Welcome St Thomas to Division I and the CCHA

[beaverhockeyfan]

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

I would guess they would be granted a release after this season, if they choose to take it. They would then be free to move to another team.

[joecct]

I would guess they would be granted a release after this season, if they choose to take it. They would then be free to move to another team.

D3 doesn't need a release. But I guess most, if not all, will be transferring to other D3 schools.

In the midst of the recruiting dead period, stocking a D1 roster for 21/22 is going to be challenging.

[altazo]

For the first couple years their roster will be comprised of D1 level recruits and the best players from their above average D3 program.

[John J. MacInnes]

The CCHA is expected to officially confirm St. Thomas as its 8th member school today.

[Sol Diablo]

What is the CCHA minimum arena seat capacity criteria? I understand St. Thomas' arena holds 700-800.

[4four4]

St. Thomas can rent out any number of local arenas to meet the CCHA's arena criteria.

[beaverhockeyfan]

The current WCHA is at 2500, I would think the new CCHA would be similar.

St. Thomas will eventually need a different arena, whether it is new or renting ice at another arena in the Twin Cities. I would guess the CCHA would grant them a waiver for a couple of years to get things worked out. There are some deep pockets in the alumni network for St. Thomas, so I see them being able to get something done (especially with football playing in the non-scholarship Pioneer League).

[gfmorris]

So will the Tommies get a new arena before ASU?

[MavHockey14]

So will the Tommies get a new arena before ASU?

I would assume yes, and expect it to be fully funded out of some massive booster pockets.

[4four4]

https://www.startribune.com/st-thoma...k&refresh=true] St. Thomas men's hockey team to join CCHA in 2021-22

[/url]Star Tribune

[Slap Shot]

I would assume yes, and expect it to be fully funded out of some massive booster pockets.

I quote this from elsewhere:

I don't think St. Thomas is going to have many financial issues.

UST raised about $36M in FY 2019 and has an endowment of nearly $500M as of FY 2019 that has almost doubled in the past decade.

Just to compare to some other institutions... SCSU raised $10.6 M in FY 2019 and has an endowment of $29M... North Dakota raised about $67.7 M in FY 2019 and has an endowment of $285M ...

[JohnsonsJerseys]

St Thomas being so easily/quickly accepted to the CCHA tells me there were even bigger issues with ASU than their rink (or lack thereof). The Sun Devils had better reach out to WMU immediately and ask for a copy of their "Why Western" campaign so they can edit it to "Also Adding ASU?" and pass it on to the NCHC ASAP.

Without the NCHC taking them, ASU is going to be independent for a long time. Nobody else out West is going to be adding hockey with schools now cutting sports left and right. Their best hope for the near future is to try and secure some loose scheduling agreement with the four other independent teams to at least put 8 games on their schedule every year. But trying to get that travel budget approved with Covid going on and revenue way down is going to be a big ask. If there was extra money available - A bigger travel budget for ASU hockey or new travel warm-up suits and another three new sets of uniforms for the Sun Devils football team? What do you think the athletic department will choose...

[4four4]

http://mihockey.com/2020/07/ccha-add...-of-st-thomas/

[Sol Diablo]

So will the Tommies get a new arena before ASU?

No, being ASU arena groundbreaking is in November, of course COVID could change that but no changes yet announced.

[Sol Diablo]

St Thomas being so easily/quickly accepted to the CCHA tells me there were even bigger issues with ASU than their rink (or lack thereof). The Sun Devils had better reach out to WMU immediately and ask for a copy of their "Why Western" campaign so they can edit it to "Also Adding ASU?" and pass it on to the NCHC ASAP.

Without the NCHC taking them, ASU is going to be independent for a long time. Nobody else out West is going to be adding hockey with schools now cutting sports left and right. Their best hope for the near future is to try and secure some loose scheduling agreement with the four other independent teams to at least put 8 games on their schedule every year. But trying to get that travel budget approved with Covid going on and revenue way down is going to be a big ask. If there was extra money available - A bigger travel budget for ASU hockey or new travel warm-up suits and another three new sets of uniforms for the Sun Devils football team? What do you think the athletic department will choose...

You are correct. The extenuating issue had to do with the WCHA, maybe CCHA, requesting travel payments to play in PHX/Tempe, which was rejected. But you knew that.