Offseason 2022

[Schadenfreude]

If that's the case, and because hockey expansion is always fun to think about, are there any colleges that are in your region that have legitimate potential to add a hockey program?

Adrian, the defending Division III national champion, comes to mind. But given that they've played in the same conference (the MIAA) since 1937, I'm not sure moving up to Division II would be a decision they would make easily. Plus they have fewer than 2,000 students. Division I hockey might be a reach for them.

Curious - do you guys bus to all of your games in the UP? At what distance do games become a flight?

The team has at times chartered a plane to Minnesota, but only occasionally as I understand it.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Here are the details behind JP's reno comments: https://www.sent-trib.com/news/ice-aren ... 71c6e.html

Here are the renderings for closing off the south end: https://jlgice.com/projects/bowling-green-ice-arena/

BG=Nachos? Non merci. Schad's comparison to Miami State and JP's recruiting analysis are both spot on.

We always bus to the UP for regular season league games and have been doing so since the 70's. For us it's 6h to the Soo, 7.5h to Marquette, and 9h to Houghton so it's really not a big deal for us. We charter flighted (gr) up to Houghton for the WCHA championship game and did the same thing for the championship game in Mankato. We'll sometimes fly to Mankato or Bemidji for a regular season tilt though it's the exception (Bergeron once told me about a 20h bus ride from hell to Bemidji). Somebody better have negotiated travel subsidies for this Augie thing. If that's the case, then I'll calm down about it as we're only an hour from DTW.

I've never considered being in a league with the service academies. Need to think about it. As for Buffalo, reminder they're a MAC school and all our MAC teams already travel there so it's not a big deal for us though the MN schools might balk. The only schools in the vicinity that might be D1 candidates would be Oakland but I think that ship sailed when they tore down the Palace. No other MAC schools are showing an interest (including Ohio) though about 6-8 weeks back the local Toledo paper had in article talking about how awesome it would be if the Shithole of all Shithole universities started a D1 program. You can find our discussion on this topic earlier in our Offseason thread. Toledo is a fantastic IHL/ECHL town but college hockey won't move the needle much. I'd be good with adding RIT (see MN balking comment). Would have considered Bobby Mo in the past but I now put them in the Huntsville category so for now I'd pass. Adrian may be a consideration, but to be fair, what's the difference between them and Augie/Bemidji/other tiny school? How do they move the needle for Tech or Mankato?

tl;dr version: I'm good with the current CCHA and have no interest in joining the Nachos, would love to have Western and Miami State in the league and punt the MN schools (it's OK, they say the same thing about us so we're all good with each other), WTF is this Augie thing and who signed off on it, would consider some of the western Atlantic Hockey teams if need be.

[Schadenfreude]

2. It's interesting to imagine the service academies in our league, but I imagine the situation right now is that Army would prefer to be in a bus league (which it has in Atlantic Hockey) and that Air Force would rather be in a league with Army because huge travel costs are just going to be a given for them, unfortunately.

Thinking out loud some more: My sense is that Navy is a football affiliate of the American Athletic because they see the somewhat national, somewhat Southern-heavy schedule as providing visibility for the Naval Academy among people it wants to reach. In this vein, perhaps a service academy like Air Force might not mind playing more games in the nation's midsection instead of in New York.

I still don't see a service academy in the CCHA. But it fun to think about, though.

[pdt1081]

Adrian, the defending Division III national champion, comes to mind. But given that they've played in the same conference (the MIAA) since 1937, I'm not sure moving up to Division II would be a decision they would make easily. Plus they have fewer than 2,000 students. Division I hockey might be a reach for them.

Curious - do you guys bus to all of your games in the UP? At what distance do games become a flight?

The team has at times chartered a plane to Minnesota, but only occasionally as I understand it.

If I'm remembering correctly, When Adrian started their D3 program, and hired Fogarty, it was under the guise of moving hockey to D1. The original timeline wasn't met, and Fogarty moved on.

[jpfalcon09]

I have a few contacts at Adrian, don't think there's any appetite for them to move to D1. There was a lot of heavy lifting to get the funding for the ice arena there.

As far as Augustana, financially they're committed to the sport and have hired a respectable coach. Give them a few years and they'll be in good shape and a likely asset for the CCHA.

[jpfalcon09]

2022 GLI was announced today, Michigan is absent for the first time in almost 50 years. Games will be played at Van Andel in Grand Rapids and feature Michigan State, Western Michigan, Michigan Tech, and Ferris State.

