Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

[amkirby10]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Who would the Black Bears get to try and fill those two dates? AA was awful, so maybe another bottom feeder? Or would they just cancel the games completely in case of AA & AF shuttering their programs and leave a gap in the schedule and lost potential revenue from games?

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Who would the Black Bears get to try and fill those two dates? AA was awful, so maybe another bottom feeder? Or would they just cancel the games completely in case of AA & AF shuttering their programs and leave a gap in the schedule and lost potential revenue from games?

If UAA and UA fold it would be very difficult to fill those dates. There are two possibilities: Ferris State and Michigan Tech. FSU is idle on Oct 11/12 and Tech is scheduled to host Alaska. All WCHA teams would lose six games if the Alaska schools fold, so one of those two could fill in the schedule, but it'd have to happen fast.

There is talk around the Alaska Legislature of another funding source, but what they said today is that would top out at $25 million, which would still leave a $106 million hole. And that's if it is legal AND approved by the legislature. It also should be pointed out that this isn't a one-time deal. Unless reversed, these cuts are permanent. It isn't like next year Alaska is suddenly going to have money again.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

That's not guaranteed. The budget cuts go into effect NOW. The Legislature just failed to override the governor's veto (they'll apparently try again tomorrow and again Friday but it isn't going to happen) which means about 700 of the 1562 employees at UAA just got laid off. 40 degree programs just got eliminated. Students from all over Alaska had been informed that if this happened their enrollment at the school would be postponed (read: cancelled). Kind of hard to justify paying for a hockey coach and two assistants when professors are being sent packing. Not to mention the scholarship dollars that are going almost exclusively to non-Alaskan students. The athletics budget had already been cut to the bone. There's nothing left.

Anything is possible but I really don't see how the university system can move forward with athletics, much less hockey programs that take the lion's share of the department budgets at both Anchorage and Fairbanks. The programs were almost dropped three years ago and were spared. Maybe Alaska hockey can find their own Terry Pegula to bail them out.

Well from your post the clock is ticking away and the schedule could be in trouble to start the season. Maybe teams will be contacting each other for a backup plan, BUT that needs to be done sooner rather then later. Just another head ache to deal with...and I find it hard to believe other Programs will flock to come to play Maine at a expense not figured into their Budget...bottom line: MESS 101

 

[ticapnews]

Well from your post the clock is ticking away and the schedule could be in trouble to start the season. Maybe teams will be contacting each other for a backup plan, BUT that needs to be done sooner rather then later. Just another head ache to deal with...and I find it hard to believe other Programs will flock to come to play Maine at a expense not figured into their Budget...bottom line: MESS 101

It is a mess. And we won't have an idea until at least 15 July when the president of UA and the regents meet. It's unlikely resolution will come at that meeting but it will have to come soon because fall sports start in mid-August.

What helps Maine is that while neither school budgeted a trip to Orono, they also wouldn't have to travel to Alaska which frees up some money. It is all very fluid and still hypothetical. The programs could still be spared somehow.

 

[amkirby10]

If UAA and UA fold it would be very difficult to fill those dates. There are two possibilities: Ferris State and Michigan Tech. FSU is idle on Oct 11/12 and Tech is scheduled to host Alaska. All WCHA teams would lose six games if the Alaska schools fold, so one of those two could fill in the schedule, but it'd have to happen fast.

There is talk around the Alaska Legislature of another funding source, but what they said today is that would top out at $25 million, which would still leave a $106 million hole. And that's if it is legal AND approved by the legislature. It also should be pointed out that this isn't a one-time deal. Unless reversed, these cuts are permanent. It isn't like next year Alaska is suddenly going to have money again.

I figured I'd follow up here instead of clogging a thread about the WCHA by talking about Maine.

