If Atlantic Hockey Accepts UAH, They're the New College Hockey America

[njmav1]

If UAH had a winning program and top notch facilities, I have to imagine they would find a conference. They don't. They have an administration that wants to euthanize the program. Why buy a headache if you are a conference?

I'm not so sure about that. There are plenty of bad programs that fit comfortably in their conferences. Ferris hasn't had a decent winning season in a while, yet there was no question about including them in the new CCHA. I think geography and a demonstrable commitment to the hockey program are the two most important factors. Right now, UAH has neither on their side.

I really am pulling for UAH to make it. The last thing I want to see are more power 5 schools take up the sport. Remember what happened when Penn State went D1? Can you imagine if a bunch of PAC-12 and SEC schools decide to make the jump? What I love about college hockey is the mix of small and big schools- public and private. The size of the school's enrollment and or endowment isn't a factor like it is in FBS football. So I want to see schools like UAH, Lindenwood, LIU, and Tennessee State in D1 hockey. But schools like that (including those in the CCHA) have to be really committed. They can't half-*** it.

[njmav1]

UAH has two "burdens" that a conference must bare. First is location. Not really any way to fix that other than hope more teams start-up in closer proximity. Yes, UAH could just be the next ASU and never play at home, but that isn't sustainable. They could also play all their home games in a major city (Nashville) but again then what's the point of having the team if local fans can't attend most of the games. To my understanding, the WCHA 2.0 teams playing at UAH was not a financial burden, just simply the more painful travel logistics and time.

The second issue is on-ice performance. This can be fixed over time with effort and money. If UAH builds a rink that has player facilities beyond that of any other program (I'm not saying they have the money to do this) they'll attract plenty of future players. How badly do they want it. Every team wants to win, but not every program has the resources to do so at the highest level. Fact: Kids like shiny and new.

UAH was at near the bottom of the league for attendance. Winning would probably fix that.

I don't follow UAH athletics at all, but I get the sense that hockey isn't considered their marquee sport, unlike the other D2 schools. Mankato does well at other sports- football is a national powerhouse. Wrestling, softball, baseball, men's and women's track and field, and women's soccer are nationally ranked every year. The football team has been to the national championship game twice in the last 5 years. The softball team has a national championship from 2017. I can make the argument that the men's hockey team has not come close to matching those two.

But you can't dispute that MSU values the hockey program above all the other programs. And I believe the same goes for Bemidji, Ferris, Northern Michigan, Tech, and Lake State.

[AMC]

UAH has two "burdens" that a conference must bare. First is location. Not really any way to fix that other than hope more teams start-up in closer proximity. Yes, UAH could just be the next ASU and never play at home, but that isn't sustainable. They could also play all their home games in a major city (Nashville) but again then what's the point of having the team if local fans can't attend most of the games. To my understanding, the WCHA 2.0 teams playing at UAH was not a financial burden, just simply the more painful travel logistics and time.

The second issue is on-ice performance. This can be fixed over time with effort and money. If UAH builds a rink that has player facilities beyond that of any other program (I'm not saying they have the money to do this) they'll attract plenty of future players. How badly do they want it. Every team wants to win, but not every program has the resources to do so at the highest level. Fact: Kids like shiny and new.

If UAH had a winning program and top notch facilities, I have to imagine they would find a conference. They don't. They have an administration that wants to euthanize the program. Why buy a headache if you are a conference?

[JohnsonsJerseys]

UAH has two "burdens" that a conference must bare. First is location. Not really any way to fix that other than hope more teams start-up in closer proximity. Yes, UAH could just be the next ASU and never play at home, but that isn't sustainable. They could also play all their home games in a major city (Nashville) but again then what's the point of having the team if local fans can't attend most of the games. To my understanding, the WCHA 2.0 teams playing at UAH was not a financial burden, just simply the more painful travel logistics and time.

The second issue is on-ice performance. This can be fixed over time with effort and money. If UAH builds a rink that has player facilities beyond that of any other program (I'm not saying they have the money to do this) they'll attract plenty of future players. How badly do they want it. Every team wants to win, but not every program has the resources to do so at the highest level. Fact: Kids like shiny and new.

[AMC]

Adding members "just because" isn't a valid reason. Why split a burden when you don't have to incur it in the first place?

What value does UAH add to Atlantic Hockey?

I agree with this. Why do the AHA and CCHA get crapped on for not accepting the burden of UAH (or UAA, or UAF)? If the college hockey community cares so much about saving these programs, why doesn't the NCHC or Big 10 step in and take them?

