if they haven’t closed their doors within 10 years.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

            Any plans to put up a rink on campus at Anna Maria College? It's going to be hard to build any sort of competitive team when players have to travel 1.5 hours a day, 4 to 6 times a week to the rink. I can't think of many other teams that have to travel this far to practice and play.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by d3hockey57 View Post
              Any plans to put up a rink on campus at Anna Maria College? It's going to be hard to build any sort of competitive team when players have to travel 1.5 hours a day, 4 to 6 times a week to the rink. I can't think of many other teams that have to travel this far to practice and play.
              I’ll put about a 1 percent chance Anna Maria builds on an on campus rink in the next 20 years.
              The Poster Formerly Known as Purple_and_Gold10©
              "The Prezidential Three - Elmira, Oswego, Norwich" © Joecct
              GO EAGLES!!! R.I.P. L.H. #4 In our hearts forever
              GO LAKERS!!!
              GO CADETS!!! R.I.P. Charlie Crosby '63
              "Reisweber trying to circle in front of the net, he does, HE SCORES! that's it! Oswego State has done it!! The Lakers take home the first NCAA title of any kind in school history. It's celebration time in Upstate New York!"
              Oswego State '09

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

                Originally posted by PrezdeJohnson09 View Post
                I’ll put about a 1 percent chance Anna Maria builds on an on campus rink in the next 20 years.
                Agreed. It would be interesting to compile a list of DII/DIII teams by distance to their off-campus rink. Nichols College plays over 30 minutes from their campus and their team has survived (competitive or not). Post is a new program playing around 30 minutes from their campus, so we'll see what effect that has on them (I mean, they're terrible, but who knows how much their arena has affected that).
                Frozen Four: 1998, 2018

                NCAA Tournament: 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019

                The Ohio State University '18
                University of Western Ontario '19

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

                  Originally posted by Buckeye22 View Post
                  Ya I've heard a lot of small colleges throughout New England have been struggling financially over the last few years. Hopefully investing in sports works out for them.
                  That didn't work out so well for Daniel Webster, did it. I know a lot of schools see football as a way of getting more students just from the 45-90 man roster. Hockey could bring in 45 or so students if you have both men's and women's programs. Whether either plan is cost effective remains to be seen.
                  2007-2008 ECAC East/NESCAC Interlock Pick 'em winner
                  2007-2008 Last Person Standing Winner,
                  2013-2014 Last Person Standing Winner (tie)
                  2016-2017 Last Person Standing Winner

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Buckeye22 View Post
                    Agreed. It would be interesting to compile a list of DII/DIII teams by distance to their off-campus rink. Nichols College plays over 30 minutes from their campus and their team has survived (competitive or not). Post is a new program playing around 30 minutes from their campus, so we'll see what effect that has on them (I mean, they're terrible, but who knows how much their arena has affected that).
                    I believe from Anna Maria -> NESC is less than 30 minutes.
                    CCT '77 & '78
                    4 kids
                    5 grandsons (BCA 7/09, CJA 5/14, JDL 8/14, JFL 6/16, PJL 7/18)
                    1 granddaughter (EML 4/18)

                    ”Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
                    - Benjamin Franklin

                    Banned from the St. Lawrence University Facebook page - March 2016 (But I got better).

                    I want to live forever. So far, so good.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

                      Originally posted by Buckeye22 View Post
                      Agreed. It would be interesting to compile a list of DII/DIII teams by distance to their off-campus rink. Nichols College plays over 30 minutes from their campus and their team has survived (competitive or not). Post is a new program playing around 30 minutes from their campus, so we'll see what effect that has on them (I mean, they're terrible, but who knows how much their arena has affected that).
                      I'll do more later. I added google map times because a 2 mile drive can differ by ~10 minutes depending on location.

