St. Anselm

[jemica]

Their school website has them playing Canton on Jan 1 at Lake Placid. Why would they choose to play a club program over the holidays that wasn't part of a tournament.... it seem this is the only game scheduled for their trip???

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: St. Anselm

Their school website has them playing Canton on Jan 1 at Lake Placid. Why would they choose to play a club program over the holidays that wasn't part of a tournament.... it seem this is the only game scheduled for their trip???

St. A's doesn't compete for a postseason anyway. They are a D-II school stuck in limbo in a D-III dominated sport/league.

They probably just wanted a chance to play at the Herb Brooks Arena. Who wouldn't?

[jerrynu26]

Re: St. Anselm

Plus it is the coach's home town.

[jemica]

Re: St. Anselm

That's great for the players, set up a club scrimmage, get a short winter break and the coach can go home for the holidays..

[Rhett]

Re: St. Anselm

That's great for the players, set up a club scrimmage, get a short winter break and the coach can go home for the holidays..

That condescending attitude is great and all, but the SUNY-Canton program is not a "club" program. Although they play many club teams in order to fill their schedule, the hockey team is a long-standing, fully-funded part of the school's athletic department.

The school used to be a member of the NJCAA, playing a full varsity schedule and competing in national championship tournaments under that organization's umbrella. When SUNY-Canton became a 4 year institution, however, the school joined the NAIA. Much like the NCAA II schools, there is no championship competition for NAIA hockey programs due to attrition to other divisions/organizations.

NCAA II programs have a difficult time filling their non-conference schedule, since playing them basically costs a NCAA III school a game that could count towards the RPI & PWR formulas. A school like SUNY-Canton provides them with a perfect opponent, a similarly situated varsity program that isn't penalized for playing a school from another division.

Since Southern New Hampshire and Assumption also played preseason games against SUNY-Canton, it appears that at least half of the 6 NCAA II programs agree with this assessment.

[norm1909]

Re: St. Anselm

That condescending attitude is great and all, but the SUNY-Canton program is not a "club" program. Although they play many club teams in order to fill their schedule, the hockey team is a long-standing, fully-funded part of the school's athletic department.

The school used to be a member of the NJCAA, playing a full varsity schedule and competing in national championship tournaments under that organization's umbrella. When SUNY-Canton became a 4 year institution, however, the school joined the NAIA. Much like the NCAA II schools, there is no championship competition for NAIA hockey programs due to attrition to other divisions/organizations.

NCAA II programs have a difficult time filling their non-conference schedule, since playing them basically costs a NCAA III school a game that could count towards the RPI & PWR formulas. A school like SUNY-Canton provides them with a perfect opponent, a similarly situated varsity program that isn't penalized for playing a school from another division.

Since Southern New Hampshire and Assumption also played preseason games against SUNY-Canton, it appears that at least half of the 6 NCAA II programs agree with this assessment.

Agreed, and Canton is firmly committed to transitioning to the NCAA DIII, as noted; they are a fully funded, fully supported collegiate program – not a club team. Their commitment appears to be – we will play anybody anywhere, IMO commendable to both them and the schools that are willing to give them a shot. I fully expect their transition to DIII to be very much along the lines of SUNY Morrisville, it won’t take them long to earn respect.

Remember, Roo's can only go forward, not back

[bigmrg74]

Agreed, and Canton is firmly committed to transitioning to the NCAA DIII, as noted; they are a fully funded, fully supported collegiate program – not a club team. Their commitment appears to be – we will play anybody anywhere, IMO commendable to both them and the schools that are willing to give them a shot. I fully expect their transition to DIII to be very much along the lines of SUNY Morrisville, it won’t take them long to earn respect.

Remember, Roo's can only go forward, not back

I thought that D3 has pretty much shut the door on schools from NAIA and elsewhere from joining D3? They already have a large glut of schools that compete in D3 athletics.

[jemica]

Re: St. Anselm

My intention was not to belittle Canton; it was to make point out how some coaches have little regard for their players and their families. I also looked at the NAIA website and saw now ice hockey leagues listed, yet I notice that Canton's website mentions its membership with the ACHA...I would appreciate any information that you could provide about NAIA ice hockey.

[NUProf]

Re: St. Anselm

My intention was not to belittle Canton; it was to make point out how some coaches have little regard for their players and their families. I also looked at the NAIA website and saw now ice hockey leagues listed, yet I notice that Canton's website mentions its membership with the ACHA...I would appreciate any information that you could provide about NAIA ice hockey.

There is none - any NAIA schools playing hockey have be ACHA.

[jemica]

Re: St. Anselm

If I understand you correctly, then they are a club team with aspirations of going DIII. Just saw the official post on the Interlock....what happens to St. Anselm now...go completely independent or drop down to ACHA...I know they have a fairly new rink but who would risk playing D II's and hurt their chances at the end of the year for nationals????

[NUProf]

Re: St. Anselm

If I understand you correctly, then they are a club team with aspirations of going DIII. Just saw the official post on the Interlock....what happens to St. Anselm now...go completely independent or drop down to ACHA...I know they have a fairly new rink but who would risk playing D II's and hurt their chances at the end of the year for nationals????

ECAC East is staying as is for the next two years to give the two DII schools a chance to work things out one way or another

[hawk]

Re: St. Anselm

ECAC East is staying as is for the next two years to give the two DII schools a chance to work things out one way or another

Prof lets face it St. A's hasn't shown any interest from droping down to D3 because of basketball. It is too bad because the program and rink are first class (one of the best ice hockey facilities in D3). St. A's because of a lot of factors could be a power in D3 hockey if the school goes in that direction.

[NUProf]

Re: St. Anselm

Prof lets face it St. A's hasn't shown any interest from droping down to D3 because of basketball. It is too bad because the program and rink are first class (one of the best ice hockey facilities in D3). St. A's because of a lot of factors could be a power in D3 hockey if the school goes in that direction.

They and/or St. Mike's need to petition the NCAA to allow their games to count for the DIII teams that they play. Then they could stay

[jerrynu26]

Re: St. Anselm

Prof lets face it St. A's hasn't shown any interest from droping down to D3 because of basketball. It is too bad because the program and rink are first class (one of the best ice hockey facilities in D3). St. A's because of a lot of factors could be a power in D3 hockey if the school goes in that direction.

You do not know what St. A's might, or might not, have been doing in this area. They would not be publicising it.

[Rhett]

Re: St. Anselm

If I understand you correctly, then they are a club team with aspirations of going DIII.

They are a varsity team with a largely club schedule and ACHA membership. The entire SUNY-Canton athletic program has NCAA III aspirations.