Big Ten Hockey Conference

[SteveP]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

"I repeat, there is NOT a Big Ten Hockey Conference on the horizon..."
<img src=http://www.nmubaseball.net/uscho/UMSID.jpg>

Argh -- now I've got coffee all over my monitor! That is too funny!

 

[joecct]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Quote from Jim Delany, Big 10 Commish

“I’m excited to hear that Penn State will establish NCAA Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey programs beginning with the 2012-13 academic year,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany.
“Big Ten institutions have always provided broad-based opportunities for student-athletes, and the introduction of ice hockey at Penn State will provide even more opportunities for deserving young men and women to experience intercollegiate athletics. With the addition of Penn State, the Big Ten Conference will have six institutions sponsoring men’s ice hockey programs leading to the presumption that there will be a Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Championship at some point in the future. We plan to have many conversations both internally with our chancellors, presidents, administrators, and coaches, and externally with the hockey community as a whole as we endeavor to balance all of the unique interests in play. Our expectation is that a conference championship would not take place before the 2014-15 academic year and our goal, like others, is to support, promote, and continuously strengthen the sport of hockey both locally and nationally. Whatever we do, we will communicate to all interested parties in a respectful and responsible way. We congratulate Penn State and wish them the best of luck as they embark upon this worthwhile endeavor.”

Red says:

“Penn State is a major university, so when they make a commitment to play Division I hockey, it will be good for college hockey nationwide. All programs should benefit."

Ron Mason says:

“I think it’s wonderful that Penn State will have Division I hockey. I’ve long thought that if Penn State ever decided to elevate its program that it would be a school that would challenge for championships. This is a good move for the school and for college hockey.”

All the quotes are here: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/psu/sports/m-hockey/auto_pdf/HockeyQuotes.pdf

 

[J.D.]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Why does this even keep getting brought up?

Hmm I'm guessing because not everyone wants to read the 100 different threads on this topic or the 20 pages in this one alone.

One has to wonder, would NMU's decision to stay in the CCHA and not jump over the WCHA in the last year have been different had they knew this was happening? I have to think they'd have jumped ship if they knew about this.

good point.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I think a BTHC Playoff Tourney could produce $200,000 rebvenue per school based on ticket sales alone and hosting the Final Four at the #1 seed's home arena. Even if I was way off base, the BTHC playoff money would be a huge upgrade for the CCHA defectors who may only make $10,000-15,000 now.

No one can argue that Wisconsin attendance would receive a bump.

Minnesota has a lot of expensive seat licenses/premium seat fees to be sold in the next few seasons.

There is no doubt that each BTHC member would make significantly more money.

How does it work for the other sports where not all the teams participate? Do only the teams that participate get a cut, or is it everyone in the conference gets a cut whether they play the sport or not.

Either way this is a money losing deal for MN and WI.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Either way this is a money losing deal for MN and WI.

Agree, except when you look at it like if they don't do it they lose the BTN $$.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Agree, except when you look at it like if they don't do it they lose the BTN $$.

I was speaking from the hockey program standpoint only. If they have to chose between the Big Ten and WCHA...it's a no brainer that they will stay with the Big Ten. They would be stupid not to.

 

[aparch]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

One has to wonder, would NMU's decision to stay in the CCHA and not jump over the WCHA in the last year have been different had they knew this was happening? I have to think they'd have jumped ship if they knew about this.

Absolutely. If Ken Godfrey knew what was happening, he most likely would have said yes. As it was, it came down to almost a coin flip, of which it was decided that the larger alumni support and marketability of University to prospective students throughout Michigan meant more *at the time* than jumping to the WCHA. The hockey team is utilized as an arm of marketing in the Lower Peninsula.


If it was known that we would lose three teams that have had long standing rivalries with going back to the start of the program (OhhowIhateOhioState buttons in the early 80's?), I would without a doubt believe that NMU would be a member of the WCHA this fall.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

How does it work for the other sports where not all the teams participate? Do only the teams that participate get a cut, or is it everyone in the conference gets a cut whether they play the sport or not.

Either way this is a money losing deal for MN and WI.

Only teams that play that sport.

Minnesota & Wisconsin would make big money from this. You just have to run some of the numbers.

Minnesota has had a huge waiting list for season tickets, but when the new fees and seat licenses were offered to the waiting list patrons this off season, most declined.

