Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

[4four4]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

What's funny is USCHO's resident "it's time now for Big 10 hockey conference", long before the conference ever existed was a huge Iowa guy. I hope he's enjoying his conference.

What was his name again? Larry something.

 

[Patman]

What was his name again? Larry something.

Larry E Bloom

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

Master level troll, or just a stupid person? Can't decide.

Given the poster, I'm pretty sure it is both. A very, very stupid person trying to troll.

 

[camilo]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

I wrote:

I know nothing about Iowa sports, couldn't care less about the Big 10 hockey conference. But 20 years is a long time and these sort of "decisions" tend to be revisited over the years. Is hockey popular in high school and/or juniors in Iowa? Are there any lower division or college club teams?

In late 1957/early 1958 Minnesota head coach John Mariucci proposed a new western college hockey league and suggested that Marquette, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Creighton and Drake could all start hockey programs, as each city where the schools are located had state of the art facilitates. Only Wisconsin actually added a hockey program.

Sean

I think there are 8 "high school hockey" teams in Iowa, and those aren't from any one high school, but combinations of entire metro areas (1 Sioux City team, 2 DM teams, etc.). So no, not popular. Haven't produced a lot of prospects. The AHL's Iowa Wild have been moderately popular playing in Des Moines. The ISU club team is ACHA D1, but the U of I is not, and I think that fairly reflects the popularity of each program. Iowa is chock-full of D3 schools, but there is no D3 hockey in those schools. Iowa's one real sign of hockey popularity is the USHL teams, but there isn't one in Iowa City, so I don't think you can take the USHL's success as a sign that D1 hockey would be popular in the state.
For years, I think ISU has been looked at as a better possibility than Iowa. Even before Barta's announcement, I don't think many people thought this was going far.

Makes me wonder why anyone ever thought that Iowa would be one of the potential Big 10 hockey schools. Seems about as unlikely as could be.

Minnesota people aren't that bright. The University of Iowa is in Des Moines, Iowa State is in Iowa City. The two are 113 miles apart. What good does it do for a hockey facility to be built next to Iowa City? Stop drinking the bong water....

Just re-posted for fun. Even I know where UI and ISU are, and I haven't been to the state since, maybe, 1977.

 

[fr. joe]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

Minnesota people aren't that bright. The University of Iowa is in Des Moines, Iowa State is in Iowa City. The two are 113 miles apart. What good does it do for a hockey facility to be built next to Iowa City? Stop drinking the bong water....

Bet UMICH knows Iowa like he knows the palm of his hand. Psst. Use the palm of your right hand.

 

[4four4]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

What the AD should say, we don't want to fundraise $20 to $25 million dollars for men's and women's scholarships in order for this idea to correctly work.

 

[Jesus of Suburbia]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

I know nothing about Iowa sports, couldn't care less about the Big 10 hockey conference. But 20 years is a long time and these sort of "decisions" tend to be revisited over the years. Is hockey popular in high school and/or juniors in Iowa? Are there any lower division or college club teams?

I grow up in Minnesota and spent my undergrad in small college in Iowa. Every Iowa resident at my college thought it was weird that there was something called high school hockey. I believe hockey is not a recognize sport in Iowa high school leagues.

 

[unofan]

I think there are 8 "high school hockey" teams in Iowa, and those aren't from any one high school, but combinations of entire metro areas (1 Sioux City team, 2 DM teams, etc.). So no, not popular. Haven't produced a lot of prospects. The AHL's Iowa Wild have been moderately popular playing in Des Moines. The ISU club team is ACHA D1, but the U of I is not, and I think that fairly reflects the popularity of each program. Iowa is chock-full of D3 schools, but there is no D3 hockey in those schools. Iowa's one real sign of hockey popularity is the USHL teams, but there isn't one in Iowa City, so I don't think you can take the USHL's success as a sign that D1 hockey would be popular in the state.
For years, I think ISU has been looked at as a better possibility than Iowa. Even before Barta's announcement, I don't think many people thought this was going far.

There's a house high school league in Des Moines that has six teams, I think, so some schools double up. But otherwise, you're correct in your assessment. It's telling that Des Moines has essentially three public sheets at two rinks, one of which closes in the summer and the other is down for repairs about once every couple of months.

A men's team would draw fine, but probably not enough to offset the costs of the women's team.

 

[4four4]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

There's a house high school league in Des Moines that has six teams, I think, so some schools double up. But otherwise, you're correct in your assessment. It's telling that Des Moines has essentially three public sheets at two rinks, one of which closes in the summer and the other is down for repairs about once every couple of months.

A men's team would draw fine, but probably not enough to offset the costs of the women's team.

Start a rowing team.

 

[SCBlueLiner]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

Hockey isn't as popular of a sport in Iowa as it is in Minnesota but participation rates are similar to what they are in North Dakota. Youth hockey programs exist in the following Iowa cities: Dubuque, Quad Cities, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Iowa City, Mason City, Ames, Des Moines, Okoboji, Sioux Center, Sioux City, and Council Bluffs (Omaha). High school is not sponsored by the IHSAA but it does exist on the club level and the league (MWHSHL) has been around for over 40 years with high school programs in: Dubuque, Quad Cities, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Mason City, Ames, Des Moines (2), Sioux City, and Council Bluffs (Omaha). Sioux Center plays in the South Dakota League and Okoboji will this year as well. In addition both Des Moines and Omaha have Metro High School leagues that operate as a "House" league. Collegiately there are club teams at Iowa, Iowa State, and Dordt College (used to be one at Drake, don't know if it still exists). The most notable hockey in Iowa is played at the USHL level with teams in Dubuque, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Sioux City, and Omaha/Council Bluffs. There is also and NA3HL team in Mason City. ECHL team in the Quad Cities Mallards. Finally, the AHL Iowa Wild.

