Elmira men and women to NEHC and William Smith Women joining Hobart men in same conference.
Please forgive me. But what is the advantage for Elmira joining this hockey conference? The old one was better for travel and yet still a good league -- at least I thought. Look forward to input, thanking you in advance for the insight.
Please forgive me. But what is the advantage for Elmira joining this hockey conference? The old one was better for travel and yet still a good league -- at least I thought. Look forward to input, thanking you in advance for the insight.
If you read the release on the Elmira athletics website, the AD basically comes right and says that they feel its a recruiting advantage to join the NEHC given where they are getting kids on their roster from and alumni base in her quote.
Additionally, this is my own thought that goes unsaid in the release, I think the conference/AQ stability, which was a big reason for Hobart making the switch two years ago is important too. Elmira played in a non auto-bid conference for 20 years. That's a really tough sell that if you don't win your league, you don't necessarily make the NCAA Tournament and it's an even tougher sell in the odd years that it did happen that if you do end up winning your league and don't get in.
Although they don't have enough teams currently, what's to stop the PA schools to branch off at some point and form the MAC hockey conference and then Elmira/Utica/Nazareth etc. are left out in the cold again and its rinse, recycle and repeat.
Re: NEHC expands to include Elmira and William Smith in 2021-22
If you read the release on the Elmira athletics website, the AD basically comes right and says that they feel its a recruiting advantage to join the NEHC given where they are getting kids on their roster from and alumni base in her quote.
Additionally, this is my own thought that goes unsaid in the release, I think the conference/AQ stability, which was a big reason for Hobart making the switch two years ago is important too. Elmira played in a non auto-bid conference for 20 years. That's a really tough sell that if you don't win your league, you don't necessarily make the NCAA Tournament and it's an even tougher sell in the odd years that it did happen that if you do end up winning your league and don't get in.
Although they don't have enough teams currently, what's to stop the PA schools to branch off at some point and form the MAC hockey conference and then Elmira/Utica/Nazareth etc. are left out in the cold again and its rinse, recycle and repeat.
Makes sense, I wonder how Elmira joining will affect Albertus Magnus joining, however. Albertus Magnus is already apparently going to be a scheduling partner for 2020-2021, which I assumed was going to be followed by full membership eventually. Albertus Magnus is GNAC member with Norwich and J&W for other sports already. Story [ here ]. If they both join that would bring the NEHC to 11 members. Anna Maria, also a GNAC member, joining would bring them to 12.
Makes sense, I wonder how Elmira joining will affect Albertus Magnus joining, however. Albertus Magnus is already apparently going to be a scheduling partner for 2020-2021, which I assumed was going to be followed by full membership eventually. Albertus Magnus is GNAC member with Norwich and J&W for other sports already. Story [ here ]. If they both join that would bring the NEHC to 11 members. Anna Maria, also a GNAC member, joining would bring them to 12.
This looks like a move to fill the scheduling hole created by the departure of Suffolk to the CCC in 2020. Since Elmira comes in in 2021, they needed to have somebody to be a travel partner for J&W in 2020. I would expect the deck will be shuffled again in 2021, since it would seem to make sense for Elmira and Hobart to be travel partners. Could they expand to 12 by adding both Big Al and Anna Maria? It's possible, but the two new programs might fit better elsewhere.
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
Could they expand to 12 by adding both Big Al and Anna Maria? It's possible, but the two new programs might fit better elsewhere.
Where? I can't see the CCC or MASCAC wanting them. Having them join the NEHC seems like the only logical option. With the GNAC connections, not to mention the geographical proximity to the NEHC's other schools, I have to imagine Albertus Magnus and Anna Maria were hoping for NEHC membership when they started their programs.
This looks like a move to fill the scheduling hole created by the departure of Suffolk to the CCC in 2020. Since Elmira comes in in 2021, they needed to have somebody to be a travel partner for J&W in 2020. I would expect the deck will be shuffled again in 2021, since it would seem to make sense for Elmira and Hobart to be travel partners. Could they expand to 12 by adding both Big Al and Anna Maria? It's possible, but the two new programs might fit better elsewhere.
As far as numbers go, don't assume that every institution currently in the NEHC will still be in it by the time Elmira and William Smith join.
If you read the release on the Elmira athletics website, the AD basically comes right and says that they feel its a recruiting advantage to join the NEHC given where they are getting kids on their roster from and alumni base in her quote.
Additionally, this is my own thought that goes unsaid in the release, I think the conference/AQ stability, which was a big reason for Hobart making the switch two years ago is important too. Elmira played in a non auto-bid conference for 20 years. That's a really tough sell that if you don't win your league, you don't necessarily make the NCAA Tournament and it's an even tougher sell in the odd years that it did happen that if you do end up winning your league and don't get in.
Although they don't have enough teams currently, what's to stop the PA schools to branch off at some point and form the MAC hockey conference and then Elmira/Utica/Nazareth etc. are left out in the cold again and its rinse, recycle and repeat.
I can read....
It sounds like its all about the AQ. Which I was unaware of and didn't see it in the AD taking points.
Although they don't have enough teams currently, what's to stop the PA schools to branch off at some point and form the MAC hockey conference and then Elmira/Utica/Nazareth etc. are left out in the cold again and its rinse, recycle and repeat.
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