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Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

So Willie, list the reasons. I for one think is sad to see old rivalries go by the way side. I will be interested to see what the reasons are.
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

CROSBYNU63 said:
So Willie, list the reasons. I for one think is sad to see old rivalries go by the way side. I will be interested to see what the reasons are.
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Just curious but the way people are talking it sounds like a done deal. I personally liked the interlock arrangement because it offered a variety of quality teams on the schedule. If the interlock is broken I wonder how long it is going to take the east to restructure possible adding new teams and making a decision of what to do with the D2's. I agree with CROSBYNU63 that if the interlock goes Norwich will probable seldom play teams such as Tufts, Wesleyan, Conn College, Colby, and Hamilton.

However with all the injuries Norwich had last year an earlier start time for the Hockey season could allow the coach to bring the team along a little slower and possible reduce the injury factor.
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

CROSBYNU63 said:
. . I for one think is sad to see old rivalries go by the way side. I will be interested to see what the reasons are.
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This is a tough one to call. If indeed the interlock does go, it will be sad to see the old rivalries go with the teams that have long been in the ECAC East (Norwich, Babson, Salem, NEC, UMass Boston, St. A). But then again there are a lot of not so old rivalries (Skidmore, Castleton, UNE, St. Mike's, USM) that haven't been around very long and aren't particularly developed. On the plus side for the NESCAC, a more balanced schedule of a home-and-home series with each team in the league has a lot of appeal on many levels, including the chance to develop more defined rivalries within the NESCAC.
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

I think the interlock is dead, with the economy all travel and expenses by teams will be scrutinized and that means traveling to play teams that are not in the NESCAC "Profile" will be tough to justify.

If the interlock is over, I hope the East cuts the D-2 programs loose, picks up Wentworth and Curry and continues as a strong conference. If they want to do a double round robin that would work, but a fun idea may be to start an interlock with the west then maybe they could keep their D-II schools as well.......

NESCAC is too cool for everyone again!
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

3rdLiner said:
I think the interlock is dead, with the economy all travel and expenses by teams will be scrutinized and that means traveling to play teams that are not in the NESCAC "Profile" will be tough to justify. . .
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If the interlock is to be sliced, it will not be for cost savings reasons as a home-and-home series will require roughly the same amount of travel. Actually, a switch to the home-and-home NESCAC schedule may require more travel for some of the NESCAC schools. After all, many of the ECAC East schools--St. A's, USM, UNE, NEC, Babson, Salem, and UMass-Boston--are closer to Bowdoin and Colby than all the other NESCAC schools except for Tufts.
 
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Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

d3follower said:
If the interlock is to be sliced, it will not be for cost savings reasons as a home-and-home series will require roughly the same amount of travel. Actually, a switch to the home-and-home NESCAC schedule may actually require more travel for some of the NESCAC schools. After all, many of the ECAC East schools--St. A's, USM, UNE, NEC, Babson, Salem, and UMass-Boston--are closer to Bowdoin and Colby than all the other NESCAC schools except for Tufts.
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Costs maybe the same but I am sure the NESCAC schools see more value in having Midd in their building every year compared to Umass or Castleton.


If the East stayed in tack and added Curry Wentworth, and two other teams then did an interlock with the west they would be at 21 games? a possibility.
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

d3follower said:
If the interlock is to be sliced, it will not be for cost savings reasons as a home-and-home series will require roughly the same amount of travel. Actually, a switch to the home-and-home NESCAC schedule may require more travel for some of the NESCAC schools. After all, many of the ECAC East schools--St. A's, USM, UNE, NEC, Babson, Salem, and UMass-Boston--are closer to Bowdoin and Colby than all the other NESCAC schools except for Tufts.
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Who???? :D
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

joecct said:
Who???? :D
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We all realize Salem if given a choice would still be in the ECAC East. Isn't this right?

Another thing if the interlock is broken Colby/Bowdoin may be unable to schedule two other in-state D3 ECAC East schools, UNE/SM. One is improving and the other a good established program. With only 5 teams in the ECAC West an interlock schedule with the ECAC East could make sence only requiring one road trip to Western New York each year and some tough teams to the schedule. A little far out but could be good for both leagues.
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

I just hope this doesn't go the way of NESCAC football. I'm not that big a football fan, but the old NU/Midd football rivalry was a really good thing. I'd hate to see THE GAME go away in hockey. Not only that, what about the Primelink? Would that be in Jeopardy?

Bad idea, NESCAC, Bad idea:mad:
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

Hey guys, remember: we still have at least 5 days before any decisions are made. If you REALLY don't want the Interlock to end, there's still a chance. It's not like they voted yesterday and it's a done deal.

Don't mourn for the loss of one who is not yet dead.
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

CARDS_rule_the_Burgh said:
Hey guys, remember: we still have at least 5 days before any decisions are made. If you REALLY don't want the Interlock to end, there's still a chance. It's not like they voted yesterday and it's a done deal.

Don't mourn for the loss of one who is not yet dead.
Click to expand...

The handwriting is on the wall - hopefully it was done in chalk and could be washed off, but I'm not optimistic. This decision could have far reaching consequences...
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

Oh my, lots of drama here!

