State of D-II Hockey

[Buckeye22]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

I believe they were looking to try to get into the NEWMAC.

Ya that's what I've heard as well. You would think they would've announced it by now though. Maybe they're having problems getting accepted.

As for the other DII schools, I'm not convinced there will be any major shakeup. Its certainly possible. I heard a lot of people say that St. Mike's might want to move down, but as far as I know the school itself hasn't done anything. As for the others, I don't think the loss of St. A's or even St. A's and St. Mike's, would force them to change things. If they've been content with the limbo they're in now for as long as they have been, who's to say they would want to change things now? They would just lose one or two teams, but they could still play their little NE-10 tournament with 4 or 5. I don't see Stonehill and Assumption just up and cutting their programs after all this time just because one or two more DII schools have left. SNHU going DI isn't totally ridiculous when you consider all the money and brand recognition they have now from their online programs, but I still wouldn't call it likely. Plus, If Post comes in and St. Mike's stays, they could just stick with the 6 team format they have now.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Ya that's what I've heard as well. You would think they would've announced it by now though. Maybe they're having problems getting accepted.

As for the other DII schools, I'm not convinced there will be any major shakeup. Its certainly possible. I heard a lot of people say that St. Mike's might want to move down, but as far as I know the school itself hasn't done anything. As for the others, I don't think the loss of St. A's or even St. A's and St. Mike's, would force them to change things. If they've been content with the limbo they're in now for as long as they have been, who's to say they would want to change things now? They would just lose one or two teams, but they could still play their little NE-10 tournament with 4 or 5. I don't see Stonehill and Assumption just up and cutting their programs after all this time just because one or two more DII schools have left. SNHU going DI isn't totally ridiculous when you consider all the money and brand recognition they have now from their online programs, but I still wouldn't call it likely. Plus, If Post comes in and St. Mike's stays, they could just stick with the 6 team format they have now.

Is Post definitely starting men's hockey? I know women's was in the works....

 

[Buckeye22]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

For those who may be interested, I sort of found an answer to my earlier question about the format of the DII/DIII tournaments back before the DII Championship was cancelled. This article is from 1999, the last year the DII Championship was held, but I'm assuming this was roughly the same format both tournaments used going back to their beginnings in the late-70's (DII) and mid-80's (DIII). The only difference I imagine was probably the number of teams that got in and which conferences did or did not get auto bids. I know that during the DII Championship's first run from '78-'84, their were four teams that got in, not just two. Anyways, it seems that the DII Championship contenders were chosen on a strictly at large basis.

[ Story ]

 

[Buckeye22]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

Is Post definitely starting men's hockey? I know women's was in the works....

They had both men's and women's teams this year. The men played a 15 game schedule against mostly club teams. They played DIII schools Morrisville State and Daniel Webster and got the crap kicked out of them both times. They were 3-10 in the rest of their games, and that was against pretty average (at best) ACHA competition. I pointed out in another thread that Post seemed really unusual this year in that they appear to be a totally independent team, operating outside of both the ACHA and the NCAA. Usually even transitional teams are listed as independents on USCHO.com, but they aren't. When they announced they were starting the program last year they originally announced that they would be joining the NE-10, but there's been no follow up to that and as far as I know the NE-10 never made any such announcement. Since the end of the season there's been nothing new on Post's website as to what their plans are for next year.

 

[norm1909]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

Is Post definitely starting men's hockey? I know women's was in the works....

Post University - 1st Game of Men's Ice Hockey Program 11/7/15

Post University Athletics Adds Men’s and Women’s Hockey Programs


Pete Whitney was named the first head coach in Post University men's hockey history on April 6, 2015

 

[neumyer]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

I believe they were looking to try to get into the NEWMAC.

Does anyone know if St Anselm begins its "so called" cleansing program in the Fall of 2016? I guess this wouldn't apply to hockey since I don't believe they give scholarships, but in other sports, such as basketball, would incoming freshmen be eligible for just financial aid this fall and not a scholarship? If incoming freshmen this fall come in without athletic scholarships, then St Anselm would be eligible for D-3 tournaments when these incoming 2016 freshmen are seniors......correct? For the next 3 years, will they continue to be under the D-2 heading, but playing with a mix of scholarship and non-scholarship players?

 

[hawkhockey]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

Does anyone know if St Anselm begins its "so called" cleansing program in the Fall of 2016? I guess this wouldn't apply to hockey since I don't believe they give scholarships, but in other sports, such as basketball, would incoming freshmen be eligible for just financial aid this fall and not a scholarship? If incoming freshmen this fall come in without athletic scholarships, then St Anselm would be eligible for D-3 tournaments when these incoming 2016 freshmen are seniors......correct? For the next 3 years, will they continue to be under the D-2 heading, but playing with a mix of scholarship and non-scholarship players?

