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Got my vote in. Thanks for the prompt Ref
Psyched for Friday!
Glad to be of assistance! Today I had one of my classes in a computer lab and had them all vote too...
Kind of agree with almost all of this, Greg. Certainly the novelty of this event for the first few years has worn off, and I doubt the NCAA needs any further proof than the regularly strong Regionals attendance to justify the site selection any longer.
I guess I still would like to see something akin to a "Northern Beanpot" emerge from this at some point. Seems like a pipe dream to some degree, especially given that the concept was given a run-out in the late '90's with the long-forgotten "Governor's Cup" series between UML, UNH, UVM and UMaine. I think that was based in Lowell, shortly after Tsongas Arena first opened? The problem then as now is that 3 of the 4 would-be participants (IF we were to substitute Dartmouth for Lowell in a Manchester-based event) would still be Hockey East teams, with UVM's subsequent HE migration. Plus the lack of proximity of the schools - one of the great things about the Boston event - really cuts against the heavy student participation, even if there are some rivalries in that group.
Or they could just bring in Plymouth State and St. Anselm's and make it a NH-only event. Just think - UNH vs. Dartmouth in the Finals two out of every three years, just like the BC vs. BU thing has dominated the Beanpot in recent years, with a Cinderella smaller school enjoying a rare moment in the (local) spotlight every three years at least guaranteed ...
I ope you taking you vitameens Chucks I reely do's cuz it could be a minute on dat one, ehSound far-fetched? Not really ... and while St. A's undergrad enrollment is slightly smaller than Merrimack's, SNHU's enrollment is more than that of both Merrimack and St. A's combined. Nothing that will happen overnight, but for a visionary, this could be pretty exciting stuff to really energize the alumni. I hope to live long enough to see something like this happen, I really do.
It's too bad SNHU doesn't have a more prominent hockey program, or else they would be the perfect addition to complete a regular 4 team field, with the two high-profile teams coming into town from opposite ends of the state, and with St. A's and SNHU being a very short ride across town from the arena. But for that reason alone, I'd put them at least "on the radar" in this fictional futuristic tourney.
In the meantime, there are D-3 programs at Plymouth State and New England College (I believe the latter currently plays in the same conference as St. A's?) and maybe it would be fun to rotate them and SNHU every 3rd year until one emerges as the best 4th partner?
If nothing else, it might breathe some life into an otherwise dying event (Riverstone), energize some emerging programs and give them a nice moment in the spotlight, and bring a lot of students into downtown ManchVegas for a night or two of fun and games.
Long-term, either it becomes the formality of The Beanpot (basically BU vs. BC, or in this case UNH vs. Dartmouth) ... or one or more of these other emerging programs breaks through to establish tnemselves at the D-1 level.
Sound far-fetched? Not really ... and while St. A's undergrad enrollment is slightly smaller than Merrimack's, SNHU's enrollment is more than that of both Merrimack and St. A's combined. Nothing that will happen overnight, but for a visionary, this could be pretty exciting stuff to really energize the alumni. I hope to live long enough to see something like this happen, I really do.
I'm sure Umile is relieved :rolleyes
