Welcome St Thomas to Division I and the CCHA

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Meanwhile, in Champaign-Urbana...

Honestly the Illini (or the Kingfishers if we want to start that now) are in no rush and have no reason to be in a rush. It doesn't matter if they add hockey next year or in a decade, they will have a home in the BigTen. I can see the Covid budget crunch being the reason Kingfisher hockey doesn't happen for at least a couple more years. Any money around campus is going to be use to try and keep existing sports above water. They certainly won't be adding another high budget sport like hockey when the budget is already stretched razor thin, if not completely busted.

[gfmorris]

If you think UAH is sweating St Thomas getting to go D-I, think what is going through ASU's collective minds right now. They had a multi-year window to get on board with the WCHA/CCHA. Now with St Thomas going D-I that window is pretty much closed. If I was the Sun Devils, I would start sucking up to the NCHC really hard, and quickly. If the NCHC passes them over (rink or no rink), they might be independents for a loooog time. Their other option is to be beating down the doors of every major university in CA and convince them they need a D-I hockey team. See below why that isn't going to happen.**

While not great, UAH's geography is FAR better than where ASU is sitting. At least UAH is a bus trip from most of the Eastern conferences. The only schools remotely thinking about busing to ASU are CC, DU and maybe Omaha. ** If you don't think that is a big deal, just look at how many schools are dropping sports due to budget shortfalls. Hmmm, do we want to schedule a flight or a bus for our non-conference series? ASU independent in the West and playing 30+ road games a season... How long are they willing to do that before Sun Devil hockey becomes non-essential in Phoenix?

Well-said. Maybe ASU, UAA, UAF, and UAH will form the All-America-AAA Association. We'll call it Aaaaaaargh. The Aaaaaaargh awaits you with big, nasty, pointy teeth!

Tim

[beaverhockeyfan]

IF St. Thomas can get an acceptable rink plan together, I could see the NCHC making a play for them. It would give the NCHC an even stronger foothold in a MSP media market. I feel like St. Thomas has a deep enough pockets financially to be with the NCHC members.

Now the question becomes, who would go with the Tommies to the NCHC? Mankato? Arizona State? Would a NCHC team (Miami?) leave for the CCHA?

[davyd83]

IF St. Thomas can get an acceptable rink plan together, I could see the NCHC making a play for them. It would give the NCHC an even stronger foothold in a MSP media market. I feel like St. Thomas has a deep enough pockets financially to be with the NCHC members.

Now the question becomes, who would go with the Tommies to the NCHC? Mankato? Arizona State? Would a NCHC team (Miami?) leave for the CCHA?

Would an NCHC team be willing to eat the exorbitant exit fees to leave that league?

[beaverhockeyfan]

Would an NCHC team be willing to eat the exorbitant exit fees to leave that league?

Come on, this is the NCHC! We all know about the smoke filled back room deals that can happen......

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

If I'm Fenton and an opportunity presented itself to trade a geographic outlier with little fan support for a school with deep pockets and a darned good local fanbase that would boost Frozen Faceoff and Nacho TV revenue, I'd certainly consider discounting or eliminating any exit fees.

[Brutus Buckice]

Just have a Western Conference with Arizona St, the Alaska twins and the Colorado triplets.

Bang! done.

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Just have a Western Conference with Arizona St, the Alaska twins and the Colorado triplets.
Bang! done.

Sorry that idea won't even get discussed because it actually makes sense. Nothing about college hockey makes sense. There is no place for logic in D-I hockey.

[moose97]

What about that makes sense? Six team conferences suck. Ask the CHA. Not to mention, one or both the Alaska schools are on life support. Why on earth would CC & DU leave the NCHC for that? Or AFA leave Army (and potentially Navy)?

[altazo]

What about that makes sense? Six team conferences suck. Ask the CHA. Not to mention, one or both the Alaska schools are on life support. Why on earth would CC & DU leave the NCHC for that? Or AFA leave Army (and potentially Navy)?

Not to mention, the NCHC is headquartered in Colorado Springs.

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Q: What about that makes sense? Six team conferences suck.

A: Western US based teams actually being in the same conference which limits travel time and costs.

They won't be just six for very long. UNLV, Cal, UCLA, Oregon, Washington and many others out West all have D-I hockey programs in the works...


...according to the experts on this message board.

[davyd83]

A: Western US based teams actually being in the same conference which limits travel time and costs.

They won't be just six for very long. UNLV, Cal, UCLA, Oregon, Washington and many others out West all have D-I hockey programs in the works...


...according to the experts on this message board.

With the AHL coming to Vegas, you can pretty much put the UNLV fantasy to rest.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

A: Western US based teams actually being in the same conference which limits travel time and costs.

They won't be just six for very long. UNLV, Cal, UCLA, Oregon, Washington and many others out West all have D-I hockey programs in the works...


...according to the experts on this message board.

Took me a hot second to observe the sarcasm.

[gfmorris]

Took me a hot second to observe the sarcasm.

... because it was blinding!

GFM

[joecct]

So what happens to all the current players on the Tommies roster? Most, if not all, are not D1 players.