[Schadenfreude]

2022 GLI was announced today, Michigan is absent for the first time in almost 50 years. Games will be played at Van Andel in Grand Rapids and feature Michigan State, Western Michigan, Michigan Tech, and Ferris State.

Good for Michigan Tech. The Detroit News write up is interesting. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sport ... 553772001/

[Schadenfreude]

CHN observes that Lindenwood "doesn't look like it's getting any traction with the CCHA" in this article speculating about the emergence of a new conference.

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/ ... ndents.php

Utica, which has its eyes set on moving up to Division II and Division I in hockey, is an interesting program. They play in a great arena (the same one used by the AHL's Utica Comets) and apparently draw very well there. Utica is probably way too far outside the CCHA's footprint to be taken seriously, but they may have some potential in Division I, no matter where they land.

[pdt1081]

CHN observes that Lindenwood "doesn't look like it's getting any traction with the CCHA" in this article speculating about the emergence of a new conference.

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/ ... ndents.php

Utica, which has its eyes set on moving up to Division II and Division I in hockey, is an interesting program. They play in a great arena (the same one used by the AHL's Utica Comets) and apparently draw very well there. Utica is probably way too far outside the CCHA's footprint to be taken seriously, but they may have some potential in Division I, no matter where they land.

Utica is all in for Atlantic Hockey. They even hosted the AH tournament this past season, free of charge to the league. Not sure they have any interest in any league outside them.

The CCHA is not going to expand east until Minnesota schools start dropping (and now Augie). Even if Miami were to suddenly become available, they only get a "look" as an appeasement to BG.

[nodak651]

I just read this... it's another long shot, but Cincinnati's AD did an interview recently and he was asked about hockey - interesting that he didn't completely shoot down that idea, so I'm curious why the question was asked and if they completed or are in the process of a feasibility study.

On adding another program like softball or hockey:
You know, when we spoke to the Big 12 initially back in August we asked that question "Is there a need to add a program?" in order to fit into the Big 12 and there was not. So it's not something that we have to do, mandated by the Big 12 in any way. But certainly, as we go forward and look at what makes sense in that conference, we'll explore different possibilities down the line. So I wouldn't say yes or no at this point. https://www.si.com/college/cincinnati/ ... ig-12-move

[jpfalcon09]

I just read this... it's another long shot, but Cincinnati's AD did an interview recently and he was asked about hockey - interesting that he didn't completely shoot down that idea, so I'm curious why the question was asked and if they completed or are in the process of a feasibility study.

On adding another program like softball or hockey:
You know, when we spoke to the Big 12 initially back in August we asked that question "Is there a need to add a program?" in order to fit into the Big 12 and there was not. So it's not something that we have to do, mandated by the Big 12 in any way. But certainly, as we go forward and look at what makes sense in that conference, we'll explore different possibilities down the line. So I wouldn't say yes or no at this point. https://www.si.com/college/cincinnati/ ... ig-12-move

UC's ACHA club hockey team has had some decent success in the past 5-6 years. I honestly don't see them making the jump, not a very hockey crazed area and they would need to build a new rink.

[jpfalcon09]

Dan Bylsma has been hired as the head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. They are a new franchise in 2022 and serving as the Seattle Kraken's AHL team.

[bgbill]

Dan Bylsma has been hired as the head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. They are a new franchise in 2022 and serving as the Seattle Kraken's AHL team.

If you can't get a coaching job in heaven, Palm Springs is a close second.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

I just read this... it's another long shot, but Cincinnati's AD did an interview recently and he was asked about hockey - interesting that he didn't completely shoot down that idea, so I'm curious why the question was asked and if they completed or are in the process of a feasibility study.

On adding another program like softball or hockey:
You know, when we spoke to the Big 12 initially back in August we asked that question "Is there a need to add a program?" in order to fit into the Big 12 and there was not. So it's not something that we have to do, mandated by the Big 12 in any way. But certainly, as we go forward and look at what makes sense in that conference, we'll explore different possibilities down the line. So I wouldn't say yes or no at this point. https://www.si.com/college/cincinnati/ ... ig-12-move

UC's ACHA club hockey team has had some decent success in the past 5-6 years. I honestly don't see them making the jump, not a very hockey crazed area and they would need to build a new rink.

Make every home game a $1 beer night and the people will show up

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Somehow I can’t see current Hobey Baker winner and all world goaltender Dryden McKay winning the Vezina and Stanley Cup in the same year.