It's Miami State Week!

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I found this blog post interesting. Miami State hockey funding is in the crapper, Berge has had to cut costs. Looks like the realities of "running with the big dogs!" is tougher than they thought. Lucia should start checking his CCHA inbox for an email with a "Why Miami!" PowerPoint attachment.

Cutting the travel budget for to (sic) non-conference opponents is a priority for Bergeron’s staff, which has been hit with major athletic budget cuts. COVID and a resulting lack of ticket revenue as Miami did not allow any fans to attend its seven home games in 2020-21, plus poor on-ice performance that has caused a decline in attendance, hasn’t helped.

Then there’s league travel. Miami is 11 hours driving time from every one of its NCHC opponents except Western Michigan.

So the Wodon article a couple of years back claiming that Miami State wants out of the Nachos was/is closer to the truth than I thought at the time.

Still no love from the Buckeyes.

The RedHawks’ relationship with Ohio State soured following a game in Columbus on New Year’s Eve, 2016. Miami controlled the contest late and won, 6-3 behind three goals by Columbus natives Kiefer Sherwood and Carson Meyer.

The Buckeyes claimed the RedHawks played their Columbus-born forwards excessively late in the third period when the game had already been decided to show them up. Miami claimed it did it to reward those local players and allow them to enjoy playing in their home town.

The rift caused the series to end abruptly, and the teams haven’t met since.

“It’s 100 percent where we’re trying to rebuild the relationship with Ohio State, it hasn’t paid off just yet to get them,” Bergeron said.

Interestingly, no more love from the Falcons -- DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INTEL ON THIS?

MU’s scheduling contract with BGSU expires after this season and the sides have not been able to agree on an extension, despite RedHawks coach Chris Bergeron’s having coached there the nine seasons prior to being hired by Miami in 2019.

...

The split with Bowling Green is less clear, as current coach Ty Eigner was an assistant the entire time Bergeron coached there, and by all accounts Bergeron left the Falcons on excellent terms, having taken them to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 for the first time since George Bush Sr. was president.

Bergeron said conversations with Bowling Green regarding future meetings “unfortunately have broken down”.

[pdt1081]

I found this blog post interesting. Miami State hockey funding is in the crapper, Berge has had to cut costs. Looks like the realities of "running with the big dogs!" is tougher than they thought. Lucia should start checking his CCHA inbox for an email with a "Why Miami!" PowerPoint attachment.

Even the bit with Mercyhurst is interesting. No direct information on the BG-MU thing. I do remember there was a season BG played 2 games in Oxford as a scheduling favor or something. That was never returned with 2 in BG. It simply went back to home-and-home. The other problem is BG gets 8 non-conference games a season. I don't know the current contract situations. But, do you really want to dedicate half the non-conference schedule to Ohio schools every year? Play a series east (RPI), a series west (holiday tournament), and 2 "local" series makes sense. There's a lot of teams fairly "local" without red as a school color.

I have pause with their budget issues (even though we all knew that was coming) simply because BG isn't in the clear yet. The side effects from last year are delayed. Supply issues and whatnot weren't an issue last year, but things are now really being affected.

[mbenecke]

Not scheduling Miami anymore would be a shame. This series should be happening every year.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I think we all agree we're a poor school and we make due with what we have. What's interesting to me is a school that think's they're rich has to tighten their belt because they really aren't much different than we are (though they'd never admit that).

In other news on their message board, Bergeron is starting to take some sh!t for their crappy start. Would love to turn up the heat on him, Barry, and Jimmy this weekend though I picked Miami State to sweep in the pick 'em. I just don't know what kind of team we have right now and I'm not sure RPI told us much.

Edit: hoping everyone understood my use of the word "poor," not meaning it literally but relative.

[jpfalcon09]

I found this blog post interesting. Miami State hockey funding is in the crapper, Berge has had to cut costs. Looks like the realities of "running with the big dogs!" is tougher than they thought. Lucia should start checking his CCHA inbox for an email with a "Why Miami!" PowerPoint attachment.

Cutting the travel budget for to (sic) non-conference opponents is a priority for Bergeron’s staff, which has been hit with major athletic budget cuts. COVID and a resulting lack of ticket revenue as Miami did not allow any fans to attend its seven home games in 2020-21, plus poor on-ice performance that has caused a decline in attendance, hasn’t helped.

Then there’s league travel. Miami is 11 hours driving time from every one of its NCHC opponents except Western Michigan.

So the Wodon article a couple of years back claiming that Miami State wants out of the Nachos was/is closer to the truth than I thought at the time.

Still no love from the Buckeyes.

The RedHawks’ relationship with Ohio State soured following a game in Columbus on New Year’s Eve, 2016. Miami controlled the contest late and won, 6-3 behind three goals by Columbus natives Kiefer Sherwood and Carson Meyer.

The Buckeyes claimed the RedHawks played their Columbus-born forwards excessively late in the third period when the game had already been decided to show them up. Miami claimed it did it to reward those local players and allow them to enjoy playing in their home town.

The rift caused the series to end abruptly, and the teams haven’t met since.

“It’s 100 percent where we’re trying to rebuild the relationship with Ohio State, it hasn’t paid off just yet to get them,” Bergeron said.

Interestingly, no more love from the Falcons -- DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INTEL ON THIS?

MU’s scheduling contract with BGSU expires after this season and the sides have not been able to agree on an extension, despite RedHawks coach Chris Bergeron’s having coached there the nine seasons prior to being hired by Miami in 2019.

