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Ivy League standing alone?

In some ways, the ECAC is really the Ivy League with a contingent of schools that aspire to that level of academia. QU is an outlier in that they aspire to be a big school which is why they are rumored for Hockey East - join the big and state schools of the east. They'd be a good fit geographically and philosophically, and would compete for league championships from day one. Holy Cross, as an Ivy pretender, I imagine would salivate at joining their league. And they'd fit right in.
Only if they upgrade their women.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

I sense a flaw in this theory.

Is there anyone with connections to an Ivy school on this thread? It would be interesting to here from someone who may have some real knowledge about the thinking of the Ivies and their future in the ECAC.
All this speculation is fun, but is there any reason to believe that the Ivies will pull out and go it alone any time soon? Just wonderin'.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

Is there anyone with connections to an Ivy school on this thread? It would be interesting to here from someone who may have some real knowledge about the thinking of the Ivies and their future in the ECAC.
All this speculation is fun, but is there any reason to believe that the Ivies will pull out and go it alone any time soon? Just wonderin'.

Goto 1.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

Is there anyone with connections to an Ivy school on this thread? It would be interesting to here from someone who may have some real knowledge about the thinking of the Ivies and their future in the ECAC.
All this speculation is fun, but is there any reason to believe that the Ivies will pull out and go it alone any time soon? Just wonderin'.

It's not happening any time soon as there is really zero incentive for the powers that be in Ivy League to do so. You have to realize that the Ivy League isn't that big a fan of post-season tournaments and thus the idea to split to get an extra bid to NCAA is very misinformed. This is highlighted best not by the fact that the Ivy League only now is going to a 4 team basketball tournament after a ton of pressure to do so, but by the fact that Ivy League football still remains ineligible to play in post-season NCAA DI-FCS football championship.

The only way it might ever happen would be if BOTH Penn and Columbia added D1 programs (hence all ivy schools had a team). While I guess Penn could, I don't see Columbia doing it at any time in near future and short of that the Hockey Ivies will stay in ECAC.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

The only way a split happens is if there is an opportunity to make gobs of money outside the current ECAC arrangement. Start with a Game of the Week on cable. Maximize corporate soonsors (the ECHC Championships sponsored by Carrier. The Ivy League Championships sponsored by JP Morgan). Sell your souls for money.

Then split.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

Yale Coach Allain was quoted Sunday in the New Haven Register concerning this matter.


• The Ivy League has no interest in breaking off from ECAC Hockey. It’s a rumor that surfaces every year, Yale coach Keith Allain told me earlier this week, with absolutely no substance or logic. Ivy members are in complete agreement that there’s nothing to gain from separating themselves from the league, now firmly established as one of the best in the country.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

Well actually Army's a good fit but they come saddled with Air Force and that just doesn't work.

As a season ticket holder at Army, I can tell you they have absolutely no interest in leaving the AHA. They never fit into the ECAC and would have no desire to go there now. The only mild advantage for Army would be a slight spike in attendance because of the number of alumni of the ECAC technology schools in the Hudson Valley. Honestly, Army's attendance doesn't suck anyway.

As far as being "saddled to Air Force", that actually isn't true. If Army left the AHA, Air Force would likely look to go to the NCHC or WCHA. Army would just schedule non-conference games against USAFA each year (and those games sell out). Army can compete in the AHA despite the major recruiting disadvantages. They're happy where they are.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

The only way a split happens is if there is an opportunity to make gobs of money outside the current ECAC arrangement. Start with a Game of the Week on cable. Maximize corporate soonsors (the ECHC Championships sponsored by Carrier. The Ivy League Championships sponsored by JP Morgan). Sell your souls for money.

Then split.

If there was any market appetite for this the ECAC would already be doing it.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

The only reason this should happen if enough schools want to join college hockey and the conferences all have too many teams. So if Buffalo, Rhode Island, Syracuse, & Albany all started college hockey programs. If Pennsylvanian started a hockey program than it could make sense. But for now the ECAC is really good shape.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

Kep, I'm not so sure. For years I've believed the ECAC marketing department is a Junior Achievement project.

That's an insult to all Junior Achievement projects. When Albany had the ECAC's, the city did quite a bit to market it (or the owners of the TUC/Pepsi/Knick, I'm not really sure who did.). When they were back in LP (before the current contract), the village was abuzz with "it's ECAC weekend". There is a market; just need to find the right sponsors.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

The only reason this should happen if enough schools want to join college hockey and the conferences all have too many teams. So if Buffalo, Rhode Island, Syracuse, & Albany all started college hockey programs. If Pennsylvanian started a hockey program than it could make sense. But for now the ECAC is really good shape.

Buffalo, URI, SU and Albany are all a better fit for the HEA than the ECAC. Unless you're talking Buffalo State, which would be a better fit for the AHA.

The 4 D-1 SUNY schools have no interest or following in intercollegiate athletics. I was sitting in a sports bar several years ago when the Great Danes were in the NCAA tourney (waiting for the ECAC hockey tournament to start) and there was only a passing interest in the UofA game. Honestly, I could see Siena or Marist taking a shot at NCAA hockey before any of the SUNY schools, which is unfortunate because I think Binghamton and Buffalo could have a market.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

When Albany had the ECAC's, the city did quite a bit to market it (or the owners of the TUC/Pepsi/Knick, I'm not really sure who did.).
I was there the last year the ECAC's were at the TUC. Other than the fan fest in front on Pearl St, there was nothing around town to promote the tourney. As a matter of fact, when Dunkin Donuts is closed at noon on a Saturday in Albany, there's a problem.

That said, this weekend was a much nicer experience than those ECAC's were. I was impressed by what the TUC did. The city was still a ghost town save for the bars and pubs, but when you're with young kids that gets problematic.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

I was there the last year the ECAC's were at the TUC. Other than the fan fest in front on Pearl St, there was nothing around town to promote the tourney. As a matter of fact, when Dunkin Donuts is closed at noon on a Saturday in Albany, there's a problem.

That said, this weekend was a much nicer experience than those ECAC's were. I was impressed by what the TUC did. The city was still a ghost town save for the bars and pubs, but when you're with young kids that gets problematic.

I would assume your experience was because it was the last year in Albany. They always had ECAC banners around town on the light poles, information in hotels, etc. etc. I remember the one ECAC tournament where I got snowed in... I went to get a hotel for the night (just outside of the city) and they knew all about the hockey tournament and had flyers and such in the lobby.

Albany is a ghost town on the weekends even when it isn't Easter. Government closes early on Friday afternoon and you don't see anyone back until Monday.
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

Is there anyone with connections to an Ivy school on this thread? It would be interesting to here from someone who may have some real knowledge about the thinking of the Ivies and their future in the ECAC.
All this speculation is fun, but is there any reason to believe that the Ivies will pull out and go it alone any time soon? Just wonderin'.

“Having commonly five conferences, soon to be six conferences, and you may one day have the Ivy League spinning out for seven conferences, what you get is very parochial interests,” Kelly said.

Source - http://unitedstatesofhockey.com/2012/02/24/paul-kelly-explains-surprise-resignation-what-comes-next/
 
Re: Ivy League standing alone?

Outside of maybe Holy Cross - who don't have a women's hockey team - I don't think there's a good fit for a replacement team. (Well actually Army's a good fit but they come saddled with Air Force and that just doesn't work.)

*cough*RIT*cough*
 
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