NCAA Hockey

[Cosmic]

This is great news for the greater Phoenix area as well. There are more high school programs across the valley wide area that has popped up in the last 15 years. To the Fact the AIA(Governing High School Sports for Arizona) will officially sponsor in 2015-16.

So while interest In pro hockey is shrinking in Arizona, interest in high school and college hockey is growing? Will this help out the Coyotes any attendance-wise?

In 20 years... probably.

[illwauk]

I personally think that, given their history, now it's now only a matter of time before the Sun Devils' Territorial Cup rivals the Arizona Wildcats end up going to Division I as well...they already play in the Tucson Convention Center (which hosted a few old hockey teams).

Some people are saying this might be the first step towards a Pac12 hockey conference. As the Big Ten showed, you only need 6 schools.

That'd be something.

I think that the other four schools to start programs should be Colorado (Colorado College, Air Force and Denver have programs, so why not the Buffs?), Utah, Oregon (or Oregon State) and Washington (or Washington State).

Standard hockey markets in the area.

Because CC, Air Force, and Denver already have them, on top of the Avalanche... is there really that much of a market for high level hockey in Colorado?

On a similar note, Wisconsin needs more than one team... especially with a lack of a NHL team. I was hoping UWM buying the naming rights to the old MECCA might re-open up talk of a hockey team to fill dates there, but that'll be on hold at least until the Bucks stop trying to get the site for their new arena.

I could see hockey working at UWGB as well. Maybe UW-Superior could move up to D2, and move their hockey up to D1. They'd have a natural rivalry with UMD.

[FiddySicks]

This is great news for the greater Phoenix area as well. There are more high school programs across the valley wide area that has popped up in the last 15 years. To the Fact the AIA(Governing High School Sports for Arizona) will officially sponsor in 2015-16.

So while interest In pro hockey is shrinking in Arizona, interest in high school and college hockey is growing? Will this help out the Coyotes any attendance-wise?

From what I've seen, Phoenix has always had a surprisingly strong hockey culture. There are a ton of transplants from Canada and the upper midwest out this way, and cities around Phoenix have always had the infrastructure to support rec centers with ice rinks. It's actually a really popular way to beat the heat in the warmer months.

What kills attendance for the Coyotes has very little to do with the hockey culture in Phoenix. It has to do with them playing all the way out in freaking Afghanistan in the northwest part of the metro area while the population is centered mostly in the southeast. Had they built the Westgate Center, like, I dunno, literally ANYWHERE else in the valley, they wouldn't have had this problem.

[The_Admiral]

UConn has recently joined HockeyEast and has been significantly outdrawing the Hartford Wolf Pack in terms of attendance, which on second thought, really isn't that difficult.

You mean there's a market for a true Connecticut team and not a New York feeder? But haughty dillweeds told me otherwise!

[crashcarson15]

I personally think that, given their history, now it's now only a matter of time before the Sun Devils' Territorial Cup rivals the Arizona Wildcats end up going to Division I as well...they already play in the Tucson Convention Center (which hosted a few old hockey teams).

Some people are saying this might be the first step towards a Pac12 hockey conference. As the Big Ten showed, you only need 6 schools.

That'd be something.

I think that the other four schools to start programs should be Colorado (Colorado College, Air Force and Denver have programs, so why not the Buffs?), Utah, Oregon (or Oregon State) and Washington (or Washington State).

Standard hockey markets in the area.

Because CC, Air Force, and Denver already have them, on top of the Avalanche... is there really that much of a market for high level hockey in Colorado?

On a similar note, Wisconsin needs more than one team... especially with a lack of a NHL team. I was hoping UWM buying the naming rights to the old MECCA might re-open up talk of a hockey team to fill dates there, but that'll be on hold at least until the Bucks stop trying to get the site for their new arena.

I could see hockey working at UWGB as well. Maybe UW-Superior could move up to D2, and move their hockey up to D1. They'd have a natural rivalry with UMD.

At this point, starting college hockey is damn expensive. And especially in a world where eight (now nine) of the programs can offer full cost of attendance to prospective student-athletes, I think it's more likely that you see schools drop hockey rather than add it.

I could be wrong and I'd hope I'm wrong but these things take a good amount of cash.

And re: Boulder — I'd say that all of those factors wouldn't really influence college hockey crowds. You'd be looking at trying to draw around 3,000 per game most likely — I think they'd be able to do that just fine. 2,000 "townies" and 1,000 students shouldn't really be that difficult for them.

If we'd ever get to a PAC-12 hockey conference... the entire South division might be your best shot. The PNW schools are already engulfed by Canadian junior hockey (which is a better product) and I don't see Stanford adding it. Maybe you can replace one of UCLA or USC with Cal but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[TheGrimReaper]

LOL. I was like "I don't remember starting an NCAA hockey thread".

Go Bucks

Have you been smoking weed or something?

[illwauk]

At this point, starting college hockey is damn expensive. And especially in a world where eight (now nine) of the programs can offer full cost of attendance to prospective student-athletes, I think it's more likely that you see schools drop hockey rather than add it.

