Stonehill to D-I Independent for 2022-23

[Gainzo]

I think a new conference with Stonehill, Bentley, Merrimack, Lowell, AIC, and Holy Cross with room to add a few more would do really well. Hockey East would be a lot better off with fewer teams.

Are you kidding me with Lowell?

Always at the top of the list in Hockey East attendance. The Tsongas is a great place to watch a game.

There is also the success the program has had in the last 10-12 years.

 

[Middle Street]

i think a new conference with stonehill, bentley, merrimack, maine, aic, and holy cross with room to add a few more would do really well. Hockey east would be a lot better off with fewer teams.

fyp

 

[Drew S.]

fyp

If Maine was closer to Boston I’d be okay with that. I think folks are looking at the proposed conference as another Atlantic Hockey and that wasn’t the intent. All of the schools are around Boston(except AIC which isn’t that far out) and they are all schools people know. All of the schools are in a similar place athletically and I’m sure fans of the schools would find the conference games meaningful. They also could go to a lot of the away games if they wanted to.

 

[ScottK]

Most of that success was between 2012 and 2017. They’ve only made the tournament one year since.

They were 11th in the Pairwise when the season abruptly ended in 2020 (which is higher than they were this year when they made the tourney). They made the Hockey East Championship Game in 2021 (and lost 1-0 to the eventual national champions). Please, keep telling me that they haven't done much since 2017.

 

[ScottK]

All of the schools are in a similar place athletically and I'm sure fans of the schools would find the conference games meaningful.

I assume that Vermont, UNH, and Maine will be joining this conference too, since they are currently in the same conference (America East) as Lowell for every other sport, right?

 

[Chuck Murray]

I assume that Vermont, UNH, and Maine will be joining this conference too, since they are currently in the same conference (America East) as Lowell for every other sport, right?

Hey, don't go dragging UNH into this. I'm the first one who called BS on this stupid idea.

 

[amkirby10]

Lowell joining puny schools like Stonehill, et al in a new conference is an incredibly awful take. They're a state school, a still growing one at that, who just moved up their entire athletic department to Division 1. Having been to every arena in Hockey East other than the mall in Hartford, Tsongas undoubtedly one of the better arenas in the conference, possibly even the best one. They've been one of the premiere programs in the conference for a decade now. And even if Hockey East has lost some of its luster from the olden days, there is zero doubt that it has much more prestige than a theoretical conference full of tiny schools either from AHA or who have never played a game in Division 1. Frankly, none of Hockey East's teams should or would consider leaving HEA for this new conference, and nor should they. It would be an awful decision.

 

[BlackBearFan19]

Lowell joining puny schools like Stonehill, et al in a new conference is an incredibly awful take. They're a state school, a still growing one at that, who just moved up their entire athletic department to Division 1. Having been to every arena in Hockey East other than the mall in Hartford, Tsongas undoubtedly one of the better arenas in the conference, possibly even the best one. They've been one of the premiere programs in the conference for a decade now. And even if Hockey East has lost some of its luster from the olden days, there is zero doubt that it has much more prestige than a theoretical conference full of tiny schools either from AHA or who have never played a game in Division 1. Frankly, none of Hockey East's teams should or would consider leaving HEA for this new conference, and nor should they. It would be an awful decision.

Tsongas is one of my favorite opposing venues to visit. It has all the amenities of a modern arena but still feels like you’re at a college game.

There is a sub zero chance of Lowell leaving hockey East and I hope the Lowell fans in here don’t think all Maine fans hold this take. Merrimack is the only school that maybe would be better suited in the smaller conference and that is just due to arena size and school size. They would have a better chance of making the tournament in a smaller conference. With Borek behind the bench they’ve been really competitive so it’s not like they’ve been stomped all over but it’s a program that’s only made the tournament once since 1989.

Lowell has been arguably the most consistent program in hockey east over the last 15 year or so years. They’re a great fit for hockey east and have been in it since the beginning.

 

[UncleRay]

Another Maine fan apologizing for Drew. We're pretty sure he was dropped on his head in his youth. And that he's related to the late Red Gendron, who he seems to continue to revere as some sort of demi-god. Lowell and the Hack aren't going anywhere. Nor should they.

 

[QUAlum2004]

LIU, stonehill and Merrimack are all NEC schools. A conference with LIU, stonehill, Merrimack, Bentley, holy cross, sacred heart, army, AIC is what I could see.

