Re: The Beginning of new hockey leagues
dggoddard = zero credibility
What else don't you know and when didn't you know it?
Minnesota was one of the leaders when it came to Bemidji gaining acceptance to the WCHA. We wouldn't have gotten in without them. I don't remember the legislature ever getting involved. These discussions get stupider and stupider. It all reminds me of the guy who gets caught cheating on his wife and then suddenly wants to blame her. Everyone is trying to spin it in their favor but it's all about the greed. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
I'm glad this post was made by a BSU fan. While many Beaver fans malign the UofMN for never playing a series in Bemidji, which is a valid gripe, the fact is Lucia championed BSU --> WCHA from the get go. He was their most vocal supporter in the 10-team WCHA. I also never heard anything about the MN legislature even discussing college hockey in this context.
As I've had a little time to reflect, I think the MN schools left in the WCHA
can make a go of it and remain afloat. But, I think that very much depends on MN, UND and UMD realizing that by pulling out of the most competitive and most profitable conference in the history of NCAA hockey, they have left a number of the remaining teams in dire straits.
What I would like to see, and what I think is very plausible, is MN playing MSU - Mankato and SCSU 3 times each year in a 2-1 deal. 1 game of a weekend series at SCSU, the other at MSU. Then those schools each come to Mariucci for a 2-game weekend series. I'm sure the UofMN would be chastized for this by many fans of those schools, but it would be a good deal for SCSU and MSU. They get the Big Boy in their home barn every year. They get 3 games televised on FSN every year, against their most hated rival. And they get the chance every year to travel to Mariucci to see their team play the Gophers.
This would keep the local rivalry fresh, would help maintain fan support and interest, help in maintaining a stream of MN recruits (games on FSN, 3 games against the big dog) and help in keeping travel costs low and maintaining a reliable, if not large, stream of revenue for those 3 games. The Gophers would still have 4 other non-conference series to do as they please.
I think something similar could be worked out between BSU and UND/UMD to get those two teams into the BRECC once a year; and it would play very well on regional broadcasts.
Given Lucia's stated record of wanting hockey to grow and remain vibrant in the state of MN, I think this (or something similar to it) is very likely to be worked out. I just Hope UND/UMD, and possibly the UofMI and MI ST (with the smaller MI schools) think along the same lines.
