2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

[davyd83]

Variety of reasons. Exposure for program. Opportunity to play strong teams to increase chances to get in tourney (and I believe chances in the tourney). Build relationship with bigger program (see BSU and UND).

At UND we see both sides. Our hockey team can dictate its schedule for the most part. Our basketball and football teams have to take what they can get.

Build relationships? These coaches all know each other pretty well. And no matter how good the relationship, they're still not giving a better deal. Increase Tourney chances? I don't think having Michigan State, Ohio State or Wisconsin helped anyone's RPI. Exposure? To whom? As for UND, we did play a one off series in Grand Forks and at Penn State a couple years ago and cashed a nice check for each. However, the Michigans and Michigan States of the world haven't offered money on the back end. Simply two trips to their barn and one to ours.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

Variety of reasons. Exposure for program. Build relationship with bigger program (see BSU and UND).

Let's be realistic, none of these "big" programs have a drop of loyalty in their veins. If it isn't going to line their pockets with cash, they could care less. After decades of "relationship building with 'big' programs" what did MTU, LSSU, NMU, BSU, MSU, FSU, UAH, UAF, UAA, etc get in return? Nothing. It is a complete joke that the self-perceived "big" teams are doing what they consider to be "small" teams a favor by playing them.
Ryan J

 

[SJHovey]

Let's be realistic, none of these "big" programs have a drop of loyalty in their veins. If it isn't going to line their pockets with cash, they could care less. After decades of "relationship building with 'big' programs" what did MTU, LSSU, NMU, BSU, MSU, FSU, UAH, UAF, UAA, etc get in return? Nothing. It is a complete joke that the self-perceived "big" teams are doing what they consider to be "small" teams a favor by playing them.
Ryan J

The big teams (candidly, all teams) do what is in their own best interest. They should. That's their first duty. My point is that when you don't have bargaining power, sometimes you have to take what you can get. UND wasn't happy NDSU insisted on a one-sided football schedule these next few years. But sometimes you have to settle for less to play the team your fans want to see. I find it hard to believe that most Tech fans wouldn't like to see Michigan in for one series every three years even if it meant the other two in Yost. Personally I love to see my team carry the flag into visitor's arenas.

 

[davyd83]

The big teams (candidly, all teams) do what is in their own best interest. They should. That's their first duty. My point is that when you don't have bargaining power, sometimes you have to take what you can get. UND wasn't happy NDSU insisted on a one-sided football schedule these next few years. But sometimes you have to settle for less to play the team your fans want to see. I find it hard to believe that most Tech fans wouldn't like to see Michigan in for one series every three years even if it meant the other two in Yost. Personally I love to see my team carry the flag into visitor's arenas.

I'm sure the Tech fans are loving zero non conference home games this year due to the 2/1s with Michigan & State. And let's face it, if we put Michigan State sweaters on Alabama- Huntsville or Gopher sweaters on Mankato, few would actually know the difference.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

I'm sure the Tech fans are loving zero non conference home games this year due to the 2/1s with Michigan & State. And let's face it, if we put Michigan State sweaters on Alabama- Huntsville or Gopher sweaters on Mankato, few would actually know the difference.

This coming season will suck. Since the resuffling, MTU has hosted 16,18,14, & 14 home games. If my info is correct, they will have at least 18 the next 2 seasons. While the Mich/MSU deals do suck, the problem is both of them wanting the extra 1 away from Houghton this season and not getting either Notre Dame or UMD to come to Houghton this season. With the GLI, I think MTU is quite ok with averaging just over 16 home games per season.

 

[Hockey John]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

gfmorris,

Why should BG now have to accept 2-1 agreements with Michigan and Michigan State when for over 30 years we were in the same league as equals. I have told Coach Bergeron that this BG fan hopes that we never schedule them under those conditions. Thankfully, he agrees with me. We have our yearly home and home series with Ohio State, Western Michigan and usually Miami. We go to Miami for two this year and they return two games next season to BG. We have our chance to play them in 2017 when we are part of the GLI.

