2014-15 Schedule

[Jim Hyla]

Maine quit the Florida tournament:
http://bangordailynews.com/2014/01/29/sports/umaine-mens-hockey-team-wont-play-in-florida-college-classic-next-season/

More money for athletics

Woodcock said the trips to Florida for the tournament cost the school money even though some of the expenses were covered by the sponsors.

The nonconference games with New Hampshire should make money for the schools, he said.

and less for the school?

But he also called it a top-notch tournament and a useful fundraising tool because there are several Maine alums living in the Estero, Naples, Fort Myers area.

"But we'll still be going down there for fundraising," he said.

[Trotsky]

Am I alone in thinking this tournament has run its course?

So that means that you think it got up to running speed at some point, eh?

No, you're not alone, but 1) I've already made my bias against Florida clear and 2) somebody pointed out that the predecessor, the Syracuse Hockey Invitational Tournament, was even more dreadfully depressing, and I can't argue against that.

I don't agree Estero has run its course.  The novelty is gone for us since it's more than a decade old,  but the players only get four of them, it's by all accounts something they look forward to (Ithaca or Orlando in December... let me think...), it's our seat at the holiday tourney table rather than having to be beholden to others, and it gives us exposure and a leg (skate?) up on a potentially interesting recruiting pool (redneck hockey players -- the next market inefficiency).

[pfibiger]

it gives us exposure and a leg (skate?) up on a potentially interesting recruiting pool (redneck hockey players -- the next market inefficiency).

It has already paid dividends. See http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/dec/28/college-hockey-former-junior-everblade-ferlin/?print=1

The Classic is held during the Florida International Holiday Invitational, a massive youth hockey tournament that runs until New Year's Eve at Germain. Hundreds of the youngsters will watch the Classic for free, something that Ferlin did when he played in the youth tournament. In fact, watching Cornell helped Ferlin become a fan of the Big Red at a young age.

"I grew up watching Cornell. I liked them growing up," Ferlin said.

[MattS]

Am I alone in thinking this tournament has run its course?

So that means that you think it got up to running speed at some point, eh?

No, you're not alone, but 1) I've already made my bias against Florida clear and 2) somebody pointed out that the predecessor, the Syracuse Hockey Invitational Tournament, was even more dreadfully depressing, and I can't argue against that.

I don't agree Estero has run its course.  The novelty is gone for us since it's more than a decade old,  but the players only get four of them, it's by all accounts something they look forward to (Ithaca or Orlando in December... let me think...), it's our seat at the holiday tourney table rather than having to be beholden to others, and it gives us exposure and a leg (skate?) up on a potentially interesting recruiting pool (redneck hockey players -- the next market inefficiency).

I'm not a fan of it anymore. But if overall it is a positive for the players and is good for recruiting and alumni then I guess I'm cool with CU continuing at it.

[Trotsky]

I'm not a fan of it anymore. But if overall it is a positive for the players and is good for recruiting and alumni then I guess I'm cool with CU continuing at it.

It's also a matter of alternatives.  If we had the money, will and desire to resuscitate the NYC Holiday Tournament, attract a heavy hitter field year after year, sign a long-term, lucrative national TV deal, and make Manhattan Cornell's perpetual host regional, then... sure.

That new tech campus' budget is so huge we could just sneak a 20k arena into it as a miscellaneous line item, right?

[nyc94]

Am I alone in thinking this tournament has run its course?

So that means that you think it got up to running speed at some point, eh?

No, you're not alone, but 1) I've already made my bias against Florida clear and 2) somebody pointed out that the predecessor, the Syracuse Hockey Invitational Tournament, was even more dreadfully depressing, and I can't argue against that.

I don't agree Estero has run its course.  The novelty is gone for us since it's more than a decade old,  but the players only get four of them, it's by all accounts something they look forward to (Ithaca or Orlando in December... let me think...), it's our seat at the holiday tourney table rather than having to be beholden to others, and it gives us exposure and a leg (skate?) up on a potentially interesting recruiting pool (redneck hockey players -- the next market inefficiency).

