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Big Ten Hockey Conference

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Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Random thoughts and comments... not meant to respond to particular points or be repetitive - just my observations and beliefs....

* I welcome Penn State. Adding a marquee school is good for college hockey, IMO.

* As a Wisconsin fan, I agree with an earlier post that the Badgers' hockey rivalries with NoDak, Denver, CC, Tech, etc. are more valuable than playing Ohio State or Penn State. I want them preserved. I really don't care about seeing those other BT schools in hockey.

* While I've like the idea of the CCHA & WCHA dropping their number of conference games to accomodate a dual existence with Big Ten, I have serious doubts about how it work.

* Creation of a BTHC could break free the log jam that seems to prevent other schools from adding hockey. I mean, if you are Illinois or Indiana and see the full-up CCHA and WCHA, that's a tough hurdle. Besides the would be-open spots by the vacating schools, a BTHC may be enough incentive for other Big Ten teams to make the move. Conceivably another 10 schools (5 new BT teams and 5 other schools to replace departing CCHA/WCHA members) would be cool.

* That said, I doubt the influence of the BTN on this. Most of the times it's showing hoops anyways, right? I don't see lots more exposure with a BTHC.

* I'm mixed on the effect of the "leftovers". Losing the draw & revenue, especially on the CCHA teams such as Ferris, etc. could be huge. At the same time, not having to challenge those three teams may allow them a better chance at an NCAA bid. But I worry that the former may outweigh the latter.

* I really don't see - or want - adding Notre Dame to the BTHC for hockey only. Screw 'em. Either join the Big Ten or don't.

* And maybe, just maybe, the CCHA said 'no' to UAH because it was simply holding a spot for PSU. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, because on the whole, I'd really rather not see a BTHC.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

dggoddard said:
You're stating an opinion and making it sound like a fact.

Maybe Alvarez had to throw in the Notre Dame sweetener to pull Minnesota, Michigan and/or Michigan State on board. All I know is that Notre Dame is a "brand name" and they make the new conference far better IMO.
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Notre Dame does not a have brand in hockey...and outside of hockey, Notre Dame's hockey brand doesn't matter. Notre Dame if anything dilutes Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and MSU.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

5mn_Major said:
Notre Dame does not a have brand in hockey...and outside of hockey, Notre Dame's hockey brand doesn't matter. Notre Dame if anything dilutes Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and MSU.
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Not to mention that Alvarez has ZERO say in the matter. Any decision regarding Notre Dame involvement would be made at the presidents' level, and as myself and others have brought up, they are in no mood to do any favors for the domers. In fact, watching ND's hockey program withering into irrelevance right as their new facility is being built would be seen as a positive...just another chink in their armor of independence.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

moose97 said:
See, now I just don't buy this at all. Bemidji State has gotten recruits recently just by exploiting the "overlooked" aspect from schools like Minnesota, et. all. Sure, they may get a, "hey, why don't you walk on and get on TV and be a Gopher?" from them, but the return of coming to BSU and being top dog is, in a lot of cases, a bigger deal to a kid. After all, these kids want to play, not sit on the bench hoping to be seen.
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That's a big part of it moose, but along with getting more playing time is the ability to play the same level of competition, in the same conference as the "big schools"...take away the ability to play those "big schools" and some the appeal is diminished...
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

ScoobyDoo said:
While this may be true if you don't see the peril that he's worried about you have blinders on.

Fans are fickle no matter the team. There's only one Chicago Cubs.

Hell, Gopher Hockey is supposed to be Pride On Ice and the fanbase was pretty lackluster last season. Continue to lose and it'll get worse.
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I am sorry, but that is true no matter what happens in the future. What you are describing is a problem that wont go away no matter how things shake up because what we are seeing now is completely fraudulent.

If fans are fickle, all it will take is for UND or DU to have a couple down seasons and they are gone. It isnt about the BTHC at all, it is about the fact that the fans dont care. Well if they dont care why are we trying to save the sport anyways? If fans only care about teams that win screw em they can watch something else. And that holds for all teams fans including Gopher fans.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Beer Pong Horn said:
I think the X would be willing to try it, assuming the Big Twenve Championship wasn't also angling for the same space. They have a good relationship with the WCHA, and even when Minnesota isn't in the championship (or in the tournament!) it's made money for the participants. Perhaps the WCHA will look into other cities and arenas for the event, or continue using the X for the championship with smaller arenas for the early games, but I don't think it is a necessity.

If the other top-tier teams do leave the WCHA, kiss the Xcel Center goodbye, and look for the tournament to go to Omaha, Green Bay, Grand Rapids, etc. depending on who gets picked up.
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Maybe for a year, but if Gopher fans arent buying up a lot of tickets there is going to be a lot of empty seats and demand will drop. The X is not going to have a Final Five where no more than 13k buy the tickets. (the Gophs may not have been in it last year but they still bought a lot of tickets and attendance was still weak)
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Handyman said:
Maybe for a year, but if Gopher fans arent buying up a lot of tickets there is going to be a lot of empty seats and demand will drop. The X is not going to have a Final Five where no more than 13k buy the tickets. (the Gophs may not have been in it last year but they still bought a lot of tickets and attendance was still weak)
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I, like many hockey fans could care less who is at the X for the final five.... as long as it is not the same weekend as the Big Ten tourny we would be at the X cheering on whoever is playin and beating No Dak :-) Good hockey is Good hockey.....
 