The last time hockey rumors started up at UWM, they revolved around a group of UW hockey donors who were apparently upset about the direction of their program, and the WCHA's support and desire to maintain a presence in Wisconsin after the B1G started its own hockey conference.

No idea whether or not these are still true, but it's a moot point at least until the Bucks decide they don't want to knock down the old arena.

[Beckhamcantbendmiami]

I can't believe they did it.

I seached news for ncaa expansion everyday for the past year, and of course the 2 days I stop the big news comes out.

The problem with a move to Division 1 is money. It takes donations, Penn State needed $100 million to build a stadium and move up. Really unless you piggyback on a Nhl or local rink it is really hard to start it. Plus the money is way more benfit to put elsewhere for college. $30-100 million is alot.

West coast expansion will be great, but who can come up? On the East coast i could see Illionis, Northwestern, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Navy, ect. But who for the west coast? Oregon with Nike money? Washington if the Seattle Nhl stadium is compleated? Oklahoma? USC? I can't see it.

[Brian in Boston]

UConn has recently joined HockeyEast and has been significantly outdrawing the Hartford Wolf Pack in terms of attendance, which on second thought, really isn't that difficult.

I was just back in New England on business and attended the UConn-BC Hockey East match-up at the XL Center in Hartford. The atmosphere was electric. UConn's entry into Hockey East, and the enthusiasm for the move that local fans have thus far demonstrated for said entry, speaks to this being precisely the level of hockey competition that Greater Hartford can support long-term. With a ticket price-point significantly lower than what an NHL franchise would have to charge, as well as a decision on the part of UConn and the XL Center management team to thus far limit seating to the lower bowl in order to create ticket scarcity, the XL Center has been hopping for the Huskies.

The other advantage that a UConn Hockey East entry likely enjoys over a pro team in Hartford is that a team representing the state's flagship university will succeed at drawing fans from throughout Connecticut that might otherwise not be inclined to support an NHL or AHL squad in the city. Case in point: my brother-in-law and I were seated next to a group of eight guys from Stamford, CT. All eight were UConn alumni. All eight said that a Division 1 UConn Huskies hockey team was the only hockey product that they'd regularly support in Hartford. The reason? When it comes to the NHL, they - like the majority of Fairfield County residents - are Rangers fans and get their fix of major-pro hockey by traveling into New York City. When it comes to attending an occasional minor-pro game - usually as a low-cost alternative with their kids - they're content to head over to Bridgeport and take in a Sound Tigers tilt; while they're willing to make the drive to NYC for the NHL Rangers, they're not going to drive to Hartford just to see the Blueshirts' AHL farm-team. What draws them to Hartford for a UConn Hockey game is the chance to support their alma mater.

In any event, it's nice to see the combination of affordable tickets, managed ticket inventory/availability, and alumni support adding-up to a sustainable hockey product in Hartford.

[Sport]

LOL. I was like "I don't remember starting an NCAA hockey thread".

Go Bucks

Have you been smoking weed or something?

No. I posted the first post in the Anti-NHL thread and someone (a moderator I presume) used it to spin-off the NCAA Hockey thread. When I saw that it was started by me it was a rather startling moment.

[IceCap]

Yo. I split the threads. The NCAA hockey discussion seemed like it had legs, so I spun if off into its own thing.

[The_Admiral]

On the East coast i could see Illionis, Northwestern, Nebraska

I know New Orleans is the French state

[crashcarson15]

As for the topic of on-ice college hockey play... Hockey East's officiating "look for everything possible" mantra has become really :censored:ing annoying to write about every other weekend.

[FiddySicks]

I can't believe they did it.

I seached news for ncaa expansion everyday for the past year, and of course the 2 days I stop the big news comes out.

The problem with a move to Division 1 is money. It takes donations, Penn State needed $100 million to build a stadium and move up. Really unless you piggyback on a Nhl or local rink it is really hard to start it. Plus the money is way more benfit to put elsewhere for college. $30-100 million is alot.

West coast expansion will be great, but who can come up? On the East coast i could see Illionis, Northwestern, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Navy, ect. But who for the west coast? Oregon with Nike money? Washington if the Seattle Nhl stadium is compleated? Oklahoma? USC? I can't see it.

ASU got a donation of around $35 million from a private donor to move up, and there are a plethora of places in the valley they can play. They also have the option of on-campus expansion in the next few years due to the funding they get from the state. They're damn near the biggest public school in the country, so their resources are pretty vast.

As for other teams who could expand, there are apparently a handful of PAC 12 schools who have some serious interest. The University of Arizona especially. It's a little bit of a risk to put a D1 hockey school in the southwest, but not really, when you give it some context.

[dfwabel]

I can't believe they did it.

I seached news for ncaa expansion everyday for the past year, and of course the 2 days I stop the big news comes out.

The problem with a move to Division 1 is money. It takes donations, Penn State needed $100 million to build a stadium and move up. Really unless you piggyback on a Nhl or local rink it is really hard to start it. Plus the money is way more benfit to put elsewhere for college. $30-100 million is alot.

