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Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Wholin1 said:
OK, here's a kind of serious question. If you could name three things that you would like to see improved at Messa rink, what would be on your wish list? Cruise missile hit, arson and gas main explosion aren't acceptable answers. :rolleyes:
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Atomic bomb. :p

In all seriousness, the biggest thing is to find mall cops that don't think they're all that and practically abuse visitors.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

#1 - Better more comfortable seating. The "box seats" are designed for the body of a 10-year old and don't remotely fit an average size adult, let alone a larger than average size. Same thing for the bleachers plus no backs. It was all sort of fine when there was seldom more than 1200 fans in the place, but now with bigger crowds it gets very oppressive. It is time to get rid of the retractable bleachers concept (a remnant of the original rink costs going over budget and the idea of making it a multi-use facility) and install more permanent seating.

#2 - Better/bigger bathrooms & more easily accessible concessions.. nuff said.

#3 - Better ice. This is a pet peeve of mine and I know this isn't really a fan amenity, but it drives me crazy to see the puck bouncing & skipping when the weather is warm late in the season & post season. The upgrades done about 10 years ago replaced the refrigeration system but did not replace the pipes and flooring under the ice. IMO this was like replacing a car's engine but keeping the same 35 year old bald tires.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Is the roof even high enough in Messa to make a video board feasible?

It seems like better seating is a common thread so far.

Another thing on the seating - besides being generally uncomfortable, especially on the busier nights, the current seating pattern confuses a lot of people. It's a given that I see people in the wrong section because the layout confuses them. Not that I blame them. And if we're sticking with bleachers, do away with assigned seating in the bleachers. Bleachers should be general admission, sit where you want.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

There was a blurb about Welsh in the new THN magazine, where he is referred to as "a Ferris State product". Ugh.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Well, I guess that means no scrimmage. Thanks for the insight. I didn't realize they were so precise.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

FlagDUDE08 said:
The coaches aren't allowed to even hold any sort of official event (including practice) prior to October 6th. Source is http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/D112.pdf bylaw 17.12.2 and 17.12.3. I realize this is last year's rule book, but next year's hasn't been released, and I highly doubt this rule will change.
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So how can they open the season with a game on the 6th? :confused:
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

FlagDUDE08 said:
It's 25 weeks (minus the week break you get around Christmas) from the National Championship game that year.
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It's 25 weeks from the start of the NCAA tournament to be precise.. though the math works out the same. But I'm not understanding what you're saying about Christmas - does that week not count toward the 25?
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

ADK11 said:
It's 25 weeks from the start of the NCAA tournament to be precise.. though the math works out the same. But I'm not understanding what you're saying about Christmas - does that week not count toward the 25?
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This stems from how one of the Alaska teams was able to play on September 30th this past year.

Now I know what it was, Bylaw 17.27.1:

17.27.1 Practice and Playing Seasons. Member institutions located in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico
shall not be required to observe the starting dates for the practice and playing seasons set forth in this bylaw, provided
the amount of practice and number of contests engaged in by such institutions in each sport do not exceed
the amount of practice and number of contests in each sport permitted other members of the Association.
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As for the "break", you're only allowed to have your season within a 132-day period (18 6/7 weeks, including practices and games, minus travel days, final exams, things like that, see bylaw 17.1.6.4 for all the exceptions).
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

FlagDUDE08 said:
This stems from how one of the Alaska teams was able to play on September 30th this past year. Now I know what it was, Bylaw 17.27.1: As for the "break", you're only allowed to have your season within a 132-day period (18 6/7 weeks, including practices and games, minus travel days, final exams, things like that, see bylaw 17.1.6.4 for all the exceptions).
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Wow! You have to be a tax accountant to keep track of all this.. but so the bottom line is some teams will play games on October 6th without having even one organized practice (unless they have it the morning of the game)
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

ADK11 said:
Wow! You have to be a tax accountant to keep track of all this.. but so the bottom line is some teams will play games on October 6th without having even one organized practice (unless they have it the morning of the game)
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At least one that is led by the coaching staff at a school-sanctioned location.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

ADK11 said:
Wow! You have to be a tax accountant to keep track of all this.. but so the bottom line is some teams will play games on October 6th without having even one organized practice (unless they have it the morning of the game)
Click to expand...

There can be captain's practices earlier, and IIRC the coaches can meet with small groups of players earlier also.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Ralph Baer said:
There can be captain's practices earlier, and IIRC the coaches can meet with small groups of players earlier also.
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Correct. IIRC, coaches can meet for a limited numober of sessions, with a limited number of players. Captains can (and do) run practices otherwise.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Wholin1 said:
OK, here's a kind of serious question. If you could name three things that you would like to see improved at Messa rink, what would be on your wish list? Cruise missile hit, arson and gas main explosion aren't acceptable answers. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Well for starters -- building, fire and ADA code compliance would be a great 1st step. :D

But really, I don't think its worth spending too much on a building whose design (round, low ceiling) is fatally flawed for a rink. The Admin dropped the ball years ago when they still had Center City rink in town. Even if the consensus was against using a renovated center city as the new home, they could've used it while they knocked down Achilles and built new on campus. I do of course understand that the institutional support and on-ice success wasnt what it is today.
 
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