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Welcome St Thomas to Division I and the CCHA

So would this still be a 5-year process for UST? That kinda leaves them high and dry for 3-4 years during the transitional phase doesn't it? I thought the MIAC was giving them the boot after Spring '21.
 
RaceBoarder said:
So would this still be a 5-year process for UST? That kinda leaves them high and dry for 3-4 years during the transitional phase doesn't it? I thought the MIAC was giving them the boot after Spring '21.
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Worst case scenario, maybe a year or two independent and a couple years as affiliate member? They could even do a scheduling agreement while independent
 
RaceBoarder said:
So would this still be a 5-year process for UST? That kinda leaves them high and dry for 3-4 years during the transitional phase doesn't it? I thought the MIAC was giving them the boot after Spring '21.
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I think the transition period is for full membership and post-season eligibility.
 
I wish the program the best of luck, even if they join the CCHA and block the last hopes that UAH has of joining the conference that's best for us. We've blown a couple chances right now and I won't fault the CCHA schools if they don't take the Chargers (even if I will have voodoo dolls of all seven university presidents).

GFM
 
I just received an email from the University of St. Thomas. The NCAA has approved the school's move to D-I. The email says they will be joining the WCHA for women's hockey, the Pioneer Football League and Summit League for all other sports. It also says "it is excited about conference options for our men's hockey program."
 
Congrats, Tommies.

Big uphill battle for them, as their rink situation isn’t any better than LIU’s. Also, I hold high expectations for the student sections of the CCHA to come up with Tom Toss jokes.

Im guessing that with their funding, they’ll figure the arena part out.
 
gfmorris said:
I wish the program the best of luck, even if they join the CCHA and block the last hopes that UAH has of joining the conference that's best for us. We've blown a couple chances right now and I won't fault the CCHA schools if they don't take the Chargers (even if I will have voodoo dolls of all seven university presidents).
GFM
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If you think UAH is sweating St Thomas getting to go D-I, think what is going through ASU's collective minds right now. They had a multi-year window to get on board with the WCHA/CCHA. Now with St Thomas going D-I that window is pretty much closed. If I was the Sun Devils, I would start sucking up to the NCHC really hard, and quickly. If the NCHC passes them over (rink or no rink), they might be independents for a loooog time. Their other option is to be beating down the doors of every major university in CA and convince them they need a D-I hockey team. See below why that isn't going to happen.**

While not great, UAH's geography is FAR better than where ASU is sitting. At least UAH is a bus trip from most of the Eastern conferences. The only schools remotely thinking about busing to ASU are CC, DU and maybe Omaha. ** If you don't think that is a big deal, just look at how many schools are dropping sports due to budget shortfalls. Hmmm, do we want to schedule a flight or a bus for our non-conference series? ASU independent in the West and playing 30+ road games a season... How long are they willing to do that before Sun Devil hockey becomes non-essential in Phoenix?
 
Split-N said:
Meanwhile, in Champaign-Urbana...
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Honestly the Illini (or the Kingfishers if we want to start that now) are in no rush and have no reason to be in a rush. It doesn't matter if they add hockey next year or in a decade, they will have a home in the BigTen. I can see the Covid budget crunch being the reason Kingfisher hockey doesn't happen for at least a couple more years. Any money around campus is going to be use to try and keep existing sports above water. They certainly won't be adding another high budget sport like hockey when the budget is already stretched razor thin, if not completely busted.
 
JohnsonsJerseys said:
If you think UAH is sweating St Thomas getting to go D-I, think what is going through ASU's collective minds right now. They had a multi-year window to get on board with the WCHA/CCHA. Now with St Thomas going D-I that window is pretty much closed. If I was the Sun Devils, I would start sucking up to the NCHC really hard, and quickly. If the NCHC passes them over (rink or no rink), they might be independents for a loooog time. Their other option is to be beating down the doors of every major university in CA and convince them they need a D-I hockey team. See below why that isn't going to happen.**

While not great, UAH's geography is FAR better than where ASU is sitting. At least UAH is a bus trip from most of the Eastern conferences. The only schools remotely thinking about busing to ASU are CC, DU and maybe Omaha. ** If you don't think that is a big deal, just look at how many schools are dropping sports due to budget shortfalls. Hmmm, do we want to schedule a flight or a bus for our non-conference series? ASU independent in the West and playing 30+ road games a season... How long are they willing to do that before Sun Devil hockey becomes non-essential in Phoenix?
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Well-said. Maybe ASU, UAA, UAF, and UAH will form the All-America-AAA Association. We'll call it Aaaaaaargh. The Aaaaaaargh awaits you with big, nasty, pointy teeth!

Tim
 
IF St. Thomas can get an acceptable rink plan together, I could see the NCHC making a play for them. It would give the NCHC an even stronger foothold in a MSP media market. I feel like St. Thomas has a deep enough pockets financially to be with the NCHC members.

Now the question becomes, who would go with the Tommies to the NCHC? Mankato? Arizona State? Would a NCHC team (Miami?) leave for the CCHA?
 
beaverhockeyfan said:
IF St. Thomas can get an acceptable rink plan together, I could see the NCHC making a play for them. It would give the NCHC an even stronger foothold in a MSP media market. I feel like St. Thomas has a deep enough pockets financially to be with the NCHC members.

Now the question becomes, who would go with the Tommies to the NCHC? Mankato? Arizona State? Would a NCHC team (Miami?) leave for the CCHA?
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Would an NCHC team be willing to eat the exorbitant exit fees to leave that league?
 
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