Also, while giving full throated credit to the people outside the school administrations who are working to save these programs, the fact that these programs are still considered burdens after all the effort and donations and time is not good. At some point, you have to stop being a burden. "We're going to cost you time and money, but you should prop us up anyways" is not a good sales pitch.

[njmav1]

I agree but only to a certain point. The WCHA 2.0 went away because it included three geographic outliers who were on shaky ground. Three out of eight terms were very distant travel, on the brink of folding and two of the three were not performing well on the ice.

Atlantic Hockey picking up UAH would be less extreme because it is only one geographic outlier and the burden is split eleven ways, not seven. This doesn't make it a slam dunk that Atlantic should add UAH, but it makes the addition less painful simply because the conference is larger. You also have LIU and Lindenwood who are clearly going to want a conference home sooner rather than later, so Atlantic could find themselves splitting the UAH "burden" thirteen ways.

Adding members "just because" isn't a valid reason. Why split a burden when you don't have to incur it in the first place?

What value does UAH add to Atlantic Hockey?

[pdt1081]

It was always contingent on getting into a conference. I suppose Atlantic Hockey could throw them a lifeline, but that's not a good reason to admit a school. It's why the WCHA is going away.

https://mobile.twitter.com/justinbbr...53797611909120

Just seems like a way to pressure AHA to accept them for membership.

[TigerFan86-87]

I agree but only to a certain point. The WCHA 2.0 went away because it included three geographic outliers who were on shaky ground. Three out of eight terms were very distant travel, on the brink of folding and two of the three were not performing well on the ice.

Atlantic Hockey picking up UAH would be less extreme because it is only one geographic outlier and the burden is split eleven ways, not seven. This doesn't make it a slam dunk that Atlantic should add UAH, but it makes the addition less painful simply because the conference is larger. You also have LIU and Lindenwood who are clearly going to want a conference home sooner rather than later, so Atlantic could find themselves splitting the UAH "burden" thirteen ways.

That would actually introduce the second geographic outlier to AHA, but to a lesser degree than the one they have now - Air Force.
If UAH and Lindenwood were to join, they could no longer call themselves a "bus league".

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Atlantic Hockey could throw them a lifeline, but that's not a good reason to admit a school. It's why the WCHA is going away.

I agree but only to a certain point. The WCHA 2.0 went away because it included three geographic outliers who were on shaky ground. Three out of eight teams were very distant travel, on the brink of folding and two of the three were not performing well on the ice.

Atlantic Hockey picking up UAH would be less extreme because it is only one geographic outlier and the burden is split eleven ways, not seven. This doesn't make it a slam dunk that Atlantic should add UAH, but it makes the addition less painful simply because the conference is larger. You also have LIU and Lindenwood who are clearly going to want a conference home sooner rather than later, so Atlantic could find themselves splitting the UAH "burden" thirteen ways.

[njmav1]

Man, what a gut punch after rallying to save the program, again. https://uahchargers.com/news/2021/5/...embership.aspx

It was always contingent on getting into a conference. I suppose Atlantic Hockey could throw them a lifeline, but that's not a good reason to admit a school. It's why the WCHA is going away.

[DavidNardolillo]

Accept UAH into the AHA

https://www.change.org/p/atlantic-ho...h-into-the-aha

Man, what a gut punch after rallying to save the program, again. https://uahchargers.com/news/2021/5/...embership.aspx

[The Sicatoka]

The Long Island University Sharknado

< pre-ordering jersey now >

[DrunkTrainPolka]

Accept UAH into the AHA

https://www.change.org/p/atlantic-ho...h-into-the-aha

[DrunkTrainPolka]

If we really are talking about LIU, Navy, UAH, & Lindenwood, and no one is departing for Hockey East, then perhaps we ought to be thinking along the lines of a second conference. The Hudson River seems like a logical boundary with the military academies sticking with the Eastern teams.

Two autobids is better than one.

heck... for the sake of college hockey, and the non-traditional power of these teams, i would be ok with a 13-, 14-, or 15-team conference that had two bids...

GO TECH GOLD!

[Leather Lungs]

If we really are talking about LIU, Navy, UAH, & Lindenwood, and no one is departing for Hockey East, then perhaps we ought to be thinking along the lines of a second conference. The Hudson River seems like a logical boundary with the military academies sticking with the Eastern teams.

Two autobids is better than one.