Generic Off Season Thread

[Al DeFlorio]

So, my point was not just about having realistic expectations - but moreso, given those expectations, what's the only place that could actually boost the league's profile?

Firstly, I think that's a pipe dream, and, secondly, I think it's much higher priority that fans of the participating teams are more easily able to see--in person--their teams play.  The only thing that will "boost the league's profile" is to win games against other leagues--in the regular season and the post-season.

[adamw]

So, my point was not just about having realistic expectations - but moreso, given those expectations, what's the only place that could actually boost the league's profile?

Firstly, I think that's a pipe dream, and, secondly, I think it's much higher priority that fans of the participating teams are more easily able to see--in person--their teams play.  The only thing that will "boost the league's profile" is to win games against other leagues--in the regular season and the post-season.

Well, we're repeating what was already said way upthread ... but yes, winning boosts the league, clearly ... but coaches obviously believe that things like marketing and TV help recruiting, or they wouldn't be so hyped up about it all the time. And believe me, they are.  So - in theory - there's a place out there that helps those things.  My point being that, that place doesn't really exist - and the only place it *might* possibly exist is Lake Placid.

@Rich - league tournament location might be far down on the list - but it's not that, per se, as much it is the impression that it gives.  Call it subconscious, or call me crazy - either way - your mileage may vary.

[Aaron M. Griffin]

@Rich - league tournament location might be far down on the list - but it's not that, per se, as much it is the impression that it gives.  Call it subconscious, or call me crazy - either way - your mileage may vary.

I agree with Rich. Unless the ECAC played in some destination city that was entirely outside the footprint of the conference and therefore warranted particular attention, I don't think that the location of the conference championships weighs that heavily in the choices of recruits. I would add to Rich's list of things that recruits consider passion of the fan base and winning traditions of the programs (there's a reason why we get better recruits than Sucks when drawing from the same pool of academically eligible athletes).

...waiting for the comment about how recently Sucks managed to get better rated recruits than Cornell has...

I do think that conference location may effect the opinions of fans and other non-players about the prestige of the conference.

[Aaron M. Griffin]

Also, the NCHC was supposed to make some "big announcement" yesterday. I have not been able to find any reports of their announcement.

[Jim Hyla]

So, my point was not just about having realistic expectations - but moreso, given those expectations, what's the only place that could actually boost the league's profile?

Firstly, I think that's a pipe dream, and, secondly, I think it's much higher priority that fans of the participating teams are more easily able to see--in person--their teams play.  The only thing that will "boost the league's profile" is to win games against other leagues--in the regular season and the post-season.

That is it. If you don't have fans, what good is the tourney?

Unless LP can produce a much better package than they did last time, forget it. Yes the stores were fan friendly, much more so than either AC or Albany, but the hotels were not, and has been said the parking was terrible. None of those makes for a fan friendly tourney. Nice places to drink before and after the game, a better place than AC for families, but not enough easily accessible, and moderately priced hotel rooms. Not at all fan friendly. Forget it.

Why don't we spend this time seeing what Albany, who seem to want us back, has to offer. From the little bit we've heard they seem ready to show a better package. Maybe the sojurn to AC has had some benefit.

[adamw]

I'd bet that, if the league goes back to Lake Placid, they will address the hotel issue. If LP isn't willing to address it, it certainly won't get the bid.

[ugarte]

I'd bet that, if the league goes back to Lake Placid, they will address the hotel issue. If LP isn't willing to address it, it certainly won't get the bid.

I'd bet that the hotel operators are independent of the venues and you are proposing "herding cats" as a condition of the bid at a time when the ECACHL is hardly in a position to be dictating much.

[adamw]

I'd bet that, if the league goes back to Lake Placid, they will address the hotel issue. If LP isn't willing to address it, it certainly won't get the bid.

I'd bet that the hotel operators are independent of the venues and you are proposing "herding cats" as a condition of the bid at a time when the ECACHL is hardly in a position to be dictating much.

