Re: New age restrictions for NCAA hockey
Yes, it really was. Thanks to Red Cows for the original find.
One thing I do not agree with in the article, though, is the contention that:
College hockey continues to change. Beyond the Big Ten, it started changing again last year when Arizona State decided to go varsity, a move which could well encourage more big money schools to do the same in parts of the country previously untouched by college hockey.
I personally do not think that ASU going D-1 portends anything. And, I think ASU still has a tough road ahead as they are in a unique situation where they are going "full D-1" next season with a non-pussified home and away schedule and have nowhere to play, really, at this writing. They are not viable at Oceanside Arena (capacity: 724) and they really aren't "viable", either, at Gila River, where they would have to share this
public, multi-purpose facility, meaning they are not going to be able to practice there more often than not. So, their players will schlepping gear all over town every time they practice, in all likelihood, to say nothing of ASU controlling no revenue streams in such a building other than ticket sales. Then there is the political will necessary needed to build a facility for this program (read: provide the 80 million dollars
plus needed for it).
The Big 10 could go a long way to to restoring competitive balance for them if they just fielded a truly viable league. 6 teams isn't a viable league, IMHO. Ask the CHA how that one is going for them. This would solve scheduling problems, add rivalries, make the league "more telegenic", and most importantly, add credibility. Presumably, in such a league, more players would be attracted to playing in such a league as well. Add Nebraska, who is less than 3 weeks from having the last piece of the puzzle in place for them to add both men's and women's hockey (It is indeed ironic that the
one school in the nation that is the most ideally situated to add a program on short notice is, in fact, actually in the Big 10) Add another school and have the Big 10 subsidize it's start-up, somehow. I can think of a lot of ways that could be done to benefit everyone in the league, whether they have hockey or not. It would be in the league's competitive and financial interest for it to do so. It would also provide an image boost.
If I am a player, I don't see the Big 10 as an attractive option for me at just 6 teams, total. Blue blood hockey programs or not. I think this is one of the reasons for the fall from grace. This is also a bad time for the league for Red to be a bazillion years old, too. My son isn't signing at a program with a coach that is just about to turn 76.