The new Super League is going down the tubes.

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

Merrimack
Maine
Northeastern
Vermont
Providence

Are you serious? Maine is going through a multimillion dollar renovation and the arena is recognized as one of the best experiences in the country.

 

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

WCHA founding members 1959:
Colorado College, University of Denver, University of Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, University of Minnesota, University of North Dakota.

Tell me again who has loyalty to their league?

How many of those teams are in New England?

 

[dggoddard]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

Are you serious? Maine is going through a multimillion dollar renovation and the arena is recognized as one of the best experiences in the country.

The baked potatoes are good but you would be hard pressed to call that dump a top-notch facility.

When you have to repeatedly stop the game and have all the players come out and skate in circles to clear the fog off the ice....

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

These moves are about money.

Show me. Where is "the money"? Where's it going to be?

The BHHC teams will be limited to a 34 game schedule. Where is all the extra money? No more extra games for UND which means LOSING minimum revenue of $400,000 a year. Big slices of the NCAA playoff pie? 472 more people showing up to watch "Super League Ultra-Talent (SLUT)" in the Magness versus how many showed up when SCSU came to town? Where is this magic money going to come from?

Face it ... it's been hashed and rehashed in this thread and others and there is no real money in it. This has nothing to do with money and everything to do with "aspirations". The AD's at the BHHC schools talked themselves and each other into this in the name of hope. It's a cultural attempt to separate themselves from schools that they perceive are somehow lesser. And even that perception is flawed when you note that UAF had the 2nd biggest budget in the CCHA last year. When you fools talk about "commitment to hockey" that's some pretty clear evidence they are committed.

Just stop with the faux-justifications. They're tiring.

 

[Priceless]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

The baked potatoes are good but you would be hard pressed to call that dump a top-notch facility.

When you have to repeatedly stop the game and have all the players come out and skate in circles to clear the fog off the ice....

You may have us confused with BC.

 

[Suze]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

But UAA fans (I'm talking about the ones who post here only) whine about officiating more than any other group

Says you. In fact, I pointed out again and again other fans doing this very thing all last season. Some of the worse were Gopher fans.

Make excuses for poor performance, are inclined to conspiracy theories to account for their stinking up the league, and in one case, accused a DU player of being a liar because he didn't quite respond to an injury the way your poster thought he should have.

That happened two seasons ago, obsess much? Ironic you use that as a justification for part of your argument since UAA beat the snot out of your team that night. If Gwozdecky hadn't told a bold faced lie to the press saying Wiercoch left the game early when he in fact played right until the final minute (something Mike Chambers confirmed), and Wiercoch hadn't told a little "white lie" (does that sound better?) , about when he left the game, then it would not have been an issue.

Was I upset when I read those lies in the Denver paper? Yup. Did I then admit I over reacted and apologize? Yup. However, that wasn't good enough for you.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

Says you. In fact, I pointed out again and again other fans doing this very thing all last season. Some of the worse were Gopher fans.



That happened two seasons ago, obsess much? Ironic you use that as a justification for part of your argument since UAA beat the snot out of your team that night. If Gwozdecky hadn't told a bold faced lie to the press saying Wiercoch left the game early when he in fact played right until the final minute (something Mike Chambers confirmed), and Wiercoch hadn't told a little "white lie" (does that sound better?) , about when he left the game, then it would not have been an issue.

Was I upset when I read those lies in the Denver paper? Yup. Did I then admit I over reacted and apologize? Yup. However, that wasn't good enough for you.

It took you two days to apologize, doc, and even then it was not sincere. And your passive aggressive wise a*s crack about a "little white lie" proves the point. You're still doing it, two years later. Plus, you neglected to mention how you gave us all the benefit of your extensive medical training by observing he didn't look hurt "from where I was sitting." And where, besides the the land of the midnight chump, is the outcome of the game relevant to our beef? I suppose when wins against elite teams are so few and far between (or against almost anybody, come to think of it) you have to thump your chest when lightning strikes. So I'm still calling you out and you're still calling a 19-year old a liar. Who, exactly, is obsessed here? Keep on justifying your behavior. You did not sincerely apologize, because you didn't believe one was necessary, and you know it. The sooner you and the rest of the UAA menagerie is in our rearviews, the better.

 

[Suze]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

It took you two days to apologize, doc, and even then it was not credible. Keep on justifying your behavior. The sooner you and the rest of the UAA menagerie are in our rearviews, the better.

This was exactly the kind of response I expected from you. The apology was indeed sincere, even your own fan base had to step in and call you out for your childish and petty behavior. When it comes to justifying behavior, you are the king.

Like JJ, there are a few DU fans I will miss.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

This was exactly the kind of response I expected from you. The apology was indeed sincere, even your own fan base had to step in and call you out for your childish and petty behavior. When it comes to justifying behavior, you are the king.

Like JJ, there are a few DU fans I will miss.

