Vermont IS leaving the ECAC

[Greg Berge]

The Ivies will not go for giving up home-and-homes.  That is the one thing that has remained constant lo these many years, league sizes, and systems.

I'd be surprised to see any result other than a simple replacement of UVM with another school.  But then again, I'm surprised UVM actually left.

[jtwcornell91]

It's doable if the Ivies are willing to use up some non-conference games playing each other.  I came up with a scheme a while back for a 16-team ECAC including six Ivies; the teams were a little different, but it still works.  Basically, you split into four 4-team quads and rotate divisions:

North/West/Empire:
Clarkson/SLU and Niagara/Canisius

South/West/Ivy:
Cornell/Colgate and Yale/Princeton

North/East/Ivy:
Dartmouth/Holy Cross and Brown/Harvard

South/East/Empire:
RPI/Union and Sacred Heart/Army

You play everyone in your quad twice a year and everyone else four times every three.  So each season you play a 2x7+1x8=22 game ECAC season. In the two out of three years when they're not all in the same division, the Ivies use three of their non-conference games to round out the Ivy home-and-home.

Still, I prefer a 12-team league with Holy Cross replacing UVM.

[Jordan 04]

[q]Everyone together, now!

AhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHH... SEE YA![/q]

Assgoos!

[jtwcornell91]

So who's up for a relegation/promotion playoff series between Holy Cross and Vermont?  ("Aufsteiger! ... Absteiger! ... Aufsteiger! ... Absteiger!"  "Which team is the promoted team?"  "Which team is the relegated team?")

[jy3]

interesting, i didnt see any headline on uscho with this story. am i blind?

anyway, i am surprised that it happened so quickly. they may have been chatting for a while before adam wrote the "talks" story.

i would be disappointed if cornell only played hahvahd once per year.

would it make more sense for atlantic hockey to fold or the cha? could the teams who do not elect to leave for any of the other conferences decide which name/organization they want to be?

oh, and one more thing, hahvahd sucks

oh and another thing, anyone else think that we should give vermont a nice welcoming when they come to town? ok, gonna start a vermont cheer thread now ;-) i think i may buy two stuffed elephants, link them trunk to arse and put them on two sticks so i can hold them up. not sure if i will be able to get into the gut with it but i will get into lynah with it

EDIT:
now the story is there



Post Edited (01-08-04 13:16)

[rhovorka]

jy3 wrote:

i think i may buy two stuffed elephants, link them trunk to arse and put them on two sticks so i can hold them up.

Make sure you paste the Hockey Least logo on 'em for maximum effect. :-D

[Keith K \'93]

Yeah, that would be good.  In those off years Cornell would end up with a grand total of 4 non-conf games.

I also don't think RPI would want to be separated from Clarkson.

Pretty sure we'll just get a straight replacement of UVM.

[Keith K \'93]

I don't think anyone has brought this up, but maybe the upcoming DIII proposal influenced the folks at Vermont to go ahead with the switch.  If the proposal passes then three of the tams in the ECAC are going to suddenly (well gradually) be without scholarships.  That's likely to hurt the ECAC as a league further.  If the UVm folks expect this to pass (and it's pretty close from what I've read, though not a done deal), then maybe that was the factor that gave them the final push (or the new AD the necessary ammunition).

Just a thought...

[Chris 02]

There was a mention of this whole story on ESPN2 tonight during the Rangers-Hurricane game.  During a cut-in to the Tampa-Bay Lightning game, they showed Martin St. Louis grabbing a goal and mentioned his status as starting the NHL all-star game....and that his alma mater was switching conferences.

[jy3]

anyone hear anything about the conference call today?? ::help::

[jy3]

from ecac.com

Commissioner Buttafuoco's Statement Regarding ECAC Hockey Membership



January 8, 2004

The ECAC recognizes the contributions the University of Vermont has made to the league over the past 30 years. It is our understanding that Vermont's decision was based solely on the strategic analysis for the betterment of the university.

The ECAC appreciates the fact that Vermont is about to begin a $250 million capital campaign to include a new state-of-the-art arena and that its alumni base is largely located in Hockey East communities. We also understand the existing partnerships Vermont has with America East institutions and the fact that Vermont is a public land-grant institution played pivotal roles in this decision.

Although several schools already have contacted us, the league will work through its committee structure to review the membership criteria and the philosophical and institutional fit of any prospective member. It is our goal that this initial process will be concluded prior to the ECAC Championship in March, and that any decisions regarding membership are made not later than the conclusion of the spring meetings.

Built on tradition and success, the ECAC Division I men's and women's hockey leagues comprise the nation's most prestigious member institutions. The men's league, which was formed in 1961-62, includes Brown University, Clarkson University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St. Lawrence University, Union College, the University of Vermont and Yale University. The women's league, which has been in existence since 1993-94, includes Brown University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, St. Lawrence University, Union College, the University of Vermont and Yale University.

[Chris 02]

I think there is a plethora of poll topics that one could pull out of this issue.  How about some Age?

[jy3]

i bet age is pahking his cah in hahvahd squah right now