Apart from the dissolution of the NESCAC/ECAC-E Pick 'Em and the Interlock LPS I see mostly positives coming out of this. Hey, change is good. The excitement of home-home series each season, increases in crowd size (NESCAC v NESCAC always draw higher than NESCAC v ECAC with the exception of Norwich), and hopefully the NESCAC can generate the same inter-conference enegry that I see in the ECAC-W. The same now holds true for the ECAC as they can cultivate the same inter-conference rivalries and still have enough schedule wiggle to maintain traditional rivalries.

It's a win-win all around!
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

WillieC said:
Oh my, lots of drama here!

Apart from the dissolution of the NESCAC/ECAC-E Pick 'Em and the Interlock LPS I see mostly positives coming out of this. Hey, change is good. The excitement of home-home series each season, increases in crowd size (NESCAC v NESCAC always draw higher than NESCAC v ECAC with the exception of Norwich), and hopefully the NESCAC can generate the same inter-conference enegry that I see in the ECAC-W. The same now holds true for the ECAC as they can cultivate the same inter-conference rivalries and still have enough schedule wiggle to maintain traditional rivalries.

It's a win-win all around!
Click to expand...

Unless the NESCAC goes totally insular like they did in football...
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

NUProf said:
The handwriting is on the wall - hopefully it was done in chalk and could be washed off, but I'm not optimistic. This decision could have far reaching consequences...
Click to expand...

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Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

Is the ECAC W still in limbo? Are they going to try and lure someone to their conference?
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

MountieBoyOz said:
Is the ECAC W still in limbo? Are they going to try and lure someone to their conference?
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As of right now, they have 1 more year with Pool B. Once the MASCAC gets its AQ, unless something else changes that will be gone and the conference will need to try to get a team in pool C every year... quite a tall order.

They've said year in and year out that they're trying to get new programs or existing programs into their conference, but there have been no results so far. The loss of LVC makes 5 teams... If Manhattanville ever goes the way of its womens team and joins the ECAC-East, that'll make 4. Just look at the CHA to see how well THAT works out.

Now if, as has been suggested, the ECAC-East boots the DIIs and lures Curry and Wentworth in, the ECAC-West will be fine, because that would mean two things for them:
1) Manhattaville stays
2) (and perhaps most importantly) Pool B stays, because the ECAC-Northeast would be 6 teams, leaving them without an AQ.


An interlock with the ECAC-East has been suggested, as well. That would be interesting to see, but it might not be a benefit to either conference, and it DEFINITELY wouldn't change the AQ/Pool B situation. Now, do that interlock AND move Skidmore and Castleton (who are the 2 closest to the other ECAC-West teams) to the ECAC-West for postseason purposes, and that would be a WONDERFUL idea. Besides, I think the ECAC-East/NESCAC worked well mostly because they had an equal number of teams. I would think that, if they were going to do an interlock (which I still wouldn't think would really benefit either conference), the best way to do it would be to shuffle around members to balance out the 2 conferences. But then this idea likely puts the ECAC-NE in limbo worse than the ECAC-W already is... what are the odds a NE team makes pool C with any regularity, really?


The state of the ECAC DIII Hockey as a whole is a mess, and most especially in the ECAC-West. Perhaps your term, "limbo", is the best way to describe it... It saddens me to see this conference left there, beaten and dying.
 
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Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

CARDS_rule_the_Burgh said:
The state of the ECAC DIII Hockey as a whole is a mess, and most especially in the ECAC-West. Perhaps your term, "limbo", is the best way to describe it... It saddens me to see this conference left there, beaten and dying.
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Blame RIT :cool:
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

NUProf said:
Blame RIT :cool:
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Honestly, if RIT hadn't gone DI, LVC's program might have folded sooner, or it might be just folding now, as it is. I don't think the ECAC-West would be ANY better right now if RIT had stayed. Except maybe having a little more of a chance to get a team in as a Pool C bid.
 
Re: Eastern D-III hockey -- where do we go from here???

Here's an idea. Ridiculous, never gonna happen, but it's an idea:

ECAC-East boots the DIIs.
Utica, Manhattanville, and Neumann join the ECAC-East.
That gives ECAC E 11 teams. Hom-and-home schedule makes 20 games, leaving 5 OOC games

Elmira and Hobart join the MCHA. That gives them 10 teams. Home-and-homes makes 18 game. Because travel in this MCHA conference would be ridiculous, travel partners would be logical:
Hobart-Elmira
Adrian-Lake Forest
MSOE-Concordia WI
Marian-Lawrence
Finlandia-Northland

This would instantly legitimize the MCHA as a viable conference, giving the MCHA Champion, and Pool C candidates, a far more impressive portfolio come selection sunday.

Pool B would disappear, because nobody would need it.


Travel for both the ECAC-East and the MCHA in this scenario would be a NIGHTMARE, but this is the only scenario I can think of that would actually benefit all involved parties. (except maybe Adrian, but who really cares about them?)




ELMIRA/HOBART TO MCHA!

:rolleyes: :p :rolleyes: :p :rolleyes: :p :D :p :rolleyes: :p :rolleyes: :p :rolleyes:
 
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