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Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

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Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Red Cows said:
My personal opinion about OSU hockey is that the hockey dollar in Columbus is stupendously diluted by the presence of the Bluejackets.

I submit that if Omaha had a NHL team, that UNO would have the same issues OSU does. It's also worth mentioning here that the Omaha metro is about 100,000 people bigger than the Columbus metro as well.OSU plays in one of the few college hockey arenas bigger than ours and they average 3829 per home date.

The Bluejackets are currently averaging, in the same city, in the same arena, 13,278 per game.!!!!

If this doesn't buttress my argument here, nothing would. That said, I don't know what OSU did, attendance-wise, prior to the Bluejackets. But, I'd sure like to see what affect the Bluejackets being gonzo would have on OSU attendance, now. I sincerely doubt that the BTHC thing changes the fortunes of war for them at all. Probably Penn State, if ably lead, should surpass them in short order.

What I am talking about here is why I see UNO as a sleeping giant that is being awakened. It's the 4rd largest metro area in the country after Minneapolis, Boston, and Denver with college hockey and UNO plays in the 2nd largest arena (destined to change) in the nation at 16,680, and, unlike OSU, UNO has had tons of crowds north of 10,000 because, in the winter time, the only thing they are competing with around here is Creighton Basketball. And, UNO hockey will win a national Championship (or even multiple championships) before either Creighton or UNL ever win a g****** thing, if ever, in basketball. Neither have ever won a thing and never will. The smart fans around here recognize this and have been willing to, and, will rally around the UNO flag. I can and have seen it happening. The local media coverage of UNO hockey around here by television and the paper now is at an all time high.

I don't think who OSU plays will affect anything since Columbus is a "Major League" sports town and fans will vote that way every time with their sports dollar, given the chance. I don't think the Big 10 understands college hockey culture at all.
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You lost me after this completely inaccurate sentence.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

The BTHC will cause a seismic shift in the college hockey landscape that could cause the collapse of programs that are not well-built.

Many of you will drown in a tsunami of arrogance flowing from the twin cities when the Gophers depart.

:p
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

moose97 said:
Maybe I'm reading this wrong:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/blogs/118471889.html

But this:



Reads like some strong-arming by the 10 remaining WCHA teams. I.E., you want to play WCHA teams at all? Then you've got to play some on the road, or we won't play in your building.

Think about it - Minnesota and Wisconsin don't have all the power here - teams have to agree to travel there to play. The WCHA can "threaten" to boycott the Gophs and Badgers if the refuse to travel, as long as all 10 teams stick to the agreement. Minnesota and Wisconsin need the WCHA teams as much as the WCHA needs the B1G schools, especially with the 20 game conference limit...


edit - And before anyone says "fine, Minn will just schedule eastern or AHA schools," think about how many Gopher fans don't like this as it is, and think about that B1G schedule with no SCSU, UMD, UND or the like (or zero road games within reasonable driving distance) anywhere on it...
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The article says they have a verbal agreement between the WCHA and UM. It sounds like every school in the WCHA would get a series vs UM every other year, alternating home and away. ( a home series vs UM every 4th year). If they get the same deal with UW, every WCHA team would get a home series with UM or UW every other year, and a road series the years in between. Just 2 games a year, not that much really.

On the other hand, the CCHA could ask for the same deal from the other B1G teams. So instead of dividing 10 opponents (WCHA) by 2 (UM/UW) they would be dividing 8 opponents (CCHA) by 4 (UM/MSU/OSU/PSU). So the CCHA teams would get 5 games a year instead of the 2 the WCHA are getting. More likley 4 games one year, 6 the next. That's almost exactly what they are getting now.

Could the B1G ask the WCHA to reciprocate in kind? "You want Minnesota to play all 10 in the WCHA, ok, but the WCHA will have to play all 6 in the B1G". If you divide the 18 opponents (WCHA/CCHA) by 6 (B1G) it comes to over 3 games a year. Or 2 games one year and 4 the next. The WCHA would still get their 2 vs UM or UW but then every other year they would get Michigan, MSU, OSU or PSU. I think Michigan would have a near equal draw in Houghton as UMTC or UW, maybe not. It would be nice to have Denver or UND come to Yost once in a while.
 
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Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
Not so fast...

Albany (RPI, Union), Rochester (RIT), Buffalo (Niagara), Providence (Providence), Columbus (Ohio State), and Pittsburgh (Robert Morris) are all bigger metro areas than Omaha. That isn't even including Detroit.



Exactly. As I've said before, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin are going to get the same kids that they always got. Where the BTHC will help Ohio State is that kids that may have chosen to go to Duluth or Miami before, may now choose Ohio State. Plus having a coach with solid recruiting connections into Canada will be enormous.

Again, I'm not saying Ohio State will definitely be a power. They have to invest and recruit wisely and be a smart program, but the Big Ten will allow them the resources to do this. That is why they have the most to gain, not that they will definitely gain the most.

