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More about expansion for women's hockey

Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

AggiesHockey said:
Good post, but I must confess, logical candidate for D1 hockey and 'Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA' just made me do a spit-take with my IPA.
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Wouldn't be my first guess either. I wouldn't have expected Lindenwood, yet here they are.
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Read the articles below. Nothing definite, but if they don't move in that direction it won't be due to a lack of funding.

"We believe that now is the time to make certain updates to our branding elements — prior to the anticipated advancement of Liberty's athletic program to the highest levels of NCAA competition over the next few years."

http://www.liberty.edu/campusrec/clubsports/index.cfm?PID=25954&newsID=340&TeamID=

"Over the past five years, Liberty's Senior Director of Campus Recreation Kirk Handy, who also serves as the Flames' ACHA Division I men's hockey coach, has overseen a major overhaul of the school's Club Sports facilities, paralleling the modernization and expansion of its NCAA programs...Winter sports have taken off since the opening of the LaHaye Ice Center in 2006 — home to the men's (Division I, II, and III) and women's (Division I and II) ice hockey teams."

http://www.liberty.edu/campusrec/clubsports/index.cfm?PID=25954&newsID=324&TeamID=

"In the meantime, Liberty has one unquestioned, major advantage on its side, and it is the ultimate game-changer in college athletics: Liberty is flush with cash."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/s...virginias-hills-a-football-crusade.html?_r=1&
 
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Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

A Year ago Niagara University decided to eliminate the 14 year old Women's Hockey Program and a year later 4 members of that program will compete in the Frozen Four this weekend against 2 former coaches of the program, one of whom was also a player. I hope these girls feel some sort of vindication, this is what could have happened with Niagara's program again given the proper support, a sport that only continues to grow at the collegiate level.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feXtQ9j4Ww4
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Hux said:
I was told earlier in the year by a former ND player and prominent supporter of the program that there have been discussions about a women's team, but the likelihood is minimal in the foreseeable future. (more than five years out)
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Too bad. Notre Dame has that rivalry with BC that would make for a terrific weekend of hockey and football. Aren't they headed for HE sometime soon?

Regarding Liberty University. When I read about what they are doing to upgrade their programs, it reminds me of Quinnipiac and their move to D-1 hockey in 2003. They got creamed in their first NCAA appearance but since then, they have built a strong following and have fantastic alumni support. They did it right and have a first rate building. If the Bobcats can do it, I wouldn't bet against Liberty. Would they play in the same conference as Mercyhurst, Syracuse, Robert Morris...?
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

It would be interesting to see a list of schools who are having Title IX issues.

And what do you think, do you think its important for a program to already have a mens program, or is it almost better for a women's program to start up somewhere where there isn't a mens program?!
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

The biggest obstacle to any new team is if they don't already have a D1 facility. Easily the most expensive up front cost. So I'd say the most likely is a school that already has a men's program since they would already have a facility. Next would be a program starting up a men's and women's team. A school like Liberty is much discussed since they have a good enough building but no program. Same deal with Navy. At that point its staff, schollies, and admin costs like travel for recruiting. It takes a lot of cash to start from scratch. Just ask Penn State.
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

slowe said:
The biggest obstacle to any new team is if they don't already have a D1 facility. Easily the most expensive up front cost. So I'd say the most likely is a school that already has a men's program since they would already have a facility. Next would be a program starting up a men's and women's team. A school like Liberty is much discussed since they have a good enough building but no program. Same deal with Navy. At that point its staff, schollies, and admin costs like travel for recruiting. It takes a lot of cash to start from scratch. Just ask Penn State.
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Right but Penn State had Terry Pegula commit the dough to make it happen. You would probably need the same commitment from other wealthy alums at these schools who also love hockey. Pegula owns the Sabres so for him, it was a natural to endow the school with enough money to build two hockey programs and a state of the art rink. Not all wealthy alums from different schools care about hockey enough to commit funding to make it happen.
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

