solution to ECAC-West problem?

[Pioneers#1]

Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

so say M'ville leaves for the EcacEast.....and the EcacWest is left to four teams.I think we could all agree that four teams is not enough to have a divison....so what teams could leave their current divison and go to the EcacWest to replace M'ville & LvC?

 

[NUProf]

Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

so say M'ville leaves for the EcacEast.....and the EcacWest is left to four teams.I think we could all agree that four teams is not enough to have a divison....so what teams could leave their current divison and go to the EcacWest to replace M'ville & LvC?

Before Utica joined the ECAC West, there were 4 teams - RIT, Hobart, Elmira, Manhattanville. Manhattanville was new in 1999, and replaced Mercyhurst, which moved from DII to DI in that year. The ECAC West has operated for more than a few years as a four team league. In those days they played a 6 game league schedule (2 game against each of the others), and lots of NC games, particularly against the SUNYAC.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

I think the post from LtPowers was intended as tongue in cheek. The points in your response are right on though. I would also add that if they did want/could afford to make that move, where the heck would they play???? There isn't any room for them in any of the DI leagues. Joining up with UAH to reprise the CHA isn't any better than staying in the ECAC-W and at least being able to have a chance at a post-season title.

Only partially tongue-in-cheek. But honestly, I think having four or five teams move up from D-III would be fantastic for D-I, which is sorely in need of a realignment. With, say, Elmira, Hobart, Utica, and Neumann moving up, I'd split the AHA into two 8-team leagues. One would have BobbyMo, 'Hurst, Canisius, Niagara, RIT, Elmira, Hobart, and Utica (with a lineup like that, it'd be tempting to call it the ECAC West). The other would have Air Force, Army, Neumann, AIC, Holy Cross, UConn, Bentley, and Sacred Heart.

That would make two 8-team leagues ripe for future expansion, since all of the other leagues seem content to stay at 12 or 10.


Powers &8^]

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

Only partially tongue-in-cheek. But honestly, I think having four or five teams move up from D-III would be fantastic for D-I, which is sorely in need of a realignment. With, say, Elmira, Hobart, Utica, and Neumann moving up, I'd split the AHA into two 8-team leagues. One would have BobbyMo, 'Hurst, Canisius, Niagara, RIT, Elmira, Hobart, and Utica (with a lineup like that, it'd be tempting to call it the ECAC West). The other would have Air Force, Army, Neumann, AIC, Holy Cross, UConn, Bentley, and Sacred Heart.

That would make two 8-team leagues ripe for future expansion, since all of the other leagues seem content to stay at 12 or 10.


Powers &8^]

Once again,

I'm pretty sure the current ECAC West schools have no desire to move up and be tadpoles in a pond where RIT is a flounder to the D-I powers.

What's the point of leaving D-III, where they can easily compete for league titles and on a tougher, but still reachable scale of a national championship?

In D-I, these schools would have no chance without the ability of athletic scholarships. Sure RIT has had some success within their league, still they have yet to win the tournament title and they will NEVER win a National Championship unless they get athletic scholarships.

That may be fine for you RIT fans and you also get the chance to watch D-I hockey every night, which is pretty cool. But, you're also in a big city and have a very large student population compared to the current ECAC West schools.

We're perfectly happy in D-III, you can play in your little sandbox with the rest of the Atlantic teams while we're all competing for national titles still.

 

[nagwell]

Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

Elmira had a chance of going in along with RIT when the
new DI league was formed but declined after RIT declined.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

What's the point of leaving D-III, where they can easily compete for league titles and on a tougher, but still reachable scale of a national championship?

Hey, don't get me wrong; I felt the same way when the move was announced. You kinda get used to the idea, though.

I admit it would be nice to have a shot at a national championship. But someday, it might happen.

As I said, the suggestion was partially tongue-in-cheek. But it would give the ECAC West teams a place to go, and it would help D-I expand too.


Powers &86]

 

[Jumbolaya]

Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

Before Utica joined the ECAC West, there were 4 teams - RIT, Hobart, Elmira, Manhattanville. Manhattanville was new in 1999, and replaced Mercyhurst, which moved from DII to DI in that year. The ECAC West has operated for more than a few years as a four team league. In those days they played a 6 game league schedule (2 game against each of the others), and lots of NC games, particularly against the SUNYAC.

On the subject of four-team leagues, I'm sure the Division I championship committee is feeling rather silly for extending the CHA's autobid now that the conference will have two teams in the NCAA tournament after Bemidji (a lock for an at-large berth) was upset in the CHA semifinals.

 

[CornwallAce]

Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

Ok, I had to double check, but I knew Hobart was D1 in Men's Lacrosse and they still are. So they're not going D1 in hockey.

I could see Utica going D1, totally from a fan's perspective.
Neumann going D1 might be good for inching college hockey on to the radar in southern Pa, but the key word here would be "inching".

Well, it will be interesting to see what happens.