You ought to make a better effort at being accurate, otherwise someone will call YOU a liar. One DU poster "stepped in." One. He's young and immature, living in Alaska and referred to you as his "friend and ally." That's his business, of course, but you really shouldn't stretch the truth ("little white lie?") about the number of our posters who sided with you. Other than the exception noted, DU posters were unanimous in telling you to blow it our your barracks bag, because you had crossed the line. And you darn well know it. Even so, you have repeated this, uh, untrue version of what went on more than once. Your crazed conspiracy theories about who was "lying" and why are just that, crazed. So give it up, Inspector Javert.

Your words and attitude since the initial dust up (including tonight) argue against the sincerity of your apolgy. Even so, I would hesitate to call you a liar. But, after due consideration, that's what you are.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

IMHO and that's all it is, there is ample evidence that simply spending on a new rink or on updated facilities, even if you spend millions of dollars is not enough for the BHHC. Witness St Clouds new renovations, or Bimidji's rink, or Tech spending a lot of money on renovations and a new coach. So if WMU or anyone else thinks that this is about monetary commitment, think again. That is just lip service to have a justification for doing what they want to do. It's not the real reason. WMU needs to watch out that they are not there simply to be used.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

IMHO and that's all it is, there is ample evidence that simply spending on a new rink or on updated facilities, even if you spend millions of dollars is not enough for the BHHC. Witness St Clouds new renovations, or Bimidji's rink, or Tech spending a lot of money on renovations and a new coach. So if WMU or anyone else thinks that this is about monetary commitment, think again. That is just lip service to have a justification for doing what they want to do. It's not the real reason. WMU needs to watch out that they are not there simply to be used.

What IS the real reason? And a new rink and committment by the administration sure helped DU shake off a two decade long slump.

 

[Cross-Czech]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

What IS the real reason? And a new rink and committment by the administration sure helped DU shake off a two decade long slump.

The club was only accepting membership applications from certified ignorant arrogant a**holes who want to destroy college hockey. Chambers reported it on his blog.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

The club was only accepting membership applications from certified ignorant arrogant a**holes who want to destroy college hockey. Chambers reported it on his blog.

Can you be a bit more vague? What are you talking about? I wasn't being argumentative, I just wanted to hear his opinion. Instead, I get yours. Which is not an even exchange. That's DU, "destroying college hockey" for the last 60+ years. Who does this "certifying" you referenced? You, pipsqueak?

 

[CHFAN222]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

Merrimack
Maine
Northeastern
Vermont
Providence

I said to exclude Providence because they aren't even trying.

Maine is a nice barn and from what I hear they are doing some work on it.

Merrimack has done some renovations to make their arena better and I wouldn't be surprised if they keep doing more work on it with the recent amount of sucess the program has had.

UVM is looking for a new arena but if having troubles due to the economy. With all the sell outs they have though I would not be surprised to see them do something in the near future.

Have you been to Northeastern lately? They just spent 30 million on the place and it looks great. It's got the old time feel with all the modern amenities. Arguably the best arena to watch a game in HE.

 

[Sean Pickett]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

WCHA founding members 1959:
Colorado College, University of Denver, University of Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, University of Minnesota, University of North Dakota.

Tell me again who has loyalty to their league?

Michigan and Michigan State both left the WCHA decades ago, so they're not loyal to their league. Everything I've read points to Minnesota being loyal, but they have no choice in leaving. Of the four remaining schools Michigan Tech has already shown it's lack of loyalty decades ago when they left for the CCHA. That leaves CC, DU and UND, who are remaining loyal to each other, and in my opinion, to the original WCHA.

In the east the big breakup happened over 25 years ago when the five founding members of Hockey East broke from the ECAC. Those five members have played each other regulalry alomost since the start of their programs. BU and BC have been playing each other for over nine decades. NU and UNH have been playing each other and both BC and BU for eight decades and all four have been playing PC for six decades. Those teams' ties with Massachusetts, Merrimack, Maine and Vermont go back to before the formation of Hockey East, while UMass Lowell was also an original member of Hockey East. So while it is possible that the Big 4 in Hockey East might leave to form yet another new conference it is unlikely to happen in the next decade.

Sean

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

What IS the real reason? And a new rink and committment by the administration sure helped DU shake off a two decade long slump.

I think what he's getting at is that the NCHC powers (UND & DU) think they're better off without Tech, UAA, BSU, MSUM and SCSU no matter what those do because UND & DU feel like playing them and occasionally losing only hurts their profile. I mean Michigan Tech has invested $1.5 million into their new coach, millions into a complete makeover of the arena including new seats, new suites & skyboxes, improved locker rooms and player facilities. If the last time you were there was pre-2005, you'd be shocked at how much nicer it is. One of my college roommates came to Houghton meet up when a bunch of us were in town for Melmac's wedding and he was amazed at how much different it was from what he remembered. Michigan Tech is investing huge amounts of $$$ into their program. It just hasn't translated into wins yet. As for your assessment of DU end of their slump...I think it has more to do with Gwozdecky than Magness.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

I think what he's getting at is that the NCHC powers (UND & DU) think they're better off without Tech, UAA, BSU, MSUM and SCSU no matter what those do because UND & DU feel like playing them and occasionally losing only hurts their profile. I mean Michigan Tech has invested $1.5 million into their new coach, millions into a complete makeover of the arena including new seats, new suites & skyboxes, improved locker rooms and player facilities. If the last time you were there was pre-2005, you'd be shocked at how much nicer it is. One of my college roommates came to Houghton meet up when a bunch of us were in town for Melmac's wedding and he was amazed at how much different it was from what he remembered. Michigan Tech is investing huge amounts of $$$ into their program. It just hasn't translated into wins yet. As for your assessment of DU end of their slump...I think it has more to do with Gwozdecky than Magness.