As for the future, there has to be some common sense with the alignment of the western leagues in College Hockey. When there are 3 Division 1 College Hockey teams in the state of Ohio and they are in three different leagues, something is very broken.

Go BG!

 

[davyd83]

This coming season will suck. Since the resuffling, MTU has hosted 16,18,14, & 14 home games. If my info is correct, they will have at least 18 the next 2 seasons. While the Mich/MSU deals do suck, the problem is both of them wanting the extra 1 away from Houghton this season and not getting either Notre Dame or UMD to come to Houghton this season. With the GLI, I think MTU is quite ok with averaging just over 16 home games per season.

I think we'd all be happy to get 16 at home, 17 or 18 if there's no holiday tourney.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

I think we'd all be happy to get 16 at home, 17 or 18 if there's no holiday tourney.

If you believe that, then you should have no problem with 2 for 1s...if you have three 2 for 1s in force, then every WCHA team would get 16 homes games and play 18 road games...plus maybe 2 in some tournament (28+6+2=36).

Every WCHA team (except the Alaska schools) is allowed to play at least 36 games every year (14 H/A WCHA games, 6 NC games, plus 2-4 exempt NC games).

 

[davyd83]

If you believe that, then you should have no problem with 2 for 1s...if you have three 2 for 1s in force, then every WCHA team would get 16 homes games and play 18 road games...plus maybe 2 in some tournament (28+6+2=36).

Every WCHA team (except the Alaska schools) is allowed to play at least 36 games every year (14 H/A WCHA games, 6 NC games, plus 2-4 exempt NC games).

I'm well aware of the Alaska exemptions. I would much prefer 1 for 1's and a holiday tourney. 16 home one year, 18 home the next.

 

[Biddco]

UMD has most of its NC schedule taken by the other Minnesota schools plus North Dakota. But it's likely that we will see them every several years.

Plus North Dakota?

You think UMD will play NMU again? Wouldn't surprise me because they're probably going to schedule non-conference games with WCHA teams since many are so close

 

[davyd83]

Plus North Dakota?

You think UMD will play NMU again? Wouldn't surprise me because they're probably going to schedule non-conference games with WCHA teams since many are so close

I can see UMD having Tech & NMU in their regular non conference rotation. They are short trip which are fan & budget friendly. My oops on the NoDak. You get them anyway!

 

[Wi.Huskies Fan]

I think like anything in the world, people would rather than more than less. If there was three dollars to be split, would you want one dollar or two dollars. Most people would want the $2, but I suppose if you're flat broke either option looks good because it's more money than you have now.

For me personally, anything other than one for one deals comes across as one team is going out of their way to do another team a favor by playing them. Unless you're getting handed a seven figure check to play a certain team, no one is college hockey is that heads and tails above anyone else that they should be doing 2-1 deals. Booking a 2-1 deal is just stroking someone's ego.

Ryan J

Totally agree. Play every team 1 for 1 series. Have it in ink in NCAA bylaws.

 

[BGDrew]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

BG has 17 home games this year (plus one exhibition and a game at nearby Toledo). Our location and agreeable past CCHA teams makes for a pretty predictable schedule every year.

Athletic departments are hemorrhaging money, so it's hard for an AD to sign off on some of these schools making trips to UAH or MTU. Teams have the right to refuse 2-for-1 deals, but I also think the practice of playing conference-mates in out of conference games should be banned.

 

[davyd83]

BG has 17 home games this year (plus one exhibition and a game at nearby Toledo). Our location and agreeable past CCHA teams makes for a pretty predictable schedule every year.

Athletic departments are hemorrhaging money, so it's hard for an AD to sign off on some of these schools making trips to UAH or MTU. Teams have the right to refuse 2-for-1 deals, but I also think the practice of playing conference-mates in out of conference games should be banned.

Easy to say in your central location with 2 NCHC and one Big Ten team in the bag every year. What's the problem with playing a sixth conference rival four times and thereby giving your home fans another game or two instead of tramping yourself out to the Big Ten or having to spend $40,000 to fly out and play Bentley or American International when you know their return trip won't be a draw?

