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University of Dubuque [DIII] Starting Program for 2023-24

S

Scott_TG

Well-known member
The University of Dubuque in Iowa has announced they are starting up both men's and women's hockey this fall as members of the NCHA and that they plan on taking on the student athletes of closing Finlandia.

This is like what happened when Becker College closed and Worcester State started a program with Becker's head coach and all of their players. The main difference is unlike those two University of Dubuque and Finlandia are 400 miles apart.

I admit I was skeptical that the Finlandia players would want to all move to the same school as a unit so far from their original school but looking at the roster I see only two Michiganders so it might not be that big a factor as it was initially in my mind.

Finlandia's on-ice results have been dismal so I don't expect anything noteworthy if it is the same team for University of Dubuque. Maybe in time if this newcomer to NCAA hockey devotes more resources than Finlandia things can improve.

University of Dubuque will play at Dubuque Ice Arena, a rink on a small island in the Mississippi River (the state line between IA and WI) operated by Q Casino which is on that island. The arena's major tenant is a USHL team but has ACHA teams from Loras College and UW-Platteville also playing there.
 
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Now that is info extraordinaire. So many kids - their identity is a hockey player - so it does not surprise me. The best of luck to them.
 
Scott_TG said:
The main difference is unlike those two University of Dubuque and Finlandia are 400 miles apart.

I admit I was skeptical that the Finlandia players would want to all move to the same school as a unit so far from their original school but looking at the roster I see only two Michiganders so it might not be that big a factor as it was initially in my mind.
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Maybe even more than the miles, a consideration could be how the two schools align academically (majors offered, credits transferring, etc.)
 
Finlandia is affiliated with the ELCA, while the University of Dubuque is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Not that this is necessarily important but it is interesting. When I looked up the affiliations, I assumed they would be the same, which would have partially explained why UD would step in to help the Finlandia players. I was wrong.
 
Looking at the map again I didn't realize that in addition to being on the border with Wisconsin they also border IL.

In conference they appear to be within 3 hours of new conference rivals MSOE, Aurora, Lake Forest and in a four hour or less non conference radius to Eau Claire, Stevens Point, St. Mary's possibly more.

Granted I don't think Eau Claire would want to put U. of Dubuque on their NC schedule until significant improvement is made as it would hit their SOS but the other two could be interested...
 
Scott_TG said:
Looking at the map again I didn't realize that in addition to being on the border with Wisconsin they also border IL.

In conference they appear to be within 3 hours of new conference rivals MSOE, Aurora, Lake Forest and in a four hour or less non conference radius to Eau Claire, Stevens Point, St. Mary's possibly more.

Granted I don't think Eau Claire would want to put U. of Dubuque on their NC schedule until significant improvement is made as it would hit their SOS but the other two could be interested...
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Usually, games against new programs don't count in the PWR, for the exact reason you state. They don't want to discourage schools from scheduling new programs.
 
Scott_TG said:
Looking at the map again I didn't realize that in addition to being on the border with Wisconsin they also border IL.

In conference they appear to be within 3 hours of new conference rivals MSOE, Aurora, Lake Forest and in a four hour or less non conference radius to Eau Claire, Stevens Point, St. Mary's possibly more.

Granted I don't think Eau Claire would want to put U. of Dubuque on their NC schedule until significant improvement is made as it would hit their SOS but the other two could be interested...
Click to expand...

I don't think MSOE will have a team this season.
 
Scott_TG said:
I wasn't aware of that.

Any other exclusions from PWR that are noteworthy?
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If you play across divisions. So, all those D3 teams that play the D2 teams who have a D3 schedule (like St. Michael's, St. Anselm, etc.), don't have those games count. Because those D2 schools can't make the D3 national tournament.

Then, there is the situation where Stonehill declared themselves a D1 school in men, but never really had a D1 schedule. So, late in the season, they removed all games that D1 schools did play against Stonehill.
 
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