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If Atlantic Hockey Accepts UAH, They're the New College Hockey America

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
*sees fuel*

*grabs matches*

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2021/03/23_Atlantic-Hockey-Exploring.php

UAH and LIU. And Navy, if everyone’s been reading the tea leaves (and varying reports from generally credible college hockey reporters) correctly.

And this time it’s not a bunch of us guessing on forums and twitter, or some jamoke with a blog.

Its the AHA commish floating the idea to AHA ADs.
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Navy is still likely a LONG way off, especially now with pandemic federal budget deficits. Although I do remember hearing that when Navy built the McMullen Hockey Arena, it was constructed with Atlantic Hockey specs in mind and with space for expandable seating if/when the program moved to NCAA DI from its current ACHA DI level.

The 14th AHA program might be Lindenwood (Mo), It's just about the worst kept secret in College Hockey right now. In that case the conference could work a schedule focused on split divisions with a West Division and East Division. LU-RMU-Mercyhurst-Canisius-Niagara-RIT-UAH = 7 and LIU-Bentley-Holy Cross-AIC-SHU-Army-Air Force (Keep Service academies in same div).

When LU originally started men's and women's hockey, the university explored playing NCAA DI hockey while maintaining NAIA affiliation for the other sports. Article Here from 2004: https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2004/04/22_lindenwood.php They eventually went NCAA for the entire athletic department and joined the CHA for women's hockey. The LU Ice Arena was not DI men's hockey ready so until the Centene Center, men have continued to play ACHA DI. They have history with CHA partners from the women's side with schools like RMU, Hurst, and RIT. Plus they'd be manageable travel with UAH. Although the CCHA would likely be LU's preferred home, having a conference would be preferred to going independent (ASU is really an exception being in a travel friendly, tourist hub.)
 
Hockey East will probably add a 12th team at some point. So, Atlantic Hockey, please load up. Take everyone you can. And when the dust settles maybe one of those programs becomes a candidate for Hockey East like UConn.

Would love to see Navy join Army and Air Force. Current Navy AD is Chet Gladchuk, who was the BC AD before that. He hired Jerry York after the Mike Milbury fiasco. Without knowing when/if Navy starts a program, LIU certainly seems like the most logical addition for Atlantic Hockey.
 
J.D. said:
Hockey East will probably add a 12th team at some point... when the dust settles maybe one of those programs becomes a candidate for Hockey East like UConn.
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My money would be on Holy Cross eventually moving to Hockey East. Seems like an odd move from a success stand point, but their D-I women's team already plays in Hockey East so they'll have some pull in spite of their lack of on-ice success.
 
At this point, we assume that the men's side of the WCHA is done, however what is the official status? Has anyone heard any rumblings? UAF is a member and UAA is technically without hockey for now unless they can find more funding. What is UAH's official status? Did they ever withdraw their letter of intent to leave the WCHA when they were not invited to the CCHA?
 
JohnsonsJerseys said:
My money would be on Holy Cross eventually moving to Hockey East. Seems like an odd move from a success stand point, but their D-I women's team already plays in Hockey East so they'll have some pull in spite of their lack of on-ice success.
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I've been wondering if Holy Cross might not drop men's hockey at some point soon. Mind you, THIS ISN'T A PREDICTION. But two consecutive head coaches have left the program for a demotion or unspecified other opportunities. HC has been tightening the athletic budget for decades now. Makes you wonder.
 
Q will eventually willingly join HEA or get booted from the ECAC for Phoenix University-level academics. They were born for Hockey East.
 
JohnsonsJerseys said:
At this point, we assume that the men's side of the WCHA is done, however what is the official status? Has anyone heard any rumblings? UAF is a member and UAA is technically without hockey for now unless they can find more funding. What is UAH's official status? Did they ever withdraw their letter of intent to leave the WCHA when they were not invited to the CCHA?
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WCHA 2.0 is done. Alaska announced an independent schedule for 2021-22. Huntsville hasn't announced what they're doing, except opting out of the conference. If Fairbanks is somehow saved, they'll also have to go the independent route. My guess is that there will be one last meeting where the member schools will vote to dissolve the conference and make it official.
 
njmav1 said:
WCHA 2.0 is done. Alaska announced an independent schedule for 2021-22. Huntsville hasn't announced what they're doing, except opting out of the conference. If Fairbanks is somehow saved, they'll also have to go the independent route. My guess is that there will be one last meeting where the member schools will vote to dissolve the conference and make it official.
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UAH is making their pitch to Atlantic, which will discuss expansion at their June meetings. If they expand, they may add up to three: UAH, Long Island, and/or a third (which is suspected to be Navy finally going varsity). If we don't get in, we're done for good.
 
