Ways to improve???

[WeWantMore]

Re: Ways to improve???

Hmm, lots of AIC fans showing up here all at once.

[kingdobbs]

Re: Ways to improve???

I completely agree with this - when Maine first made the jump to D1 back in.....what, 1981 or so?, they played the Minnesotas, North Dakotas, BC's, and took some major beatings in the process, but it taught them what they had to become to do to be a contender. Success comes at a price. AIC needs to ask themselves, are they willing to pay the price?

That still implies that the teams willing to put these beat downs on AIC actually want to use their rather precious non-conference games on a team that literally offers them nothing more than a guarantee that they have a working bus that will ensure they show up with 18 skaters.

EDIT to add: Also remember that when Maine made this jump, they associated themselves with a league that had most of the top level Eastern regional programs in it, starting with the ECAC and turning into Hockey East, and for a good chunk of the 1980s, that same league had an interlocking schedule agreement with the WCHA. Neither of these formative benefits are exactly available to AIC at this juncture.

One of the fastest ways to improve is to go after a top goaltender - because they can hide a lot of faults. Being a physical team, but be careful with this, also helps. A team that can outwork other teams can beat more talented teams.

Just to note, since the RIT fanbase's familiarity with AIC is somewhat limited, AIC has had better than average goaltending talent in place for a number of years (Frank Novello who played from 02-05 put up some pretty good stats over his four years despite the overall crumminess of the skaters in front of him, as the major example), but it is typically either a weak defense or an anemic offense that dooms the team.

[JF_Gophers]

Re: Ways to improve???

The obvious answer is interlocking schedules between AH and the WCHA much like the old agreement with HE.

[Patman]

Re: Ways to improve???

First and last answer... the problem is behind the bench... from what I can remember, AIC has never really had the players... if you want to make a mark I'd say try to get the word going on campus... you are a DII team with a DI sport... make something of it.

The only realistic option you have, since you aren't firing coaches with tenure (FIRE MARSHALL) is to work to change the attitude around campus. I don't know what your campus situation is other than you're an obscure Springfield-based private institution. Having small things like a student club or other small actions can go a long way. Now, what does that have to do with the on ice product? If student-athletes see things that give a good impression then you may win them over and beat out the higher D-III programs for the recruit.

What you are going to need is campus investment, student investment, and local investment... you can't control the last one because that requires the athletic department... you can't control the first one because that's on the administrators... you can effect the second one if you are a student... word of mouth recruitment. I'll say this... I don't think Lowell would have half the things they have now (heck, we probably don't have a program) if it weren't for UMLGoon and a few others working to change the atmosphere around the school... I also think putting all the freshman hockey players in with the normal UML freshman students did a lot... but the only way to beat apathy is not to be apathetic yourself and be positive.

----

BTW, the jerseys look better with the yellowjacket on front... ain't nothing wrong with that.

[manurespreader]

Re: Ways to improve???

I agree and add this. If you don't have a booster club, start one. Get the coach to do some public speaking, do things that up the visibility, have a fundraising campaign to get some new equipment of some sort. In other words do things in a constructive way that the admin sees and then you might get enough money to affect change. It will take time and effort.

[CornwallAce]

Re: Ways to improve???

Buy lottery tickets when the jackpot is in the 9 digits range. Donate the winnings to building an on-campus rink!
Before this, move to the downtown arena. I went to the first 3 home games, and on Friday, there was a banana peel on the floor by my seat. The following week, it was still there! They got rid of the good pizza makers at the Olympia, and they can't clean the place.
A booster club would be awesome! Maybe if the Falcons do leave next year, they can move downtown and become the premier team in the city. AIC Broadcaster- contact the paper, only give them positives. Sugarcoat things to get fannies into the seats.

D3 is not an option until D3/D2 schools fix the problem. Too many of the schools are being tools, as the problem does not concern them, so they vote no out of ignorance.(allowing D2 teams in hockey only to play for the D3 title)

They also need more games. I hate to say it, but I find this the most embarrassing. People complain about the coach(and I'll leave that to them) but I have first hand accounts of how vigilant he is with making sure the players keep the grades up. But IF there is a climate of favoritism, that absolutely has to change. Look at Union College. A D3 school where the President(correct?) was once proudly quoted as saying he would be happy if the team won 40% of their games. If Union can do it with those odds.... Why not AIC!