Never been to Houghton (does Ishpeming count? Or that giant ski flying hill at Iron Mountain?) but if I had been, I would have seen whatever rink you had before the one you've got now. Did you ever see the DU Arena? Toward the end it was really a toilet. There was a time when some of us looked to MacInnes as what DU needed to do to stay competitive. In earlier days, with practically no other sports competition in Denver, DU was a very hot ticket. The games attracted a carriage trade crowd: mayors, governors, senators, business big shots. Things went south dramatically in the 70's for a variety of reasons, but the collapsing roof and sagging ice of the Arena played a role. Don't misunderstand, I wasn't knocking Gwozdecky (that would be pretty stupid) but he became a better recruiter when Magness opened. As Frank Serratore once told me, DU doesn't have to have better facilities than anyone else, we just have to be in the game. And Magness put us back in the game.

As I've said, I think I understand the resentment here. If I were an MTU or (God forbid) a UAA grad, I'd be singing the same song many of y'all are singing, no question about it. Are we acting in naked self interest? I suppose so. Remember, we don't get a dime of public money, ever. So hockey has to pay the bills for the entire athletic department, no football and basketball seemingly eons away from ever being a money maker. Did DU panic or did we take a dramatic step to preserve our brand? Maybe both.

I hope this all sorts itself out, without ruining anybody. And I hope your investments in the arena and personnel pay off.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

I said this on Twitter and will expand on it here:

Maybe its sentimentality or regional pride, but I think loyalty means more here in New England than in other parts of the country. BC and BU are not going to desert Providence and Northeastern after they took the chance to form a new league in 1983. Teams out west may value other things more and make moves to match their values...New England isn't like that. I like Hockey East the way it is. We don't need to be adding teams from Indiana or telling schools like UMA, UVM to get lost. In the end HEA may add Notre Dame just because the brand would strengthen the league, but it would really surprise me. I think (hope) that we're immune to the "me first" mentality that seems to have infected so many schools.

I agree with your statement in part. I tend to agree that loyalty is still strong in HE which is why I think BC and BU declined offers from the NCHC. Keep in mind though that when schools begin to grapple with the rising operating costs of athletic budgets and their main revenue generating sport is hockey, as is the case with DU, UND and others, to opt out of your loyalty to a conference for a potential revenue cash cow like a nationwide media contract is a very appealing proposition. No school is immune to those options ("me first") in this age of budget cutbacks and the ubiquitous commercialization of college sports.

I don't see the stirrings for a money grab emerging from HE despite obvious buttonholing attempts by the NCHC. For example, BC's football revenue at approximately $19M even exceeds the University of Minn. at approximately $17M (2009-10). BU's athletic budget operates on a different economic model and is partially subsidized by the university's central fund, so neither one are itching for immediate funding solutions. In the case of HE, a substantial media contract is being formulated, the conference has remained intact amidst multi-conference realignment rumors, program travel costs are manageable, and BU and BC have a solid rivalry as founding members of Hockey East. I would expect BU and BC to remain as stable pillars of HE.

I don't see ND forming their own conference either or rebuilding the CCHA. IMHO they're going to move. As I mentioned in a previous post, keep an eye on the UND nickname issue and how that plays out over the next three weeks. I'd be very surprised if ND announces their affiliation with NCHC amidst this kind of controversy of potential NCAA sanctions on UND. If a court battle ensues, NO ONE will be aligning themselves with the NCHC until that issue is thoroughly resolved.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

I don't see ND forming their own conference either or rebuilding the CCHA. IMHO they're going to move. As I mentioned in a previous post, keep an eye on the UND nickname issue and how that plays out over the next three weeks. I'd be very surprised if ND announces their affiliation with NCHC amidst this kind of controversy of potential NCAA sanctions on UND. If a court battle ensues, NO ONE will be aligning themselves with the NCHC until that issue is thoroughly resolved.

And yet Miami (formerly the redskins) did exactly that...seems kinda strange if that's really an issue don't you think?

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: The new Super League is going down the tubes.

And yet Miami (formerly the redskins) did exactly that...seems kinda strange if that's really an issue don't you think?

That's a very good question SG! My guess is there must have been some projected reassurance that this will be resolved and supported by a reasonably strong internal relationship (Gwoz?).