Then you make a conference with RIT, canisius, Niagara, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris, Utica when they come up and a couple others

 

[Sean Pickett]

LIU, stonehill and Merrimack are all NEC schools. A conference with LIU, stonehill, Merrimack, Bentley, holy cross, sacred heart, army, AIC is what I could see.

Then you make a conference with RIT, canisius, Niagara, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris, Utica when they come up and a couple others

If you're going by geography Quinnipiac fits in with your NEC conference. If, on the other hand, you're going by conference affiliation then Quinnipiac (MAAC) fits in with Canisius (MAAC) and Niagara (MAAC), as well as Robert Morris (MAAC - AM).

Sean

 

[The Sicatoka]

West --> NCHC/B1G/CCHA: 23 teams (about 8 per) + Indys ASU and UA(F)

East --> HEA/ECAC/AHA: 34 teams (about 11 per) + Indy LIU

I'm surprised that some subset in the east (cough-IVY-cough) hasn't formed a new conference to put the east at about 8 per, and to create another autobid.


Worried about being the big fish in this new pond? Ask Mike Hastings how he feels about it.

 

[QUAlum2004]

If you're going by geography Quinnipiac fits in with your NEC conference. If, on the other hand, you're going by conference affiliation then Quinnipiac (MAAC) fits in with Canisius (MAAC) and Niagara (MAAC), as well as Robert Morris (MAAC - AM).

Sean

Quinnipiac isn’t leaving the ECAC for a lesser conference. And they don’t really fit in style with schools like Stonehill.

 

[Harry Cleverly]

Stonehill is like Holy Cross' little brother.

They have been a good D2 school in a lot of sports, but hockey has not been one of them (against D3 competition).

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

I can’t believe you guys took Drew’s comment that seriously.

 

[Jensen35]

LIU, stonehill and Merrimack are all NEC schools. A conference with LIU, stonehill, Merrimack, Bentley, holy cross, sacred heart, army, AIC is what I could see.

Then you make a conference with RIT, canisius, Niagara, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris, Utica when they come up and a couple others

Army will not move away from AFA. The academies all want to be in the same conference.

 

[Patman]

Something will have to give over the next few years. LIU, Stonehill, Utica etc...there is no long term path as independents. At least I don't think there is. How many teams are needed in a conference for an auto bid? 6? Just as an example, wouldn't Merrimack be better off in a league with a school like Stonehill? I have been calling for Hockey East to add a 12th team but is it possible some of these bigger conferences end up splitting into more conferences?

The same Merrimack that went full division 1? I know you BC guys have fetishes but this one tops it. This is a looney tunes comment.

 

[Patman]

Most of that success was between 2012 and 2017. They’ve only made the tournament one year since.

I'm sorry mainer, we didn't have to cheat to be good. Back to irrelevance with you.

 

[Patman]

After their short-term dalliance with Northern Indiana Community College, who can blame HEA?

My guess is HEA is still waiting for the arrival of the unicorn that would be a D-1 hockey program that impacts New York City, which could be a game-changer for the league and its schools. Otherwise, any of the established programs who might be considered, don't have any interest in leaving the ECAC (see Quinnipiac and/or RPI). in AHA, Holy Cross might fill an empty geographical space if HEA was desperate for Team #12 ... but clearly they aren't.

Maybe the new ESPN deal signals that something might be up in the not-too-distant future? HEA is definitely in a state of flux with the emergence of UMass as a perennial national contender, while each of the old "Big Four" will likely see new leadership in the next 2-3 years (UMaine already, BU pending, UNH and BC to follow, albeit for diametrically opposite reasons). I suspect HEA is going to look very different from the current model when we all awaken 5 years from now.

First domino to fall will be whether Commish Nigel stays put, or returns to UNH. I'm hearing strong messaging on both sides of that issue right now. Should know soon enough ...

ESPN has deals with the MEAC and SWAC. Those leagues are headed to bankruptcy court long before anywhere relevant

 

[Patman]

If Maine was closer to Boston I’d be okay with that. I think folks are looking at the proposed conference as another Atlantic Hockey and that wasn’t the intent. All of the schools are around Boston(except AIC which isn’t that far out) and they are all schools people know. All of the schools are in a similar place athletically and I’m sure fans of the schools would find the conference games meaningful. They also could go to a lot of the away games if they wanted to.

We have no interest joining your traversal towards failure. Take that path on your own