Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

[Sean Pickett]

Get one high-level genius in HE HQ to find a work-around. That person gets the commish's job. QED.

Based on the St. Thomas situation Norwich would have to get kicked out of the GNAC and then get invited to join a multi-sport DI conference. And it is still to be determined if that will work for St. Thomas.

Sean

[Chuck Murray]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

Norwich would be the best candidate but with the new NCAA rules, it is a non starter

Get one high-level genius in HE HQ to find a work-around. That person gets the commish's job. QED.

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Norwich would be the best candidate but with the new NCAA rules, it is a non starter

Would love to see Norwich added. I can think of one team they’d be better than almost immediately!

[The Zlax45]

Norwich

Norwich would be the best candidate but with the new NCAA rules, it is a non starter

[ticapnews]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

FWIW, I've been told by numerous Syracuse and URI alums over the years that both schools have repeatedly turned down offers to fund D1 men's hockey programs primarily because of opposition from entrenched basketball interests that don't want in-season revenue-producing competition.

The solution is simple: Just suck and you won't produce any revenue

[Split-N]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

I saw the part in Connolly and Hendrickson's season preview about a 12th team in Hockey East...Syracuse comes to mind, they have a women's program, but like anything else, always depends on donors coming up with the necessary start up cash. Everyone always says URI, but again, where's the desire and the cash...

FWIW, I've been told by numerous Syracuse and URI alums over the years that both schools have repeatedly turned down offers to fund D1 men's hockey programs primarily because of opposition from entrenched basketball interests that don't want in-season revenue-producing competition. Title IX also an issue although less so at Syracuse, which already has a women's program.

That being said, I personally see Syracuse and URI as the only legitimate candidates to fill out HEA. QPac would merit serious consideration but I don't see it moving from a conference where it is in a position to be a perennial contender to being just another strong program in a conference with many strong programs. Holy Cross would work from a location standpoint (and still has some regional panache), but it's a Patriot League institution that does not appear interested in investing in varsity sports at the level it would take for hockey to become and remain competitive in HEA.

I'm not holding my breath on either Syracuse or URI so I'm fine with HEA staying at 11 teams. Arizona State will find a conference home if and when its planned new arena becomes a reality. In the meantime, they seem to be doing just fine as an independent.

[joecct]

Norwich

No can do unless they move the entire athletic program to D2.

[Chuck Murray]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

Norwich

[DLG]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

Probably not in the cards but Quinnipiac has been my first choice
Would expand the footprint more toward New York
they have televised games on cable in that region
Close and an outstanding hockey facility

[Middle Street]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

I saw the part in Connolly and Hendrickson's season preview about a 12th team in Hockey East. Please, no Arizona State.

Connolly talked about ASU to HE in a USCHO podcast released following the WCHA defection news. It had me wondering if that idea was the last straw for Bertangna. I'd prefer not to have ASU join because they would just be another short timer looking to jump ship at the first opportunity.

[Yuppie Scum]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

I saw the part in Connolly and Hendrickson's season preview about a 12th team in Hockey East. Please, no Arizona State. One of the best things I feel that works for the conference is its geographic concentration. Recognizable regional rivalries. The tough question then is, what potential places have the resources and desire to compete at that level? Thinking not that much further afield, Syracuse comes to mind, they have a women's program, but like anything else, always depends on donors coming up with the necessary start up cash. Everyone always says URI, but again, where's the desire and the cash. I think NYC would be a great market to step into (which every conference thinks) if there was a suitable candidate. Something from thinking WAY outside the box? - McGill.

After seeing the way those canadian teams played in exhibition a few years ago, no thanks to McGill.

I like Bentley (new rink at 4k is fine in this day and age), Holy Cross a little bit of a dark horse due to lack of stadium/competition from Worcester Railers. Maybe the newly legit AIC is in the conversation?

UMaine Portland?

[McBain75]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

I saw the part in Connolly and Hendrickson's season preview about a 12th team in Hockey East. Please, no Arizona State. One of the best things I feel that works for the conference is its geographic concentration. Recognizable regional rivalries. The tough question then is, what potential places have the resources and desire to compete at that level? Thinking not that much further afield, Syracuse comes to mind, they have a women's program, but like anything else, always depends on donors coming up with the necessary start up cash. Everyone always says URI, but again, where's the desire and the cash. I think NYC would be a great market to step into (which every conference thinks) if there was a suitable candidate. Something from thinking WAY outside the box? - McGill.

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

I immediately noticed the picture of a UVM player in the HE preview article. This seems to strongly suggest that UVM will be the face of HE this season!

(God help the league if that's the case)

[ScottK]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

As someone else already pointed out, they're not on the NESN/HEA schedule since they're not HEA games. But NESN owns the rights to those particular games so they'll be televised on NESN anyway. Just not as part of the HEA package.

There's a lot of non-conference games on the NESN package already. Just take a look at October:

RPI at UMass
Wisconsin at BC
Lowell at Minnesota-Duluth
Merrimack at Holy Cross
Union at UMass
Holy Cross at Northeastern

[Split-N]

Re: Hockey East: 2019/20 season is Joe Bertagna's last as commish

Were the games on the first two February Mondays intentionally omitted from the NESN/HEA schedule?

As someone else already pointed out, they're not on the NESN/HEA schedule since they're not HEA games. But NESN owns the rights to those particular games so they'll be televised on NESN anyway. Just not as part of the HEA package.