National Collegiate Hockey Conference

marty · July 13, 2011, 09:19:00 PM

Announcement

I ~~haven't~~ hadn't seen this posted elsewhere on elynah because I hadn't read all the threads.::worry::

Redscore · July 14, 2011, 11:46:16 AM

What a ridiculous name. Is this the best that some marketing guy could come up with?

Jeff Hopkins '82 · July 14, 2011, 11:49:56 AM

Actually it's a presumptuous name, IMO. They're national, everyone else is regional.

nyc94 · July 14, 2011, 12:03:12 PM

"I don't think you're going to see us stay at six [teams]," [Colorado College athletic director Ken] Ralph said. "I think you're going to see us grow to seven or to eight or maybe beyond. And we're not going to have a geographic boundary."

http://www.uscho.com/2011/07/13/new-league-national-collegiate-hockey-conference/#ixzz1S5xyfYXG

With ambiguous numbers and geography this might have been the best they could do.

USCHO also reported a rumor that BU and BC were invited but this has been denied.

scoop85 · July 14, 2011, 02:32:01 PM

Quote from: Jeff Hopkins '82Actually it's a presumptuous name, IMO. They're national, everyone else is regional.

My first thought exactly.

Redscore · July 14, 2011, 05:02:57 PM

I guess that all makes sense. Its just a terrible sounding name but I guess that's just my opinion.

judy · July 14, 2011, 05:59:00 PM

So no geographic boundaries. Hasn't travel, and more specifically air fare been a big cost for some of these schools?

Jim Hyla · July 14, 2011, 07:52:21 PM

Quote from: nyc94"I don't think you're going to see us stay at six [teams]," [Colorado College athletic director Ken] Ralph said. "I think you're going to see us grow to seven or to eight or maybe beyond. And we're not going to have a geographic boundary."

http://www.uscho.com/2011/07/13/new-league-national-collegiate-hockey-conference/#ixzz1S5xyfYXG

With ambiguous numbers and geography this might have been the best they could do.

USCHO also reported a rumor that BU and BC were invited but this has been denied.

I think this is the best comment following the USCHO article:

Quote from: MSU Grad97This is very similar to the Division III conference National Collegiate Hockey Association in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Funny how they tried to rob the name of a current conference that once had Mankato, Bemidji, and St. Cloud in its glory days, but they were not good enough just this year to be included in this 2010-2011 super conference. I suppose they'll get Minnesota Crookston back on its feet now so the Susies and Bullsnots can whip up on them. Good luck against St. Scholastica and that Duluth rivalry!

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/2011/07/13/new-league-national-collegiate-hockey-conference/#ixzz1S7unBSjK

jeff '84 · July 14, 2011, 07:58:28 PM

Quote from: scoop85
Quote from: Jeff Hopkins '82Actually it's a presumptuous name, IMO. They're national, everyone else is regional.
My first thought exactly.

I'm surprised NCAA allowed the name because of the likelihood of how National Collegiate Hockey Conference Champs would be (mis)construed by non college hockey insiders.

The Rancor · July 14, 2011, 08:36:45 PM

"nancy-HC"

KeithK · July 15, 2011, 11:22:38 AM

Quote from: judySo no geographic boundaries. Hasn't travel, and more specifically air fare been a big cost for some of these schools?

Most of the teams involved were already flying for most or their trips so this doesn't change anything. Of the six I'd say that this impacts the budget of Miami most, since they were mostly busing in the CCHA.

Chris '03 · July 15, 2011, 11:45:40 AM

Quote from: KeithK
Quote from: judySo no geographic boundaries. Hasn't travel, and more specifically air fare been a big cost for some of these schools?
Most of the teams involved were already flying for most or their trips so this doesn't change anything. Of the six I'd say that this impacts the budget of Miami most, since they were mostly busing in the CCHA.

It's also worth noting that at 6 teams, each school only has to make 5 road trips for league games, which limits the impact of having to fly everywhere. These schools can then try to cherry pick non-conference road games and load up on home non-conference games. The bigger the league gets, the more the travel costs will become a factor.

The costs don't seem to be scaring WMU: http://whywestern.com/

marty · July 16, 2011, 05:11:03 AM

What's wrong with it?

NiC HiC::drunk::

billhoward · July 16, 2011, 08:59:42 AM

Quote from: jeff '84I'm surprised NCAA allowed the name because of the likelihood of how National Collegiate Hockey Conference Champs would be (mis)construed by non college hockey insiders.

Exactly. College conferences are evolving to alignments of the most powerful. Natural pecking order, etcetera. It will require even more NCAA ads to remind people these are student-athletes with carefully crafted messages about how 96% of NCAA tournament money is spent on the tournament (including all the NCAA travel party) and how student-athletes graduate at a higher rate (or is it have a better GPA) than students as a whole. I've never seen an ad during the NCAA basketball tournament that says the 64 chosen teams have a higher GPA or graduation rate than their student bodies. Kentucky's starting five probably brings down the other 63 teams.

So as the scholarship D1 schools spiral out of control, how big of a scandal will it take for an implosion and a return to true student sports? I'm guessing there is no scandal too big.

Give My Regards · July 18, 2011, 10:00:52 AM

I confess I like the table at the end of the article showing national titles by 2013-14 conference affiliation. The ECAC would have a total of five, while the WCHA, the king of all college hockey to hear them tell it, would have three. All by Michigan Tech, which should tell you how long ago that was (1975 was their last one).

If Northern Michigan does join the re-imaged WCHA, that would boost their total to four.