Since MTU is likely out by virtue of scheduling Maine in that slot leading to a seven game road trip to open the season, and Ferris out by virtue of playing three games in three days in two locations if they schedule Maine in that slot, only three other programs have that weekend and its immediate surroundings open (besides the Ivies, but they won't have started by then): Niagara, Boston University, and Vermont. Of those two, Niagara and Boston U haven't realeased their schedules yet, so that spot could end up filled by then for both teams. Vermont, on the other hand, released their schedule today, and after an exhibition game at the Gut on 10/5, they won't play again until a trip to both North Country schools on 10/18 and 10/19. Could a UVM/UMO out-of-conference series be in the cards to fill that spot on the schedule? It would seem to benefit both teams, by not losing the home date for Maine and Vermont not having a two week layover between their exhibition game and the season actually starting. The Black Bears and the Catamounts played OOC games against each other in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons to round out their schedules in addition to their conference games against each other. (Vermont went 4-0-0 againt Maine in non-conference play those years.) It's something I'd think they'd have to both consider in the unfortunate event that the Seawolves and Nanooks are forced to shutter their programs.

 

[TheRevengeance]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Vermont is already playing the maximum allowable number of games. As I'm sure is BU. You need another team that is losing scheduled Alaska games to have any hope.

 

[amkirby10]

Vermont is already playing the maximum allowable number of games. As I'm sure is BU. You need another team that is losing scheduled Alaska games to have any hope.

Well then, looks like we are relying on Alaska to pull through, since the other OOC opponents besides us (Denver, Penn St, and Arizona St for Fairbanks, and Omaha for Anchorage) are all busy that weekend and the other WCHA teams will have bigger worries than us if two of their teams suddenly evaporate. That settles that debate I suppose.

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

In the event that the UA's fold, I think Maine would have to see if the WCHA reworks the conference schedule since it would be unbalanced. IF the conference does reschedule then the WCHA members and the schools like Maine that were set to play the Alaska schools can work something out, but again this all has to happen quickly. If the WCHA cannot work out a new schedule at this late date then Maine is SOL.

We don't know what is happening behind the scenes, but one hopes there are some "what if" discussions happening.

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Hockey East hardware...

The All-Academic Team included 18 UMaine players

Maine (18)
Samuel Becker +
Simon Butala
Tim Doherty ***
Mitchell Fossier ***^
Oliver Herner **
Adrian Holesinsky
Robert McGovern ***
Rob Michel
Keith Muehlbauer ***
Stephen Mundinger ***
Canon Pieper **
Jack Quinlivan **
Samuel Rennaker
Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup
Ryan Smith
Cameron Spicer **
Veli-Matti Tiuraniemi **
Emil Westerlund **

Muelbauer and Fossier both made the All-Star team.

** two-time honoree
*** three-time honoree
+ Distinguished Scholar (3.0 in each semester of four varsity seasons)
^ Top Scholar Athlete (Highest GPA in Hockey East)

 

[amkirby10]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

I looked at the schedule a bit more, and I had come up with two separate scenarios for how Maine could remedy their potential loss of two home games in the event of Alaska going down, but I managed to lose them both before posting. Essentially, Maine's best bet at a replacement opponent in the same slot as the Anchorage games is probably Denver, who is scheduled to play at Fairbanks the weekend before. With a few schedule modifications it looks pretty feasible to make it work, I could write out my full reasoning again and post if anyone's interested. Going from Anchorage to Denver is about a dramatic jump in quality of an opponent you can get, though, so it would definitely be interesting if it did shake out that way.

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

I looked at the schedule a bit more, and I had come up with two separate scenarios for how Maine could remedy their potential loss of two home games in the event of Alaska going down, but I managed to lose them both before posting. Essentially, Maine's best bet at a replacement opponent in the same slot as the Anchorage games is probably Denver, who is scheduled to play at Fairbanks the weekend before. With a few schedule modifications it looks pretty feasible to make it work, I could write out my full reasoning again and post if anyone's interested. Going from Anchorage to Denver is about a dramatic jump in quality of an opponent you can get, though, so it would definitely be interesting if it did shake out that way.