For the 2016-2017 , Saint Anselm will be not awarding any non need based athletic scholarships in any sport, including basketball and football .
One thought is by making this move now, the NCAA may reduce the waiting period by one year .

As to what league St.A's is looking at . there are at least two existing leagues that have expressed an interest in adding colleges , with NEWMAC being one.
The option that still exists is in starting a new D 3 league.

St.Mike's explored the NEWMAC but lack of football and distance did not help them.

NEWMAC, I am told is looking at 3-4 colleges and will be asking one or two to join their league . Two of the requirements are that the college have a football team and they are within a two hour drive for most teams . NEWMAC has received a formal letter of interest from St.A's, has had meetings are are awaiting a site visit, that should happen in the next 2-3 weeks. After that the Presidents vote. St.A's has been in contact with another league as well and some of the other DII are seriously looking at a D3 option and creating a new league.

 

[Buckeye22]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

Here's the timeline from St. A's website. Like hawkhockey said, there would be no scholarships for new athletes starting in 2016-17. St. A's would be classified as DII and play a DII schedule for 2016-17 and would be classified as DIII and play DIII schedule starting in 2017-18. They would be eligible for the post season in 2019-20 at the earliest and 2021-22 at the latest. It says that during the transitional years all student-athletes would be "transitioned" from athletic to institutional aid. What exactly that means for the upperclassmen who already have scholarships I'm not really sure.

[ Timeline ]

 

[Norwich59]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

I believe they were looking to try to get into the NEWMAC.

What's a NEWMAC and who currently belongs??

 

[joecct]

What's a NEWMAC and who currently belongs??

It's 2 all soy patties, low cal sauce, organic lettuce, cheese, kosher pickles, on a low cal sesame seed bun

 

[Norwich59]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

It's 2 all soy patties, low cal sauce, organic lettuce, cheese, kosher pickles, on a low cal sesame seed bun

Supersize it!

 

[hawkhockey]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

What's a NEWMAC and who currently belongs??

If you currently have a scholarship at St.A's , you will continue to keep the scholarship until you graduate.
As to NEWMAC , teams are Babson , WPI, Springfield ,Wheaton, MIT, Coast Guard, Clark, Wellesley, Mt Holyoke, Smith and Emerson.
No hockey except Babson but they are starting a football conference in 2017-18. A number of teams played football in the Liberty League and now Liberty is looking for teams in football but may add a new college, depending on the college, in all sports.

 

[Norwich59]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

If you currently have a scholarship at St.A's , you will continue to keep the scholarship until you graduate.
As to NEWMAC , teams are Babson , WPI, Springfield ,Wheaton, MIT, Coast Guard, Clark, Wellesley, Mt Holyoke, Smith and Emerson.
No hockey except Babson but they are starting a football conference in 2017-18. A number of teams played football in the Liberty League and now Liberty is looking for teams in football but may add a new college, depending on the college, in all sports.

Thank you Sir!

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

If you currently have a scholarship at St.A's , you will continue to keep the scholarship until you graduate.
As to NEWMAC , teams are Babson , WPI, Springfield ,Wheaton, MIT, Coast Guard, Clark, Wellesley, Mt Holyoke, Smith and Emerson.
No hockey except Babson but they are starting a football conference in 2017-18. A number of teams played football in the Liberty League and now Liberty is looking for teams in football but may add a new college, depending on the college, in all sports.

Norwich is an affiliate member of the Newmac for football in 2017.

The football league is WPI, Springfield, MIT, Coast Guard, Maine Maritime, Merchant Marine, Catholic and NU.

 

[norm1909]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

What's a NEWMAC and who currently belongs??

About the NEWMAC - the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference

 

[hawkhockey]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

No official word on the Saint A's move...there was a LOT of backlash on campus about this as it was done quite secretly by the President. They have since changed AD's twice I want to say. The reasoning as to why they want to move down is to be able to use their "scholarship" monies in any fashion they show choose.

I have heard only rumors that Saint Mike's is thinking the same.

I believe I had heard before that when a conference has enough members playing a sport they have to sponsor it based on NCAA regulations. Let's say (whether or not possible) the remaining 4 teams in the NE-10 move up...does that mean Bentley/AIC get sucked into a D1 version of NE-10 hockey? Would Merrimack be forced from HEA- they have considered moving up in all sports- or would they just join the AHA.