slowe said:
The biggest obstacle to any new team is if they don't already have a D1 facility. Easily the most expensive up front cost. So I'd say the most likely is a school that already has a men's program since they would already have a facility. Next would be a program starting up a men's and women's team. A school like Liberty is much discussed since they have a good enough building but no program. Same deal with Navy. At that point its staff, schollies, and admin costs like travel for recruiting. It takes a lot of cash to start from scratch. Just ask Penn State.
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Well, Navy won't have to worry about additional scholarship costs. :-)
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Skate79 said:
Right but Penn State had Terry Pegula commit the dough to make it happen. You would probably need the same commitment from other wealthy alums at these schools who also love hockey. Pegula owns the Sabres so for him, it was a natural to endow the school with enough money to build two hockey programs and a state of the art rink. Not all wealthy alums from different schools care about hockey enough to commit funding to make it happen.
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Pagula donated the money to Penn State before he bought the Sabres. It could be said buying the Sabres was a natural progression to starting up a college program...
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Russell Jaslow said:
Well, Navy won't have to worry about additional scholarship costs. :-)
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I had that thought as well. And when we talk about the size of the budget for Michigan athletics, it's kind of dwarfed by Navy budget figures, although I guess that's more about nuclear submarines than athletics. On that thought, Air Force should add a team. I know that they don't have any nearby competition, but if one attends Air Force, then one must enjoy flying.
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Russell Jaslow said:
Pagula donated the money to Penn State before he bought the Sabres. It could be said buying the Sabres was a natural progression to starting up a college program...
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Okay, didn't realize that. Still, he was a wealthy alum with a deep interest in hockey. That was my main point and it still stands for any of the programs under consideration.
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Article in yesterday's Boston Herald regarding the possible expansion of the AHA on the men's side, with Rhode Island and/or St. Anselm joining. Interesting potential for the women's side of things, particularly in regards to URI and Title IX implications.

However, I don't see URI having the ability to fund two varsity hockey teams, and would expect them to either drop a men's varsity sport or add a low cost sport for the women should a move to men's varsity in hockey occur.

As far as St. A's....hmmmm, very interesting potential there for the men, but would Title IX apply since they are a DII school?
 
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Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Hux said:
As far as St. A's....hmmmm, very interesting potential there for the men, but would Title IX apply since they are a DII school?
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Title IX applies to any educational institution (at any level) that receives any federal funding. So, yes, it applies to St. Anselm's.
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Towson in Baltimore is well on the way to building a club team to become varsity at some point.
 
Wow little Providence could have PC, Brown and URI 3 D1 programs very impressive!

Hux said:
Article in yesterday's Boston Herald regarding the possible expansion of the AHA on the men's side, with Rhode Island and/or St. Anselm joining. Interesting potential for the women's side of things, particularly in regards to URI and Title IX implications.

However, I don't see URI having the ability to fund two varsity hockey teams, and would expect them to either drop a men's varsity sport or add a low cost sport for the women should a move to men's varsity in hockey occur.

As far as St. A's....hmmmm, very interesting potential there for the men, but would Title IX apply since they are a DII school?
Click to expand...
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

Hux said:
Article in yesterday's Boston Herald regarding the possible expansion of the AHA on the men's side, with Rhode Island and/or St. Anselm joining. Interesting potential for the women's side of things, particularly in regards to URI and Title IX implications.

However, I don't see URI having the ability to fund two varsity hockey teams, and would expect them to either drop a men's varsity sport or add a low cost sport for the women should a move to men's varsity in hockey occur.

As far as St. A's....hmmmm, very interesting potential there for the men, but would Title IX apply since they are a DII school?
Click to expand...

I agree re: URI and women's hockey. RI has one of the worst economies in the country with companies/jobs having left or leaving at alarming rates. URI has been cutting back left and right (was down there a few months ago and saw evidence everywhere of this). Even though they have their own rink and a club team already (not sure if the rink is D1 worthy, though - kinda small to my recollection), the cost is just too high I would think.... similar situation to U Mass.
 
Re: More about expansion for women's hockey

ARM said:
Wouldn't be my first guess either. I wouldn't have expected Lindenwood, yet here they are.
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Lindenwood has actually been on the radar since it began men's and women's ice hockey in 2003. LU originally wanted to remain in the NAIA and just play NCAA DI ice hockey and was a candidate to join the CHA in men's and women's hockey.

http://www.uscho.com/2004/04/22/lindenwood-explores-move-into-di/

http://insidecollegehockey.com/7Archives/News/aha_0331.htm
 
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