RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

Notre Dame is still the pivot here. If they decide to take Hockey East up on their offer, the superconference starts to look extremely petty, since it would seem to have, at a maximum, two CCHA teams in it, which they could instead bring into the WCHA instead of dumping WCHA teams.

If Notre Dame goes to Hockey East and the superconference goes ahead anyway, I can't underline enough how important it would be for RPI to at least inquire about becoming #12.

I agree that it depends on what Notre Dame does. I also agree that if ND goes to HE then HE will be looking for a 12th team, and no doubt RPI would be one of teams that they would be interested in, most likely the #1 candidate. My question is if RPI is interested. I suspect that SA and Colonel Knowlton are, but I have no idea about the RPI admins.

I can't think of a better fit for HEA than RPI if they need a 12 team. If UConn would care about hockey, they would be a strong candidate. If Miami were interested, they would be also, but if Miami and Notre Dame were both going to HEA, then the new western league sounds like a lame excuse to dump the bottom half of the WCHA.

 

[redhead18]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

I agree that it depends on what Notre Dame does. I also agree that if ND goes to HE then HE will be looking for a 12th team, and no doubt RPI would be one of teams that they would be interested in, most likely the #1 candidate. My question is if RPI is interested. I suspect that SA and Colonel Knowlton are, but I have no idea about the RPI admins.

I can't think of a better fit for HEA than RPI if they need a 12 team. If UConn would care about hockey, they would be a strong candidate. If Miami were interested, they would be also, but if Miami and Notre Dame were both going to HEA, then the new western league sounds like a lame excuse to dump the bottom half of the WCHA.

I think Quinnipiac has to be near the top of the list as well along with RPI. Holy Cross and Niagara might also be candidates but I dont think the rink at HC is suitable to host HEA games. Niagara was interested before but I have a feeling they could be joining up with the ccha leftovers. If it ends up being QU, I dont think theres any question who the new ECAC member will be.

Interesting to see if Notre Dame joins the new conference, will HEA still look to expand to 12 teams? Its been mentioned for years now that they are open to expansion.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

I think Quinnipiac has to be near the top of the list as well along with RPI. Holy Cross and Niagara might also be candidates but I dont think the rink at HC is suitable to host HEA games. Niagara was interested before but I have a feeling they could be joining up with the ccha leftovers. If it ends up being QU, I dont think theres any question who the new ECAC member will be.

Interesting to see if Notre Dame joins the new conference, will HEA still look to expand to 12 teams? Its been mentioned for years now that they are open to expansion.

QU would probably be interested, but I think that HE would be more interested in us -- if we are interested.

I assume that you think that RIT would be the 12th member of the ECAC if QU were to leave. I don't think it would be a slam dunk, however. What would that do to the travel partners? Would RIT or Cornell be PU's partner? If RIT would replace us, it would be somewhat easier.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

QU would probably be interested, but I think that HE would be more interested in us -- if we are interested.

I assume that you think that RIT would be the 12th member of the ECAC if QU were to leave. I don't think it would be a slam dunk, however. What would that do to the travel partners? Would RIT or Cornell be PU's partner? If RIT would replace us, it would be somewhat easier.

That's what I was thinking. It'd be one nasty trip from Princeton to Ithaca...

 

[turk181]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

.

I can't think of a better fit for HEA than RPI if they need a 12 team. If UConn would care about hockey, they would be a strong candidate. If Miami were interested, they would be also, but if Miami and Notre Dame were both going to HEA, then the new western league sounds like a lame excuse to dump the bottom half of the WCHA.[/QUOTE].....you can delete Miami from the equation as they have joined with; CC....DU....M-D....N-O...and NoDak in forming a new conference starting in 2013-14

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

.

I can't think of a better fit for HEA than RPI if they need a 12 team. If UConn would care about hockey, they would be a strong candidate. If Miami were interested, they would be also, but if Miami and Notre Dame were both going to HEA, then the new western league sounds like a lame excuse to dump the bottom half of the WCHA.

.....you can delete Miami from the equation as they have joined with; CC....DU....M-D....N-O...and NoDak in forming a new conference starting in 2013-14[/QUOTE]


OK, I am totally confused now. One team Penn State joining the ranks of D-1 hockey has now caused the entire structure of d-1 to explode?
I am guessing that we will have a big ten conference, and now the new conference for midwest teams noted above, HEA looking to expand?, ECAC still hanging in there as is? CCHA? WCHA? and whatever they call the conference that UConn, HC, etc are in. I think that I am still missing one.
When this all shakes out, what will be the ramifications? Will HEA be any stronger? Will ECAC be any weaker? Will the big ten just take over?
Personally, I say we stay in the ECACHL. Everything in college hockey is cyclical. Cornell, Harvard, RPI have all won national championships. There is great tradition in having the Ivies in the conference. Take BU and BC out of HEA and you have a less educated version of ECAC (my opinion only).
I am sure that if SA and the Colonel want to move, they will get their way, but I am not sure that they want that.
Lets see where everybody else lands before we decide to break tradition.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

I think Quinnipiac has to be near the top of the list as well along with RPI. Holy Cross and Niagara might also be candidates but I dont think the rink at HC is suitable to host HEA games. Niagara was interested before but I have a feeling they could be joining up with the ccha leftovers. If it ends up being QU, I dont think theres any question who the new ECAC member will be.

