Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

If we're going to spitball potential destinations without just randomly throwing names out, the name most likely to come up will be Syracuse. They have women's, and if the Big Ten is going to continue to expand, eventually Syracuse could end up leaving the ACC for the B1G. That would put them in line to join the B1G hockey conference as well.

And guess what they're talking about... http://www.syracuse.com/axeman/inde...ports_scene_what_is.html#incart_flyout_sports

Too bad there's nowhere for them to play. Tennity is WAY too small, and it's not going to be easy to triple-book the War Memorial (Crunch and Silver Knights, although Rochester is able to do it with the Amerks, Lancers, and Nighthawks; however the AHL plays on Fridays/Saturdays).

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

You could make a very good case for a Pac-6 Hockey League; a six team league with USC, Cal-Berkeley, Stanford, Washington, Arizona State and maybe Colorado. Most of these schools have more students on one campus than Union, SLU, Clarkson, Colgate and RPI combined and in most of those cities there are more people populating any random ten square mile area than there are in Canton, Potsdam, Hamilton, Schenectady and Troy combined. Most WCHA, Big 10, Hockey East and ECAC schools would put any of those schools on their schedules in a heartbeat. Between recruiting local kids and the promise of sunshine to Northerners, they would do just fine recruiting in Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, New York and Ontario. Building D-1 rinks on those campuses would be the big challenge. Getting fans would not. Particularly in the SF Bay Area where I live, if you live in San FRancisco, Oakland or North, the pent up demand for hockey is pretty big. Going to a Sharks game with your family is an eight hour, $500 ordeal. If I could cross a bridge and go see a D-1 game in Berkeley, I would be all over it.

Ive heard (not from a drunk in a bar or from a university official, but from a hockey Dad) the Far Western schools are happy where they are. not under NCAAs thumb.

 

[Jim]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

And guess what they're talking about... http://www.syracuse.com/axeman/inde...ports_scene_what_is.html#incart_flyout_sports

Too bad there's nowhere for them to play. Tennity is WAY too small, and it's not going to be easy to triple-book the War Memorial (Crunch and Silver Knights, although Rochester is able to do it with the Amerks, Lancers, and Nighthawks; however the AHL plays on Fridays/Saturdays).

I have heard that Syracuse has been looking at hockey since Gross got there as AD. But unless someone steps up with money for a facility it is a non-starter I suspect. I guess the War Memorial is a short term option sort of like the XL will be for UConn. But in a larger sense I think looking at places that are "natural" homes for hockey makes way more sense than thinking about Georgia Tech and other southern schools or California schools. In my mind, some of the Big 10 schools, maybe a few more MAC schools, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, that makes a lot more sense than places like Georgia, USC or Berkley. I give Huntsville credit for sticking it out, but I doubt college hockey will ever expand in a big way in the south or the west.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

I have heard that Syracuse has been looking at hockey since Gross got there as AD. But unless someone steps up with money for a facility it is a non-starter I suspect. I guess the War memorial is a short term option sor to flike the XL will be for UConn. But in a larger sense I think looking at places that are "natural" homes for hockey makes way more sense than thinking about Georgia Tech and other southern schools or California schools. In my mind, some of the Big 10 schools, maybe a few more MAC schools, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, that makes a lot more sense than places like Georgia, USC or Berkley. I give Huntsville credit for sticking it out, but I doubt college hockey will ever expand in a big way in the south or the west.

Actually, the biggest obstacle, aside from this city being very much a squeakball city, is Title IX. They had to dump a number of men's sports AND add women's hockey in order to become compliant. Heavens forbid they cut scholarships from the football team, though...

 

[gfmorris]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

Didn't a lot of the KSU talk involve playing at Phillips Arena and trying to tie them in with the Thrahers?

My understanding is that they would've been playing in Gwinnett, and that would still be a going concern at this time. And FlagDUDE08, it was a given that they'd have been in College Hockey America, which means that we might have limped along another season or two in the RHSC league after the Beavs left for the WCHA. In the end, the main program that truly mattered to was UAH, as everyone else found a home before the music stopped.

GFM <— "I'm all alone ... there's no one here besiiiiiide me ..."

 

[Split-N]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

I have heard that Syracuse has been looking at hockey since Gross got there as AD. But unless someone steps up with money for a facility it is a non-starter I suspect....

Rumors about well-heeled Syracuse alums being ready and willing to hand over blank checks to start a D1 hockey program have seemingly been around forever (at least back to the '70s). Back then, the story was that entrenched basketball interests didn't want any in-season revenue-producing competition. These days, Title IX might well be main obstacle for reasons explained earlier in this thread. Two things that remain constants are 1) The Syracuse area is and has always been a hockey hotbed, and 2) Syracuse still has no shortage of uber-wealthy alums who could easily pony up the start-up funds.

Of all of the D1 possibilities mentioned, Syracuse might well be in the best position to actually make something happen (especially if the B1G ever comes calling).

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

Rumors about well-heeled Syracuse alums being ready and willing to hand over blank checks to start a D1 hockey program have seemingly been around forever (at least back to the '70s). Back then, the story was that entrenched basketball interests didn't want any in-season revenue-producing competition. These days, Title IX might well be main obstacle for reasons explained earlier in this thread. Two things that remain constants are 1) The Syracuse area is and has always been a hockey hotbed, and 2) Syracuse still has no shortage of uber-wealthy alums who could easily pony up the start-up funds.

