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Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

S

slowe

New member
Aurora University (western Chicago suburbs) has just added an ACHA D3 team. Sounds like it's just now being thrown together. Nothing impressive in the article until you get to

Ryan Buchanan has been tapped as the first head coach of the team, which will begin as a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (Division III). Buchanan will direct the program with the eventual goal of joining the university's additional 20 varsity sports as an NCAA Division III program. Buchanan also serves as an assistant baseball coach and the event manager at AU
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A different article in the local paper indicates their timeframe for establishing the NCAA D3 team is about two years. So far it's all very easy to say that's what you want to do. They are certainly a long way off. But it's nice to know there's interest and support. Can't argue with possibly doubling the NCAA hockey in Illinois in one swoop.

Aurora University announces plans to add men's hockey
 
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Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

The more the merrier in Div III hockey - I hope it comes about.... is there a women's program to add too?
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

Not sure, but so far I haven't seen anything of a women's hockey team. After some reading it looks like they are also starting a women's lacrosse team in the spring of 2013. Maybe that's already there to balance a possible new men's hockey team? Or the other possibility is the men's team would come first. Based on the articles it looks pretty last minute to be putting the team together. Maybe they'll get the men's team up and running then focus on a women's? But again, that's my speculation. No mention of a women's team so far. Here's another article with a little more info.

Hockey: AU’s new club team begins play Nov. 10
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

So who would be their regional rivals? All the western teams I hear about are in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Isn't Lake Forest the only Illinois school in D3 hockey?
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

I want to know what league they're going to play in. The MCHA is presumably full, at 10. And I'm guessing, without looking at a map, that they're out of the MIAC footprint as well.
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

Hammer said:
I want to know what league they're going to play in. The MCHA is presumably full, at 10. And I'm guessing, without looking at a map, that they're out of the MIAC footprint as well.
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Affiliate with the WIAC???? They're going to be desperate for that AQ.
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

Hammer said:
That still leaves them one short.
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One short is one less than two short :D. The WIAC would then only need to convince one MCHA school to bolt, or to get one WIAC school to add the sport.
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

On the off chance Aurora University actually does create a D3 team, most logical to me would be the MCHA as I'm sure they'd want an in state rival in Lake Forest. Best fit geographically anyway. But yeah, with both Norbert and Scholastica joining it puts that conference at 10. That sounds like it's getting a little crowded... Realistically where else would Aurora go though? The WIAC did offer Norbert and Scholastica options as an affiliate member, but would they do so for a brand new program?
 
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Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

slowe said:
On the off chance Aurora University actually does create a D3 team, most logical to me would be the MCHA as I'm sure they'd want an in state rival in Lake Forest. Best fit geographically anyway. But yeah, with both Norbert and Scholastica joining it puts that conference at 10. That sounds like it's getting a little crowded... Realistically where else would Aurora go though? The WIAC did offer Norbert and Scholastica options as an affiliate member, but would they do so for a brand new program?
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Because a brand new program wouldn't beat them every year.
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

slowe said:
On the off chance Aurora University actually does create a D3 team, most logical to me would be the MCHA as I'm sure they'd want an in state rival in Lake Forest. Best fit geographically anyway. But yeah, with both Norbert and Scholastica joining it puts that conference at 10. That sounds like it's getting a little crowded... Realistically where else would Aurora go though? The WIAC did offer Norbert and Scholastica options as an affiliate member, but would they do so for a brand new program?
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Since budget $ restrictions was the "published" reason given by the WIAC for withdrawing from the NCHA. I don't think they would add a team in Illinois.
High travel miles and $$$$...
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

pete99race said:
Since budget $ restrictions was the "published" reason given by the WIAC for withdrawing from the NCHA. I don't think they would add a team in Illinois.
High travel miles and $$$$...
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Considering how spot-on he was with everything else, maybe that Dennis guy can come back and get us all up to speed on this one. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

pete99race said:
Since budget $ restrictions was the "published" reason given by the WIAC for withdrawing from the NCHA. I don't think they would add a team in Illinois.
High travel miles and $$$$...
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I don't know the geography, but I do recall spending a miserable night in some Wisconsin burg that was just an hour or so away from Chicago... I was driving from Seattle to VT, and wanted to rest up before going through Chicago at 4AM to beat the traffic. The Motel was part of the Bates chain...
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

NUProf said:
I don't know the geography, but I do recall spending a miserable night in some Wisconsin burg that was just an hour or so away from Chicago... I was driving from Seattle to VT, and wanted to rest up before going through Chicago at 4AM to beat the traffic. The Motel was part of the Bates chain...
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at least there was no shower scene.......or was there??
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

bakdraft21 said:
at least there was no shower scene.......or was there??
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No, but I could have envisioned it happening there. And it was part of a national chain - either a Comfort Inn or Day's Inn, but it was a creepy place.
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

Raidineer said:
Considering how spot-on he was with everything else, maybe that Dennis guy can come back and get us all up to speed on this one. :rolleyes:
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Aurora hockey is long overdue in my opinion. If they follow through with this, they will join the MCHA, which already has three other NAthC schools. I also hope that this will persuade nearby Benedictine to bring back hockey (and re-join the MCHA, of course).

The bigger issue here is that this would be a significant step toward firmly establishing college hockey in Chicagoland, which I consider of paramount importance to the growth of D3 hockey in the Midwest.

Now, I hope you feel "up to speed," because I'm going back to lurking.

- Dennis
 
Re: Aurora University wants to add D3 hockey

Dennis4896 said:
Aurora hockey is long overdue in my opinion. If they follow through with this, they will join the MCHA, which already has three other NAthC schools. I also hope that this will persuade nearby Benedictine to bring back hockey (and re-join the MCHA, of course).

The bigger issue here is that this would be a significant step toward firmly establishing college hockey in Chicagoland, which I consider of paramount importance to the growth of D3 hockey in the Midwest.

Now, I hope you feel "up to speed," because I'm going back to lurking.

- Dennis
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An 11 team league is good for Pool C.
 
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