Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Let's look at what's at stake this weekend.

http://jarpride.com/2014/01/29/winni...winning-later/

[schiegs]

Well, that is a shame on the admin changes at St Anselm's, as I think that they would have been a good fit.

Moving forward with only 11 teams probably will lead to the AHA changing the 3-2 game structure between eastern and western pod teams, which would not be a bad thing. But, if we play all other 10 teams three times per year, that will limit AHA teams to only four OOC games. Or, we could go back to three meetings one year and two the next, or some other less than ideal scheduling.

Hockey East played for a decade with an uneven number of teams, but with nine teams, that allowed them to play one another three times and still leave 10 OOC games every year.

The math is sticky. But let's remember that even with the departure of UConn, AHA will remain the most stable conference in the country.

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Well, that is a shame on the admin changes at St Anselm's, as I think that they would have been a good fit.

Moving forward with only 11 teams probably will lead to the AHA changing the 3-2 game structure between eastern and western pod teams, which would not be a bad thing. But, if we play all other 10 teams three times per year, that will limit AHA teams to only four OOC games. Or, we could go back to three meetings one year and two the next, or some other less than ideal scheduling.

Hockey East played for a decade with an uneven number of teams, but with nine teams, that allowed them to play one another three times and still leave 10 OOC games every year.

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Unfortunately, no.

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/new...out_of_aha.php

I can confirm a couple of things from league higher sources that St. A's was out in terms of the administration change. I know some details up there, but I'm not sure if I can share them. Also, I know that the league really wanted Navy to get the 3 military academies, but Navy didn't want to add it.

URI is going to be a struggle. The economic situation in RI is too bad for them to addh ockey without dropping football, and if they drop football, the money will most likely be appropriated into academics and their remaining sports. Basketball is their big sport

There are several coaches in the league who would like for this to play out before making a rash decision on adding another team.

[The Top Shelf]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

This expansion is separate from a new AHA team coming in 2014 to replace UConn, right? Or, will the AHA be only 11 teams moving forward?

Unfortunately, no.

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/new...out_of_aha.php

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Sad to read on college hockey news that expansion won't happen anytime soon. The two most talked about universities said no!

This expansion is separate from a new AHA team coming in 2014 to replace UConn, right? Or, will the AHA be only 11 teams moving forward?

[schiegs]

Sad to read on college hockey news that expansion won't happen anytime soon. The two most talked about universities said no!

If the decision came down to cost, keep this in mind the next time someone bemoans lower scholarship limits in AHA.

[The Top Shelf]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Not unusual at all, as I've seen it done many places. I love the concept and wonder if it would be accepted by the student body at Bentley. Keep in mind $56 likely won't cut it with today's costs. But as a part of a combined alumni, corporate, and student venture, it makes great sense. You still would need some sizeable original "seed money" to start any campaign, and that has not happened to date.

So I just did some math. When we pestered President Gloria Larson and Dean of students Andrew Shepardson, the number that they threw around for the multi-purpose "Convocation Center" (as Gloria called it) was $20 million. I know Gloria's vision (a venue for the 2017 centennial graduation ceremony) is a much grander project but that number still seems high compared to the $1.4 million for the Mercyhurst Ice Center (even with inflation that's only $3 million by today's standards). Regardless if that's the number they're using, and we were to implement a strategy similar to Mercyhurst's in 1991, it would cost each student $167 dollars per year for the same 30 year plan 'Hurst used. And that would fully fund the entire $20 million project. Throw in paying off the interest on the potential loan and say that number doubles to around $300 per student. Now, if the university made this a unified effort that included alumni, some corporate sponsors and maybe the local community I think we'd see the student's payment drop to a number that wouldn't receive much opposition here on campus.