                      CCC
                      Becker: Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center - 1.5 miles (8 mins)
                      Curry: Max Ulin Rink - 1.5 miles (3 mins)
                      Endicott: Raymond J. Bourque Arena - On campus
                      Johnson & Wales: Dennis M Lynch Aren - 5.0 miles (12 mins)
                      University of New England: Harold Alfond Forum - On campus
                      Nichols: June Rockwell Levy Rink - 19.2 miles (35 mins)
                      Salve Regina: Portsmouth Abbey Ice Rink - 10.7 miles (24 mins)
                      Suffolk: Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Rink - 1.4 miles (11 mins)
                      Wentworth: Allied Veterans Memorial Rink - 10.4 miles (26 mins)
                      Western New England: Olympia Ice Center - 9.0 miles (17 mins)

                      MASCAC
                      Fitchburg State: Wallace Civic Center - On campus
                      Framingham State: Loring Ice Arena - 2.1 miles (5 mins)
                      UMass Dartmouth: Hetland Arena - 4.0 miles (10 mins)
                      Plymouth State: Hanaway Rink - On campus
                      Salem State: Rockett Ice Arena - On campus
                      Westfield State: Amelia Park Ice Arena - 2.9 miles (7 mins)
                      Worcester State: Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center - 3.1 miles (12 mins)

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

                        MIAC
                        Augsburg: Ed Saugestad Rink - On campus
                        Bethel: Schwan Super Rink - 10.2 miles (14 mins)
                        Concordia: Moorhead Sports Center - 2.0 miles (7 mins)
                        Gustavus Adolphus: Don Roberts Ice Rink - On campus
                        Hamline: TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center - 5.0 miles (12 mins)
                        Saint John's: Herb Brooks National Hockey Center - 18.7 miles (22 mins)
                        Saint Mary's: Saint Mary's Ice Arena - On campus
                        St. Olaf: Northfield Ice Arena (New on campus rink in progress) - 2.5 miles (7 mins)
                        St. Thomas: St. Thomas Ice Arena - 8.4 miles (15 mins)

                        NCHA
                        Adrian: Arrington Ice Arena - On campus
                        Aurora: Fox Valley Ice Arena - 15.3 miles(23 mins)
                        Concordia: Ozaukee Ice Center - 5.0 miles (8 mins)
                        Finlandia: Houghton County Arena - 1.3 miles (4 mins)
                        Lake Forest: Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse - On campus
                        Lawrence: Appleton Family Ice Center - 3.4 miles (10 mins)
                        Marian: Blue Line Family Ice Center - 1.5 miles (4 mins)
                        Milwaukee School of Engineering: Kern Center - On campus
                        Northland: Bay Area Civic Center - 1.0 miles (3 mins)
                        St. Norbert: Cornerstone Community Center - 3.3 miles (10 mins)
                        St. Scholastica: Mars Lakeview Arena - 1.6 miles (5 mins)
                        Trine: Thunder Ice Arena - On campus

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

                          The only one of the 10 NESCAC hockey schools not to have a rink on campus is Tufts. They play at Malden Valley Forum, fifteen minutes off campus. Interestingly, Bates has a rink on campus, but they do not play NCAA hockey.
                          Mule Train, 2018 NESCAC Champs, made it to the Frozen Four

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by OhioMule View Post
                            The only one of the 10 NESCAC hockey schools not to have a rink on campus is Tufts. They play at Malden Valley Forum, fifteen minutes off campus. Interestingly, Bates has a rink on campus, but they do not play NCAA hockey.
                            If Bates played off campus, could they field an NCAA team??
                            CCT '77 & '78
                            4 kids
                            5 grandsons (BCA 7/09, CJA 5/14, JDL 8/14, JFL 6/16, PJL 7/18)
                            1 granddaughter (EML 4/18)

                            ”Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
                            - Benjamin Franklin

                            Banned from the St. Lawrence University Facebook page - March 2016 (But I got better).

                            I want to live forever. So far, so good.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Anna Maria College adding hockey and a few other things.

                              Originally posted by joecct View Post
                              If Bates played off campus, could they field an NCAA team??
                              I believe they could. The way I understand it is that the donor who funded the rink included some kind of restriction that it could not be used for intercollegiate hockey. That might also mean that they could play if they built another rink on campus. Judging from the discussion that pops up every now-and-then on D-3 forums, the rest of NESCAC would love it if Bates joined play. And there would be that natural rivalry with the other two Maine teams.

                              A quick check of the Bates College Ice Hockey website revealed this: Bates’ men’s club ice hockey team competes in the American Conference of the Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (NECHA), which is part of a larger regional league known as the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and has seen tremendous success in the past ten years as a club program.

                              Maybe someone else on here can offer a clarification. I sure don't get it.
                              Last edited by OhioMule; 12-28-2017, 01:42 PM.
                              Mule Train, 2018 NESCAC Champs, made it to the Frozen Four

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X