brookyone
Deport Right Wing Nuts
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
You don't mean to imply the AWCHA sponsored titles was "club" hockey do you?
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Best D-I Rivalries
- Thread starter ARM
- Start date
papulaisle
Registered User
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
Beanpot seems to heat things up annually in Bean-town. A great rivalry. BC, BU, Harvard and Northeastern.
Beanpot seems to heat things up annually in Bean-town. A great rivalry. BC, BU, Harvard and Northeastern.
granddaddyscout
Registered User
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
Until a sport is recognized by the NCAA it is a club sport, not meant to be demeaning. There are a lot of different levels of commitment from the schools and some may have approached D-1 type commitments. But they didn't provide scholarships which has certainly changed the dynamic of the sport. My point was simply that you cannot really compare the eras. Building a program then was based on a different approach than today.
Until a sport is recognized by the NCAA it is a club sport, not meant to be demeaning. There are a lot of different levels of commitment from the schools and some may have approached D-1 type commitments. But they didn't provide scholarships which has certainly changed the dynamic of the sport. My point was simply that you cannot really compare the eras. Building a program then was based on a different approach than today.
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
Yes, they did. There were fewer scholarship schools at that point, but the scholarship schools did by and large offer athletic scholarships.
Yes, they did. There were fewer scholarship schools at that point, but the scholarship schools did by and large offer athletic scholarships.
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
But what I can tell you is this. I attended an AWCHA Championship at Mariucci in the late '90s. Minnesota hosted; Harvard won. The caliber of play of was very high. I wouldn't demean club hockey either. Not in any way, shape or form. But these women were playing at a higher level; I'd always assumed we watching four varsities with scholarship athletes. (Although scholarships at the Ivies are all need-based, athlete or not.)
As to the different levels of commitment: That difference can exist at the same university, and can change over time. Pre-Varsity, Ohio State offered Club Hockey for Women. The team was pretty well funded, and very successful. When the Varsity program came, the Club Team carried on. But Post-Varsity their funding was more limited.
Again, we need a Women's Hockey historian here. I'm really straining to recall the very limited knowledge I have on this. But I think that as far back as the 1980's, the ECAC Champion was acknowledged as the best college team in the country. Then, when the Western Varsities started to emerge, there arose a need for a more inclusive national tournament. The AWCHA was the sponsor. I want to say three such tournaments were held before the NCAA took over.
The above may include some inaccuracies, but I think I'm close.
I believe that sports can be recognized by the NCAA, even if the NCAA doesn't sponsor a championship event. Someone who knows more of the history than I do will have to fill in the details.
But what I can tell you is this. I attended an AWCHA Championship at Mariucci in the late '90s. Minnesota hosted; Harvard won. The caliber of play of was very high. I wouldn't demean club hockey either. Not in any way, shape or form. But these women were playing at a higher level; I'd always assumed we watching four varsities with scholarship athletes. (Although scholarships at the Ivies are all need-based, athlete or not.)
You're right about the first part, but I believe mattj is right about the second.
As to the different levels of commitment: That difference can exist at the same university, and can change over time. Pre-Varsity, Ohio State offered Club Hockey for Women. The team was pretty well funded, and very successful. When the Varsity program came, the Club Team carried on. But Post-Varsity their funding was more limited.
I wouldn't necessarily compare the eras; I just think we should remember and honor the earlier champions.
Again, we need a Women's Hockey historian here. I'm really straining to recall the very limited knowledge I have on this. But I think that as far back as the 1980's, the ECAC Champion was acknowledged as the best college team in the country. Then, when the Western Varsities started to emerge, there arose a need for a more inclusive national tournament. The AWCHA was the sponsor. I want to say three such tournaments were held before the NCAA took over.
The above may include some inaccuracies, but I think I'm close.
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Re: Best D-I Rivalries
FYP
UNH won the first official National Championship, which was held in Boston, at the Garden, defeating Brown. By this time the NCAA had announced it would be taking over the National Championship the following year.
Prior to that (or better said, "Once upon a time"), and while the Gophers were still formally at the club level, the established league was the EAIAW, which consisted of Brown, UNH, Providence, Northeastern, Princeton, Colby, Dartmouth, among others. The winner of the tournament (which was first held in the 1979 - 1980 season) was informally considered the National Champion, as no one else was holding tournaments.