Meisner is a solid goalie. I think they got the goalie situation fixed for the next 2+ years. I like the attitude and play of Puskar. His play needs to infect(positively) the entire team. They have been in every game except for one this year. The winning goal in the Sacred Heart was scored on the powerplay where AIC controlled the PK for 1:40 before collapsing down too low.

[CornwallAce]

Re: Ways to improve???

Articles like this one are going to make it harder for any school to put more money into their programs

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/11/18/athletics

[CornwallAce]

Re: Ways to improve???

Ways to improve - have more weekends like this =]

I was amazed that Mercyhurst's Arena only ran them 1.5 million dollars.

[sbkbghockey]

Re: Ways to improve???

There's been a lot of good ideas here, rebranding the team, equipment deal with a top brand, new uniforms, etc... are all good ideas short term and fairly cheap. From the pics on the AIC Hockey website it looks like they have Warrior equipment so that's a good start.

Scheduling is also a quick, and fairly inexpensive fix that may inject some light into the program. Even if it might not be a pretty score, playing the big boys is something players current and future will look to as highlights of their college careers. It also is a good way to gain exposure, especially if AIC can go into BU or BC and get an upset. This season they have THREE non-conference games.

More events like this years Whalers Fest, AIC is playing Army in an outdoor game followed by an AHL game where the league is hoping to break 20,000.

I'd say start with those quick and fairly inexpensive improvements first and see what the coach can do with those. Firing a coach is a bit more expensive and a drastic change- it looks like your coach has been around for a long time, obviously something is working or the athletic department wouldn't have kept him. It maybe a situation where the current coach is doing the best he can with what the school and athletic department give him.

The biggest thing for recruiting these days is facilities, many of the Atlantic Hockey teams play in the same 1,000-2,000 seat ice rinks they did at lower levels of hockey before going DI. There's a lot of NCAA DIII teams and ACHA DI teams that play at bigger and better facilities. Size is not the biggest issue it's more about modern on-campus facilities, AIC�s ice rink is 6 miles across town from the campus. If a recruit is looking at ACI and maybe a few other Mass programs like UMass, UMass-Lowell, etc... there's a drastic difference in the level of facilities. AIC is a small school but a modern cozy 2,500-seat arena on-campus maybe a good start into the program. Connected to that arena have hockey offices for coaches, video review room/theatre for the team to gather and go over game footage, and modern training/workout facility.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Ways to improve???

There's been a lot of good ideas here, rebranding the team, equipment deal with a top brand, new uniforms, etc... are all good ideas short term and fairly cheap. From the pics on the AIC Hockey website it looks like they have Warrior equipment so that's a good start.

Scheduling is also a quick, and fairly inexpensive fix that may inject some light into the program. Even if it might not be a pretty score, playing the big boys is something players current and future will look to as highlights of their college careers. It also is a good way to gain exposure, especially if AIC can go into BU or BC and get an upset. This season they have THREE non-conference games.

More events like this years Whalers Fest, AIC is playing Army in an outdoor game followed by an AHL game where the league is hoping to break 20,000.

I'd say start with those quick and fairly inexpensive improvements first and see what the coach can do with those. Firing a coach is a bit more expensive and a drastic change- it looks like your coach has been around for a long time, obviously something is working or the athletic department wouldn't have kept him. It maybe a situation where the current coach is doing the best he can with what the school and athletic department give him.

The biggest thing for recruiting these days is facilities, many of the Atlantic Hockey teams play in the same 1,000-2,000 seat ice rinks they did at lower levels of hockey before going DI. There's a lot of NCAA DIII teams and ACHA DI teams that play at bigger and better facilities. Size is not the biggest issue it's more about modern on-campus facilities, AIC�s ice rink is 6 miles across town from the campus. If a recruit is looking at ACI and maybe a few other Mass programs like UMass, UMass-Lowell, etc... there's a drastic difference in the level of facilities. AIC is a small school but a modern cozy 2,500-seat arena on-campus maybe a good start into the program. Connected to that arena have hockey offices for coaches, video review room/theatre for the team to gather and go over game footage, and modern training/workout facility.

