Atlantic Hockey Says No; So Long Chargers?

[njmav1]

Could it be that the "other school" might be Navy? That would give Atlantic Hockey all three Service academies and group of smaller but generally like-minded and financially sound universities. But Navy is turning out to be the Illinois of the east: Lots of scuttlebutt but still in drydock.

OTOH, there's a rumor circulating in the twitterverse, attributed to Buccigross, that Robert Morris might be reconsidering it's decision to drop hockey. So if Navy stays high and dry and RMU really is having second thoughts, does it get to play prodigal son and beg forgiveness?

Who knows about Navy?

As far as RMU hockey being reinstated- would that be for this year? Sounds like the Atlantic Hockey teams have already filled out their schedules- so even if RMU comes back, would it be this year or next? Won't they have to start over?

Let's say they do plan to restart for 2022-23. What if Atlantic Hockey finds out that a 10 team conference isn't so bad and even better than 11 or 12? Do they take back RMU?

[BC/HE]

Just wondering about the rules for leaving conferences. If you drop the sport are you still financially required to pay for leaving? If not, if you reinstate the program are you required to rejoin the same conference and if not do financial penalties reapply if they were not imposed? Could this be a possible path for RMU to join the new CCHA?

[Leather Lungs]

Let's say they do plan to restart for 2022-23. What if Atlantic Hockey finds out that a 10 team conference isn't so bad and even better than 11 or 12? Do they take back RMU?

I imagine the western AHA schools would want RMU back. I'd want them back at the very least for their broadcast team. But now that we have EIGHT(!!!) out-of-conference games, I'm seeing some sweet silver linings in this new AHA. AIC has home-and-homes with UMass, Providence, UConn, & Quinnipiac this year. Not too shabby.

Here's hoping we see you back on the ice, Bobby Mo. But take your time. No rush.

[Russell Jaslow]

But Navy is turning out to be the Illinois of the east: Lots of scuttlebutt but still in drydock.

I see what you did there. {golf clap} :-)

As to the post about what AHA would do if RMU suddenly returns to play, that may become a legal issue in how the bylaws are written, what constitutes notification for leaving a conference, and what constitutes legal return to the conference. Then, you have the issue that not only is the conference schedule set, but teams have picked up the necessary extra nonconference games to fill the gap. They can't exactly break those agreements they just "signed"...

[Sean Pickett]

They can't exactly break those agreements they just "signed"...

Well, Alaska did with BU after BU had announced that they were hosting the Nanooks for a 2 game series. And staying with BU, back in the summer of 2014 Army backed out of a game with BU, which Coach Quin was unable to replace with another DI team so he ended up scheduling the U.S. World Junior team. Then in 2017 BU lost 2 games when PSU backed out of a contract when the B1G added Notre Dame and the B1G teams all had 4 less non-conference games. That time Coach Quinn was able to replace the games on short notice with Minnesota State. So it does happen, the only question is are there any penalties that can and will be enforced.

Sean

[Hockey John]

Just wondering about the rules for leaving conferences. If you drop the sport are you still financially required to pay for leaving? If not, if you reinstate the program are you required to rejoin the same conference and if not do financial penalties reapply if they were not imposed? Could this be a possible path for RMU to join the new CCHA?

The CCHA members were not happy with the financial state of the Alaska schools and UAH. Why would they want that same issue with BobMO?

[njmav1]

The CCHA members were not happy with the financial state of the Alaska schools and UAH. Why would they want that same issue with BobMO?

Excellent point. Lake State just announced spending 175k to upgrade their video production for the upcoming season. RMU is racing against time just to answer the bell.

[BC/HE]

The CCHA members were not happy with the financial state of the Alaska schools and UAH. Why would they want that same issue with BobMO?

That's assuming it was not a ploy by RMU. RMU is much closer to the league footprint. Close enough to be a travel partner for BGSU which if Augustana moves up and becomes Mankato's travel partner, the league could have a very balanced set of travel partners. Pittsburgh is a hub and would be a very easy flight from MSP too and all the other teams could get there connecting one stop through MSP, DTW or Midway. Big difference from Alaska or Alabama.