Interesting to see if Notre Dame joins the new conference, will HEA still look to expand to 12 teams? Its been mentioned for years now that they are open to expansion.

Quinnipiac clearly has a facility that would work for HE -- as cold and impersonal as it is on the inside, it is modern and has plenty of parking, etc.

I've never been to HC's rink, but can say that Niagara's sure as heck isn't HE caliber...or ECAC caliber for that matter. I do recall at the time that HC's rink was a sticking point when they were under consideration for ECAC following UVMs departure. If memory serves, the admin was inwilling to commit to a new rink. However, the prospect of joining HE might cause them to think harder about that.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

OK, I am totally confused now. One team Penn State joining the ranks of D-1 hockey has now caused the entire structure of d-1 to explode?
I am guessing that we will have a big ten conference, and now the new conference for midwest teams noted above, HEA looking to expand?, ECAC still hanging in there as is? CCHA? WCHA? and whatever they call the conference that UConn, HC, etc are in. I think that I am still missing one.
When this all shakes out, what will be the ramifications? Will HEA be any stronger? Will ECAC be any weaker? Will the big ten just take over?
Personally, I say we stay in the ECACHL. Everything in college hockey is cyclical. Cornell, Harvard, RPI have all won national championships. There is great tradition in having the Ivies in the conference. Take BU and BC out of HEA and you have a less educated version of ECAC (my opinion only).
I am sure that if SA and the Colonel want to move, they will get their way, but I am not sure that they want that.
Lets see where everybody else lands before we decide to break tradition.

It only takes one rock to start an avalanche. The conference with UConn is the AHA. Those are all of the current conferences -- CHA folded.

As to waiting until everybody else lands until we decide what to do, that won't work. Most options will be closed. It's like a game of musical chairs. If we don't find a seat, we will be left standing. That isn't to say that staying in the ECAC might not be a good idea -- the question is if we might be better off in the HEA.

 

[johnk]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

Notre Dame holds to key of whether there will be any impending changes to the ECAC or HE. IF they go to HE so is someone else.... Anyways plenty of threads about the changes coming in college hockey. Speaking of Notre Dame, does anyone know where exactly RPI is playing them?

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

I personally dont understand the allure of RPI joining HE. Having to get past the likes of BC, BU, UNH and Co. every year in order to get a whiff of the NCAAs isn't my idea of a road map to a NC...not to mention recruiting against them...uphill all the way. I'd much prefer facing them in a one game tourney game than in the HE playoffs. Toots and Sneddon have been slugging away in HE for a while now, with limited success.

 

[NYhockeyguy]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

Notre Dame holds to key of whether there will be any impending changes to the ECAC or HE. IF they go to HE so is someone else.... Anyways plenty of threads about the changes coming in college hockey. Speaking of Notre Dame, does anyone know where exactly RPI is playing them?

Saw on the ND thread a few days ago that RPI is the opening matchup in the new rink
".....Based on the given info/package explanation for new season ticket purchasers, the OSU series will close out the JACC, with RPI being the first game in the new digs. ..."
hopefully we can put a damper on the celebration

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

i have read all the threads and of course followed here closely about the impending doom. I am just going to take some drugs and some ETOH and relax and let the powers that be deal with this. I do not understand all the ramifications but I am not paid to do that. I will just watch how this all shakes out as a very interested spectator. I suspect the changes will not end up being all that significant for us-we will still be fine no matter where we end up and we will be playing in the NCAA tournament several times in the next few years.

 

[troyboy]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

I personally dont understand the allure of RPI joining HE. Having to get past the likes of BC, BU, UNH and Co. every year in order to get a whiff of the NCAAs isn't my idea of a road map to a NC...not to mention recruiting against them...uphill all the way. I'd much prefer facing them in a one game tourney game than in the HE playoffs. Toots and Sneddon have been slugging away in HE for a while now, with limited success.

Its called running with the Big Dogs

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

.

I can't think of a better fit for HEA than RPI if they need a 12 team. If UConn would care about hockey, they would be a strong candidate. If Miami were interested, they would be also, but if Miami and Notre Dame were both going to HEA, then the new western league sounds like a lame excuse to dump the bottom half of the WCHA.

