ArchyAlum11

I came across this article the other day, it seems more like a hypothetical situation at this point but any thoughts on D1 hockey at University of Washington? http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/2013/07/17/no-nhl-for-now-but-could-huskies-hockey-thrive-in-seattle/

To be fair as callous as this may sound, the loss of the Alaska Schools might be a blessing in disguise for the WCHA. The conference would be down to 8 teams, and it would be dropping one of its worst teams UAA. This would help to increase competitiveness in in the WCHA. This would also give the conference a more coherent geographical footprint with UAH being the only outlier. However even if just Anchorage drops Hockey then it will help. UAA's hockey program hasn't shown any sign of improving in the new WCHA , UAF however in its first two years in the WCHA ended its season ranked Number 3 and then number 4 in the wcha. However, they were hit with sanctions from the NCAA due to a paperwork error but once the probation period ends next year and the Nanooks have a full scholarship total again hopefully they can get back on track. I would say that it's tough for UAA fans but anyone who has watched a game played at UAA will notice that the arena is empty. I hope that Fairbanks gets to keep its program they were on the right track before they got hit by the NCAA.

If that happens it's not good for the NCHC either, at that point the WCHA is down to 8 teams, mostly in Michigan and none of the Alaska schools, at that point the possibility of Western Michigan switching leagues becomes a possible scenario. If western Michigan leaves its possible that Miami could follow suit eventually, the WCHA would basically just become the new CCHA. I really hope at least one of the Alaska schools is able to stick around, but my guess is that if they eliminate it at one then they will do it at both.

I don't think you have to worry about that, Notre Dame was a low-risk affiliate add due to the fact that they are independent. The Big10 and the Pac12 are not going to do anything to help each other out and the Big10 doesn't care enough about hockey to make concessions to a PAC12 school. NCHC will likely add ASU if they don't they would just be ceding that money and voting power to the WCHA.

I haven't seen the new jersys. Could you post pictures or a link to them?

I think it's very likely that we will see some modifications to the current logo and there will be a new logo in 5 years time. I have seen a modified version of the logo on the forums that would be a good shoulder patch logo. I think what got most people was how corporate the current logo looks and the fact that there was only one logo, I was expecting a primary logo and 1-2 secondary logos. I think eventually people will tolerate the new logo mostly out sheer fatigue over the whole nickname and logo issue, as far as accepting and embracing it that is a harder thing to predict. The Dakota legacy collection is sure to keep the people who don't like the new name or logo buying UND stuff.

Lol, no I got plenty of that thanks, My first loyalty will always be to UND, but I have a Lot of love for Minnesota State. MNSU gave me the opportunity to earn my Masters and grow academically. If it weren't for my time at Minnesota State I wouldn't be working and living abroad now.

Whoever came up with the "hawkey" thing deserves a firm kick in the groin and a hard punch in the gut. Cutesy crap has never had a home at UND, well except for when they did that idiotic cartoon logo briefly in the late 60's. That's the kind of crap that will lead them creating some sort of dumb ass mascot.

I won't be spending my cash on either at the moment, but I would spend it on the alternate logo before the UND postal hawk logo.

Tickets for the Gopher Games have always been pricey by college standards; it’s not at all surprising that they are trying to milk as much money as possible out of this game. Not only will bring the Fighting Sioux (or Hawks) faithful down in droves, but it may bring back some of the fans that the U of M has been losing since the move to the Big Ten. Honestly if it weren't for the fact that attendance for Goofer hockey has been dropping since the switch to Big Ten hockey I would bet that they would be trying to hold this game at the Xcel Center. They also probably want to ensure that the UND fans don't out number the Minnesota fans. Yes they will be many who drive down from North Dakota for the game but there are also plenty right in the Twin Cities.

Have you watched Minnesota at all in the past two years, its a program in decline.

If we do embarrass the Goofs it would probably be a blessing in disguise. It might make the Gopher athletic department have a reality check and start taking the steps they need to take to restore their hockey program.

This will undoubtedly be a big game, but will it be a big game because of nostalgia or because of competitive play?

Here is a hypothetical situation, what if they don't add ASU, say ASU fails to get a new arena deal inked by October. but BGSU applies for membership in the NCHC, Would they Add both MNSU and BGSU?

Oh very clear at the time of adding teams, Maimi and WMU were very much superior programs to both Kato or Bemidji. I would say that Miami of Ohio still is, but I am less convinced that WMU is still superior to MNSU or Bemidji, even in the pairwise rankings last year both Mankato and Bemidji ranked higher the WMU. That said it is really all just speculation at this point. MNSU in an early stage of talking with the NCHC, they have definitely improved their program since Hastings took the reins and my guess is that ASU will be joining the NCHC, ASU currently has the arena situation to workout, but in the mean time they can use Gila arena untill a new facility is built and while nothing is inked yet it looks like the coyotes and ASU will be building a multi purpose arena next to ASU in Tempe, assuming that deal goes through I would guess that ASU is in NCHC. My guess is that NCHC probably sent out feelers to more schools than just BSGU, it probably looked at Tech and MNSU as well, BSGU was probably at the top of their list simply because it would be good for WMU and Miami to help counteract the extra travel expenses of adding ASU. The reality is if college hockey continues to grow we can expect more realignment and we can expect more leagues to flux and fold depending on how many schools add programs and at what rate.

