Yote 53

I look at it this way, what is the point of adding a school in a market you want "access to" if the school in that market is viewed as small time or a joke in that market? By associating with that school you are also viewed as a joke. Believe me, that is the perception amongst prospective students, kids growing up in their formative years. I grew up in Sioux City, and Morningside being in the same conference as the Dakota schools skewed my perception of the NCC schools, that they were a small time joke. It wasn't until I actually looked into it and went through recruitment that I realized what USD, UND, SDSU, NDSU really were. I had a higher opinion of UNI and Drake because UNI played games against Iowa State and Drake was in the Valley. Now the perception of the Dakota schools has completely changed amongst prospective students in this area. Adding Augustana to the conference would signal to prospective students that we're small time again. Adding a school in a large metro area that is viewed as small time gives the perception that your school is also small time by association. The Summit doesn't need to take on any school out of desperation. At this point we can be selective. We can raise the profile of the conference from within by constantly improving our programs. We don't need outside help unless it would be a no-brainer slam dunk. St. Thomas was a no-brainer. If UNI called tomorrow and wanted in the Summit that would be a no-brainer. UNC, I would pause a bit. There might be fallout with DU with that decision. Augustana, forget about it. They bring nothing we don't already have, in fact, that addition would be a drag on several of our member schools.

2004 birth year Ausmus went through Minnesota District and is listed as an EGF player. I didn't see Panzer on this list but know he was in Sioux Falls for Stampede main camp so maybe he wasn't at Select 17 camp. I had also seen his name as being invited. Still, he'd also be an EGF/Minnesota District player.

So Major Junior players retain their NCAA eligibility now?

Seems an appropriate spot for this. I come up here to get my hockey talk fix because there is nobody to talk with on the Yote board. USA Hockey Select 17 Camp is just finishing up. Looking at the camp list is concerning. I count 3 players from the Northern Plains district that were invited, 2 from North Dakota and 1 from Montana, 0 from South Dakota and Montana. Of the 3 players invited, a goalie from North Dakota played last season for Omaha AAA, a forward from Montana played at Lawrence Academy (Mass Prep), and a defenseman from Williston HS. There was a forward from SF Power but he's from New Mexico and went through the Rocky Mountain District. The obvious question is obvious, why only 3 players from the Northern Plains District? I realize it is based on registration numbers but only 3 spots? No Grand Forks Hockey representation? None from SD or WY? There is a depth of good players in North Dakota (and even South Dakota) that were passed over simply because there are not enough "spots". Northern Plains District should get a few more spots, especially when you consider Central District got 19 and Rocky Mountain got 12. 3 players from the Green Bay Jr Gamblers U16 team made it (one of them is listed as playing for the Chicago Steel). You're telling me one team in Wisconsin should get as much representation as 4 states? This does not help in convincing the best players in our respective states that they should stay home and play high school hockey and they will be recognized and can go somewhere from there. LINK

I fricking hate Tampa, always have, but I want that Cup drought for Canada to continue. On the other hand, the Canadiens winning the Cup would drive Leafs fans insane. I don't think it matters who you want to win, Tampa is going to crush Montreal.

You're getting a good one here. Local Sioux City kid. Brady Ferner - Elite Prospects

It just blows my mind that you have the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Steelers offering to help and the school administration doesn't at least try to come up with a plan to save the programs. They have zero interest in even trying. Other people in that university community need to understand that these current decision makers are really bad for the university. They were trusted with something and they allowed it die. Even sabotaged it and caused it's death. If the hockey programs were doing poorly it's their fault for letting it get to this point. Negligence. Especially when help is offered and they won't even accept it. First, if you are a department or program head you should be nervous about what if those in power decide that you program or department is no longer important? They will not fight for you. Nobody will. In fact, their negligence might just cause your department/program to fall into such a bad place where it is in a position to be shut down. Second, faculty and students at a university are simply trusted placeholders. The university does not belong to them. It was there before they were and will be there long after they are gone as long as they don't screw it up. Too often I hear about how the school belongs to the students or the program belongs to the student-athletes, "it's their school/team". No it doesn't. It belongs to all of us, alumni, current students (faculty), and future students (faculty). We're trusting you with it for now, don't screw it up. Once a program gets shut down it is very hard to get it back.

The comments section is scathing.

Reading this article, this is incredible. The two cowards who made the decision are just hiding out in their bunker. If the rest of the Board of Trustees is that mad don't resign, remove the Board Chairman and the School President.

I have seen that but in their announcement they indicated the facility was going to continue to be used for the club teams and recreational purposes. So it didn't sound like they were shutting down the rink.

I'm having a hard time figuring this one out from the announcement. I want to say it's COVID related and they just can't afford it but that's not really coming through in the statement. In fact, it has a "because we felt like it" attitude to it. Some excerpts. "The Beyond 100 plan includes a focus on diversity and inclusion, more campus events, and a reorganization of its athletics programs." So they're cutting hockey to appeal to "diversity and inclusion". In other words, "we're getting rid of "white" sports"? Celebrating 100 years as a school by cutting programs? Doesn't make sense to be celebrating cutting programs as an accomplishment, which is the overall tone of this announcement. "The university is currently running 26 percent ahead of last year’s pace in deposits for first-time freshmen for the fall semester. Among the university’s other recent milestones was surpassing its goal in its record-setting $100 million fundraising campaign, nearly a year ahead of schedule. Thus far RMU has raised $108 million for its RMU 100: Ready to Rise campaign. That includes a $3 million gift from Netflix founder Reed Hastings to fund 20 full-tuition scholarships." Doesn't appear money is an issue at RMU... RMU Charts Strategic Course Headed into its Centennial Year | Robert Morris University

Waiting for the Title 9 lawsuit from the women hockey players, that program to be saved, men's program still killed. That's the way these things have been trending over the last year.