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Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Handyman said:
It isnt about the BTHC at all, it is about the fact that the fans dont care. Well if they dont care why are we trying to save the sport anyways? If fans only care about teams that win screw em they can watch something else. And that holds for all teams fans including Gopher fans.
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It has little to do with committment to being a fan of the team and more to do with cost/time. Let's say the average game is 2 1/2 hours and that the commute time to and from the game is 30 minutes each way. That's 3 1/2 hours committed per game. Now factor in the cost - to attend a game at Mariucci paying face value, it'll cost you $40-45 once you include parking.

So for a home series, the total cost is $80-90 and you've committed 7 hours of time. Compare that to staying at home and watching it on FSN - cost is 5 hours of time + $5 for the two days of satellite / cable service. Savings: $75-85 and 2 hours per series.

Over the course of a season, that's a lot of money and time saved by not attending the games. No matter how much they suck, they will always remain my team and I will continue watching them - on tv - but they'll have to put a good team on the ice to warrant the financial and time committments to physically attend their games.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

GB Puck Fan said:
* Creation of a BTHC could break free the log jam that seems to prevent other schools from adding hockey. I mean, if you are Illinois or Indiana and see the full-up CCHA and WCHA, that's a tough hurdle. Besides the would be-open spots by the vacating schools, a BTHC may be enough incentive for other Big Ten teams to make the move. Conceivably another 10 schools (5 new BT teams and 5 other schools to replace departing CCHA/WCHA members) would be cool.
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Nonsense. There is only one consideration for schools who are thinking about adding hockey: money. If someone dropped $88M in Indiana's, Illinois's, or Podunk-Sisters-of-the-Poor's lap tomorrow to start a D-1 hockey team, they would start a D-1 hockey team regardless of conferences, TV deals (not even peanuts compared to $88M), etc.

With a golden patron, there will be hockey. Without, there will not. End of discussion.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Personally, I see the creation of a Big 10 Hockey League as a plus. It will give the other schools like Minnesota-Duluth, Northern Michigan, Alaska and Nebraska-Omaha a greater opportunity to make the tourney. And although the loss of having Minnesota or Michigan come to your rink as often may hurt a bit at the gate, that can be made up if your team, now playing on a more even field, recruits and plays well and contends more often for an NCAA berth as opposed to a conference tourney bid. UMD and NMU are two schools that I see really benefitting in particular.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

davyd83 said:
Personally, I see the creation of a Big 10 Hockey League as a plus. It will give the other schools like Minnesota-Duluth, Northern Michigan, Alaska and Nebraska-Omaha a greater opportunity to make the tourney. And although the loss of having Minnesota or Michigan come to your rink as often may hurt a bit at the gate, that can be made up if your team, now playing on a more even field, recruits and plays well and contends more often for an NCAA berth as opposed to a conference tourney bid. UMD and NMU are two schools that I see really benefitting in particular.
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These are good points and part of me agrees with you but part of me will be sad to not see SCSU and Mankato and UMD BSU as often . It feels like we had just turned the corner and had everyone all together with the upcoming addition of BSU and I support all of these schools building good programs . It feels like we are abandoning the smaller schools and putting all of these big schools together but you are right it will make more oppurtunity for the smaller schools .
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

davyd83 said:
Personally, I see the creation of a Big 10 Hockey League as a plus. It will give the other schools like Minnesota-Duluth, Northern Michigan, Alaska and Nebraska-Omaha a greater opportunity to make the tourney. And although the loss of having Minnesota or Michigan come to your rink as often may hurt a bit at the gate, that can be made up if your team, now playing on a more even field, recruits and plays well and contends more often for an NCAA berth as opposed to a conference tourney bid. UMD and NMU are two schools that I see really benefitting in particular.
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That worked wonders for the CHA... Hell, you could probably even toss in the AHA as well.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

dxmnkd316 said:
That worked wonders for the CHA... Hell, you could probably even toss in the AHA as well.
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The big difference is that the CCHA will still have 8 teams and the WCHA 10. Hopefully they can now find a way to give Alabama-Huntsville a home.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

davyd83 said:
The big difference is that the CCHA will still have 8 teams and the WCHA 10. Hopefully they can now find a way to give Alabama-Huntsville a home.
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Mercyhurst and Bobby Mo to the CCHA, UAH to AHA?
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

This idea has been mentioned could it work?

Split the WCHA into 2 divisions.
Have the 5 Minn schools and the Sioux in one division.
Then have WI, DU, UNO, CC, UAA, and Tech in the other.

They do have 6 in each division so the autobids would still be there.


Do the same kind of thing in the CCHA.

Then have the Big Ten teams play each other and have some sort of Big Ten Cup or something along those lines.
 
Re: Big Ten Hockey Conference

Assuming there will be a BTHC and the Big Ten Tourney goes to Chicago.

Wonder if the "new" WCHA could get Mariucci Arena for the Final 5.

Otherwise Grand Forks would probably be a logical move.
 
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