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Thoughts on a New England invitational

ac9er

New member
I know we have the Beanpot already, but I always wandered how well an outdoor tournament like the GLI would do at Fenway. Start it off with the big names like BC, BU, UNH, and Maine. (Mainly because I can't seem to get this set up in the HE tournament). Then expand invitations the following years based on rankings. Even include ECAC teams besides HE. Just want to hear thoughts.
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

Exclude BC and BU and make it the important New England tournament for teams not eligible for the Beanpot (you BC, BU, NU, and Harvard people get to have enough fun already with that tournament). Open it to New England ECAC schools as you said like Quinnipiac and Yale (heck if Holy Cross for some reason becomes a legit threat or top ten team make Atlantic New England teams eligible). Throw Hockey East schools like UML, PC, Maine, UVM, Merrimack, etc. A 4 team New England tourney would be fun, it would be interesting to see what the criteria to be selected to play in it could be. Basically a New England Invitational tournament as you said.
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

My only fear would be that BC or BU would dominate it like the Beanpot.
 
Exclude BC and BU and make it the important New England tournament for teams not eligible for the Beanpot (you BC, BU, NU, and Harvard people get to have enough fun already with that tournament). Open it to New England ECAC schools as you said like Quinnipiac and Yale (heck if Holy Cross for some reason becomes a legit threat or top ten team make Atlantic New England teams eligible). Throw Hockey East schools like UML, PC, Maine, UVM, Merrimack, etc. A 4 team New England tourney would be fun, it would be interesting to see what the criteria to be selected to play in it could be. Basically a New England Invitational tournament as you said.

This would be cool. They could rotate venues, too- Worcester, Providence, Manchester, Portland, Hartford. The host team gets an autobid and then the three teams who finished highest in the PairWise the year before get the other bids.
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

Friar Away, I agree to an extent. We both know BU and BC bring crowds. However, maybe allow the champion to defend and have 3 different contenders each year.
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

Given this is all hypothetical say BC and BU are included it would still set up potential great matchups, like a Quinnipiac vs BC game, Yale vs BU, plus you gotta hold out to see what kind of program UConn can build in their move to Hockey East, the Hartford market once supported an NHL franchise and UConn has a strong supportive fanbase but we'll have to see if it translates to hockey support if they can achieve some success. Even with BC and BU opening it up to the defending champion and top 3 pairwise New England teams would create a higher level of competition than the Beanpot. Downside though is no history and I don't think BC and BU would approach it with the same intensity as they approach the Beanpot that's why I wouldn't include the Boston schools. Either way it's a fun idea to kick around.
 
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Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

please feel free to keep BC out of this, fine by me!

didn't there used to be an annual tourney that maine, unh and uvm competed in? governor's cup?
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

Great Idea! I would agree on leaving the Beanpot schools out of it,even though I would love to see Northeastern involved,as far as Fenway goes it's a terrible place for Hockey,you need a small football stadium like Harvard Stadium the sightlines would be fantastic and it would be cheaper to pull off and therefore affordable and accessible to more people heres a summer picture of it,it would be excellent

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Stadium
 
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Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

I just figured Fenway to start it off. Big name venue with big name schools to start it. Then branch out. I'm not from New England but a UNH fan. I like the idea of moving the venue around and having the defending champ with a host school.
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

I know we have the Beanpot already, but I always wandered how well an outdoor tournament like the GLI would do at Fenway. Start it off with the big names like BC, BU, UNH, and Maine. (Mainly because I can't seem to get this set up in the HE tournament). Then expand invitations the following years based on rankings. Even include ECAC teams besides HE. Just want to hear thoughts.
Awesome idea! This has never been done at Fenway and outdoor hockey would never get old.
Bring it on... you'll make trillions of dollars.

I can't believe they haven't tried an outdoor Frozen Four yet. I bet nobody would ever want to play hockey indoors ever again!
 
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Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

bu & bc would not, i'd guess, want to give up home game ticket money twice a year. and not potentially waste ooc games vs conf opponents if the draw worked out that way.

but sounds interesting (if it can be indoors), so discuss amongst yourselves and keep mookie informed ;)
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

Exclude BC and BU and make it the important New England tournament for teams not eligible for the Beanpot (you BC, BU, NU, and Harvard people get to have enough fun already with that tournament). Open it to New England ECAC schools as you said like Quinnipiac and Yale (heck if Holy Cross for some reason becomes a legit threat or top ten team make Atlantic New England teams eligible). Throw Hockey East schools like UML, PC, Maine, UVM, Merrimack, etc. A 4 team New England tourney would be fun, it would be interesting to see what the criteria to be selected to play in it could be. Basically a New England Invitational tournament as you said.

This is a really great idea for all 12 people who would show up to Fenway Park to watch it.
 
Awesome idea! This has never been done at Fenway and outdoor hockey would never get old.
Bring it on... you'll make trillions of dollars.

I can't believe they haven't tried an outdoor Frozen Four yet. I bet nobody would ever want to play hockey indoors ever again!

Let me know how I can capitalize on the trillions being a poor college graduate.
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

Let me know how I can capitalize on the trillions being a poor college graduate.
If I knew that do ya think I'd be sharing? ;) :D

It's your idea... make it happen. I will truly feel good for you if you make trillions. And I won't ask you to share. ;)
FWIW... I won't be attending. I like my hockey indoors.
 
If I knew that do ya think I'd be sharing? ;) :D

It's your idea... make it happen. I will truly feel good for you if you make trillions. And I won't ask you to share. ;)
FWIW... I won't be attending. I like my hockey indoors.

I only suggested Fenway for the first game to make an event out of it. I'd rather it be at the Garden or other indoor facilities after.
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

This is a really great idea for all 12 people who would show up to Fenway Park to watch it.

I'd actually be in favor of rotating indoor venues. I did Frozen Fenway this year, it was fun for a one time thing. But you're right it's probably not worth having a tournament that doesn't involve BC and their front-running...I mean passionate fans;).
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

I only suggested Fenway for the first game to make an event out of it. I'd rather it be at the Garden or other indoor facilities after.
Now you're talking. I'll go even if BC isn't there (as long as they aren't playing nearby that weekend.) ;)
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

With all due respect, outdoor hockey has been greaqtly overdone, both in college and the NHL. The novelty is over. The sightlines are terrible for the fans who go, the ice condittions can be terrible, and I don't think it televises well. Did you see the games at Fenway this year. 9 people showed up and either froze or sat through rain delays.
Keep it indoors and try to draw 10-12,000 fans at Boston. prov, worcester, bridgeport, hartford, etc
 
Re: Thoughts on a New England invitational

Thinking that it should be held before the break or during as most others are. Hoping NESN carries it and I can see it in Bfe cornfield, IN.
 
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