[njmav1]

That's assuming it was not a ploy by RMU. RMU is much closer to the league footprint. Close enough to be a travel partner for BGSU which if Augustana moves up and becomes Mankato's travel partner, the league could have a very balanced set of travel partners. Pittsburgh is a hub and would be a very easy flight from MSP too and all the other teams could get there connecting one stop through MSP, DTW or Midway. Big difference from Alaska or Alabama.

No conference has any obligation to save a school's program. Other than geography, what value does RMU or Augustana add to the CCHA (or any other conference)?

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

That's assuming it was not a ploy by RMU. RMU is much closer to the league footprint. Close enough to be a travel partner for BGSU which if Augustana moves up and becomes Mankato's travel partner, the league could have a very balanced set of travel partners. Pittsburgh is a hub and would be a very easy flight from MSP too and all the other teams could get there connecting one stop through MSP, DTW or Midway. Big difference from Alaska or Alabama.

So now the primary focus of a college hockey conference is to have balanced travel partners.

We created a new league specifically to ride busses and contain costs and you're now touting the wonderful benefits of MSP-PIT. Using your logic HE should be adding RMU and LIU because, well, hey...BOS-PIT is super easy and you don't have to connect through EWR.

Lindenwood and Augustana bring nothing to the CCHA table other than convenient conversation topics for fans of teams who aren't in the CCHA. Any logic used to justify adding these teams to the CCHA is also applicable to the NCHC and I don't hear the clarion sounding for that to happen. The landscape has changed; leagues are much more self-centered as program survival is much less guaranteed. No more Mr. Nice Guy; get your own league.

[beaverhockeyfan]

So now the primary focus of a college hockey conference is to have balanced travel partners.

We created a new league specifically to ride busses and contain costs and you're now touting the wonderful benefits of MSP-PIT. Using your logic HE should be adding RMU and LIU because, well, hey...BOS-PIT is super easy and you don't have to connect through EWR.

Lindenwood and Augustana bring nothing to the CCHA table other than convenient conversation topics for fans of teams who aren't in the CCHA. Any logic used to justify adding these teams to the CCHA is also applicable to the NCHC and I don't hear the clarion sounding for that to happen. The landscape has changed; leagues are much more self-centered as program survival is much less guaranteed. No more Mr. Nice Guy; get your own league.

And out west here, we don't use travel partners. We get to a site and play two games. Makes it kind of nice as a fan that travels sometimes to get to a town, settle into the hotel, see two games and hit a few spots in the town.

I keep thinking back to when Bemidji State played in their first NCAA Regional in Amherst, MA. We were at a bar after BSU's OT loss to Denver and were kicking around the idea of running to Worcester the next evening to watch North Dakota play. People at the bar were asking if we had a hotel room yet and we were like, nope, we are going to drive over and drive back. They thought we were nuts to do that.

[moose97]

I keep thinking back to when Bemidji State played in their first NCAA Regional in Amherst, MA. We were at a bar after BSU's OT loss to Denver and were kicking around the idea of running to Worcester the next evening to watch North Dakota play. People at the bar were asking if we had a hotel room yet and we were like, nope, we are going to drive over and drive back. They thought we were nuts to do that.

I really wish we would have done that

[davyd83]

That's assuming it was not a ploy by RMU. RMU is much closer to the league footprint. Close enough to be a travel partner for BGSU which if Augustana moves up and becomes Mankato's travel partner, the league could have a very balanced set of travel partners. Pittsburgh is a hub and would be a very easy flight from MSP too and all the other teams could get there connecting one stop through MSP, DTW or Midway. Big difference from Alaska or Alabama.

A flight to Huntsville is really no worse than a bus trip from St Thomas to Tech or NMU to Ferris

[Leather Lungs]

How about every conference take in one of these non-ASU independents "for the good of the game," eh? Why is everyone laughing?

[UncleRay]

I really wish we would have done that

If I had been in that bar I would have been giving you directions and pointers on where to go out. It was only an hour away. Next time....