Starting D1 Hockey Program

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

And I am probably wrong. However ASU has not cancelled any flights, nor games from their schedule, they are proceeding with the $120 million arena. So maybe HC's money is tied up in investments and endowments that only allow a low withdrawal rate, many times 4% is used ($31 million for HC based on the prior comment), and if their investment managers perceive that their markets won't rebound in a timely manner then more budget gets cut. Likely a low probability they would have to drop divisions but it is a crazy world right now.

This was topic discussed over on the schedules thread; there may be more airlifted OOC series rescheduled. And, God forbid, if the dominoes do start falling, watch out ASU.

[Sol Diablo]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

It's quite a leap to go from "Too expensive right now to pay airfare for an OOC game," to "Program's getting shut down," dontcha think?

There has been talk on the Miami message board that flights to ECAC/HE OOC games should be curtailed to save money with those games going to midwestern bus trip schools. I don't think you're insinuating that Miami "may not have the budget to remain D1," are you?

I understand the frustration at how ASU is affected by all this, but the Alabama-Huntsville thread has some very good discussions regarding the risks associated with being both an independent and a geographic outlier.

And I am probably wrong. However ASU has not cancelled any flights, nor games from their schedule, they are proceeding with the $120 million arena. So maybe HC's money is tied up in investments and endowments that only allow a low withdrawal rate, many times 4% is used ($31 million for HC based on the prior comment), and if their investment managers perceive that their markets won't rebound in a timely manner then more budget gets cut. Likely a low probability they would have to drop divisions but it is a crazy world right now.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

HC doesn't even have the money pay for travel to a scheduled game. They may not have the budget to remain D1.

It's quite a leap to go from "Too expensive right now to pay airfare for an OOC game," to "Program's getting shut down," dontcha think?

There has been talk on the Miami message board that flights to ECAC/HE OOC games should be curtailed to save money with those games going to midwestern bus trip schools. I don't think you're insinuating that Miami "may not have the budget to remain D1," are you?

I understand the frustration at how ASU is affected by all this, but the Alabama-Huntsville thread has some very good discussions regarding the risks associated with being both an independent and a geographic outlier.

[Split-N]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

HC doesn't even have the money pay for travel to a scheduled game. They may not have the budget to remain D1.

Have to respectfully disagree. Notwithstanding potential COVID-19 impacts, HC absolutely has the money. Its endowment is ~$785 million, which places it fourth behind only BC, BU, and NU among HEA schools (HC is already a member on the women's side). Having resources and determining spending priorities are entirely different things. By contrast, SHU's endowment is ~$167 million. SHU might well be willing to spend more on athletics than HC but HC overall has significantly greater financial strength.

Of course, all things financial have been turned on their heads because of impacts from the current public health emergency. Nobody knows what the financial consequences will be...just that there will be consequences.

[rpi82]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

HC doesn't even have the money pay for travel to a scheduled game. They may not have the budget to remain D1.

Holy Cross has quite a bit of money. Whether they choose to spend it on hockey is another matter. Despite having only about 1/2 as many students, CotHC, which has a long tradition in New England (pre-Flutie and the growth of big time athletics on Chestnut Hill it was the school of choice for NE male Catholics and BC was the fallback school), has about 4x the endowment of Sacred Heart ($600M+ versus $150M or so). That's what makes SHU's decision to spend $60M on a hockey rink, coming after many other major campus projects, so interesting. If they have a major sugar daddy bankrolling it they haven't announced it, so it seems like a major gamble on a sport that's been just a fringe element (playing in community rinks until recently) on their campus.

[Sol Diablo]

Hockey East will definitely want to see how it goes with them but the new arena would definitely put them on the radar. Would be nice if HC could make that same commitment.

HC doesn't even have the money pay for travel to a scheduled game. They may not have the budget to remain D1.

[J.D.]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

Hockey East will definitely want to see how it goes with them but the new arena would definitely put them on the radar. Would be nice if HC could make that same commitment.

[rpi82]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

Sacred Heart to Hockey East, LIU to Atlantic.

Sacred Heart is a long way from HE. First of all, with the pandemic throwing a monkey wrench into all school budgets, planning and capital projects, the new arena construction that was supposed to start this summer is on hold. I haven't heard a revised schedule and I'm sure all projects will be re-evaluated. Their team also had a great season, but it was their first winning slate after 9 consecutive losing seasons. Lastly, they play most of their games before friends and family crowds. They will need to build the new arena, establish themselves as a consistent contender in the AHA and increase their typical attendance by many multiples before they will even be considered for HE

[J.D.]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

11 is different because for a balanced schedule you'd have either 20 or 30 league games. 20 isn't a horrible idea but that just means more non conference slots you have to fill. But you could certainly play league opponents in non league games. The headache is with scheduling, especially at the end of the year where it's down to all league games.

[MTUHuskies]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

It blows my mind as well. But then again, you and I lived through the 5 team CHA scheduling days. Nothing better than a 24 game conference schedule.

Which is why I'd like to see the CCHA stay at 7. Four games against each of the other six is a nice balanced schedule. If other leagues also have odd numbers, scheduling OOC games should be easier for the one team without a league series.

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[beaverhockeyfan]

I don't know why an odd number of teams messes with everyone's head. It's pretty simple:

· 10 opponents, minimum 20 games
· Can play rotate playing H&H with half the league to get to 30 if you really wanted
· Could make the regular season mean something by loading up the schedules of the top teams with last season's weaklings

GFM

It blows my mind as well. But then again, you and I lived through the 5 team CHA scheduling days. Nothing better than a 24 game conference schedule.

[J.D.]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

I mean, it's obviously doable. Hockey East had a period where there were 9 teams and now 11. It's just easier with an even number when it comes to scheduling. Look at the end of season schedule in Hockey East. Not what you're looking for as the regular season winds down.

[gfmorris]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

I don't know why an odd number of teams messes with everyone's head. It's pretty simple:

· 10 opponents, minimum 20 games
· Can play rotate playing H&H with half the league to get to 30 if you really wanted
· Could make the regular season mean something by loading up the schedules of the top teams with last season's weaklings

GFM

[J.D.]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

Gonna take a few years but that's what I think happens. Atlantic would then still have 11 teams and room for Navy.

[Mikey NoNo]

Re: Starting D1 Hockey Program

Sacred Heart to Hockey East, LIU to Atlantic.