Doesn't AIC only have 3 non-conference games because no one WANTS to play them for fear of dropping their RPI? Also, since I don't have the time to look it up, how many non-conference games does AIC play at home? That will generate revenue to help with the ideas discussed in these posts. OK, so you have a small rink. Start selling tickets for it. Bus students to the games (if you don't already). Even if you can't necessarily do it with NC games, start selling the league games. You'd be surprised at what "the 7th man" will do for a team.

[Yager]

Re: Ways to improve???

Get new broadcasters.

[sbkbghockey]

Re: Ways to improve???

Doesn't AIC only have 3 non-conference games because no one WANTS to play them for fear of dropping their RPI? Also, since I don't have the time to look it up, how many non-conference games does AIC play at home? That will generate revenue to help with the ideas discussed in these posts. OK, so you have a small rink. Start selling tickets for it. Bus students to the games (if you don't already). Even if you can't necessarily do it with NC games, start selling the league games. You'd be surprised at what "the 7th man" will do for a team.

0 of the 3 NC games are at home. @ Union- Dec 10, @ Minn State- Jan 7-8.

I wouldn't say that the reason for the lack of nc games are b/c no one wants to. A quick glance and schedules showed that teams around AIC in the bottom of Atlantic Hockey have 6-7 nc games. Schedules are made well in advance of the season so that's not really a reason- hypothetically AIC could be #1 in the nation in a season or two when schools are making schedules for in the next six-ten months.

The idea to bus students from campus to the game is a great idea!! I'm not sure about how well AIC fills their ice rink but student sections make for a unique and awesome college hockey atmosphere.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Ways to improve???

0 of the 3 NC games are at home. @ Union- Dec 10, @ Minn State- Jan 7-8.

I wouldn't say that the reason for the lack of nc games are b/c no one wants to. A quick glance and schedules showed that teams around AIC in the bottom of Atlantic Hockey have 6-7 nc games. Schedules are made well in advance of the season so that's not really a reason- hypothetically AIC could be #1 in the nation in a season or two when schools are making schedules for in the next six-ten months.

The idea to bus students from campus to the game is a great idea!! I'm not sure about how well AIC fills their ice rink but student sections make for a unique and awesome college hockey atmosphere.

Let's also add this: How are they with advertising the team to the city? IIRC from listening to the radio for one of RPI's NC games, Colorado College has extensive community support despite World Arena being a couple miles from the campus, thereby not as easily accessible to the students as a rink that is directly on campus. I obviously don't live near Springfield, so I don't listen to their radio or watch their TV thereby knowing if AIC hockey is promoted there. Doing that would go a long way towards getting people into the rink. Even a team with strong history like RPI had a decline until it was well advertised, people started going to the games and telling their friends, and it's on the upswing. Get the word out!

[kingdobbs]

Re: Ways to improve???

0 of the 3 NC games are at home. @ Union- Dec 10, @ Minn State- Jan 7-8.

I wouldn't say that the reason for the lack of nc games are b/c no one wants to. A quick glance and schedules showed that teams around AIC in the bottom of Atlantic Hockey have 6-7 nc games. Schedules are made well in advance of the season so that's not really a reason- hypothetically AIC could be #1 in the nation in a season or two when schools are making schedules for in the next six-ten months.

When you consider the following facts:
1) 4 other teams in college hockey did not fill their allotment of games, including independent UAH;
2) 8 teams in the ECAC filled some non-conference dates with other ECAC teams;
3) UMass opted to play two non-US exhibitions rather than a home date with the physically closest D-I team to them;

It seems that the "nobody wants to play AIC" hypothesis has at least some observational merit behind it.

[komey1]

Re: Ways to improve???

It would also depend on how much AIC is willing to travel for games. If they aren't willing to pony up for travelling to games, that could be a huge factor.