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WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

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Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

Squarebanks said:
We're team players, unlike those greedy ******** from Anchorage who strung ASU along to overtime just to give them a false sense of hope. ;)
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The Seawolves didn’t want to pilfer your gratification of achievement in the record books. You owe us big time......
 
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stuckinwi said:
Yeah, I'm not stating in anyway it's possible. Just that personally I'd love to see it as a person starved for in person D1 in the fox valley.
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I'd love to see it as well. I think it could be very successful. And, at one point, it was closer to happening than many people realize about a decade ago. I believe the University and the market could well sustain the program, even with the great success the Gamblers have had. It is disappointing that such an opportunity was lost, but don't think Madison had no voice in that decision.
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

Interesting early season note:
right now the WCHA has no one in the top 16 but 4 of the first 5 out of the tournament with
17 MTU
18 FSU
19 UAA
21 MSUM

BGSU is down at 25, NMU at 30

Last year we finished with 3 in top 16, MSUM 1, MTU 7, BGSU 16.
The next 4 were UA_ 24, BSU 27, FSU 34, NMU 35
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

Double post...so Let's Play Hockey stated that meeting between WCHA and ASU were fruitful. I for the life of me can't really understand the value in this relationship...

For the WCHA, they get what?
1) a chance to connect with Alumni in Arizona?
2) a chance to add another full D1 member to keep a seat at the table if BGSU chooses to do something?
3) Potential games on Pac-12 network with today's announcement: https://t.co/7vsQfrp3qs
4) Added travel costs unless they can convince ASU to subsidize like UAA, UA_ and UAH?

For ASU, they get a conference they think they can compete in from the start?
 
Shirtless Guy said:
Interesting early season note:
right now the WCHA has no one in the top 16 but 4 of the first 5 out of the tournament with
17 MTU
18 FSU
19 UAA
21 MSUM

BGSU is down at 25, NMU at 30

Last year we finished with 3 in top 16, MSUM 1, MTU 7, BGSU 16.
The next 4 were UA_ 24, BSU 27, FSU 34, NMU 35
Click to expand...
Already talk about UAA being in the tournament picture? There goes our season...
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

BG calls up their club team's captain for some depth. That feels like a good move: already enrolled, very likely close to a degree, mature (he's the captain and ran the club), and he can probably play some hockey. He's a good shot to make practice more even (UAH 14-15 feels BG's pain), and if he has to see game situations, he's as close to ready as any kid you'd snag from junior. Finally, you don't make a long-term commitment.

GFM
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

I don't think ASU would join any league without a thorough discussion with everyone. I'd be surprised if they joined the WCHA. And yes, there is not much positive, other than exposure. The WCHa also has a woman side so I wonder if that has anything to do with it as well.

One thing about this season so far. The bottom teams are a lot closer to the top than last year, and the middle teams have improved. It should be very tight. The non conference games from here on are that much more important. Especially that Mankato vs Minnesota series this weekend.
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

Shirtless Guy said:
I for the life of me can't really understand the value in this relationship... For the WCHA, they get what?
4) Added travel costs unless they can convince ASU to subsidize like UAA, UA_ and UAH?
Click to expand...
I actually think that adding ASU would REDUCE the typical travel cost for WCHA teams. Adding ASU means that you take the AK / AL trips less frequently (a very % small change, but a change). I don't think any current WCHA program can get to either AK city for less cost than you can get to Phoenix. One flight for pretty much every WCHA team to get to Phoenix except AK schools.
Ryan J
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

JohnsonsJerseys said:
I actually think that adding ASU would REDUCE the typical travel cost for WCHA teams. Adding ASU means that you take the AK / AL trips less frequently (a very % small change, but a change). I don't think any current WCHA program can get to either AK city for less cost than you can get to Phoenix. One flight for pretty much every WCHA team to get to Phoenix except AK schools.
Ryan J
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That's my working theory for the piece that I'm working on (that Todd Pavlack asked me to do). Why? You also have to consider that the league will want to put in a 12th team, and then it's a matter of who. If it's Robert Morris, that's okay for Ferris and BG, but that's a long bus trip for everyone not in AK, AZ, or MN, who would all presumably fly in such a situation. (Millsy or someone else that remembers the BSU-RMU trips can tell me how they make it.)

