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Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

Actually it is SUNY, University at Buffalo AKA University of Buffalo, and not SUNY, College at Buffalo AKA Buffalo State, that might have an interest in D-1 hockey. Buffalo State does have a rink used by themselves and Canisius. However, the "sugar daddy" who also owns the Buffalo Sabres is building what is being called Hockey Heaven next to the First Niagara Center which will contain multiple rinks including one with about 2000 seats. Which by eastern standards might be enough to get a program started with the larger arena right across the street. UB's joining the ranks of D-1 hockey could trigger a breakup in the AHA with western schools looking to form a full scholarship league possibly with Bowling Green and Ferris from the new WCHA plus Niagara, Canisius, RoMo, UB and Mercyhurst. Not to forget RIT which unveils a new larger rink of it's own and who might be getting tired of the AHA east teams holding the conference back from truly being competitive.
 
Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

THEMICK said:
Actually it is SUNY, University at Buffalo AKA University of Buffalo, and not SUNY, College at Buffalo AKA Buffalo State, that might have an interest in D-1 hockey.
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I don't think anybody in this thread confused the two :confused:
 
KnightsOfTheRound said:
I don't think anybody in this thread confused the two :confused:
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Could be. The more important issue is if UB enters the D-1 hockey landscape will it effect conference alignment. It is no secret western AHA schools want the conference to raise the conference's self imposed limit on scholarships and the addition of another western school (Buffalo) might along with the two previously mentioned nWCHA tip the scales to create a new league leaving the AHA east in danger of losing their AQ
 
Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

THEMICK said:
Actually it is SUNY, University at Buffalo AKA University of Buffalo, and not SUNY, College at Buffalo AKA Buffalo State, that might have an interest in D-1 hockey. Buffalo State does have a rink used by themselves and Canisius. However, the "sugar daddy" who also owns the Buffalo Sabres is building what is being called Hockey Heaven next to the First Niagara Center which will contain multiple rinks including one with about 2000 seats. Which by eastern standards might be enough to get a program started with the larger arena right across the street. UB's joining the ranks of D-1 hockey could trigger a breakup in the AHA with western schools looking to form a full scholarship league possibly with Bowling Green and Ferris from the new WCHA plus Niagara, Canisius, RoMo, UB and Mercyhurst. Not to forget RIT which unveils a new larger rink of it's own and who might be getting tired of the AHA east teams holding the conference back from truly being competitive.
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The only place that RIT would want to move to is the EZAC.
 
FlagDUDE08 said:
The only place that RIT would want to move to is the EZAC.
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The problem is the log jam in the ECAC and HockeyEast. Unless they both want to expand to over 12 teams, or the Ivy's break away(not likely)there is no place for anyone in the northeast to go. Either the bottom feeders in AHA become more competitive and allow others in the conference to compete at a true D-1 (18 scholarships) level or those who are making the investment will have choice to find a new home for their own survival. Adding Buffalo into the D-1 mix makes the possibility of
finding that new home more likely. RIT can dream about the ECAC all it wants but whose spot are they going to take?
 
Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

THEMICK said:
The problem is the log jam in the ECAC and HockeyEast. Unless they both want to expand to over 12 teams, or the Ivy's break away(not likely)there is no place for anyone in the northeast to go. Either the bottom feeders in AHA become more competitive and allow others in the conference to compete at a true D-1 (18 scholarships) level or those who are making the investment will have choice to find a new home for their own survival. Adding Buffalo into the D-1 mix makes the possibility of
finding that new home more likely. RIT can dream about the ECAC all it wants but whose spot are they going to take?
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If RPI had been invited to Hockey East...

However, with non-ivies showing a lot of success, I wouldn't be surprised if the Ivies want to split. Granted, this is a bit brought down to earth now that Ylae* has won the national championship, but I'd keep an eye on it. If they split, maybe the Atlantic four, plus RIT and UB, go to the EZAC.
 
FlagDUDE08 said:
If RPI had been invited to Hockey East...

However, with non-ivies showing a lot of success, I wouldn't be surprised if the Ivies want to split. Granted, this is a bit brought down to earth now that Ylae* has won the national championship, but I'd keep an eye on it. If they split, maybe the Atlantic four, plus RIT and UB, go to the EZAC.
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As far as college hockey goes, nothing would make me happier.
 