Okay, so that is the run down of hockey in Iowa. Basically there are programs in pretty much every city with a population greater than 25,000 with the exception of Fort Dodge and a majority of these programs have been around for over 40 years. The sport is not something new to Iowa.

My take on Iowa AD Barta's comments is that he said what he said because now is not the time that he wants to stoke the fire for hockey at Iowa. Coralville isn't building that arena with every concept art drawing flying Iowa banners and colors because they think the club team is going to fill 6,000+ seats though. I think the real intent is for Iowa to field a D1 Varsity program at some point here. It's just that now is not the right time for the AD to roll that news out. Iowa just built a new football facility and there are plans in the works for an endzone renovation at Kinnick Stadium. That project is going to take priority first. Announcing a fundraiser for a stadium project and also announcing a fundraiser for Iowa hockey at the same time is going to hurt the fundraising for the hockey side of things, or maybe both projects. These things are done in stages. Operationally, the Iowa athletic department just hit a windfall with the new Big Ten TV contracts that will bump the payout up from $30 million to $50 million. That's a lot of money to spread around. Financially, Iowa should be able to afford hockey having one of the 15 highest revenue producing athletic departments in the country.

TL;DR - Condensed version: the State of Iowa has a long history in hockey. A hockey arena is being built in town. The Big Ten needs teams. Iowa has money. I attribute AD's comments to timing, expect Iowa to have D1 hockey someday.

 

[MavHockey14]

Minnesota people aren't that bright. The University of Iowa is in Des Moines, Iowa State is in Iowa City. The two are 113 miles apart. What good does it do for a hockey facility to be built next to Iowa City? Stop drinking the bong water....

lol just saw this now.

Well, my football season tickets tell me different.. I wouldn't want to know where Iowa City is either considering the UM football team's last decade against Iowa.

Even if this is a troll job, what a moran.

 

[MavHockey14]

I think there are 8 "high school hockey" teams in Iowa, and those aren't from any one high school, but combinations of entire metro areas (1 Sioux City team, 2 DM teams, etc.). So no, not popular. Haven't produced a lot of prospects. The AHL's Iowa Wild have been moderately popular playing in Des Moines. The ISU club team is ACHA D1, but the U of I is not, and I think that fairly reflects the popularity of each program. Iowa is chock-full of D3 schools, but there is no D3 hockey in those schools. Iowa's one real sign of hockey popularity is the USHL teams, but there isn't one in Iowa City, so I don't think you can take the USHL's success as a sign that D1 hockey would be popular in the state.
For years, I think ISU has been looked at as a better possibility than Iowa. Even before Barta's announcement, I don't think many people thought this was going far.

FWIW, with the new arena being built, a USHL or AHL team is expected to play in that arena.

 

[SCBlueLiner]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

FWIW, with the new arena being built, a USHL or AHL team is expected to play in that arena.

I don't think it will be a USHL team since putting one in IC/Coralville will infringe on the Cedar Rapids Roughriders territory. Cedar Rapids and Coralville are under 25 miles apart. I doubt it will be AHL either. ECHL maybe. The arena concept was sold as a place for Iowa hockey. They specifically mentioned Iowa Club hockey but I fail to see a club team filling 6,000 seats. I really believe it will end up being an Iowa D1 program filling that building someday.

 

[Dirty Dream No. 2]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

Minnesota people aren't that bright. The University of Iowa is in Des Moines, Iowa State is in Iowa City.

Classic Blue fan. Wanna take another crack at that?

 

[4four4]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

Minnesota people aren't that bright. The University of Iowa is in Des Moines, Iowa State is in Iowa City. The two are 113 miles apart. What good does it do for a hockey facility to be built next to Iowa City? Stop drinking the bong water....

With this reasoning Ames must be where Drake is located.

 

[4four4]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

Classic Blue fan. Wanna take another crack at that?

More like crack pipe.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

I don't think it will be a USHL team since putting one in IC/Coralville will infringe on the Cedar Rapids Roughriders territory. Cedar Rapids and Coralville are under 25 miles apart. I doubt it will be AHL either. ECHL maybe. The arena concept was sold as a place for Iowa hockey. They specifically mentioned Iowa Club hockey but I fail to see a club team filling 6,000 seats. I really believe it will end up being an Iowa D1 program filling that building someday.

The Iowa club program plays at the corallville mall - rink. Yes, they have a rink in the mall. I know, my brother-in-law manages that rink. He can't even keep the ice hard in the summer as it is open directly to the food court and there are high windows adjacent. I've skated on it in summer and it is soft. His management won't close off the food court. but it is used heavily for figure skating training, youth hockey, the club team etc., so there is interest there.

Bottom line I doubt the new arena was for the club team and yes I agree that it was for a D1 program and you are right about the rough riders. I have been to that rink and they have good crowds for the rough riders.

*******http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8053184341_1d71c87887_z.jpg********

 

[UMICH]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

Minnesota people aren't that bright. The University of Iowa is in Des Moines, Iowa State is in Iowa City. The two are 113 miles apart. What good does it do for a hockey facility to be built next to Iowa City? Stop drinking the bong water....

Ok, I just noticed that I have taken a significant amount of heat for this comment and deservedly so. My bad. My real, real bad. One corn-field looks like another, Mea culpa...

 

[UncleRay]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

One corn-field looks like another, Mea culpa...

Doesn't that imply that there is more than one cornfield? I thought it was all one giant cornfield.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Hockey isn't happening for the Hawkeyes

Doesn't that imply that there is more than one cornfield? I thought it was all one giant cornfield.

I-35 runs north and south while I-80 runs east and west, so there are actually four corn fields.