Of all of the D1 possibilities mentioned, Syracuse might well be in the best position to actually make something happen (especially if the B1G ever comes calling).

Syracuse? A hockey hotbed? I'm still waiting to see it...

 

[LtPowers]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

Too bad there's nowhere for them to play. Tennity is WAY too small, and it's not going to be easy to triple-book the War Memorial (Crunch and Silver Knights, although Rochester is able to do it with the Amerks, Lancers, and Nighthawks; however the AHL plays on Fridays/Saturdays).

The Lancers and Knighthawks seasons don't overlap much, but you're right that adding two college hockey games every other weekend to the War Memorial would be tricky, especially since it's rare for AHL Eastern Conference teams to go a whole weekend without a home game.

Does the Coliseum at the fairgrounds have ice-making equipment? What about Meachem; Is it big enough?


Powers &8^]

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

The Lancers and Knighthawks seasons don't overlap much, but you're right that adding two college hockey games every other weekend to the War Memorial would be tricky, especially since it's rare for AHL Eastern Conference teams to go a whole weekend without a home game.

Does the Coliseum at the fairgrounds have ice-making equipment? What about Meachem; Is it big enough?


Powers &8^]

They don't play hockey at the Coliseum anymore; it was fully converted to a horse show barn that they use for the State Fair. Tennity would be a better choice than Meachem. The closest you could get is Baldwinsville Ice Arena or Cicero Twin Rinks, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be able to handle more than a thousand, similar to AHA rinks. They are or will be used for high school hockey. Unless they build a new stadium, or figure out a way to put together portable ice rinks in hours, you're pretty much stuck with the War Memorial, which has ice time competition with not only the Crunch, but the Silver Knights (indoor soccer) plays at the same schedule.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

They don't play hockey at the Coliseum anymore; it was fully converted to a horse show barn that they use for the State Fair. Tennity would be a better choice than Meachem. The closest you could get is Baldwinsville Ice Arena or Cicero Twin Rinks, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be able to handle more than a thousand, similar to AHA rinks. They are or will be used for high school hockey. Unless they build a new stadium, or figure out a way to put together portable ice rinks

I was about to respond as...although they primarily have horse shows at the Coliseum at the state fair, it in fact still is used for hockey. Then I realized that you're not talking about the MN state fair.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

I was about to respond as...although they primarily have horse shows at the Coliseum at the state fair, it in fact still is used for hockey. Then I realized that you're not talking about the MN state fair.

I know I passed by Albany and Buffalo during by trip to St. Cloud, and you also stole Rochester from us, but where's Syracuse MN?

 

[UncleRay]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

I know I passed by Albany and Buffalo during by trip to St. Cloud, and you also stole Rochester from us, but where's Syracuse MN?

They even stole the name Orono from Maine.

 

[Pink Pony]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

What about Iowa State?

 

[Jim]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

I was about to respond as...although they primarily have horse shows at the Coliseum at the state fair, it in fact still is used for hockey. Then I realized that you're not talking about the MN state fair.

What about theri existing rink? I know the facility is small. they list capacity as 350, but I recall someone recently tearing down the building and rebuilding around the existing rink...well not exactly but they managed to salvage and use the existing icemaking capabilities and just basically built a bigger building around the existing small one. I read about the savings and it was pretty significant.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

What about theri existing rink? I know the facility is small. they list capacity as 350, but I recall someone recently tearing down the building and rebuilding around the existing rink...well not exactly but they managed to salvage and use the existing icemaking capabilities and just basically built a bigger building around the existing small one. I read about the savings and it was pretty significant.

You mean their existing rinks? There is a studio rink on the entrance end not even the size of a neutral zone. The only problem with that suggestion is that there isn't much room left, assuming the softball field and all of the tennis courts are in use, which I would assume is where a couple of the teams play. You MIGHT be able to sacrifice the tennis courts and move the stands to the same side as everyone else, but you aren't going to get much more than an AHA rink size there. http://maps.google.com/?ll=43.014501,-76.115915&spn=0.002091,0.004946&t=h&z=18

 

[4four4]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

What about Iowa State?

Why not Winona State?

 

[MaizeRage]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

They even stole the name Orono from Maine.

And stole the name of Maine's most famous Senator.

Though just Rochester and Albany are taken from the New York cities. Buffalo is named after the fish.

 

[Pink Pony]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

This should be about the potential teams that might fold in the future.

The only teams that are going to be adding programs is Universities with potential big donors ie PSU.

Downsizing is more likely.

 

[Patman]

This should be about the potential teams that might fold in the future.

The only teams that are going to be adding programs is Universities with potential big donors ie PSU.

Downsizing is more likely.

I think the recent history doesn't imply that. It's a matter of what you expect from yourself. URI doesn't have a team because their rink is too small and they decided it that way, same deal w navy.

If you are going to make a big splash it will be tough, but of you want to circa competent program I don't think the bar is that high... Eventually the AHA will break apart into those who want to make a full go at it and even then there are two leagues who will take on lesser depending on prominence (NCHC, WCHA). The PSU model is not the only one. The niagara and Robert Morris examples exist and schools like liberty lurk out there.

The next school to elevate will be a surprise but it will happen in two years time

 

[UNHHurstFan]

Re: Potntial Destinations for D1 Hockey Teams

I would not be surprised to see Rutgers in the mix soon. They have a succesful D1 Club program, already D1 for other sports, land on campus to build a rink but close enought to Newark to play there if needed. As the B1G conference grows this would be a natural fit.