What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

UAH Hockey 2018-19

Re: UAH Hockey 2018-19

ChargerPowerPlay said:
Wow!

Like you I have been hoping for a PowerMillions/MegaBall windfall to spring Charger Hockey from surviving status to thriving status. Still no success on that plan.

When the new on-campus (extension) arena idea was announced I celebrated the idea but worried at the lengthy time frame. With the approval but no funding result that became even more of a concern.

As for your statement, is there a reason that Charger Hockey wouldn't play 2021-2021 also, to at least see out the nWCHA era? Sure, the travel costs have little return when your (partially) hired friends are all leaving soon anyway.

CPP
Click to expand...

If you have hope, you keep playing. If the Alaska schools drop varsity sports, I'm not sure what the result is.

GFM
 
Re: UAH Hockey 2018-19

What can be done to put butts in the seats? How can the fan experience be improved? How do the Havoc draw well?

From my understanding UAH cannot look for a new AD until the end of Dr. Brophry's contract, is that correct? Will Dr. Smith provide the necessary leadership?

Just looking for information and dialog from others that are more familiar with the program.
 
cajunuahfan said:
What can be done to put butts in the seats? How can the fan experience be improved? How do the Havoc draw well?

From my understanding UAH cannot look for a new AD until the end of Dr. Brophry's contract, is that correct? Will Dr. Smith provide the necessary leadership?

Just looking for information and dialog from others that are more familiar with the program.
Click to expand...
The places where minor league and college hockey have been successfull at the same time are few and far between. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Colorado Springs, Denver, Madison, Lansing, Columbus, Elmira are all examples of how the two have not been able to coexist. Kalamazoo hasn’t exactly been a raving success either with the ECHL averaging only 2700. In Huntsville you have very little crossover between the SPHL Havoc and UAH fan bases. With the Havoc winning a Championship, that may have not helped what little crossover there was.
 
Re: UAH Hockey 2018-19

davyd83 said:
The places where minor league and college hockey have been successfull at the same time are few and far between. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Colorado Springs, Denver, Madison, Lansing, Columbus, Elmira are all examples of how the two have not been able to coexist. Kalamazoo hasn’t exactly been a raving success either with the ECHL averaging only 2700. In Huntsville you have very little crossover between the SPHL Havoc and UAH fan bases. With the Havoc winning a Championship, that may have not helped what little crossover there was.
Click to expand...
Big picture, I believe you're correct. If two teams playing the same sport are going after the same fans, one team tends to lose out, and you don't get a lot of crossover.

That said, Columbus doesn't really belong on your list. The Columbus Chill moved because the NHL was on the way, not due to competition from OSU. OSU struggled in the early 90's because time had passed by the (pre-renovations) Ice Rink. But once the Schott was on the way, the Buckeyes got back into mix pretty quickly, even going to the FF in 1998.

IMHO, Buckeye Hockey & the Columbus Chill could have co-existed indefinitely, provided each team was winning enough. The Columbus market is big enough to support two separate fanbases in this specific scenario. The open question is whether the Schott would have eventually put the Chill out of business. But we'll never know as the Chill & the Schott only overlapped by a few months, in early '99.
 
Re: UAH Hockey 2018-19

The best thing for UAH is a properly-sized rink. I'm sure that UAHstatman can rattle off the last 10 times we've breached 4,000 fans in the Veeb, but only one of those years starts with 201*, and that was a full-arena giveaway.

Even if the fanbase stays the same after a move, 2,000 fans in a 4,200-seat multi-use building is WAY better than 2,000 in 6,600.

GFM
 
Re: UAH Hockey 2018-19

I'm planning on making a Huntsville trip for the Kato series next month. When do tickets go on sale, and what sections are the normal visitors seats?
 
Re: UAH Hockey 2018-19

purpleinnebraska said:
I'm planning on making a Huntsville trip for the Kato series next month. When do tickets go on sale, and what sections are the normal visitors seats?
Click to expand...

I'm note sure when the tickets will go on sale, but 207 and 208 are where road fans typically sit. That puts you behind your team. :)

GFM
 
Re: UAH Hockey 2018-19

cajunuahfan said:
Has a roster been announced for the upcoming season? Any loses in the underclassmen?
Click to expand...


Levi Wunder transferred to SUNY-Geneseo, a D3 school.
Andrew Dodson went back home to play for the University of Guelph.
Given McBey's recent commitment (the new goalie), it wouldn't surprise me if Josh Astorino left as well.

Bizarrely, UAH's website listed a 2019-2020 roster for a short period of time in August, then took it down. However, the folks at Elite Prospects saw it, so it can be found here: https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/1862/univ.-of-alabama-huntsville#players

Going to be an inexperienced, (relatively) small and probably overmatched bunch, but with only got a handful of seniors, a comparatively strong crop of forwards set to join the squad in 2020-2021 (i.e., William Zapernick, Ryland Mosley, and Joey Baez), and a new arena (hopefully) on the horizon, the program's future looks bright - SO LONG AS the seven departing WCHA schools or Atlantic Hockey decide to give us a conference home.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top