LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

[Andrew J Carter]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Where do the Alaskas go? And Bemidji State

The current Alaska school in the WCHA stays and Bemidji State is one of the three MN schools left in the WCHA as UM: Duluth is going into the new power league.

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

The current Alaska school in the WCHA stays and Bemidji State is one of the three MN schools left in the WCHA as UM: Duluth is going into the new power league.

Here's how I think it comes down:
WCHA-Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji, Minnesota State, St Cloud, Tech, NMU
CCHA-Alaska Fairbanks, Lake Superior, Ferris, Bowling Green, Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Canisius

[Hockeyintheblood]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

That scenario makes alot of sense. I do not know if this makes alot of sense. I would add (not knowing the rules) but merge what is left of the two conferences and have two divisions (based on travel and costs). If this was allowed they would easily meet the six team conferences rule regardless of what happens and be able to save travel costs. If not allow due to some rule the NCAA has the NCAA should do an exception. A super little school conference. Just a thought.

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

That scenario makes alot of sense. I do not know if this makes alot of sense. I would add (not knowing the rules) but merge what is left of the two conferences and have two divisions (based on travel and costs). If this was allowed they would easily meet the six team conferences rule regardless of what happens and be able to save travel costs. If not allow due to some rule the NCAA has the NCAA should do an exception. A super little school conference. Just a thought.

The reason they won't merge into one league is to keep two automatic bids as opposed to one.

[fangers]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Here's how I think it comes down:
WCHA-Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji, Minnesota State, St Cloud, Tech, NMU
CCHA-Alaska Fairbanks, Lake Superior, Ferris, Bowling Green, Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Canisius

What's your issue with UAH? You never include them in any of your scenarios.

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

What's your issue with UAH? You never include them in any of your scenarios.

Personally, I am a big UAH fan. I want them to survive and have great success. But the scenario I've put here is what I think could happen, as opposed to what I WANT to happen. If I'd have had my way, the CCHA would have accepted Huntsville two years ago. I spent several years living and working in the hockey business in the great state of Alabama (Roll Tide Roll!!!) and still consider it my second home. I've been to the Von Braun Center on many occasions. I think it's a great town, a great hockey town and a very good arena. And I love Dreamland BBQ. But nothing I have seen and no one I've talked to have given me any indication that UAH is at the top of anyone's list for a conference invite. I think that they are on the back burner for the (C)CHA if they aren't able to draw enough teams to reach the membership they would like to have.

What I WANT to happen is for Huntsville to find a conference home. But what I THINK will happen at this point is that they may not. There's a difference.

[Lakerblue]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Wow. Its been a long time since I logged into the old message board.

As a life-long Laker fan and supporter, I am hoping that LSSU leaves the CCHA far, far in the rear-view mirror.

The CCHA is a horribly run operation. I am hearing that the boys out west were none to fond of the WCHA operation, either.

I submit its time to blow the whole thing up.

I believe that LSSU will only survive, and will only thrive, if they can get into a league with NMU, MTU, and Bemidji (call it the U.S. 2 alliance). Any other teams that round out that league would be fine -- but in my opinion for fan support, energy, similarly situated schools, similarly situated budgets, and similary situated institutional support for hockey -- LSSU MUST find a way to allign themselves with Tech, Northern, and the Beavers.

In my opinion, any league discussion MUST start with those four schools having their own meeting and setting their own parameters, and reaching out from there. These are the four best programs remaining (not in recent W-L records, but rather in the more important long-term indicators of success: financial, facility, and institutional support).

Consider the excellent facilities each of these schools provides. Consider the solid fan base, and solid alumni base, in small, hockey-mad, winter cities. Consider that each of these programs has a history and tradition of success and has each fed, in their own time, star players to the NHL.

Let us be a bit cold-blooded here: what do Ferris and BGSU bring to LSSU? Why should LSSU look south and east when the obvious connection is West? I mean, if BGSU and Ferris want to join the U.S. 2 League, great. But the discussion should center on the UP schools / BSU -- and radiate outward from there. NOt the other way around.

The U.S. 2 schools need to set themselves up as a solid block, and allow gravity to bring schools into THEIR orbit, rather than limping around, hat in hand, like a wounded beggar asking for scraps. We are all better schools, and better programs, than every other remaining school.

Bring the Alaska schools into the mix, and you have a very nice, tight conference of Far Northern Schools:

LSSU
NMU
Tech
BSU
Fairbanks
UAA

Great rivalries. Great travel partners. All institutions similarly dedicated and funded.

Its time for the UP schools to flex some muscle. I know, after ten years under Tom A's "leadership," we have all been made to feel like we are impovershed scum, small school burdens. We are bad for TV in Detroit, and that was the only thing Tom A and his evil mavens cared about. Well, Tom is gone, the CCHA is dead. Time for the UP schools to grab themselves by the back of the neck, pull themselves up, slap themselves in the face, and remind themselves that they are excellent D-I hockey programs. Stop acting like beat dogs. We are not dogs. If the U.S. 2 schools band together, the other midwestern schools will have to deal with a very powerful bloc.

In fact, I may have to start my own thread on this topic. I feel more fired up for LSSU hockey than in any time in the past few years. This is a GREAT opportunity.