 

[Biddco]

I can see UMD having Tech & NMU in their regular non conference rotation. They are short trip which are fan & budget friendly. My oops on the NoDak. You get them anyway!

I can as well. Especially with Tech being the series they've played the second most games against.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

I've been thinking about this more and am going to write something that's longer than a forum post should be. Soon.

GFM

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

Since the central focus of WCHA corporate seems to be $$$$, then member teams should be using their Alaska exemptions in a way that generates revenue for their programs. Going on the road is not how to get that done. I would much rather see WCHA teams do one for one deals and load up on the home games to drive additional gate revenue. If you have to schedule ECAC, HE or AH teams to make that happen, so be it.

On the other hand, the fact that teams like Tech are clearly content with 14 home games tells me the money situation is not anywhere near as bad as those outside the WCHA claim it to be. Couple this with the fact that WCHA playoffs will not get a huge bump in attendance starting this season. (I am assuming that semi-final and finals money will in some way go to all the teams and ticket prices will be set by the league).

Ryan J

 

[purpleinnebraska]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

Since the central focus of WCHA corporate seems to be $$$$, then member teams should be using their Alaska exemptions in a way that generates revenue for their programs. Going on the road is not how to get that done. I would much rather see WCHA teams do one for one deals and load up on the home games to drive additional gate revenue. If you have to schedule ECAC, HE or AH teams to make that happen, so be it.

On the other hand, the fact that teams like Tech are clearly content with 14 home games tells me the money situation is not anywhere near as bad as those outside the WCHA claim it to be. Couple this with the fact that WCHA playoffs will not get a huge bump in attendance starting this season. (I am assuming that semi-final and finals money will in some way go to all the teams and ticket prices will be set by the league).

Ryan J

I don't know that teams are "content" with 14 home games, but I'm not entirely sure what the options are. We have an Alaska exemption, but our potential non-conference opponents don't. With our season ending a week early, but still including 28 conference games, it's hard to find time for games while getting any bye weeks in. Add in the geographic hardship for any ECAC, HE, or AH team to get to our arenas, and you have a recipe for very few home non-conference games.

Revenue-wise, as you note, "Going on the road is not how to get that done." But that applies to any potential opponents as well. If it's not a good financial move for us to go to Vermont, for instance, the same applies to Vermont coming out west. But when it comes to non-con games, those teams have other cost-effective options. A Vermont can get a deal with most of the ECAC or AH that minimizes travel costs for both schools. For us isolated out in the west, we can forego our Alaska exemption games, which many are doing, or try to find a team that's desperate for a couple games. Otherwise, we may have to take 2 for 1 deals.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

I don't know that teams are "content" with 14 home games, but I'm not entirely sure what the options are. We have an Alaska exemption, but our potential non-conference opponents don't. With our season ending a week early, but still including 28 conference games, it's hard to find time for games while getting any bye weeks in. Add in the geographic hardship for any ECAC, HE, or AH team to get to our arenas, and you have a recipe for very few home non-conference games.

Revenue-wise, as you note, "Going on the road is not how to get that done." But that applies to any potential opponents as well. If it's not a good financial move for us to go to Vermont, for instance, the same applies to Vermont coming out west. But when it comes to non-con games, those teams have other cost-effective options. A Vermont can get a deal with most of the ECAC or AH that minimizes travel costs for both schools. For us isolated out in the west, we can forego our Alaska exemption games, which many are doing, or try to find a team that's desperate for a couple games. Otherwise, we may have to take 2 for 1 deals.

I think its fair to say that most WCHA teams are not using both exemptions if they do the double...but I do think most are using 2 games most years.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: 2016 WCHA Offseason; It's All Over, Save Ferris

I think its fair to say that most WCHA teams are not using both exemptions if they do the double...but I do think most are using 2 games most years.

How far back is it worth looking at the trends on this? 10 years?

GFM