West coast expansion will be great, but who can come up? On the East coast i could see Illionis, Northwestern, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Navy, ect. But who for the west coast? Oregon with Nike money? Washington if the Seattle Nhl stadium is compleated? Oklahoma? USC? I can't see it.

ASU got a donation of around $35 million from a private donor to move up, and there are a plethora of places in the valley they can play. They also have the option of on-campus expansion in the next few years due to the funding they get from the state. They're damn near the biggest public school in the country, so their resources are pretty vast.

As for other teams who could expand, there are apparently a handful of PAC 12 schools who have some serious interest. The University of Arizona especially. It's a little bit of a risk to put a D1 hockey school in the southwest, but not really, when you give it some context.

Umm, what is "an appatently handful?

Hell, even on the CCSLC, Illinois has been talked about for decades yet no result. The city/county won't give up dough!

[The_Admiral]

I don't see Northwestern nor U of I happening. I suspect that the Blackhawks will talk a big game about how they're ready to help grow college hockey in the state of Illinois as soon as a university comes to them with interest, but then that will somehow have a funny way of never happening. For better or worse, it seems like the Hawks have cast their lot with Notre Dame as their local college hockey partner, though their support has come by way of holding camp there rather than cutting them checks. As long as no one gets raped or knocked off a crane, I guess it's beneficial.

[FiddySicks]

I can't believe they did it.

I seached news for ncaa expansion everyday for the past year, and of course the 2 days I stop the big news comes out.

The problem with a move to Division 1 is money. It takes donations, Penn State needed $100 million to build a stadium and move up. Really unless you piggyback on a Nhl or local rink it is really hard to start it. Plus the money is way more benfit to put elsewhere for college. $30-100 million is alot.

West coast expansion will be great, but who can come up? On the East coast i could see Illionis, Northwestern, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Navy, ect. But who for the west coast? Oregon with Nike money? Washington if the Seattle Nhl stadium is compleated? Oklahoma? USC? I can't see it.

ASU got a donation of around $35 million from a private donor to move up, and there are a plethora of places in the valley they can play. They also have the option of on-campus expansion in the next few years due to the funding they get from the state. They're damn near the biggest public school in the country, so their resources are pretty vast.

As for other teams who could expand, there are apparently a handful of PAC 12 schools who have some serious interest. The University of Arizona especially. It's a little bit of a risk to put a D1 hockey school in the southwest, but not really, when you give it some context.

Umm, what is "an appatently handful?

Hell, even on the CCSLC, Illinois has been talked about for decades yet no result. The city/county won't give up dough!

Apparently a handful. Sorry it was late.

I've heard that every PAC 12 school except for Oregon State has hockey in some form, and schools like the U of Arizona are ready to move up as soon as the following year. I'm not saying hockey in the southwest is really going to be a brilliant idea, and it's actually got a good shot at completely failing. But with the rumors about the AHL shifting west, now kinda feels like the time to give it a shot. Arizona State is one of the biggest institutions in the country and they were gifted over $30 million to do this. Might as well take that and run with it, even if it ultimately ends up failing.

Someone had to make the first step. Might as well have been an institution that has the resources.

[dfwabel]

I don't see Northwestern nor U of I happening. I suspect that the Blackhawks will talk a big game about how they're ready to help grow college hockey in the state of Illinois as soon as a university comes to them with interest, but then that will somehow have a funny way of never happening. For better or worse, it seems like the Hawks have cast their lot with Notre Dame as their local college hockey partner, though their support has come by way of holding camp there rather than cutting them checks. As long as no one gets raped or knocked off a crane, I guess it's beneficial.

Exactly. We are easily going into the 3rd decade of looking for another rink in Chambana and no one/no council has moved. The U of I ice arena is small, no parking options, asbestos filled, and "landlocked". Campus Rec puts money into it as they can, but the community doesn't and hasn't.

[rams80]

I don't see Northwestern nor U of I happening. I suspect that the Blackhawks will talk a big game about how they're ready to help grow college hockey in the state of Illinois as soon as a university comes to them with interest, but then that will somehow have a funny way of never happening. For better or worse, it seems like the Hawks have cast their lot with Notre Dame as their local college hockey partner, though their support has come by way of holding camp there rather than cutting them checks. As long as no one gets raped or knocked off a crane, I guess it's beneficial.

Illinois' athletic department probably doesn't have the money to set up a hockey program between the old "the state is writing IOUs to the University" problem and needing to buy out a football coach contract.

[illwauk]

I can't believe they did it.

I seached news for ncaa expansion everyday for the past year, and of course the 2 days I stop the big news comes out.

The problem with a move to Division 1 is money. It takes donations, Penn State needed $100 million to build a stadium and move up. Really unless you piggyback on a Nhl or local rink it is really hard to start it. Plus the money is way more benfit to put elsewhere for college. $30-100 million is alot.

Wouldn't be an issue for UWM or UWGB... both of their men's hoops teams play in arenas with ice capabilities.