I don't doubt that women's hockey loses money on a an annual basis. I was referring to Dan's "a lot of money". Does he have actual figures? i would "think" that the team with the #2 attendance in the nation is not a huge money pit, but I don't have the actual numbers either.
You are right, joining the Big Sky doesn't guarantee anything. UND will need to perform to maximize it's membership. UND does get a share of the Big Sky money now, as opposed to no money with the Great West. The Big Sky will give UND opportunities to build relationships and rivalries. Attendance will increase with these new relationships.
Getting back to Women's hockey, if they win a NC, but don't make any money doing it, would that make them a drain on the athletic department. I would think not.
Very few athletic departments make money and very sports within an athletic department make money.
UND hockey makes money and rather than holding the "other sports back", it pays for a lot of what those sports have.