UAHStatman said:
UAH is making their pitch to Atlantic, which will discuss expansion at their June meetings. If they expand, they may add up to three: UAH, Long Island, and/or a third (which is suspected to be Navy finally going varsity). If we don't get in, we're done for good.
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it's from february but i think LU has a better chance than navy...

"Lindenwood University To Add Division I NCAA Hockey"

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2021/02/lindenwood-university-to-add-division-i-ncaa-hockey.html
 
ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
There are definitely some question marks with Lindenwood (the AD refuting the story and making it seem like the consultant released something without approval).
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Lindenwood is apparently getting commitments from players saying they are joining their NCAA Division I program: https://twitter.com/hashtag/SamePrideNewHunt
It makes me think they should just announce the thing already.

As I understand it, Atlantic's wanted Navy for a while and has just been waiting on Navy to pull the trigger on going varsity. I'm hoping Navy does go varsity, and AHA takes them, Long Island, and UAH. Then they can spread the travel among the 12 northeast teams to Huntsville or Air Force, making it a rule that no one in the Northeast goes to UAH or Air Force in the same season.

I can't believe Atlantic would consider Lindenwood, at least before Navy, if travel is a chief concern on any decision they make regarding expansion.
 
UAHStatman said:
I can't believe Atlantic would consider Lindenwood, at least before Navy, if travel is a chief concern on any decision they make regarding expansion.
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Why not? And why would Atlantic Hockey prefer UAH?

Lindenwood already has a women's program and the only question on the men's side is when will be their first season.
 
njmav1 said:
Why not? And why would Atlantic Hockey prefer UAH?

Lindenwood already has a women's program and the only question on the men's side is when will be their first season.
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Because Lindenwood is in Missouri, which is a lot further away from the core of the conference than Annapolis, Maryland.

I'm not saying Atlantic would prefer UAH over anyone except Lindenwood because of distance. And even then, I think UAH's chances are behind Navy and Long Island.
 
ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
Did UAH ever pay a travel stipend in CHA or WCHA 2.0?
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I don't know about the CHA, but in the WCHA, UAH, Alaska, and Alaska Anchorage each chipped in to pay the extra travel costs to the rest of the league for traveling to Alabama or Alaska.

UAH is offering to pay $25,000 per series to Atlantic teams coming down to Huntsville.

I don't mean to downplay Lindenwood, by the way. It's just that this is how far UAH is willing to go to get the AHA, a Northeastern league with a team already in Colorado, just to consider putting Alabama on their schools' itineraries. Adding Missouri feels like a taller order.
 
UAHStatman said:
Because Lindenwood is in Missouri, which is a lot further away from the core of the conference than Annapolis, Maryland.

I'm not saying Atlantic would prefer UAH over anyone except Lindenwood because of distance. And even then, I think UAH's chances are behind Navy and Long Island.
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It's about a 2 1/2 hour difference from Annapolis. But I don't think it matters. If travel distance is an issue, both schools are not a fit. If program stability is more important, then I'd go with Lindenwood over UAH.
 
If we really are talking about LIU, Navy, UAH, & Lindenwood, and no one is departing for Hockey East, then perhaps we ought to be thinking along the lines of a second conference. The Hudson River seems like a logical boundary with the military academies sticking with the Eastern teams.

Two autobids is better than one.
 
Leather Lungs said:
If we really are talking about LIU, Navy, UAH, & Lindenwood, and no one is departing for Hockey East, then perhaps we ought to be thinking along the lines of a second conference. The Hudson River seems like a logical boundary with the military academies sticking with the Eastern teams.

Two autobids is better than one.
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heck... for the sake of college hockey, and the non-traditional power of these teams, i would be ok with a 13-, 14-, or 15-team conference that had two bids...

GO TECH GOLD!
 
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