Given that, if I were a Michigan, Minnesota or Wisconsin fan, I would be hoping with all hope that they don't. They need doormats, or they will get beat up within their league and you'll only see 1 or 2 Big Ten schools in the NCAA Tournament on a yearly basis. Ohio State's potential success equals Michigan or Minnesota or Wisconsin's potential mediocrity. The same could be said for Penn State. That's why, at least IMO, Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan State and Wisconsin have the most to lose w/the BTHC. They were doing fine in their own conferences. We'll see what happens in the B1G.
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I would agree Oz will move Ohio State up the ladder with good recruiting as that was his specialty at Wisconsin but I'll be first to admit it's an easier sell to get a kid to come play for the Badgers than the Buckeyes. I also agree Ohio isn't a hockey state like the afore mentioned states, Columbus is delusional thinking they're a hockey town because of the Blue Jokers, because if it was a hockey town then why doesn't attendance jump at OSU games on nights the Jackets are away? What decent talent Ohio does have has been migrating towards Miami in recent years, just a natural consequence of a school with a successful program but if Oz turns OSU around then that situation may change as well. As far as who gets the good recruits? It's long been said Red Berenson's freshman class is always his pick of the litter from the USA Under 18 team. Regardless I think that Oz has a chance to build a solid program here. Despite our flaws the facilities are outstanding and the school has a solid reputation academically and there is a lot to draw players here.
 
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Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Just curious: Does anyone honestly think Michigan, State, Minnesota or Wisconsin will ever play a road non-conference game again? If they deign to play a "road" game it will be someplace like Green Bay or Detroit. Why would any of those four teams ever play on the road again? They like ****ing away money?
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Priceless said:
Just curious: Does anyone honestly think Michigan, State, Minnesota or Wisconsin will ever play a road non-conference game again? If they deign to play a "road" game it will be someplace like Green Bay or Detroit. Why would any of those four teams ever play on the road again? They like ****ing away money?
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I certainly would expect them to play about 14-16 road games a year. Now if the B1G expands with other teams, those other road games get eaten up with conference games...for now I expect those 4-6 games to be played against former CCHA and WCHA foes respectively.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

I wonder what Red really thinks of all this. I know that Michigan has had a great relationship with Olympia hosting the Great Lakes Invitational at the Joe and with the CCHA finals always played at the Joe it's basically a home game for them. He'll lose that advantage if the Big Ten finals are in Chicago. Because Michigan always seems (ahem) to make the CCHA finals ticket sales for the event are pretty good, at least if they are in the championship game. How many seat sales will the CCHA lose to that event without Michigan or Michigan State being there to boost the sales?
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Shirtless Guy said:
I certainly would expect them to play about 14-16 road games a year. Now if the B1G expands with other teams, those other road games get eaten up with conference games...for now I expect those 4-6 games to be played against former CCHA and WCHA foes respectively.
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They will have 10 conference road games each year. Any other "road" games will be neutral site games. Any of those four are going to come to the east coast? They're going to Colorado? Hell, the upper peninsula? Maybe Minnesota might be forced to play the SCSU's/Mankatos/UMDs of the world, but they can work out an agreement to play at the X. I don't see why any of them would play a true "road" series again.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Priceless said:
They will have 10 conference road games each year. Any other "road" games will be neutral site games. Any of those four are going to come to the east coast?
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I don't know...Michigan has played 3 road games in Hockey East arenas over the last 3 years. Michigan State has played 4. Wisconsin has played 2. Why wouldn't that continue? Sure, teams want to make money, but sometimes there is more money in a home-and-home with a top-10 program than there is in a home series against a nobody. It's also a better warmup for the conference season. I'm sure that the Big Ten teams will want to play one, two or three good teams before the conference schedule gets going, and you generally have to play home-and-home to play the good teams.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Priceless said:
They will have 10 conference road games each year. Any other "road" games will be neutral site games. Any of those four are going to come to the east coast? They're going to Colorado? Hell, the upper peninsula? Maybe Minnesota might be forced to play the SCSU's/Mankatos/UMDs of the world, but they can work out an agreement to play at the X. I don't see why any of them would play a true "road" series again.
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Probably already been asked...but are they really going schedule almost every non-conference game at home? Is there a rule against have too many home games? They will have many more nonconference games to fill than what they do now.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

This whole Big Ten thing makes me happy that UMD is a part of the WCHA. I will cheer for WCHA and CCHA teams come 2013 (now I hope the other teams go one and out). I am proud of the WCHA.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Biddco said:
This whole Big Ten thing makes me happy that UMD is a part of the WCHA. I will cheer for WCHA and CCHA teams come 2013 (now I hope the other teams go one and out). I am proud of the WCHA.
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Somehow, I'm thinking that the times you cheered for us or the Gophers have always been few and far between....
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

Gurtholfin said:
Somehow, I'm thinking that the times you cheered for us or the Gophers have always been few and far between....
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Exactly. So I don't have to change much. I'll have to partially get over UND, St, Clooud, and Buttmedji St.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference Pt II - The Exodus

They might make the occasional trip up to Alaska for a tournament perhaps, but honestly, I would see em more likely going on the road mostly for East Coast Swings to HE or Ivy schools perhaps. Maybe partnering up with Sparty to do something like play BC one night and Harvard the other, with Sparty dancing with the other team that weekend. It also wouldn't surprise me much to see some teams renting say the Palace for a weekend and host Michigan there for a home game like what Notre Dame did a few years back when Wayne State was still clinging to life. They were the under card to that match up.
 
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