...

The split with Bowling Green is less clear, as current coach Ty Eigner was an assistant the entire time Bergeron coached there, and by all accounts Bergeron left the Falcons on excellent terms, having taken them to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 for the first time since George Bush Sr. was president.

Bergeron said conversations with Bowling Green regarding future meetings “unfortunately have broken down”.

Can't say I'm surprised. Miami got too big for their britches after they built Goggin and had tournament success, figured they would be a major player in college hockey going forward and hitched a ride with the Nacho after the original CCHA disbanded. Rico struggled to follow up his success and was canned, the program hasn't recovered. The amount of travel they have to endure alone would be enough to dissuade top players from wanting to go there. Who wants 10-11 hour bus rides consistently? Covid issues aside, I think interest in the program there has waned incredibly in the last ten years and now Miami is kinda stuck.

I have the intel but can't share it publicly.

[Schadenfreude]

do you really want to dedicate half the non-conference schedule to Ohio schools every year?

Sure.

[pdt1081]

do you really want to dedicate half the non-conference schedule to Ohio schools every year?

Sure.

Ohio State, yes. They draw large attendance numbers in BG. When you have teams like Notre Dame, MSU, scUM, and WMU all within the same travel time as Miami, it's time to look at diversifying the schedule a bit. I wouldn't be against a rotating "Ohio Cup" agreement (play OSU and Miami once each) for a couple seasons.

[Schadenfreude]

do you really want to dedicate half the non-conference schedule to Ohio schools every year?

Sure.

Ohio State, yes. They draw large attendance numbers in BG. When you have teams like Notre Dame, MSU, scUM, and WMU all within the same travel time as Miami, it's time to look at diversifying the schedule a bit. I wouldn't be against a rotating "Ohio Cup" agreement (play OSU and Miami once each) for a couple seasons.

One game each with Ohio State and Miami each season wouldn't be bad either. These are important rivalries.

As far as attendance: I saw our Dec. 30, 2019, game against Miami in our building. It was a good crowd. The box score says 3,263 came out on a nigh when students were not in town.

Also: I'd like to see JPFalcon09 spill the beans on what he knows!

[jpfalcon09]

do you really want to dedicate half the non-conference schedule to Ohio schools every year?

Sure.

Ohio State, yes. They draw large attendance numbers in BG. When you have teams like Notre Dame, MSU, scUM, and WMU all within the same travel time as Miami, it's time to look at diversifying the schedule a bit. I wouldn't be against a rotating "Ohio Cup" agreement (play OSU and Miami once each) for a couple seasons.

One game each with Ohio State and Miami each season wouldn't be bad either. These are important rivalries.

As far as attendance: I saw our Dec. 30, 2019, game against Miami in our building. It was a good crowd. The box score says 3,263 came out on a nigh when students were not in town.

Also: I'd like to see JPFalcon09 spill the beans on what he knows!

Check Miami's roster and you'll see a familiar name. Let's just say the sequence of events resulting in that occurring were pretty shady and pissed off the current coaching staff given who was involved.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

If that’s true, Berge must be feeling some heat to produce results down there. Not sure he can do it. HE looks to be down this year which means the Nachos will be looking at placing 3 for sure, likely 4, and possibly 5 in the tourney. Pairwise becomes crucial at that point and even a tie with Miami State could spell doom. Even with his shiny new defenseman he may only win 3-4 league games this season.

[jpfalcon09]

If that’s true, Berge must be feeling some heat to produce results down there. Not sure he can do it. HE looks to be down this year which means the Nachos will be looking at placing 3 for sure, likely 4, and possibly 5 in the tourney. Pairwise becomes crucial at that point and even a tie with Miami State could spell doom. Even with his shiny new defenseman he may only win 3-4 league games this season.

Wasn't Berge who was directly involved.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

If that’s true, Berge must be feeling some heat to produce results down there. Not sure he can do it. HE looks to be down this year which means the Nachos will be looking at placing 3 for sure, likely 4, and possibly 5 in the tourney. Pairwise becomes crucial at that point and even a tie with Miami State could spell doom. Even with his shiny new defenseman he may only win 3-4 league games this season.

Wasn't Berge who was directly involved.

Oh boy.

I'm running all sorts of scenarios through my head...wish it was possible for you to spill the beans (completely understand and respect that you can't)!!!

[pdt1081]

Check Miami's roster and you'll see a familiar name. Let's just say the sequence of events resulting in that occurring were pretty shady and pissed off the current coaching staff given who was involved.

I really wasn't planning on watching tonight's game. Think I'm gonna have to now. Any over/under on penalty minutes for the weekend?

Looking externally at the transfer situation, you have to wonder what was actually said/offered during the process. He basically had free reign while on the ice, as long as he was producing (which he was). Was the clear #1 D-man at the end of the season. An overall better team around him here. BG was getting national attention for good reasons (as in, not futility). What could convince a player to jump to a bottom feeder team in the NCHC? There are scouts in BG almost every game. Whether they're watching a BG player or visitor, they are here.

[Schadenfreude]

Check Miami's roster and you'll see a familiar name. Let's just say the sequence of events resulting in that occurring were pretty shady and pissed off the current coaching staff given who was involved.

This kind of thing was my hunch. Thank you.

[jpfalcon09]

Just a reminder since RSO had the rug pulled out from them by the university that Miami has the only radio feed tonight.