I think the NCHC reached out to Bowling Green because they are one of the Top four programs in the WCHA and they are a short distance for both Miami and WMU, which are not quite as happy about the travel costs in the NCHC. The NCHC could have also reached out to Ferris State as well, However Ferris State's arena only seats 2000 people and the it's more likely that they would need to build a new arena which is costly and can take a long time before breaking ground. BGSU could probably renovate its current arena and have decent facility though I'm not sure that the ceiling is high enough to allow a video screen score board like at Bemidji or Mankato. The problem is that BSGU doesn't place the same importance its hockey programs and frankly if you look at attendance the interest from students and the community is quite there, despite being 3rd in the conference and ranking in the top 20 nationally, there attendance average is 5th by number in attendance, and 8th by percentage in the WCHA. A move to the NCHC would be more expensive in-terms of league fees and travel,right now that is not a cost BGSU wants to take on. Also I think we are overplaying the role which conference affiliations in other sports have on hockey. Maybe in the future if more D1 FBS schools start adding hockey it will become more important but until that happens (if it does) regional rivalries will be the bigger driving force in College hockey, its great that UND is going to play BGSU in football that a big deal for our football program, however that is one non-conference game, its a limited single expense for BGSU, joining the NCHC would be a big added annual expense for BGSU especially when it is currently in a league with many of its former regional CCHA rivals. What many of these former CCHA schools want is an inexpensive bus league that minimizes costs for hockey, that is why the CCHA existed to keep costs low for the Michigan and Ohio schools. Raising the profile of your school through its primary conference won't have an effect on said schools hockey conference, hockey is still a niche sport, the fact that all the hockey conferences ( with the exception of the Bigten) are hockey only conferences is reasonable proof of this.

I'd have to say they are about even in terms of the facilities themselves, Bemdji is newer but slightly smaller, Mankato is larger but is a bit older, though the Renovation and expansion does help. In terms of Neighborhood I have to give the edge to Verizon. Sanford center is not in a horrible location, its a short walk to a hotel and some restaurants, But the Verizon Wireless Center is smack dab in the center of downtown Mankato, multiple bars and restaurants are just down the street, and Two hotels are connected to the Arena by sky way. Both are far more modern than the facilities at BSGU or WMU. I would also contend that they are better than Miami overall though Miami does have nice facility, but its also much smaller and with fewer amenities.

Just a little comparison on BSGU Falcons vs MNSU Mavericks facilities. I thought it might help illustrate the differences between the two programs, and the importance they place on Hockey. Bowling Green State University Falcons Minnesota State University Mavericks Opened: 1967 (Renovation 1989) Capacity: 5000 (Bench Seats) Average Attendance:2549 (51% capacity) Location: On BSGU Campus Tenant’s: BSGU Hockey, Figure Skating, Curling, Bowling Green HS hockey, Bowling Green Youth Hockey. Seating Arrangement: “U” Shape Opened: 1995 (Renovation 2014-2016) Capacity: 5280 (Stadium Seating) Average Attendance:3753 (71% capacity) Location: Downtown Mankato Tenant’s: MNSU Men’s and Women’s Hockey Seating Arrangement: “U” Shape Amenities: Video Screens: No Boxes: No Alcohol Service: No Amenities: Video Screens: Yes (four screen display scoreboard at center ice) Boxes: Yes Alcohol Service: Full service bars, with alcohol permitted in all areas of the arena (including student section).

Then they should fit right in with half of the NCHC, including Omaha, Western Michigan, Mami, and SCSU. Furthermore if they do manage to win a national title then they will be tied with Duluth and just behind Colorado College, and CC won its titles in 1950 and 1957. The two major title winners are UND with 8 and Denver with 7, so lets not pretend that our conference is full of only teams with National Championship Banners, because in reality most of 18 national championship won by NCHC teams are split between UND and Denver.

Agreed.

Throw in an F-150 raptor package and an AirstremTrailer and I'll consider it.

No, you were talking about the size of broadcast markets. I was pointing out that both teams have a similar sized broadcast market.

By that logic then UND shouldn't be in NCHC, it's located in a town of around 50,000 and can draw on some from the surrounding area, the majority of Hockey games are broadcast for the most part via a local cable company "Midco", some games are on FSN or FCS depending on the opponent. Mankato is a town of around 50,000 people and draws from the surrounding area, a good number of the games are available up in the twin cities. The games are broadcast mostly by a local cable company "Charter" communications and some games are on FSN or FCS depending on the opponent, Furthermore both schools offer games via online streaming via their respective leagues, which I think will eventually replace traditional broadcast for most of the college sports. They look pretty similar from broadcast perspective.

Maybe during the Judding years, But Hastings has them playing a more fast pace offensive minded game, big emphasis on control of the puck and controlling the neutral zone.

I keep hearing BSGU, if you look at BSGU they are not going to leave the WCHA now. One they do not have a facility that is comparable to any of the other NCHC school. After the renovation, MNSU has a facility that is on par with other NCHC facilities. Hockey at MNSU has never been in doubt since turning D-1 in the late nineties. BSGU was on the verge of folding its hockey program as recently as 2009, and while hockey at the school was saved, it is not a major priority at the school. Furthermore, BGSU isn't interested in joining the NCHC, Right now all they have most of their opponents in driving distance. The opponents that are not are Bemidji, Alabama, and the Alaska's, and while everyone makes a big deal about the Alaska schools we forget that they subsidize the cost of travel to and from the state for visiting teams. If BSGU went to the NCHC, it would probably need to fly to UND, CC, Denver, and Duluth. None of which would be subsidized.