UNH won the first 4, Providence then took one. Eventually Northeastern had a turn at the top (and incidently, had beaten UNH more than any other team in UNH's history until recently - PC now holds that honor). The 4 team tourney field was typically UNH, Providence, Northeastern, and either Brown or Princeton, although IIRC, in the early '80's a team out of Cornell featuring a young Digit Murphy made it to the mix. Harvard was a weak team until at least the mid eighties, if not later, and although they were typically on the upper team's schedules, the scores were usually blowouts. The only East - West game that I'm aware of was when UNH went to a tournament hosted by the Gopher Club team in 1981. We played and beat two other club teams and the Gophers to win the tourney, although the final went to OT. BC and BU had dabbled with club teams, but neither were considered even serious enough to put on the schedule regularly until they became varsity sports not that long ago.
UNH went it's first three varsity seasons undefeated. In '80 - 81, Providence finally ended the winning streak, although they could not repeat in the finals of the EAIAW, and lost to UNH. The following season, they put another blemish on UNH's otherwise perfect record, with a 6 - 6 regular season tie. This is pretty much what cemented what I would have to consider the longest running rivalry in Women's D-1 hockey. As we saw this year, despite the records or relative strength of either team at the time, the games between UNH and PC are likely to be intense, as are the UNH - NU games. We have a long history of taking from each other.
FYP
UNH won the first official National Championship, which was held in Boston, at the Garden, defeating Brown. By this time the NCAA had announced it would be taking over the National Championship the following year.
Prior to that (or better said, "Once upon a time"), and while the Gophers were still formally at the club level, the established league was the EAIAW, which consisted of Brown, UNH, Providence, Northeastern, Princeton, Colby, Dartmouth, among others. The winner of the tournament (which was first held in the 1979 - 1980 season) was informally considered the National Champion, as no one else was holding tournaments.
UNH won the first 4, Providence then took one. Eventually Northeastern had a turn at the top (and incidently, had beaten UNH more than any other team in UNH's history until recently - PC now holds that honor). The 4 team tourney field was typically UNH, Providence, Northeastern, and either Brown or Princeton, although IIRC, in the early '80's a team out of Cornell featuring a young Digit Murphy made it to the mix. Harvard was a weak team until at least the mid eighties, if not later, and although they were typically on the upper team's schedules, the scores were usually blowouts. The only East - West game that I'm aware of was when UNH went to a tournament hosted by the Gopher Club team in 1981. We played and beat two other club teams and the Gophers to win the tourney, although the final went to OT. BC and BU had dabbled with club teams, but neither were considered even serious enough to put on the schedule regularly until they became varsity sports not that long ago.
UNH went it's first three varsity seasons undefeated. In '80 - 81, Providence finally ended the winning streak, although they could not repeat in the finals of the EAIAW, and lost to UNH. The following season, they put another blemish on UNH's otherwise perfect record, with a 6 - 6 regular season tie. This is pretty much what cemented what I would have to consider the longest running rivalry in Women's D-1 hockey. As we saw this year, despite the records or relative strength of either team at the time, the games between UNH and PC are likely to be intense, as are the UNH - NU games. We have a long history of taking from each other.
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Sean Pickett
2009 NCAA Champions
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
Sean Pickett
Boston College started their varisty program in 1994-95 and BC has been on the UNH schedule since. Boston University started their varsity program in 2005-06. Both had club teams from the late seventies until starting the varsity programs and UNH did play them during its early seasons, before replacing them with stronger teams.
Sean Pickett
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
Perhaps you are confusing the American Women's College Hockey Alliance (AWCHA) that hosted the first three national collegiate tournaments for varsity teams and the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) that governs club teams. Although the NCAA didn't conduct a tournament until 2001, women's ice hockey had NCAA visibility as early as 1994 when it was added to a list of emerging sports.
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
Right - I said they weren't on the schedule regularly. I think in my 4 years we played BC once and BU once. UConn was on the schedule every year, but were also quite weak at that time. We only played 20 games plus playoffs, so there was less room for fitting everyone in.
Right - I said they weren't on the schedule regularly. I think in my 4 years we played BC once and BU once. UConn was on the schedule every year, but were also quite weak at that time. We only played 20 games plus playoffs, so there was less room for fitting everyone in.
