What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

M

Matt Rennell

Migrating to d3hockey.com
According to this report, the NCAA is seriously considering it and are working on making it happen.

http://www.d3hockey.com/notables/2011/Stories/120212-DIII_Championship_site_to_merge_with_DI

This could have a ripple effect on a lot of things such as ice conditions. Hotel accommodations, for example, the city would need hotel space for up to 4 more teams plus staff and fans. It will also likely raise ticket prices and make practice time very limited.

What does everyone else think of this idea?
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

I would imagine that D3 would be Friday-Sunday and D1 would be Thursday-Saturday or vice versa. No way do they make them the same gates.
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

irishfan85 said:
I would imagine that D3 would be Friday-Sunday and D1 would be Thursday-Saturday or vice versa. No way do they make them the same gates.
Click to expand...

Even so, thats 3 more games plus roughly 6 extra team practices over the 4 day span. By the time we reach the championship games, the ice will be in rough shape.
 
Matt Rennell said:
Even so, thats 3 more games plus roughly 6 extra team practices over the 4 day span. By the time we reach the championship games, the ice will be in rough shape.
Click to expand...
I don't know how many practices take place at the X, but during the WCHA Final Five there are six games in three days, including a Sat afternoon Wild game, and I haven't noticed any problems with the ice.
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

DIII Teams could play at a local HS rink on the same weekend. It's not like they have more then 5 fans.
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

The D-III people must be tired of having their championship determined on Olympic ice, when most play on smaller-than-NHL ice. ;)
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

It would make more sense to me to include the women's D-I championship than the men's D-III, and that doesn't make much sense either.
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

JF_Gophers said:
DIII Teams could play at a local HS rink on the same weekend. It's not like they have more then 5 fans.
Click to expand...

Boy, do you have no freaking clue what you're talking about.


Anyway, I don't have a strong opinion on this, but I wonder how they'll work the timing out. As it is, the women's D-I and both genders D-III seasons end almost a month earlier than the men's D-I season.


Powers &8^]
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

JF_Gophers said:
If they had such a great following, they wouldn't be trying to merge the event with another one to prop it up.
Click to expand...

Take a trip to the northeast (specifically NY and VT) and you'll find you are sorely mistaken. ;)
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

Ralph Baer said:
It would make more sense to me to include the women's D-I championship than the men's D-III, and that doesn't make much sense either.
Click to expand...

FYI, the City of Omaha made just such a proposal to the NCAA a few years back. City leaders have tried relentlessly to get a Frozen Four here.

The City proposed having the men play at the Centurylink Center and the women at the Civic Auditorium (capacity for hockey is 8,314), which is just a few blocks away from Centurylink.

Omaha's unique situation, having two large arenas so close together (well, Columbus could pull this off, too), with hotels and the city's entertainment district also very close by was something the city thought the the NCAA would bite on. They didn't. I forget who did get the bid and what year, specifically, but it was obviously since the Centurylink Center was built, so, in the last decade or so.

This is a great idea, for whatever city gets the nod, if they do it. I wonder if it would detract attention from one event or the other--having both in the same city at the same time.
 
Last edited:
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

Lacrosse already does this with having the DI, DII and DII championships all on the same site on the same weekend. This year the DI games are on 5/26 & 28 and the DII and DII games are on 5/27. I think this is a good idea as more fans will be in attendance and will be exposed to more games with no down days. It could become a 4-day affair showcasing the best teams in all divisions. The traditional cities that have hosted the FF have a number of rinks that could be used for practices so I don't think there would be an issue with teams needing practice facilities. For example when MSG is finished with it renovation in NYC, the twin rinks at Chelsea Piers a few blocks away could be used as a practice facility. In Denver, the two rinks at DU could be used for practice with the games being held at the Pepsi Center downtown. Minnesota, Boston, etc. have more than enough rinks where practices could be held. I like the idea.
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

JF_Gophers said:
DIII Teams could play at a local HS rink on the same weekend. It's not like they have more then 5 fans.
Click to expand...

LOL. Yeah, provided this is happening some place where there is high school hockey. There sure isn't at any high school in Nebraska (although there has been recent, serious discussion about this).
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

FlagDUDE08 said:
Take a trip to the northeast (specifically NY and VT) and you'll find you are sorely mistaken. ;)
Click to expand...

Look, I'm a D1 fan. I've followed Merrimack and Maine for over 25 years now. I also love hockey and have gone to several D3 games each year. I've had friends play for Norwich and several play for NESCAC schools. With the exception of Norwich, Middlebury, Plattsburg, Oswego, D3 crowds are very sparse. Also, even if you get everyone who goes to those games to follow their team to the Frozen Four, that's 2000 per team.
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

Red Cows said:
Omaha's unique situation, having two large arenas so close together (well, Columbus could pull this off, too), with hotels and the city's entertainment district also very close by was something the city thought the the NCAA would bite on. They didn't. I forget who did get the bid and what year, specifically, but it was obviously since the Centurylink Center was built, so, in the last decade or so.
Click to expand...

It would work for Minneapolis/St. Paul (Xcel and either Mariucci/Ridder or Target Center), and I'm sure there are other cities for which it could work.

EDIT: Duh, Boston would be one, with TD Banknorth, Agganis, Conte Forum, and Matthews, among other smaller arenas.
 
Last edited:
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

irishfan85 said:
Look, I'm a D1 fan. I've followed Merrimack and Maine for over 25 years now. I also love hockey and have gone to several D3 games each year. I've had friends play for Norwich and several play for NESCAC schools. With the exception of Norwich, Middlebury, Plattsburgh, Oswego, D3 crowds are very sparse. Also, even if you get everyone who goes to those games to follow their team to the Frozen Four, that's 2000 per team.
Click to expand...

Consider me spoiled by locations, then. I'm used to seeing a good deal of community support for the local hockey team.
 
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

FlagDUDE08 said:
Consider me spoiled by locations, then. I'm used to seeing a good deal of community support for the local hockey team.
Click to expand...

Yes. Oswego averages probably about 2600. Plattsburg has a capacity of 2000 and change and sells out a lot. Norwich and Middlebury do well. Who else averages over 2000? And Norwich and Middlebury are averaging a lot less than 2000. There are some other consistently good teams (Hobart) who don't get 500.
 
Last edited:
Re: DIII Championships to merge with DI FF starting in 2015?

One common thread I notice with the top 7 (the only communities where I'm not too familiar are Geneseo, and Norwich if it wasn't for an Across the Fence special) is that they are tight-knit communities that are willing to offer strong support. I'm not sure how well they travel (aside from the four that IF85 mentioned).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top