Wouldn't you agree that Wiscosnin could significantly raise prices if they join the Big Ten.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Western D1 schools in order of most ****ed to least ****ed:

1. Lake Superior State
2. Ferris State
3. Bowling Green
4. Alabama-Huntsville
5. Western Michigan
6. Alaska
7. Northern Michigan
8. Michigan Tech
9. Minnesota State-Mankato
10. Bemidji State
11. Alaska-Anchorage
12. Nebraska-Omaha
13. Miami
14. Notre Dame
15. St. Cloud State
16. Minnesota-Duluth
17. Colorado College
18. Denver
19. North Dakota
20. Minnesota
21. Ohio State
22. Michigan State
23. Michigan
24. Wisconsin
25. Penn State

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Only teams that play that sport.

Minnesota & Wisconsin would make big money from this. You just have to run some of the numbers.

Minnesota has had a huge waiting list for season tickets, but when the new fees and seat licenses were offered to the waiting list patrons this off season, most declined.

Wouldn't you agree that Wiscosnin could significantly raise prices if they join the Big Ten.

I don't think you understand the hockey fans at Minnesota and Wisconsin. They'd rather see the WCHA schools come to town than the Ohio State/Penn State. Like you've said before, it is a different mindset and market than you have in Denver.

 

[Rover]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Why does this even keep getting brought up?

1) Its fun to speculate, 2) A lot of us didn't know the Big 10 has it out for Notre Dame, and 3) if #2 wasn't an issue it would make a lot of sense.


Say Indiana does jump in the next 5 years. Then you have 7 teams, so for scheduling and conference playoff purposes it makes sense to grit your teeth as a conference and add an 8th immediately, Notre Dame. Conference championships = revenues, and that seems to be what's driving all of this.

I think the WCHA looks good, although not as good as before obviously. North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College = good hockey and fan support. That ought to float the rest of the league.

CCHA needs to send BTHC officials repeated press clippings from the time when Notre Dame rejected them, because if they go Miami is most likely next to the WCHA, thus giving that conference 4 marquee teams while turning the CCHA into an AHA equivalent unless they get some new teams in there.

 

[RaceBoarder]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

One has to wonder, would NMU's decision to stay in the CCHA and not jump over the WCHA in the last year have been different had they knew this was happening? I have to think they'd have jumped ship if they knew about this.

It would definitely have been a different thought process...

I don't believe that PSU going varsity was on the radar of Walt Kyle, Ken Godfrey, or anyone else in the decision making process... This is undoubtedly a game changer in hindsight... It's not like they chose to ignore that and make their choices...

What we are left with is an underrated program in a sinking ship, IMO... We have accomplished just as much as the middle-tier WCHA schools in the last 10-15 years, yet they aren't being mentioned as far as closing up shop... If we make the jump, UNO and NMU switch places... In fact, I think UNO has a harder time due to geography than NMU currently does...

I just see this as choosing the wrong fork in the road... We made our decision at the time because NMU wanted to market themselves within the state of Michigan through the hockey team... General student recruitment was a major factor... There was no way of knowing that we would lose the 3 biggest stages for this (Munn, Yost, and Joe Louis) via the BTHC in 3-5 years...

I don't really know what to make of all this... I'm still taking things in... I'm not going to bash the school for the CCHA decision, even though I was pro-WCHA... I understand their thought process and it made sense... This is just a case of the status quo making a drastic, unpredicted change...

 

[SJHovey]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I think a BTHC Playoff Tourney could produce $200,000 rebvenue per school based on ticket sales alone and hosting the Final Four at the #1 seed's home arena. Even if I was way off base, the BTHC playoff money would be a huge upgrade for the CCHA defectors who may only make $10,000-15,000 now.

No one can argue that Wisconsin attendance wouldn't receive a bump.

Minnesota has a lot of expensive seat licenses/premium seat fees to be sold in the next few seasons.

There is no doubt that each BTHC member would make significantly more money.

Maybe. I don't know enough about how the pie is split up, or would be in a BTHC.

But a playoff system like one you propose would be played over 3 weekends, and would include a maximum of 15 and minimum of 10 games. It's great if Wisconsin, Minnesota and OSU have home ice each year, and sell out. On the other hand, you also have 3 teams with 6000 person rinks, basically. The WCHA Final 5 puts 80,000 butts in the seats, and that might increase with the elimination of the meaningless consolation game and addition of another Thursday game. You also have the potential of 18 first round games at home sites, many with rinks larger than half those in the BTHC.