My guess is that if the Alaska schools have to fold, the WCHA will reconfigure the schedule and after that the non-conference opponents of UAA and UA will have a chance to schedule other WCHA teams. If the WCHA can't do that, then it is possible Maine tries to find someone like Denver who will lose games with Alaska - but remember that games in Alaska do not count toward the 34 game limit imposed by the NCAA. Denver is already at the limit; the games in Alaska are exempted.

 

[amkirby10]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

My guess is that if the Alaska schools have to fold, the WCHA will reconfigure the schedule and after that the non-conference opponents of UAA and UA will have a chance to schedule other WCHA teams. If the WCHA can't do that, then it is possible Maine tries to find someone like Denver who will lose games with Alaska - but remember that games in Alaska do not count toward the 34 game limit imposed by the NCAA. Denver is already at the limit; the games in Alaska are exempted.

I keep forgetting about the game limit, so maybe I should just stop posting about this topic. Do you think exceptions could be granted to schools who were scheduled for Fairbanks and Anchorage, though? That might make things a lot easier, and it would be for one season only, as if the schools do fold I'm sure everyone else could figure out a replacement schedule for 2020-21 with a year plus in advance to plan.

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

I keep forgetting about the game limit, so maybe I should just stop posting about this topic. Do you think exceptions could be granted to schools who were scheduled for Fairbanks and Anchorage, though? That might make things a lot easier, and it would be for one season only, as if the schools do fold I'm sure everyone else could figure out a replacement schedule for 2020-21 with a year plus in advance to plan.

At this point anything is possible. There isn't any precedence I'm aware of. I can't think of any time a university folded up its entire athletics department a month before the year began...

Keep posting. We all overlook things. Better to post it and get it corrected than keep thinking the wrong thing.

 

[NorthMike]

My guess is that if the Alaska schools have to fold, the WCHA will reconfigure the schedule and after that the non-conference opponents of UAA and UA will have a chance to schedule other WCHA teams. If the WCHA can't do that, then it is possible Maine tries to find someone like Denver who will lose games with Alaska - but remember that games in Alaska do not count toward the 34 game limit imposed by the NCAA. Denver is already at the limit; the games in Alaska are exempted.

Why dont games in AK count against the 34?
Special ncaa consession to AK made years back?

 

[ticapnews]

Why dont games in AK count against the 34?
Special ncaa consession to AK made years back?

Yes. Games in Alaska, the Hall of Fame game, one exhibition and one game against the national team are exempt. A few years ago when Maine played two exhibitions a few years ago, the second counted towards the 34 game limit.

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Next step for University of Alaska: Declaration of Financial Exigency

In addition to the declaration of financial exigency, the Board of Regents
will discuss three organizational restructuring options for moving forward:

* Create a leaner UA by assigning each university a prorated share of
the budget reduction
* Eliminate one or more universities and/or community campuses
* Consolidate the university within a single accreditation with shared
courses and services

Johnsen said all three approaches will require close cooperation with the Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the group that provides UA with institutional accreditation. Maintaining accreditation for UA programs is of paramount importance, and UA leadership will continue regular conversations with NWCCU.

I can't envision athletics surviving this. If I were a betting man I'd put money on no games at Alfond 11/12 October.

 

[NorthMike]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Im not buying those tickets, yet anyway.

 

[UncleRay]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

If Fairbanks and Anchorage both fold, why wouldn't the opponents they have scheduled for a weekend just play each other? Seems like the simplest way to round out the schedule.

 

[TheRevengeance]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

The week that Anchorage is/was in Maine, Fairbanks is/was at Michigan Tech. Unless you want Maine to volunteer for that trip to Houghton, I'm sure both teams are equally disinterested in travelling to the other.

 

[ticapnews]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

If Fairbanks and Anchorage both fold, why wouldn't the opponents they have scheduled for a weekend just play each other? Seems like the simplest way to round out the schedule.

If Maine plays at Michigan Tech, the Black Bears begin with six straight road games and don't play a home game until 1 November.
If Michigan Tech comes to Orono, the Huskies begin with seven straight road games and don't play a home game until 8 November.