[laker_one]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Here's how I think it comes down:
WCHA-Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji, Minnesota State, St Cloud, Tech, NMU
CCHA-Alaska Fairbanks, Lake Superior, Ferris, Bowling Green, Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Canisius

Sounds reasonable. But I'm still holding out hope that LSSU will be able to follow NMU into the WCHA. If LSSU remains in a CCHA looking like that, I seriously wonder if the program would last. Even if LSSU is more competitive, I have a hard time seeing decent attendance in the Soo for games against most of those schools. LSSU fits so much better with the remaining WCHA schools. And I realize a WCHA invite does not look likely at this point, but I hope the LSSU administration is pursuing this and making a case aggressively. With the situation so fluid right now, does the WCHA really want to sit at only 6 teams. What's to say a few years down the road the "National" conference doesn't take another look at St. Cloud or Mankato?

It's all speculation at this point of course. Hopefully we will learn more after the WCHA meeting Friday.

Very depressing.

[Andrew J Carter]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Wow. Its been a long time since I logged into the old message board.

As a life-long Laker fan and supporter, I am hoping that LSSU leaves the CCHA far, far in the rear-view mirror.

The CCHA is a horribly run operation. I am hearing that the boys out west were none to fond of the WCHA operation, either.

I submit its time to blow the whole thing up.

I believe that LSSU will only survive, and will only thrive, if they can get into a league with NMU, MTU, and Bemidji (call it the U.S. 2 alliance). Any other teams that round out that league would be fine -- but in my opinion for fan support, energy, similarly situated schools, similarly situated budgets, and similary situated institutional support for hockey -- LSSU MUST find a way to allign themselves with Tech, Northern, and the Beavers.

In my opinion, any league discussion MUST start with those four schools having their own meeting and setting their own parameters, and reaching out from there. These are the four best programs remaining (not in recent W-L records, but rather in the more important long-term indicators of success: financial, facility, and institutional support).

Consider the excellent facilities each of these schools provides. Consider the solid fan base, and solid alumni base, in small, hockey-mad, winter cities. Consider that each of these programs has a history and tradition of success and has each fed, in their own time, star players to the NHL.

Let us be a bit cold-blooded here: what do Ferris and BGSU bring to LSSU? Why should LSSU look south and east when the obvious connection is West? I mean, if BGSU and Ferris want to join the U.S. 2 League, great. But the discussion should center on the UP schools / BSU -- and radiate outward from there. NOt the other way around.

The U.S. 2 schools need to set themselves up as a solid block, and allow gravity to bring schools into THEIR orbit, rather than limping around, hat in hand, like a wounded beggar asking for scraps. We are all better schools, and better programs, than every other remaining school.

Bring the Alaska schools into the mix, and you have a very nice, tight conference of Far Northern Schools:

LSSU
NMU
Tech
BSU
Fairbanks
UAA

Great rivalries. Great travel partners. All institutions similarly dedicated and funded.

Its time for the UP schools to flex some muscle. I know, after ten years under Tom A's "leadership," we have all been made to feel like we are impovershed scum, small school burdens. We are bad for TV in Detroit, and that was the only thing Tom A and his evil mavens cared about. Well, Tom is gone, the CCHA is dead. Time for the UP schools to grab themselves by the back of the neck, pull themselves up, slap themselves in the face, and remind themselves that they are excellent D-I hockey programs. Stop acting like beat dogs. We are not dogs. If the U.S. 2 schools band together, the other midwestern schools will have to deal with a very powerful bloc.

In fact, I may have to start my own thread on this topic. I feel more fired up for LSSU hockey than in any time in the past few years. This is a GREAT opportunity.

Yes, but this needs St Cloud and Mankato within that base. Join the MN and Yooper Rivalries together.

[Truth Squad]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Sounds reasonable. But I'm still holding out hope that LSSU will be able to follow NMU into the WCHA. If LSSU remains in a CCHA looking like that, I seriously wonder if the program would last. Even if LSSU is more competitive, I have a hard time seeing decent attendance in the Soo for games against most of those schools. LSSU fits so much better with the remaining WCHA schools. And I realize a WCHA invite does not look likely at this point, but I hope the LSSU administration is pursuing this and making a case aggressively. With the situation so fluid right now, does the WCHA really want to sit at only 6 teams. What's to say a few years down the road the "National" conference doesn't take another look at St. Cloud or Mankato?

It's all speculation at this point of course. Hopefully we will learn more after the WCHA meeting Friday.

Very depressing.

Suomi College would be a great rival.

The Truth Is Out There...
TBA

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Suomi College would be a great rival.

The Truth Is Out There...
TBA

That confirms that you are living in the past.

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

So no news of Western Michigan and Notre Dame? I wonder why Notre Dame is taking so long to decide?

[3dognight]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Notre Dame does not want to share their announcement with anyone else, and does not miss an opportunity to be "courted" by any number of leagues.

The WSBT-TV website from South Bend had the info they they would not be included in any announcement today, but plan to decide in August between their many suitors.

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Notre Dame does not want to share their announcement with anyone else, and does not miss an opportunity to be "courted" by any number of leagues.

The WSBT-TV website from South Bend had the info they they would not be included in any announcement today, but plan to decide in August between their many suitors.

That's what I thought I remember reading somewhere also; that Notre Dame wanted to make a decision by sometime in August.

[DopeyBaker]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

I wonder why Notre Dame is taking so long to decide?

There is no advantage for Notre Dame to rush to a decision. They write their own ticket.

Suomi College would be a great rival.

The Truth Is Out There...
TBA

I heard Frank Anzalone is one of the finalists for the assistant coach opening there.

LSSU
NMU
Tech
BSU
Fairbanks
UAA

You have some great ideas, but it sounds like the U.P. schools (NMU and MTU) have already committed.