As I've said before, I think the formation of a BTHC would have benefits of substantial varying degrees to the Big 10 teams.

Penn St. and Ohio St. would be helped immensely.

I think Michigan St. and Wisconsin might see modest benefit at best. Minnesota and Michigan, not so sure. They both have it pretty good right now.

 

[aparch]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Western D1 schools in order of most ****ed to least ****ed:

1. Lake Superior State
2. Ferris State
3. Bowling Green
4. Alabama-Huntsville
5. Western Michigan
6. Alaska
7. Northern Michigan
8. Michigan Tech
9. Minnesota State-Mankato
10. Bemidji State
11. Alaska-Anchorage
12. Nebraska-Omaha
13. Miami
14. Notre Dame
15. St. Cloud State
16. Minnesota-Duluth
17. Colorado College
18. Denver
19. North Dakota
20. Minnesota
21. Ohio State
22. Michigan State
23. Michigan
24. Wisconsin
25. Penn State

I think you're underestimating the CCHA. No way NMU is more *ed than MTU. Miami and Notre Dame are right up there with NoDak and the Colorado Schools.

 

[blockski]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

1) Its fun to speculate, 2) A lot of us didn't know the Big 10 has it out for Notre Dame, and 3) if #2 wasn't an issue it would make a lot of sense.


Say Indiana does jump in the next 5 years. Then you have 7 teams, so for scheduling and conference playoff purposes it makes sense to grit your teeth as a conference and add an 8th immediately, Notre Dame. Conference championships = revenues, and that seems to be what's driving all of this.

I think the WCHA looks good, although not as good as before obviously. North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College = good hockey and fan support. That ought to float the rest of the league.

CCHA needs to send BTHC officials repeated press clippings from the time when Notre Dame rejected them, because if they go Miami is most likely next to the WCHA, thus giving that conference 4 marquee teams while turning the CCHA into an AHA equivalent unless they get some new teams in there.

How many sports does the Big Ten have with associate members?

The answer is zero. It will stay zero. That would be the case if we were talking about North Dakota, too - it's not just a thing with the Domers.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I think you're underestimating the CCHA. No way NMU is more *ed than MTU. Miami and Notre Dame are right up there with NoDak and the Colorado Schools.

I could have done them in clusters, because I agree with both of your statements. I think NMU and Tech are in the same boat right now. Notre Dame, Miami, NoDak, colorados, SCSU and UMD are all in the same situation as each other also.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

How many sports does the Big Ten have with associate members?

The answer is zero. It will stay zero. That would be the case if we were talking about North Dakota, too - it's not just a thing with the Domers.

If the BTHC ever does happen, UND would have to give up its nickname regardless of any of the other crap if they ever wanted to play Wisconsin again...I'm not sure if Minnesota or the other B10 schools have a similarly stupid policy?

 

[bronconick]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I think that if Blashill can get interest in Western hockey back to where it was in the early 2000's before it became obvious that Culhane was a moron by 2014, I think WMU could latch on to Notre Dame and Miami if an "anti-big ten" western conference was created with Denver/North Dakota etc. that wants 8-10 teams since they're reasonably close to South Bend and Oxford and lower travel costs slightly. And every league needs teams that are usually bottom feeders 8 of 10 years.

 

[NMU8405]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

I think you're underestimating the CCHA. No way NMU is more *ed than MTU. Miami and Notre Dame are right up there with NoDak and the Colorado Schools.

At least NMU has been relevant in the past decade as opposed to Tech, and well...all the other schools on the list. But alas, LSSU, and Tech have a rich hockey history with plenty of alums making it to the NHL. But the current situation is more what have you done lately to be relevant.

 

[blockski]

Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

If the BTHC ever does happen, UND would have to give up its nickname regardless of any of the other crap if they ever wanted to play Wisconsin again...I'm not sure if Minnesota or the other B10 schools have a similarly stupid policy?

Ha. That policy is meaningless.

Besides, UND will a) be changing their name eventually anyway, and b) would still be considered a 'traditional rival' and thus exempt from the ban.

The policy has holes in it that are big enough to drive a semi truck through.