Sean Pickett
2009 NCAA Champions
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
According to the guide UConn and UNH only played the first three seasons UNH was varisty: twice in 77-78 and 78-79 and once in 79-80. BC was also played UNH those three seasons: twice in 77-78 and 79-80 and once in 78-79 (also once in 82-83 and 89-90). BU played UNH once in 77-78 and once each season from 80-81 through 84-85.
Sean
Not that it matters much, but your comment interested me so I checked the UNH media guide and either it is wrong, or your memory is wrong.
According to the guide UConn and UNH only played the first three seasons UNH was varisty: twice in 77-78 and 78-79 and once in 79-80. BC was also played UNH those three seasons: twice in 77-78 and 79-80 and once in 78-79 (also once in 82-83 and 89-90). BU played UNH once in 77-78 and once each season from 80-81 through 84-85.
Sean
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
FWIW, I never meant to say Providence won in 1998, and I certainly didn't mean to shortchange UNH. I was just tossing out a couple of teams that had won titles pre-2000.
That said, more accurate information is much to be preferred. Thanks for your fine post!
There you go, DC78-82; my post is now truly fixed!
FWIW, I never meant to say Providence won in 1998, and I certainly didn't mean to shortchange UNH. I was just tossing out a couple of teams that had won titles pre-2000.
That said, more accurate information is much to be preferred. Thanks for your fine post!
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
Well, considering how old I have become, I'm happy for the memories I have! My first season was 78-79, so I was close. I remember that we always played UConn down there as our last (latest in the season) game, because their rink was open, with just a roof and one wall on an end IIRC. There was a wooden pathway that led from the fire heated changing room to the ice. One of the years we played in a pretty good snowstorm - freezing, but fun!Not that it matters much, but your comment interested me so I checked the UNH media guide and either it is wrong, or your memory is wrong.
According to the guide UConn and UNH only played the first three seasons UNH was varisty: twice in 77-78 and 78-79 and once in 79-80. BC was also played UNH those three seasons: twice in 77-78 and 79-80 and once in 78-79 (also once in 82-83 and 89-90). BU played UNH once in 77-78 and once each season from 80-81 through 84-85.
Sean
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
ECAC Post-Season Champions
Women's Ice Hockey
1984-1997
1984 Providence
1985 Providence
1986 New Hampshire
1987 New Hampshire
1988 Northeastern
1989 Northeastern
1990 New Hampshire
1991 New Hampshire
1992 Providence
1993 Providence
1994 Providence
1995 Providence
1996 New Hampshire
1997 Northeastern
Pre-1984, UNH won 4 EAIAW Championships. Amazingly they went 72-0-1 during their first 4 years of varsity competition!
For further information, see The Development of Intercollegiate Women's Ice Hockey in the United States, by Gai Ingham Berlage. http://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3103&context=cq
Don't be intimidated by the fact it's an academic article. It's just 15 pages and very readable.
And to tie the recent posts back to the original topic, this sentiment helps explain why rivalries like UNH/PC and UNH/NE are special. The history goes much further back than the NCAA sponsored tournaments. Consider:It just speaks to that rivalry that I couldn't have PC getting the limelight
ECAC Post-Season Champions
Women's Ice Hockey
1984-1997
1984 Providence
1985 Providence
1986 New Hampshire
1987 New Hampshire
1988 Northeastern
1989 Northeastern
1990 New Hampshire
1991 New Hampshire
1992 Providence
1993 Providence
1994 Providence
1995 Providence
1996 New Hampshire
1997 Northeastern
Pre-1984, UNH won 4 EAIAW Championships. Amazingly they went 72-0-1 during their first 4 years of varsity competition!
For further information, see The Development of Intercollegiate Women's Ice Hockey in the United States, by Gai Ingham Berlage. http://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3103&context=cq
Don't be intimidated by the fact it's an academic article. It's just 15 pages and very readable.
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ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Re: Best D-I Rivalries
In the list of contentious rivals, there is North Dakota and Minnesota State. They gave us the ever-popular YouTube brawl during Idalski's first season at Grand Forks. Apparently they wrapped up their latest meeting with a few extracurricular activities as well:
http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/6153/group/homepage/
In the list of contentious rivals, there is North Dakota and Minnesota State. They gave us the ever-popular YouTube brawl during Idalski's first season at Grand Forks. Apparently they wrapped up their latest meeting with a few extracurricular activities as well:
http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/6153/group/homepage/