Offseason Thread

[pdt1081]

Coale Norris and Nathan Burke were both made official today.

[mbenecke]

Robert Morris joins UAH in cutting their hockey program this offseason.

Brutal news.

[BillyLP]

Robert Morris joins UAH in cutting their hockey program this offseason.

Brutal news.

Bummer. Always thought they were a nice little OOC series to have with their relatively close proximity, though they had a tiny arena that was typically never even half full, so I'm sure it was a financial struggle. Might keep an eye on a transfer or two if we have any holes to fill.

[jpfalcon09]

The new President at RMU doesn't care about hockey. No heads up to anyone involved with the program. Really rotten. Took the revenue from the Frozen Four and got out.

[BGDrew]

Robert Morris joins UAH in cutting their hockey program this offseason.

Brutal news.

I know it’s very semantic but UAH hasn’t cut their program (yet).

[jpfalcon09]

Robert Morris joins UAH in cutting their hockey program this offseason.

Brutal news.

I know it’s very semantic but UAH hasn’t cut their program (yet).

This may work in their benefit as Atlantic Hockey needs a member to replace RMU now.

[pdt1081]

The new President at RMU doesn't care about hockey. No heads up to anyone involved with the program. Really rotten. Took the revenue from the Frozen Four and got out.

And one of RMU's corporate partners is the Pittsburgh Penguins.

[mbenecke]

Robert Morris joins UAH in cutting their hockey program this offseason.

Brutal news.

I know it’s very semantic but UAH hasn’t cut their program (yet).

Fair. They pressed pause and they aren't playing this season.

Which, as alluded to above, may very well end up with them taking RMU's spot, I'd think.

Sad - you never like to see this stuff.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Just saw that St. Thomas is traveling to Fairbanks to play the 'Nooks. Strike while it's still a novelty, Rico.

[pdt1081]

Just saw that St. Thomas is traveling to Fairbanks to play the 'Nooks. Strike while it's still a novelty, Rico.

Looks like most teams traveling to Alaska are using their extra games to host Alaska as well. Except RPI. That one is a bit of a head scratcher.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Robert Morris joins UAH in cutting their hockey program this offseason.

Brutal news.

I know it’s very semantic but UAH hasn’t cut their program (yet).

Fair. They pressed pause and they aren't playing this season.

Which, as alluded to above, may very well end up with them taking RMU's spot, I'd think.

Sad - you never like to see this stuff.

I've struggled to find any emotions one way or the other regarding UAH. I'm kinda bummed about RMU.

Atlantic Hockey is now down to 10 teams with LIU coming off the Covid scheduling lock and Navy rumors still running as rampant as a sailor on shore leave. If AHA is trying to keep things even, then yeah, how 'bout LIU + UAH. However, none of this really moves the needle on all the UAH travel negatives or program instability. While the alumni have done wonders on the finances, without real support from the administration you have to wonder whether UAH will end up flirting with another shutdown in the future -- and whether you want that headache.

[bgbill]

There are still a few of us who think of Doug Ross when we think of UAH hockey.

[jpfalcon09]

There are still a few of us who think of Doug Ross when we think of UAH hockey.

I think about Cam Talbot...

Or Josh Kestner.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I guess I'd be more upset about UAH if I thought their administration was committed to the program. I donated to their initial fundraiser which got me on their mailing list and an invite to a couple Zoom calls which was pretty cool, but now I'm wondering what the point was. The administration cancelled the season when they didn't have to (Fairbanks has as many non-exhibition home games as we do this upcoming season) and it's always one dramatic event after another with these guys. It's not like I'm cheering for their demise, it's more along the lines of I did more than my share and I'm done with them, que sera sera.

[pdt1081]

However, none of this really moves the needle on all the UAH travel negatives or program instability. While the alumni have done wonders on the finances, without real support from the administration you have to wonder whether UAH will end up flirting with another shutdown in the future -- and whether you want that headache.

I honestly struggle with some of these "Save insert name here Hockey." I realize what we went through here, and tend to think it started as a fundraising threat that could have gained traction. The result was the school sponsored fundraising campaign and renewed investment from the school. The interest at these other schools seems to simply be alumni and fans.

The first time at Huntsville, the alumni negotiated with the school to buy a few more years, then nothing more came about until the second time. Now, with a pile of cash lined up, they suspend their season (yes, conference, Yada, Yada, they had an agreement to play independent worked out).

The Alaskas are what they are. The state starts messing with funding for the schools, the schools continue to be wishy washy on playing, yet no big fundraising campaign from either to support the teams.

Robert Morris is just baffling. Out of the blue, at the end of May. It's not about money. They just passed their $100million fundraising goal a year early. They've pretty much screwed over every player on both teams. Rosters are pretty much set for next season. Sure they can transfer, but with the portal craziness in March and early April, there's really no spots left. Reading through some comments, they just did a large renovation of their basketball arena. Supposedly, the big donor for that specified that the hockey teams were NOT to benefit from any of that.