Finlandia is shutting down

[Bradz]

Dubuque poaches Northland's Head Coach Seamus Gregory, who was also their athletic director, as their inaugural men's ice hockey coach

https://udspartans.com/news/2023/5/1...key-coach.aspx

Interesting that there is no mention of his record at Northland College.

[Scott_TG]

Dubuque poaches Northland's Head Coach Seamus Gregory, who was also their athletic director, as their inaugural men's ice hockey coach

https://udspartans.com/news/2023/5/1...key-coach.aspx

[Jensen35]

joecct I am pretty sure the 3 sheet facility in Rockville is part of Black Bear Sports. They aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

[joecct]

Sorry, didn't see this earlier. It is in Rockville.

https://rasmus.com/auctions/134ElNk9...-Rockville--MD

Thanks - it was a synth ice training facility near to the Rockville 3 sheeter that has real ice. I was worried we'd lost another sheet that would impact our HS league.

[Scott_TG]

Scott - I live in Maryland. Do you have the name or city where the rink is located??

Sorry, didn't see this earlier. It is in Rockville.

https://rasmus.com/auctions/134ElNk9...-Rockville--MD

[UCBadger]

University of Dubuque (IA) forms a men's and women's NCHA teams for 23-24 by taking as many of the Finlandia transfers as they can get.

https://udspartans.com/news/2023/4/1...ns-hockey.aspx

This gives a whole new meaning to "Transfer Portal," as a whole program has transferred (along with its conference affiliation) to another institution.....and another institution has picked up immediately eligible athletes and an immediately field-able program.

That's a shocking announcement. I've never seen a program pop up so quickly. Very interesting decision by the university. Not sure what the tuition is there but do the math of 25 student athletes x tuition and it might make sense.

Right now, in the current higher ed environment, its all about (paying) butts in seats. I would be surprised if any addition to a institutions offerings, either academics or athletics, would be for a offering which did not have an expected payoff either right now, or in the very near future. This smacks of genius! No ramp-up time or expense. No startup year where you only have expense and no income. No new facilities to be built to get started. Best of luck to UD in making this work!

[joecct]

...I received a targeted ad on instagram about a Maryland bankruptcy auction of everything in a privately owned rink that failed so hockey isn't immune to that lol.

Scott - I live in Maryland. Do you have the name or city where the rink is located??

[altazo]

It appears to me that the announcement that the University of Dubuque already has a strong conference they are going into and are working out scheduling etc with the arena and the Fighting Saints USHL team it might not take exceedingly long depending upon who they hire as a head coach to develop a competitive team. If they hire an excellent recruiter with coaching experience at the junior hockey level that person might be able to gain some high-end transfers from other DIII schools. If the person they hire can work well with the USHL team the two teams might just compliment each other and I doubt the U of D teams would have any effect on the USHL team’s gate.

Aurora and the Chicago Steel share a facility. I believe the Steel are considered the primary tenant and Aurora has quite a few afternoon times or maybe Thursday or Sunday games where they draw less than 100 people. Aurora peeps, please correct me if I’m wrong.

[altazo]

Maybe they can all just wear their Finlandia equipment to save costs

I think they actually have similar colors!

[Bradz]

It appears to me that the announcement that the University of Dubuque already has a strong conference they are going into and are working out scheduling etc with the arena and the Fighting Saints USHL team it might not take exceedingly long depending upon who they hire as a head coach to develop a competitive team. If they hire an excellent recruiter with coaching experience at the junior hockey level that person might be able to gain some high-end transfers from other DIII schools. If the person they hire can work well with the USHL team the two teams might just compliment each other and I doubt the U of D teams would have any effect on the USHL team’s gate.

[Scott_TG]

That's a shocking announcement. I've never seen a program pop up so quickly. Very interesting decision by the university. Not sure what the tuition is there but do the math of 25 student athletes x tuition and it might make sense.

Worcester State spun up a women's program in the same amount of time when Worcester neighbor Becker College went under. They brought over the coaches and the whole team plus one or two transfers from elsewhere (perhaps originally intending to transfer to Becker) followed.

This could become a thing as smaller schools go under. A lot of eyes are on Elmira...

I agree with bodyup88 in that I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of team-owned equipment finds its way south as it's not like Finlandia needs it. Then again if they go bankrupt all assets may have to be held for auction. I received a targeted ad on instagram about a Maryland bankruptcy auction of everything in a privately owned rink that failed so hockey isn't immune to that lol.

[bodyup88]

Maybe they can all just wear their Finlandia equipment to save costs

[spwood]

That's a shocking announcement. I've never seen a program pop up so quickly. Very interesting decision by the university. Not sure what the tuition is there but do the math of 25 student athletes x tuition and it might make sense.

You forgot minus staff salaries, rink time, equipment for 50 players (both rosters).... I doubt this was a profit decision...

[bodyup88]

That's a shocking announcement. I've never seen a program pop up so quickly. Very interesting decision by the university. Not sure what the tuition is there but do the math of 25 student athletes x tuition and it might make sense.

[altazo]

University of Dubuque (IA) forms a men's and women's NCHA teams for 23-24 by taking as many of the Finlandia transfers as they can get.

https://udspartans.com/news/2023/4/1...ns-hockey.aspx

That’s pretty crazy but also a little admirable. Some of Finlandia’s former players and who?? I wonder if coach Burcar is going there too (he was still the coach at Finlandia last season, right?)