As the program continues to roll this year, more and more people on campus are talking about the team, and EVERYONE who I've talked to wonders why we don't have a rink and many go further by asking how or when we might get one. If Bentley were to announce this proposition to the students I really believe that the students would not only support it, but gladly welcome it. A fee of $300 (hopefully less with the combined venture) on a $56,000 bill won't break backs. I am obviously biased in my haste to view a $300 fee as completely do-able, but I really believe that if presented with the opportunity the Bentley community would jump at the chance for a rink to call their own. Even non-hockey fans; when made aware that the new venue would allow for more "big-name" concerts and provide a respectable setting for graduation, convocation and essentially every other event; will hopefully support the proposal.

While looking into the costs of the rink, we're trying to find out how much it costs the school to put up the massive 2000 seat pavilion they currently use several times throughout the year for those events like graduation and convocation. We've heard a number around $50,000. So say putting up that tent 10 times a year costs the school $500,000. Over the 30 years we'd have the "Convocation Center" the school would save $15,000,000! That's just another point we'll raise next time we see Dean Shepardson at the JAR. It can't hurt to keep a pro-rink voice in the ears of administration. I'm going to do some research and try and find the people who made the MIC project happen in 1991 to ask them how they went about it. We're just going to keep gathering more and more information in support of a new rink. Our ultimate goal for this year is to have a sit down meeting with President Larson about a rink and it's looking like that might happen. The more we have to talk about with her, the better. And I think we've got quite a bit to talk about.

Everything I just said aside, the biggest benefit to a potential on campus rink is for the team to continue to succeed on the ice. Eventually the impressive play of this team can't be ignored and change will happen. Until then , we'll be happy to cheer on the boys wherever they play.

[schiegs]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

In a unique funding arrangement, Mercyhurst students agreed to pay for the ice center through a $56 increase in their annual building assessment fee. The money generates $80,000 each year and will retire the school-backed bond in 2021.

Not unusual at all, as I've seen it done many places. I love the concept and wonder if it would be accepted by the student body at Bentley. Keep in mind $56 likely won't cut it with today's costs. But as a part of a combined alumni, corporate, and student venture, it makes great sense. You still would need some sizeable original "seed money" to start any campaign, and that has not happened to date.

[wwjg1158]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Sad to read on college hockey news that expansion won't happen anytime soon. The two most talked about universities said no!

[beenthere77]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Replace the JAR Give the future recruits a rink they really can call home.

Prior to the construction of the Mercyhurst Ice Center , the men's team was affectionately known as the "Boys on the Bus," playing almost all of their games on the road and practicing at the crack of dawn at public rinks. In their third year of varsity play, the team played 27 out of 33 games at out-of-town arenas. Despite having no home ice, the Lakers gained national prominence by finishing among the top NCAA Division III teams in the nation. Thereafter, the Mercyhurst board of trustees directed college officials either to build a rink or to abandon the sport.

In a unique funding arrangement, Mercyhurst students agreed to pay for the ice center through a $56 increase in their annual building assessment fee. The money generates $80,000 each year and will retire the school-backed bond in 2021.

[The Top Shelf]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Bentley top AHA PWR team today, our all-time best PWR at 34(?), just ahead of Air Force and Mercyhurst, and we picked up 7 points in the USCHO poll for 23rd in tie with UNH.

And we even got a vote in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll. Tied with UVM and WMU for 20th there.

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Bentley top AHA PWR team today, our all-time best PWR at 34(?), just ahead of Air Force and Mercyhurst, and we picked up 7 points in the USCHO poll for 23rd in tie with UNH.

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

A look back at a ho-hum game against Holy Cross.

http://jarpride.com/2014/01/27/storylines-holy-cross/

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

I have heard that one of our D men was injured this weekend and out for the season. I hope the injury bug stays away from us but every team has to deal with set backs.

No injuries to report. Marginsky was out against Canisius hurt but he returned to regular action against Holy Cross and was fine. Andrew Fitzstephens was banged up during the game but it'll take more than "banged up" to count for an injury to him.

Outside of the regular injuries that the team is already dealing with, they made it through Holy Cross unscathed apparently.