WCHA non-conference games

[bgmaggot00]

Any particular reason why BG rarely schedules non-conference games against western opponents? Any of the Minnesota or Wisconsin schools, North Dakota, etc. The only reason I can think of that they wouldn't want to go that way would be high travel costs, but that could help to be ofset if they were to arrange a 1 and 1. In addition, it might be good for them to go elsewhere to try to expand their recruiting base. Thoughts?

[Bleeding Orange]

Well, I could be wrong (not that it's ever happened before, but I've been perilously close on occasion), but based on what I know about how the college hockey recruiting game works, I highly doubt that recruiting interests play any role in scheduling. Many recruits are playing in junior leagues that help to organize recruiting information in a way that just doesn't happen in other sports. Basketball, with AAU and other developmental leagues would be, I would think, the closest equivalent.

I honestly think that travel costs have to be the biggest reason this doesn't happen. It costs CCHA schools enough to travel to Omaha and/or Fairbanks each year. It has to make much more fiscal sense to play schools in the Northeast rather than booking a plane for a trip out to Colorado or North Dakota. It's a good question, though. I would love to see us play some different OOC teams if there was a way to swing it.

[PegCityFalcon]

BG can't get a 1 and 1 series. The profits wouldn't be high enough for the WCHA team. BG will and should continue to play AHA and the ECAC. As for the BC series I think its was just about Jerry York and his history.

[DWhite21]

Any particular reason why BG rarely schedules non-conference games against western opponents? Any of the Minnesota or Wisconsin schools, North Dakota, etc. The only reason I can think of that they wouldn't want to go that way would be high travel costs, but that could help to be ofset if they were to arrange a 1 and 1. In addition, it might be good for them to go elsewhere to try to expand their recruiting base. Thoughts?

I'm thinking that travel costs are the main reason too. I also heard that in college hockey non-conference games are arranged between the coaches of the two teams, thats just what I heard anyway. This might be part of the reason Boston College came here a few years ago and we went there the year after. Jerry York's connection to BG probably had a lot to do with it. So I guess unless Paluch has connections with a coach in the WCHA we won't be going there and they won't be coming here.

[bgbill]

I think Scott is looking west for some games. What works nicely is to travel out for a weekend with Notre Dame or Miami and play single games against a western pair like UM and Mankato, or CC and Denver.

[Bleeding Orange]

Any particular reason why BG rarely schedules non-conference games against western opponents? Any of the Minnesota or Wisconsin schools, North Dakota, etc. The only reason I can think of that they wouldn't want to go that way would be high travel costs, but that could help to be ofset if they were to arrange a 1 and 1. In addition, it might be good for them to go elsewhere to try to expand their recruiting base. Thoughts?

I'm thinking that travel costs are the main reason too. I also heard that in college hockey non-conference games are arranged between the coaches of the two teams, thats just what I heard anyway. This might be part of the reason Boston College came here a few years ago and we went there the year after. Jerry York's connection to BG probably had a lot to do with it. So I guess unless Paluch has connections with a coach in the WCHA we won't be going there and they won't be coming here.

I hadn't considered coaching relationships being in play. Very good point.

[pdt1081]

AT Bowling Green

2 with Clarkson
2 with Minnesota State Mankato
1 with RIT
1 with Niagra

Road Games

1 at Boston College
1 at Northeastern

From HERE
I have no clue who "Hockey John" is or where he got this information. Reading the rest of the thread, the only other mention of BG is on page 5 and that has us and Notre Dame playing at Providence.

[bgbill]

Hockey John is a long-time fan and alum. There's a group of fans who meet during the off-season and have access to BG hockey information from the coaching staff. Nothing is final up until the start of the season, but the games mentioned above were given out a while ago.
BC and Northeastern is a fun trip. The Northeastern rink is cool, and its history is as old as hockey in the USA.

[MACMAN]

WAy back when Jerry established BG as going to and playing out east far more so than Mason, who went to WI, and the minneys.
We when to the Wi tourney this year and will guess that we will be headed back that way for one again.
Personally i would rather see us stay in the East the hockey is better.
i would like to see a return to a pre season game VS the Toledo Walleye, like when played the diggers.
i would like to see BG actually host a tourney.
Oh well...Im also wishing ESPN would get their mits off college hockey and I pray the college sports Chan picks it up.

[pdt1081]

If I'm not mistaken, isn't UMinnesota-Duluth supposed to be coming to BG for a series sometime in the near future? I know we played 2 games out there recently....

bgbill, was Northeastern or Providence mentioned? Reading the thread on USCHO, Providence is saying we're playing there. Or is it one of those nothing's final but we're hoping for Northeastern?

I do remember way back when, we hosted North Dakota for a weekend series. At least one game was featured on PASS Sports. Most vivid memory for me of the weekend was the students chanting BS because they were trying to fit a 6th (or was it 7th) guy in the UND penalty box. 5 were already in there because of the bench clearing brawl. This was 87-88 maybe....

[bgbill]

I was told that we have only one non-conference road trip in '08-'09, a weekend against Boston College and Providence.

Can't remember all the teams coming in, but they include Minn State (Mankato), RIT, Clarkson