They cut the program via Twitter announcement with no prior warning. RMU administrators can DIAF. F them.

I've long said there needs to be at least 10 more D1 hockey programs given the amount of talent that is out there capable of playing at the D1 level. Glad to see this quote in that article: "You could easily put together 9-10 teams of competitive division one talent that would make the haves in this sport sweat." I'm going to add to that and say that we need about 20 new NCAA D1 programs and an exponential number of that added to D3 and probably a large expansion of D2 given the amount of talent that is out there being developed in the youth and junior ranks right now. The number and quality of players is only increasing every single year. For the good of the sport and it's growth there needs to be more opportunities in NCAA hockey. There are over 560,000 players registered with USA Hockey. There are 61 Division I teams, 14 Division II, and 84 Division III. For comparison, there are 74 Division I men's lacrosse teams, 75 Division II, and 248 Division III. There are about 750,000 youth lacrosse players in the country. That is a huge difference in college opportunities available to lacrosse players vs hockey players for a player pool that is not that far apart in participation.

Since Minot State is NCAA D2 and a member of the NSIC for all sports they don't have the option of playing down in D3. They could play D2 hockey, but that would be pointless since there is only one D2 conference in the NE USA. I would assume they would go NCAA D1 and try to get in the WCHA, if D1 hockey was in the plans. I don't know if this is a thing but can the program remain at ACHA Club level but be administered by the athletic department? Funded by the athletic dept?

What exactly does that mean? Is this another way of saying they are making it a varsity sport and moving the program to NCAA D1?

Which is why I can't believe they are not D1 already. They had the money to bully their way into FBS football and the NCAA could not stop them (or didn't to pop open Pandora's Box by denying them). They have the money for a full fledged D1 program.

How the heck does a club program fund all that? Has to be funded directly by the university. This program is club in name only, they'll be D1 soon, shocked they haven't announced already.

I've heard there are going to be at least 3-4 new D1 programs starting in the next couple of years. Liberty, obviously, at the top of the list and quite a few programs out east that are looking to move up. Anybody heard any of these rumblings and a list of potential schools?

Good. It's about time the NCAA gets sat in the corner.

BU's campus is a short walk from Fenway. Was in Boston and ended up having pre-game beers at a BU Hockey bar next to campus prior to a Red Sox game. Good times.

Good article. I've been on record that the NCAA made a huge mistake granting an extra year of eligibility. It has created a massive logjam, especially in hockey, that has had a ripple effect all the way down to Tier 3 Juniors and even Midget hockey. This article is a perfect example of a player that, in normal times, would have his dream of playing NCAA hockey realized. Instead, players like this will miss out on an entire college hockey career because the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility which has reduced the number of opportunities for incoming freshman. This same ripple effect is happening all the way down the pipeline. A player that would normally be playing USHL is displaced because players are staying an extra year or coming in from the WHL. Players that would be in the NAHL are getting pushed down into the USPHL or NA3HL. Players having their roles reduced and development stunted because of the logjam of players and overfilled rosters. It's pretty ridiculous and really derailing a lot of young hockey careers.

Have the residents of the nursing home been vaccinated yet? I would assume at this point they have since they were at the front of the line. If they've been vaccinated why is 1 amongst the staff putting them in lockdown? What's the fricking point of the vaccination. Came here because the USD v UNI game has been cancelled and wanted to find out what else has been cancelled. I'm guessing we've played our last game of the season. Contact tracing makes it impossible to pull these games off. One contact trace and boom, shut 'er down.

PSA: For those looking for the games on Midco in your area, not all the station numbers line up. In past years Midco would put this in the station that airs MyTV. This year they have the games on Midco Sports 3. So whatever that channel is in your area is where you'll find them. Here in Vermillion it's Ch.323. I wish they would just run it on Midco or Midco 2 since there is nothing else really going on and that way it would be in HD but just lucky to have them somewhere. Last night I streamed it over the Firestick from the Prep45 website but there was too much buffering for my liking, though the picture was great. Shout out to Midco for putting these tournaments on their network. In past years they've also had the South Dakota Hockey State Tournament as well as many other state tournaments from across the Dakotas. We're lucky to have them as a cable provider as I've heard enough horror stories about cable providers in other areas of the country.

My favorite is they still have these kids showing up to the rink dressed. Like there's not enough room to distance them inside the X so they could dress in the building. That was a clown show this summer at Juniors tryouts watching young men get buck naked in the parking lot changing in and out of their gear. Those boys were doing it on purpose too because it was a clown show and there giving zero F's who saw what just to prove a point of how ridiculous it was. My kid was one of them. This is what happens when you put the eggheads in charge. They come up with the most ridiculous "rules".