GFM
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

gfmorris said:
That's my working theory for the piece that I'm working on (that Todd Pavlack asked me to do). Why? You also have to consider that the league will want to put in a 12th team, and then it's a matter of who. If it's Robert Morris, that's okay for Ferris and BG, but that's a long bus trip for everyone not in AK, AZ, or MN, who would all presumably fly in such a situation. (Millsy or someone else that remembers the BSU-RMU trips can tell me how they make it.)

GFM
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Well I'm back to thinking maybe an airplane leased by the league wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. It's been done by others. Charters are too expensive generally, but if you could get an operator to dedicate an airplane to you for the season it might work.
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

gfmorris said:
That's my working theory for the piece that I'm working on (that Todd Pavlack asked me to do). Why? You also have to consider that the league will want to put in a 12th team, and then it's a matter of who. If it's Robert Morris, that's okay for Ferris and BG, but that's a long bus trip for everyone not in AK, AZ, or MN, who would all presumably fly in such a situation. (Millsy or someone else that remembers the BSU-RMU trips can tell me how they make it.)

GFM
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I'm looking forward to that piece, because I'm not entirely sure ASU is a bad thing for the WCHA, although Drew raises some valid points.

And as a side note, the student athlete that BG called up from the club team is only to be a practice player as he has no eligibility remaining.
 
JohnsonsJerseys said:
I actually think that adding ASU would REDUCE the typical travel cost for WCHA teams. Adding ASU means that you take the AK / AL trips less frequently (a very % small change, but a change). I don't think any current WCHA program can get to either AK city for less cost than you can get to Phoenix. One flight for pretty much every WCHA team to get to Phoenix except AK schools.
Ryan J
Click to expand...
There's an ANC to PHX flight. Sucks though, US Airways is terrible.
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

bghockeyphotos said:
I'm looking forward to that piece, because I'm not entirely sure ASU is a bad thing for the WCHA, although Drew raises some valid points.
Click to expand...

Hopefully I'll have time to pull it off. Next week is my certification week for work, so ... yeah.

GFM
 
Shirtless Guy said:
Double post...so Let's Play Hockey stated that meeting between WCHA and ASU were fruitful. I for the life of me can't really understand the value in this relationship...

For the WCHA, they get what?
1) a chance to connect with Alumni in Arizona?
2) a chance to add another full D1 member to keep a seat at the table if BGSU chooses to do something?
3) Potential games on Pac-12 network with today's announcement: https://t.co/7vsQfrp3qs
4) Added travel costs unless they can convince ASU to subsidize like UAA, UA_ and UAH?

For ASU, they get a conference they think they can compete in from the start?
Click to expand...

If they were really interested in growing hockey interest out West, they would televise all four games of the "Desert Hockey Classic," not just the one ASU game.
 
Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

gfmorris said:
Millsy or someone else that remembers the BSU-RMU trips can tell me how they make it.

GFM
Click to expand...

I don't think the RMU trips were too bad as I believe there were usually direct flights from MSP (there may have been one bad one but I can't recall the details). But BSU wouldn't always fly out of MSP, they would use Grand Forks from time to time which would add a leg onto any flight. Still gets them to MSP, but cuts two hours and some change off of bus time. Also, a smaller airport, so easier to get a team through security.

A typical flight trip for BSU involves bussing to Grand Forks (two hours) or MSP (four hours) and then catching a flight. Depending on that flight, they may leave Bemidji Wednesday night after classes to catch an early morning flight out of MSP. But in the new WCHA, the only places they fly are Fairbanks, Anchorage and Huntsville. In the CHA it was Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Huntsville, Air Force (when in the league) and Wayne State (when in the league). So the WCHA has cut down on air travel for the Beavers.

Now the UAH trips and Niagara trips, those were the interesting ones as they always involved one or two connections. Tom Serratore always says expect the unexpected going to Huntsville, and it doesn't always have to be about hockey. My most interesting trip personally was coming back from Huntsville once and my flight getting delayed on the way out of Huntsville, so I ended up going Huntsville-Memphis-Cincy-Chicago-Minneapolis-Brainerd. Didn't spend more than 30 minutes in an airport that day once I left Huntsville.
 
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Re: WCHA 2015-16: So here's what we think that we know...

I wonder if the Beavs will bus down here for Thanksgiving.

Yes, flying from here is strange. I still love my MQT-DTW-BNA-MEM-HSV flight back from the UP on Super Bowl Sunday 2003. I got to BNA about ten minutes after a flight to HSV left; I got home six hours later.

GFM
 
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