FlagDUDE08 said:
If RPI had been invited to Hockey East...

However, with non-ivies showing a lot of success, I wouldn't be surprised if the Ivies want to split. Granted, this is a bit brought down to earth now that Ylae* has won the national championship, but I'd keep an eye on it. If they split, maybe the Atlantic four, plus RIT and UB, go to the EZAC.
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We were invited to Hockey East once, in the early 90s. We turned them down, unfortunately.

And if Fordham doesn't go D1 in hockey, why not Columbia? They're an Ivy League school so they must have some $$ and could easily play in the Ivy League if they break away from the ECAC.
 
The pictures of Kingsbridge Armory look great but the development of this site has been highly controversial and has met with continual community opposition. It is a nice dream but building a hockey facility in the Bronx so suburban kids from Westchester can use it, might not fly. I'm close to the goings on at Fordham and I don't see hockey happening. They can't get their basketball program going and their football program would cause Title IX problems.
 
Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

THEMICK said:
Could be. The more important issue is if UB enters the D-1 hockey landscape will it effect conference alignment. It is no secret western AHA schools want the conference to raise the conference's self imposed limit on scholarships and the addition of another western school (Buffalo) might along with the two previously mentioned nWCHA tip the scales to create a new league leaving the AHA east in danger of losing their AQ
Click to expand...

or...Buffalo joins fellow-MAC school BGSU in the nWCHA, and the nWCHA also picks off one AHA school that wants to get more scholarships. That would leave what...a 12-team nWCHA and a 10-team AHA. win-win, without blowing up multiple conferences.
 
Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

FlagDUDE08 said:
If RPI had been invited to Hockey East...

However, with non-ivies showing a lot of success, I wouldn't be surprised if the Ivies want to split. Granted, this is a bit brought down to earth now that Ylae* has won the national championship, but I'd keep an eye on it. If they split, maybe the Atlantic four, plus RIT and UB, go to the EZAC.
Click to expand...
Liberty League + Colgate - Quinnipiac = Instant autobid. Add Niagara and Canisius and you get the ideal 8 team conference all in New York State.
For those not D-III inclined, that's RPI, UC, CCT, SLU, RIT, CLG
 
Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

Ralph Baer said:
I remember that building as the Kingsbridge Armory. I went by at every day on the El while in High School.
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My Dad, back in the Day (LaGuardia admin) lived at 440 E 156th St. That sounds a bit south of you. However, Dad was Fordham '40
 
blackswampboy said:
or...Buffalo joins fellow-MAC school BGSU in the nWCHA, and the nWCHA also picks off one AHA school that wants to get more scholarships. That would leave what...a 12-team nWCHA and a 10-team AHA. win-win, without blowing up multiple conferences.
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Buffalo is a long way from Minnesota but only three hours from Detroit via Canada. A conference of Canisius and Buffalo plus Niagara, 20 miles to the north as well as RoMo(Pittsburgh) Mercyhurst(Erie) and RIT(Rochester) along with Bowling Green and Ferris makes for a pretty
inexpensive bus league.
 
Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

Patman said:
seriously, building a modern rink and arena is not a small thing
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Joe Battista has said several times in relationship to cutbacks at the Pegula Ice Arena, "It's amazing what $114 million wont buy." :rolleyes:
 
Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

THEMICK said:
Buffalo is a long way from Minnesota but only three hours from Detroit via Canada. A conference of Canisius and Buffalo plus Niagara, 20 miles to the north as well as RoMo(Pittsburgh) Mercyhurst(Erie) and RIT(Rochester) along with Bowling Green and Ferris makes for a pretty
inexpensive bus league.
Click to expand...

sure, but that puts the AHA on life support, and gives a bad hit to the nWCHA too. college hockey needs stability, not more new conferences and dead conferences.

BG is a long way from Minnesota and everywhere else in the nWCHA too, but can't see the Falcons bailing on the conference to join a new bus league. we've been traveling to Fairbanks for years, not that big a deal.
the biggest problem for BG with current conference alignment is loss of MAC and B1G rivalries. no more games with the redhawks, broncos, weasels, and sparties--and that sucks.
Buffalo could be a good match for BG, but not really feeling the rivalry with those small private catholic schools from the AHA. we've got more in common with the state schools in the nWCHA.
 
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