.....you can delete Miami from the equation as they have joined with; CC....DU....M-D....N-O...and NoDak in forming a new conference starting in 2013-14[/QUOTE]

As always, Turk is spot on. Nothing really to add.

 

[AspyDad]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

If Notre Dame goes to Hockey East and the superconference goes ahead anyway, I can't underline enough how important it would be for RPI to at least inquire about becoming #12.

The living legend is right again.

 

[redhead18]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

Lets say RPI stays put after all the dust settles and HEA is no longer an option, a couple years pass and all the sudden the Ivy League decides it wants to go off and form their own conference? Personally, I dont see it happening but you never know. Then you might see the 6 non-ivies try a go with their own conference or most likely see a merge with whats left of Atlantic Hockey.

So do you try and join HEA while you might have the chance or do you stay put and hope the ECAC remains intact...tough call.

 

[burgie12]

Lets say RPI stays put after all the dust settles and HEA is no longer an option, a couple years pass and all the sudden the Ivy League decides it wants to go off and form their own conference? Personally, I dont see it happening but you never know. Then you might see the 6 non-ivies try a go with their own conference or most likely see a merge with whats left of Atlantic Hockey.

So do you try and join HEA while you might have the chance or do you stay put and hope the ECAC remains intact...tough call.

If the Ivies had wanted to split, they've had numerous numerous opportunities before this point. What are you proposing would cause that sudden change of heart?

The whole avalanche is dependent upon two things (which Tom has been covering very well in the tsunami watch)... Notre Dame's willingness to move from the remnants of the CCHA to wherever they choose and RPI's administration's opinions on the benefits of the greater competition vs deficits of not being associated with the Ivies.

I would like to see what we can do in the HEA, but I doubt that Shirley will let us find out. Just my opinion.

 

[rpi82]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

Quinnipiac clearly has a facility that would work for HE -- as cold and impersonal as it is on the inside, it is modern and has plenty of parking, etc.

I've never been to HC's rink, but can say that Niagara's sure as heck isn't HE caliber...or ECAC caliber for that matter. I do recall at the time that HC's rink was a sticking point when they were under consideration for ECAC following UVMs departure. If memory serves, the admin was inwilling to commit to a new rink. However, the prospect of joining HE might cause them to think harder about that.

HC's rink is part of a multi-function building that includes the basketball arena and pool. It is very small - probably only about 1000 seats or so all on one side of the rink. It's really not a D-I caliber facility, but that's true of most of the rinks in Atlantic Hockey. HC (or more accurately, The College of the Holy Cross) will never end up in HE, not just because of the rink, but because they won't want to commit to more scholarships for its men's team and creating a full-scholarship women's team. It is a small school that is already stretched to be competitive in its existing athletic commitments.

As for us, I would strongly prefer to remain in the ECAC and really doubt that there is serious consideration among the Ivies to split off. They get the best of both worlds with the current setup. They can maintain their fictional Ivy League title inside of the ECAC and yet have a full 12-team league (and the scheduling/travel simplicity it provides) containing other schools with which they are very competitive and reasonably close philosophically and geographically. Notwithstanding the Big 10's sense that its powerhouse status makes it sufficient to stand on its own, six team leagues are generally not very attractive or sustainable.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

HC's rink is part of a multi-function building that includes the basketball arena and pool. It is very small - probably only about 1000 seats or so all on one side of the rink. It's really not a D-I caliber facility, but that's true of most of the rinks in Atlantic Hockey. HC (or more accurately, The College of the Holy Cross) will never end up in HE, not just because of the rink, but because they won't want to commit to more scholarships for its men's team and creating a full-scholarship women's team. It is a small school that is already stretched to be competitive in its existing athletic commitments.

As for us, I would strongly prefer to remain in the ECAC and really doubt that there is serious consideration among the Ivies to split off. They get the best of both worlds with the current setup. They can maintain their fictional Ivy League title inside of the ECAC and yet have a full 12-team league (and the scheduling/travel simplicity it provides) containing other schools with which they are very competitive and reasonably close philosophically and geographically. Notwithstanding the Big 10's sense that its powerhouse status makes it sufficient to stand on its own, six team leagues are generally not very attractive or sustainable.

Great post 82.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Off-Season Thread 2011 Part II: The Bryce is Right

i have read all the threads and of course followed here closely about the impending doom. I am just going to take some drugs and some ETOH and relax and let the powers that be deal with this. I do not understand all the ramifications but I am not paid to do that. I will just watch how this all shakes out as a very interested spectator. I suspect the changes will not end up being all that significant for us-we will still be fine no matter where we end up and we will be playing in the NCAA tournament several times in the next few years.

I like your thinking, I will pour myself a drink and join you in waiting for the final results.