Official Thread of the Leftover League

[Beer Pong Horn]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

Why do you think the remaining WCHA ADs have taken time for an emergency conference in MSP next week? I guarantee you it's not a Mall of America shopping trip.

Thankfully we have some time for discussion. I don't think any moves are going to be announced right away, but I would expect a decision in a reasonable enough timeframe so as to avoid serious recruiting troubles.

It would almost have to be one or the other, unless three or four programs cease to exist. And nobody wants that.

The more I look at the two options (1 x 12 team with 3 pods, or 2 x 8 team divided east to west), the more I like them, especially if the CCHA really can poach teams from the overcrowded AHA. Still sucks for the WCHA, but we keep our autobid no questions asked. At least we get to pick the toppings on our shyte sandwich.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

I like the idea of only playing a ~14 game conference schedule, and using the remaining games for a scheduling arrangement between the 2 conferences. Keep the autobids, but stand together. Both new conferences will be stronger sticking together as much as possible.

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

I think the remaining ADs will have more than just their own imagined self-interests in mind. I know Cobb will, however ... for UAA that is also likely to be moderated slightly by their self-interest in having their rival in the same conference where they can play them 4 times a year. Just like 90% of the current WCHA teams get to do.

 

[Squarebanks]

Cobb wasn't exactly oozing confidence over that possibility in the article this morning. I'm with you, I hope it happens, but it will take some convincing.

I think the remaining ADs will have more than just their own imagined self-interests in mind. I know Cobb will, however ... for UAA that is also likely to be moderated slightly by their self-interest in having their rival in the same conference where they can play them 4 times a year. Just like 90% of the current WCHA teams get to do.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

I think the remaining ADs will have more than just their own imagined self-interests in mind. I know Cobb will, however ... for UAA that is also likely to be moderated slightly by their self-interest in having their rival in the same conference where they can play them 4 times a year. Just like 90% of the current WCHA teams get to do.

I think they can make this work.

8 teams/conference
each team plays 3 away series, and 3 home series, and a home/away against their rival
This is a 16 game schedule, with only 1, or no trip to Alaska/year for the teams worried about $$
Leaving plenty of "non conference" games to play against the other misfit league

 

[Beer Pong Horn]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

I like the idea of only playing a ~14 game conference schedule, and using the remaining games for a scheduling arrangement between the 2 conferences. Keep the autobids, but stand together. Both new conferences will be stronger sticking together as much as possible.

Yup. Maybe even divide it into further pods:

WCHA West:
-St. Cloud, Bemidji, Mankato, Fairbanks
WCHA East:
-Tech, Northern, LSSU, Anchorage

CCHA West (or WCHA Further East if the CCHA folds):
-Western, Ferris, BGSU, Huntsville
CCHA East (former AHA):
-Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Canisius

Each pod plays its own conference pod twice for 12 games, the other in-conference pod once for 8 games, and one of the other two non-conference pods for 8 games for a total of 28 interlocked games. Every WCHA school is guaranteed the Alaska exemption, and half of the CCHA schools are guaranteed it in any given year. I think that would very much be a draw to the AHA schools, and would keep the WCHA relevant and fed with some cupcakes.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

I think they can make this work.

8 teams/conference
each team plays 3 away series, and 3 home series, and a home/away against their rival
This is a 16 game schedule, with only 1, or no trip to Alaska/year for the teams worried about $$
Leaving plenty of "non conference" games to play against the other misfit league

One thing that I'm realizing with this conference re-hashing: Non-conference games will become a buyer's market. For the most part, there will be plenty to go around (probably with the exception of the BHHC, but too bad for them; probably also Hockey East unless Notre Dame and RPI/Q-Pac go there, also the ivies but their setup is weird as it is).

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

I like the 8 team WCHA scenario however ... however to get there requires killing off the CCHA. The best case would be to get UAF, NMU and LSSU. And again ... i think you can factor in UAA and UAF buying everyone's airline tickets.

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

Yup. Maybe even divide it into further pods:

WCHA West:
-St. Cloud, Bemidji, Mankato, Fairbanks
WCHA East:
-Tech, Northern, LSSU, Anchorage

CCHA West (or WCHA Further East if the CCHA folds):
-Western, Ferris, BGSU, Huntsville
CCHA East (former AHA):
-Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Canisius

Put the crack pipe down.

 

[Beer Pong Horn]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

Put the crack pipe down.

Why? It's delicious.

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

Why? It's delicious.

Put some weed in it then try another realignment flavor. Keeping the Alaska teams apart isn't palatable.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

The key is getting 4 AHA west teams to jump to the higher scholarship level, and join the CCHA. RMU and NU should be easy, as they were just in the CHA, someone needs to start working on Canisius and Mercyhurst.

 

[MavsFan]

The key is getting 4 AHA west teams to jump to the higher scholarship level, and join the CCHA. RMU and NU should be easy, as they were just in the CHA, someone needs to start working on Canisius and Mercyhurst.

 

[Beer Pong Horn]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

Put some weed in it then try another realignment flavor. Keeping the Alaska teams apart isn't palatable.

Who says they're kept apart? They'd be in the same league, just in opposite pods, and they can choose to have a second pair of games with each other.

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

Who says they're kept apart? They'd be in the same league, just in opposite pods, and they can choose to have a second pair of games with each other.

Because forcing rivals to use non-conference games to play each other isn't what a conference is there for.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

I'm not in favor of a 14-16 game conference schedule - it makes the second half of the season less interesting because there would be less chance of seeing a team that started strong fade, or a team that struggled early on improving to make a late run. 20-24 games is a better number, and still leaves room for more NC games than the current WCHA or CCHA 28-game schedules do.

 

[cF[Authentic]]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

Perhaps, but in the meantime they need to be in the discussion.

Why? It seems like the fans of Tech and Mankato have already folded up their teams. It's like the second this decision was (will be) announced, the left-over schools suddenly shut down their hockey teams forever. Nobody knows how this will all play out, so the overreacting by some here is pretty unnecessary.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

It seems like the fans of Tech and Mankato have already folded up their teams.

Shirtless Guy and bb_dl don't speak for all of us.

We'll get over it, we just want to rage for awhile.

 

[MavHockey14]

Why? It seems like the fans of Tech and Mankato have already folded up their teams. It's like the second this decision was (will be) announced, the left-over schools suddenly shut down their hockey teams forever. Nobody knows how this will all play out, so the overreacting by some here is pretty unnecessary.

Our university wouldn't invest in our team when we were a part of the best conference in the country, why should we have any hope that changes now? And when Tech finally does it, everyone bails on them. With all due respect to these programs, I'm not really looking forward to watching Bowling Green, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State, etc. Over UND, DU, UMD, etc. How the hell are we supposed to have fans at the games when we lose our biggest opponents from our conference?

On a side note, I'm also so ****ed off that the Final Five will be destroyed, as that's been the best bonding experience my father and I have had the last 12 years. That weekend is one of the best weekends of the year.

 

[stuckinwi]

Re: Official Thread of the Leftover League

Why? It seems like the fans of Tech and Mankato have already folded up their teams. It's like the second this decision was (will be) announced, the left-over schools suddenly shut down their hockey teams forever. Nobody knows how this will all play out, so the overreacting by some here is pretty unnecessary.

Even Shirtless and BigBlue didn't fold up the team... We're just ****ed we've had a steaming pile of poo dropped on our faces and that we'll have to find a new home. This is so cozy and familiar. (and makes the most sense)