What's new
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

So you want to start up a D1 team

Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

Why would you say that? I don't agree with that and would miss long standing rivalries like Cornell's trek to SLU and Clarkson.

Don't forget Cornell's traveling companion and stout rival, Colgate. It would be a shame to end this rivalry as well as an economic inconvenience.
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

The main problem with any large expansion of D1 Hockey is the talent. Hockey is the only major sport that has to face a serious threat in a Major-Junior league that siphons away top talent into their own league. Northeastern for example, had recruited Ryan Johansen (who is 8th in the draft list), but he decided to leave immediately for major juniors instead of waiting. It's hard enough for colleges to compete for top talent, especially if you then have to compete with a league that can make offers you aren't allowed to.

It'd probably be pretty easier for another school or two to add D1 hockey, but adding a whole new conference would drain the pool of talent, and likely cause a serious conflict with the Major-Juniors.

Luckily the USHL is expanding with two more teams next year, so hopefully the talent pool continues to increase.

I'm going to disagree with your premise, because I think that the talent pool here in the US will continue to increase.

There are now more kids playing in non-traditional hockey areas like Oklahoma, Texas, the Southeast and California. Some of those young men are already making their way onto D-1 rosters.
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

I'm going to disagree with your premise, because I think that the talent pool here in the US will continue to increase.

There are now more kids playing in non-traditional hockey areas like Oklahoma, Texas, the Southeast and California. Some of those young men are already making their way onto D-1 rosters.

I don't disagree with that, in fact I think this is very good for hockey in general, as theoretically all the new players will bring more popularity to hockey in general, I just think currently there doesn't exist the talent to support a massive immediate expansion of D1 Hockey. From what it appears, the talent pool for D1 Hockey is continuing to expand, and in 5 or 10 years, it will likely be big enough to support a large number of new collegiate teams, but right now I don't think there exists the talent pool to massively expand collegiate hockey.
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

I don't disagree with that, in fact I think this is very good for hockey in general, as theoretically all the new players will bring more popularity to hockey in general, I just think currently there doesn't exist the talent to support a massive immediate expansion of D1 Hockey. From what it appears, the talent pool for D1 Hockey is continuing to expand, and in 5 or 10 years, it will likely be big enough to support a large number of new collegiate teams, but right now I don't think there exists the talent pool to massively expand collegiate hockey.

define "massive"... the lower end schools are MUCH better than they were at the start of the decade and the talent has gotten much better... why do you think there's such a concern about parity in college hockey... everybody has caught up to each other and that's all about the talent on the ice. The players are much better than they were a decade ago. Really though, your argument is rather specious.
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

They're hoping to go D-1 when the moratorium expires.

They've still going to have the problem of finding a league to play in. More power to Lindenwood with going from the NAIA to D2 along with starting up a D1 Hockey program at the same time. But that didn't exactly work out that well for Findlay, and the Oilers were in a lot better location with some Hockey schools a hop, skip and a short bus ride away.
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

Since, the season is over I am curious to hear what USCHO posters would do if they had a chance to start up from scratch a Division one hockey program. Please try to keep the forming of a BTHC to minium. Here is the following criteria.

1.) The school of your choice has 50 million dollars to use. Any region of the country is fine, it is your choice.
2.) Currently, there is a basketball arena on campus that seats over 10,000 with bad sight lines for hockey but they do have a 1,500 seat hockey arena.
3.) When do you bring in a coach?
4.) When do you fundraise?
5.) How do you get around all the Title crap?
6.) What conference do you want to play in?
7.) Finally name the school.

FGCU. They have a couple club teams already. Germaine arena(ECHL Everblades play there and they host a college showcase already). Seems like the school has had no problem fast tracking their athletic programs to d1(no football, so that helps). Not sure which conference to play in(East Coast for sure). Try and bring in a name coach, recruiting to Florida might not be a disadvantage(nothing like going to the rink in sandals and shorts). they support the echl team pretty well(lots of people from NY, Mass., Ohio, and Michigan who need their hockey fix)
 
Last edited:
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

Why would you say that? I don't agree with that and would miss long standing rivalries like Cornell's trek to SLU and Clarkson.

I'm sure a scheduling agreement would be worked out with those schools they'd want to keep playing.
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

FGCU. They have a couple club teams already. Germaine arena(ECHL Everblades play there and they host a college showcase already). Seems like the school has had no problem fast tracking their athletic programs to d1(no football, so that helps). Not sure which conference to play in(East Coast for sure). Try and bring in a name coach, recruiting to Florida might not be a disadvantage(nothing like going to the rink in sandals and shorts). they support the echl team pretty well(lots of people from NY, Mass., Ohio, and Michigan who need their hockey fix)

With the Everblades pretty much in control of Germain arena, do you think they would be willing to share prime playing dates, and in house advertising revenue with the college team?
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

Why would you say that? I don't agree with that and would miss long standing rivalries like Cornell's trek to SLU and Clarkson.

Why couldn't they? You could break up the two conferences in the regular season, and then have them play together in the playoffs for the ECAC title. Two games within your sub-conference, one outside, then some non-league games, and it would likely do well for everyone's schedule. Use some of the non-league games to make a home/home series, bring in a couple of the Atlantic teams into the non-ivy portion.
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

even tulane?
They did have a point shaving scandel a while back.

Just had a wild hare.. If the NCAA does a National Collegiate Championship with D1 and D2, and you only need 6 teams to qualify as an AQ conference, would the 4 current NE10 teams plus St. A and St. Mikes, be enough to qualify for an AQ?? They could play AIC, Bentley, and lesser AHA teams to fill out the schedule...
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

They did have a point shaving scandel a while back.

Just had a wild hare.. If the NCAA does a National Collegiate Championship with D1 and D2, and you only need 6 teams to qualify as an AQ conference, would the 4 current NE10 teams plus St. A and St. Mikes, be enough to qualify for an AQ?? They could play AIC, Bentley, and lesser AHA teams to fill out the schedule...

I don't think it's wholly unrealistic. Depending on what the remaining D-II teams have for barns.

I do imagine a wiating period before they get their AQ.
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

Just had a wild hare.. If the NCAA does a National Collegiate Championship with D1 and D2, and you only need 6 teams to qualify as an AQ conference, would the 4 current NE10 teams plus St. A and St. Mikes, be enough to qualify for an AQ?? They could play AIC, Bentley, and lesser AHA teams to fill out the schedule...

Ugh... And how would this help?
Don't we already have enough D-II programs in D-I that either don't belong there and/or would be elsewhere if they had the option?
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

With the Everblades pretty much in control of Germain arena, do you think they would be willing to share prime playing dates, and in house advertising revenue with the college team?

I think it would be workable for them and the blades to both be able to schedule games in the main arena. Practice time should not be a big deal as they do have 3 sheets of ice there. Advertising and promotions could be a sticking point.
 
Last edited:
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

Just had a wild hare.. If the NCAA does a National Collegiate Championship with D1 and D2, and you only need 6 teams to qualify as an AQ conference, would the 4 current NE10 teams plus St. A and St. Mikes, be enough to qualify for an AQ?? They could play AIC, Bentley, and lesser AHA teams to fill out the schedule...

Heck, AIC and Bentley are NE10 members; they might consider dropping down if they could still compete for a title.

Dunno if they would or not, but I bet they'd consider it.


Powers &8^]
 
Re: So you want to start up a D1 team

Yeah, just like D3 teams that everyone in the top 4 conferences thought didn't belong... sure, ok...


Ugh... And how would this help?
Don't we already have enough D-II programs in D-I that either don't belong there and/or would be elsewhere if they had the option?
 
Back
Top