Hotel operators are independent, of course ... However, they also have a vested interest in getting the business. If LP organizers don't get buy in from the hotels to relax how they operate - they won't get the bid. I can't guarantee that, but I'm pretty sure it will work something like that.

[redice]

I'd bet that, if the league goes back to Lake Placid, they will address the hotel issue. If LP isn't willing to address it, it certainly won't get the bid.

I'd bet that the hotel operators are independent of the venues and you are proposing "herding cats" as a condition of the bid at a time when the ECACHL is hardly in a position to be dictating much.

Hotel operators are independent, of course ... However, they also have a vested interest in getting the business. If LP organizers don't get buy in from the hotels to relax how they operate - they won't get the bid. I can't guarantee that, but I'm pretty sure it will work something like that.

It didn't work that way the last time LP hosted the tourney.   Since the hotel policies were no more popular then than now, what makes you so sure that they will handle it differently?    Wishful thinking, perhaps? ;-)

[Josh '99]

@Rich - league tournament location might be far down on the list - but it's not that, per se, as much it is the impression that it gives.  Call it subconscious, or call me crazy - either way - your mileage may vary.

I agree with Rich. Unless the ECAC played in some destination city that was entirely outside the footprint of the conference and therefore warranted particular attention, I don't think that the location of the conference championships weighs that heavily in the choices of recruits.

Isn't Adam's point that Lake Placid IS that "destination city"?

[Aaron M. Griffin]

@Rich - league tournament location might be far down on the list - but it's not that, per se, as much it is the impression that it gives.  Call it subconscious, or call me crazy - either way - your mileage may vary.

I agree with Rich. Unless the ECAC played in some destination city that was entirely outside the footprint of the conference and therefore warranted particular attention, I don't think that the location of the conference championships weighs that heavily in the choices of recruits.

Isn't Adam's point that Lake Placid IS that "destination city"?

It is, but my point (in agreement with and in addition to Rich's point(s)) is that the choice of Lake Placid in itself is not so extraordinary because it is not both a destination city (which Lake Placid is) outside of the footprint of the league. I really doubt that any prospects will weigh heavily a venue for the championships if it "makes sense" in the fact that it is within the footprint of the league. Put it in Tampa (a destination city outside of the footprint), then prospects might consider it in their calculus whether to play in the ECAC.

[adamw]

I'd bet that, if the league goes back to Lake Placid, they will address the hotel issue. If LP isn't willing to address it, it certainly won't get the bid.

I'd bet that the hotel operators are independent of the venues and you are proposing "herding cats" as a condition of the bid at a time when the ECACHL is hardly in a position to be dictating much.

Hotel operators are independent, of course ... However, they also have a vested interest in getting the business. If LP organizers don't get buy in from the hotels to relax how they operate - they won't get the bid. I can't guarantee that, but I'm pretty sure it will work something like that.

It didn't work that way the last time LP hosted the tourney.   Since the hotel policies were no more popular then than now, what makes you so sure that they will handle it differently?    Wishful thinking, perhaps? ;-)

It's not wishful thinking.  I'm telling you, I'm all but certain LP won't get the bid if that doesn't change.

[Aaron M. Griffin]

Has anyone checked out the Cornell hockey wiki recently? I stumbled upon it and was shocked that it contained no history as compared to those pages for Yale and Sucks.

Side note: after looking at the Harvard page, an outdoor game at Harvard Stadium seems like it would be a great idea.

[jkahn]

Hockey Fans Throwing Weird Crap on the Ice

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/05/hockey-fans-throwing-weird-crap-ice-city-city-breakdown/1992/

small mention of the fish tradition.

[French Rage]

Hockey Fans Throwing Weird Crap on the Ice

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/05/hockey-fans-throwing-weird-crap-ice-city-city-breakdown/1992/

small mention of the fish tradition.

Sucks does it once and gets a mention?  Talk about throwing inflation.