The "secrecy" of this decision by the President , as directed by the Board of Trustees, has come up a few times relative to this decision.
As most know , especially in athletics, situations change and change unexpectedly and quickly and as a result there is usually not a lot of time to survey alumni, ask for feedback etc.. that was the case with NEWMAC in particular looking for team(s) and the college decided to move forward with the move to D3 . This had been considered and discussed at the Trustee level for years. Most college decisions are not made using the democratic process and this is no different.
Ask football supporters at BU or Northeastern, baseball supporters at Providence or hockey fans at Penn, Fairfield or Iona if they were consulted prior to dropping their sports.
Ok, now as to the amount of backlash. Approx. 1900 people signed a online petition to reconsider . Seems like a lot. Except when you drilled down, there were multiple signatures from the extended families and friends of current athletes due primarily to the false impression that current students were going to lose their scholarship aid , which was not going to happen. Very few of these numerous posts had anything to do with D 2.
There were also some basketball supporters who wanted to continue the current policy of 10 full basketball scholarships and continue in D 2 , no real surprise here but what was surprising was very few athletes / supporters in other sports, who understood the FA/Scholarship situation signed the petition.
Some current students were upset with the lack of openness and transparency and let say all 2000 students, not the case, were against the move. Next year , there will be 1500, the following year . 7500 etc until in 2020 all students at St.A's will know we are D 3 and the issue , for the students , goes away.
This could have been handled much better by the college from a public relations standpoint but many think that this move was necessary for the sustainability of the college. End of this chapter of the story. The next chapter is also finished, the College was accepted by the NCAA . The last Chapter is still in the works, finding a D 3 league. We'll know more in 3-4 weeks.

 

[hawk]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

Will the game's this year count as
official d3 game's, if so, a lot of teams will want to play st. A's

 

[CARDS_rule_the_Burgh]

Will the game's this year count as
official d3 game's, if so, a lot of teams will want to play st. A's

No. Per the timeline published by St. Anselm, and linked here several times, they will still be classified as DIIduring the 2016-17 season.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

Okay, so for those of you keeping track, that list is...

• St. Anselm (NEHC)
• St. Michaels (NEHC)
• Southern New Hampshire (NE 10)
• Assumption (NE 10)
• Stonehill (NE 10)
• Franklin Pierce (NE 10)
• Post University (Ind)
• Minnesota-Crookston (Just kidding. No one brought them up and they're long dead)

With all in the NE 10 for their primary conference, except for Post (CACC) and, if the D-III downgrade happens officially, St. Anselm in (maybe) NEWMAC and no longer a D-II school.

Bottom line, nobody knows of this will ever be resolved. St A first flirted with DI in the AHA, but decided that DIII resolved the issue more reasonably. And I would say that were the most likely of the 6 to go DI.

It's curious that the "most likely to go DI" school would be the one actually going DIII. What reasons would there be to suggest that others wouldn't be more likely? I would guess the "community rink" size (at best) arenas that I think most (or all) of these schools play on, but looking at some of the smaller D-I programs that's not entirely a roadblock. (Similar to "no scholarships" and "can't travel far", that might be a setback, but one which continues to exist for multiple existing D-I programs)

 

[SNHUPenman]

Re: State of D-II Hockey

The "secrecy" of this decision by the President , as directed by the Board of Trustees, has come up a few times relative to this decision.
As most know , especially in athletics, situations change and change unexpectedly and quickly and as a result there is usually not a lot of time to survey alumni, ask for feedback etc.. that was the case with NEWMAC in particular looking for team(s) and the college decided to move forward with the move to D3 . This had been considered and discussed at the Trustee level for years. Most college decisions are not made using the democratic process and this is no different.
Ask football supporters at BU or Northeastern, baseball supporters at Providence or hockey fans at Penn, Fairfield or Iona if they were consulted prior to dropping their sports.
Ok, now as to the amount of backlash. Approx. 1900 people signed a online petition to reconsider . Seems like a lot. Except when you drilled down, there were multiple signatures from the extended families and friends of current athletes due primarily to the false impression that current students were going to lose their scholarship aid , which was not going to happen. Very few of these numerous posts had anything to do with D 2.
There were also some basketball supporters who wanted to continue the current policy of 10 full basketball scholarships and continue in D 2 , no real surprise here but what was surprising was very few athletes / supporters in other sports, who understood the FA/Scholarship situation signed the petition.
Some current students were upset with the lack of openness and transparency and let say all 2000 students, not the case, were against the move. Next year , there will be 1500, the following year . 7500 etc until in 2020 all students at St.A's will know we are D 3 and the issue , for the students , goes away.
This could have been handled much better by the college from a public relations standpoint but many think that this move was necessary for the sustainability of the college. End of this chapter of the story. The next chapter is also finished, the College was accepted by the NCAA . The last Chapter is still in the works, finding a D 3 league. We'll know more in 3-4 weeks.

Please keep us updated on the conference situation!