Millsy

I will believe it when they ice a team. With so many schools dropping hockey right now and all the "rumors" of teams supposedly on the path to starting programs, it is hard to get excited about these type of stories.

Alaska-Anchorage head coach Matt Curley has resigned his position. UAA will not initiate a search for a head coach until they determine whether or not the program will be saved. https://www.uscho.com/2021/06/14/after-7-53-10-record-over-two-seasons-curley-resigns-as-alaska-anchorage-coach/

Speculation I saw on another discussion about RMU dropping hockey is that their facility may be in need of some major work (new ice plant and new roof as the facility is pushing 25 years)? From the CHN article: https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2021/05/26_Robert-Morris-U-Announces.php "The decision to discontinue the men’s and women’s ice hockey programs was made based on an analysis which included scholarships and operating costs, and the necessary investments to maintain and improve the current facility," the school said in a statement.

For BSU to get, and keep, UND on the schedule, the Beavers give up that home game every third year. The Beavers do get some guaranteed money from that game, though.

Air Force had a tough time in the old CHA with BSU, UAH, Niagara and Robert Morris. In the AHA, they are a big fish in that pond and content with where they are at.

Looks like there is a proposal by the Alaskan Legislature to reinstate $110 million to the University in exchange for a dividend check of $1600 (I think right now it is set for $600). People following it aren't sure which way the governor will go as he wants at least $3000 per person for dividend checks.

You have a Governor and a Conservative Republican core promising everyone big payments from the Permanent Fund. Greed superceeds all rational thinking, especially with the anti-government and under educated people. But, that is just my personal opinion.....

The Alaska Board of Regents just held their intermediate meeting, voted 10-1 to start Financial Exigency process. It is hard to imagine that athletics will survive this year when a large number of academic programs and tenured professors are going to get the axe......

So, I was busy with some home improvements over the weekend, but figured I should update on the Alaska situation based on accounts from USCHO.The Alaska Legislature was unable to override the Governor's veto. The 22 Republicans and the Governor stayed in Wasilla during the whole time and avoided the debate and vote. The 38 Legislators that did meet in Juneau couldn't really do much as they did not have the 45 votes needed to override the veto. The 38 contemplated the idea of going to Wasilla to force a vote, but it was felt if a vote happened anywhere other than Juneau, which the Constitution dictated, it would have ended up in court and probably would have invalidated any override. Part of the Governor's plan all along???? Hmmm.....On Monday, the University of Alaska Board of Regents met to discuss how to handle cutting $135 million out of the budget (again, 41%). Athletics was not brought up until the very end, and it sounds like it will be a target of cuts, just not sure how much (it was noted that athletics loses $14.5 million a year in the UA System, not sure if that is true). There is talk of closing campus and closing programs. Another area that was brought up was getting rid of redundancy of majors, which makes sense. If a major in education is offered at more than one campus, then that major would be shuttered at all campuses but one. How much that would save, it wasn't clear. The Board gave themselves until July 30th to come up with a plan and then will meet again.

If the Alaskas and UAH fold up shop, it would take a considerable amount of schools to add hockey before they look at expanding again. If I recall correctly, they are already over the 25% (16 out of 60) guideline that the NCAA typically uses.

Turns out they can't. The governor wanted it in Wasilla, a conservative hotbed and supporter of the governor. Leaders on both sides of the aisle said that wasn't allowed. So, 38 legislators showed up in Juneau for the vote. 22 Republicans and the governor holed up in a middle school in Wasilla avoiding the vote.

The only explanation I can think of is partisan politics......

We will see if I can get all of this from over on USCHO regarding the chance of a veto override in Alaska: There was a pissing match earlier about whether the special session should be in Juneau or Wasilla. The Democrats felt it should be in the capital, Juneau, the Republicans and Governor wanted it in Wasilla. Sounds like the Governor called it in Wasilla. Only 38 members are present in Wasilla. They need 45 votes out of 60 to override, or 75% of the total legislative body. No one has spoken in favor of the governor's veto. Even Republicans are bashing him. Doesn't look like the veto will get overridden, unless the 22 sitting in Juneau show up in the next two days in Wasilla...... Edit: I might have my towns flip flopped, trying to follow all of the twists and turns is mind boggling...... Either way, 22 members of the body stayed where they wanted the special session. By not having a quorum, any vote taken does not count.....

As an outsider looking in on the Alaska situation:When Anchorage announced the move back on campus, I felt things didn't look good. The press release said financial challenges made it necessary, but then in the next paragraph they announced that they would work to upgrade the on campus rink from 750 to the WCHA standard of 2500. That to me sounds like some serious cash (and time looking at pictures of the arena) would be needed and I personally felt they probably were on death's doorstep.....Fairbanks also plays in a City Run arena, but their ice plant is crapping out and the City did not know if they will have the funds to replace it. They also announced that they could move back on campus, if needed, to a 1250 seat arena that would have been needed to be upgraded to WCHA standards. This one didn't strike me as a severe situation as did Anchorage's.It was mentioned over on USCHO that Alaska's governor announced budget plans and it included the University of Alaska system to cut $135 million. That is a HUGE cut. This is the second consecutive budget cycle that the Seawolves and Nanooks have been put on perceived life support.Huntsville is in the process of creating a huge University development area that would house an on-campus arena that hockey would play in (also be used by volleyball and basketball). The only thing standing in the way is the Alabama Board of Trustees funding, but as Huntsville has seen in the past, if it doesn't say Crimson Tide Football on it, it is almost dead on arrival. This is probably the furthest any of their plans have made it.As someone stated over on USCHO, this could be a shot across the bow of these three schools by the other teams, "Step Up or You Are Out". As for an eighth team if nothing comes from UAH/UAA/UAF, I see St. Thomas in the Cities being a huge target. Gives the new league a presence in the Twin Cities media market, albeit behind the Goofers, but St. Thomas does seem to have a very large following in the Twin Cities area. It also would give Bemidji and Mankato another local series to help even out the travel to Michigan and Ohio. The only question mark would be an arena for them as they currently play out at St. Thomas Academy, which I believe I read seats 1200. I don't see ASU being interested in a league of six D-II schools and one D-I school.

That's why in my original post, I said "listen to".