We don't have to go to a holiday tournament - or at least one before New Year's.  The results haven't been that great.  In fourteen years I think Cornell has won two games in Estero exactly once.  Coming back right after Christmas and traveling to Florida doesn't allow for much practice after a long break.  Maybe they would be better served spending time with family and coming back after New Year's.  Schedule another exhibition game or Atlantic Hockey team at home as a warmup.  I would hope that realignment would allow for more opportunities to schedule non-conference games to replace the Florida games either in October or January.  Maybe not if more teams do what Maine and UNH are doing (Harvard/Yale, Union/RPI) in playing extra "rivalry" games.  Scheduling might be easier if the Ivies moved up the start of the season a week.  And yes, the location and the timing don't work for me.

[Trotsky]

While it would be great if the Ivies finally aligned schedule length and period with reason, there's zero chance of that since the current set-up gives them a lazy and deliciously sanctimonious development dollar-inducing posture.  University presidents are raised to be charming, not sincere.

The solution to getting better results in holiday tournaments is to play better.

[BMac]

This is the best option. NYC holiday tournament. Because then I'd get to go.

But it sure would take away the novelty of Red Hot Hockey.

Let's all be honest here: the best place for the holiday tournament is, of course, Vancouver.
Canadians LOVE Vancouver. Seriously, it's the Canadian Mecca. Everyone in Canada dreams of a house on Vancouver Island.
All of the players' families would love it. We'd get huge exposure with the youth market. Hell, the game can be against the Nanaimo Clippers for all I care. Or the Alaska teams.

Hmm, that would be fun.

[Beeeej]

We don't have to go to a holiday tournament - or at least one before New Year's.  The results haven't been that great.  In fourteen years I think Cornell has won two games in Estero exactly once.

100% positive we've won it at least four times in its fourteen years, and the randomized average should be 3.5.

[nyc94]

We don't have to go to a holiday tournament - or at least one before New Year's.  The results haven't been that great.  In fourteen years I think Cornell has won two games in Estero exactly once.

100% positive we've won it at least four times in its fourteen years, and the randomized average should be 3.5.

How many of those were in shootouts?
edit: Three.  Shootout wins go in the books as ties.  So only once did Cornell win two games.  Overall record in Florida is 10-14-4 (I think).

[Trotsky]

Let's all be honest here: the best place for the holiday tournament is, of course, Vancouver.

We actually did that in 1986, winning the University of Vancouver Thunderbird Invitational by sweeping them, Yale, and Seibu (Japan).

[Beeeej]

We don't have to go to a holiday tournament - or at least one before New Year's.  The results haven't been that great.  In fourteen years I think Cornell has won two games in Estero exactly once.

100% positive we've won it at least four times in its fourteen years, and the randomized average should be 3.5.

How many of those were in shootouts?
edit: Three.  Shootout wins go in the books as ties.  So only once did Cornell win two games.  Overall record in Florida is 10-14-4 (I think).

Wow, and I thought I was pedantic.

[Ben Rocky '04]

Instead of Penn State, I'd rather us get St Cloud or W. Michigan as permanent attendees at Estero.  In the past, when they were around, their fans traveled well.  

That being said, any school not in the ECACH as permanent co-host is fine with me.  Estero is fun & I don't want it to end. I wish more of y'all were there, and the Pep Band made it, but I've enjoyed going since 2006.

[Dafatone]

Instead of Penn State, I'd rather us get St Cloud or W. Michigan as permanent attendees at Estero.  In the past, when they were around, their fans traveled well.  

That being said, any school not in the ECACH as permanent co-host is fine with me.  Estero is fun & I don't want it to end. I wish more of y'all were there, and the Pep Band made it, but I've enjoyed going since 2006.

There's some chance I can make it next year, so of course the tournament might vanish.

[billhoward]

Maine quit the Florida tournament: http://bangordailynews.com/2014/01/29/sports/umaine-mens-hockey-team-wont-play-in-florida-college-classic-next-season/

1. According to Maine's acting AD Seth Woodcock, trips to Florida for the tournament cost the school money even though some of the expenses were covered by the sponsors.
2. Coming a couple days after Christmas messes up the holiday season for players and their family.
3. Losing the Florida games allows for a two-game off-campus series vs. UNH in the states' major cities. Sort of like playing at MSG on a different scale.

So all good reasons for departing. Unsaid is the softer caliber of the competition. It's been a while since an Ohio State or Notre Dame played. Those were excellent years. You almost had to worry about buying tickets ahead of time.