Penn State 'close" to adding hockey

[Blackheart]

Looks like it's official.

Now we just have to hope that they don't screw up the rest of college hockey.

No, I'm sure the NCAA brain trust is all over this...

[Big A HG]

Instead of a BTHC why not Penn St join the CCHA and have Alaska Fairbanks or Alaska whatever they call themselves join the WCHA and be rivals with UAA.

The reason they are separate to begin with is the travel costs for teams in the lower 48. Having to make two trips to Alaska would be costly for many programs. Otherwise, they'd probably be in the same conference already.

[star2city]

The reason they are separate to begin with is the travel costs for teams in the lower 48. Having to make two trips to Alaska would be costly for many programs. Otherwise, they'd probably be in the same conference already.

That's part of it, but a bigger reason is that with one Alaska school in both conferences, all CCHA and WCHA schools who play in Alaska are allowed to play two extra games - which in can add a lot of cash to certain schools . Since the exemption is only for two games - and not for four games - in hockey it is all cost with no benefit to have two rather than one Alaska school in the same conference.

Since there is only one UAA-UND series this year and it is at the Ralph, notice that UND is playing in the Alaska tournament to gain two more games.

[Goon]

The reason they are separate to begin with is the travel costs for teams in the lower 48. Having to make two trips to Alaska would be costly for many programs. Otherwise, they'd probably be in the same conference already.

Actually, if UAA and UAF were in the same conference UAA could have a basement buddy at the bottom of the WCHA for them.

[star2city]

StarTribune: Two more Big Ten schools?

Perhaps the person most pleased outside Happy Valley with Penn State's announcement was Paul Kelly, executive director of College Hockey Inc., the education and marketing arm of Division I hockey.

Kelly said he has discussed starting hockey programs with two other Big Ten schools that he would not identify.

[redwing77]

While we're in ridiculous talk:

We boot UAA out of the WCHA, add Penn State. UAA admitted to CCHA to rival with UAF.

It would be awesome because then we can have an Eastern team in a Western conference.

[Big A HG]

Actually, if UAA and UAF were in the same conference UAA could have a basement buddy at the bottom of the WCHA for them.

Well that'd be one darn good basement buddy...UAF is in most people's pre-season Top 10 lists.

[redwing77]

Well that'd be one darn good basement buddy...UAF is in most people's pre-season Top 10 lists.

I still don't understand what makes Fairbanks a better recruiting locale than Anchorage.

[Snake]

I still don't understand what makes Fairbanks a better recruiting locale than Anchorage.

Maybe the coaching staff?

[redwing77]

Maybe the coaching staff?

Maybe. I can't disagree with you despite the fact that I like Shyiak...or at least the persona he comes across as having.

[star2city]

Kalamazoo Gazette: Penn State's hockey plans put WMU's hockey future in survival mode

KALAMAZOO

[mksioux]

StarTribune: Two more Big Ten schools?

"If, in fact, [a Big Ten hockey conference] does happen, we would be different, but we would not be diminished at all," WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod said.

I understand that McLeod has to be optimistic from a public relations standpoint, but this quote is absurd. You can have reasonable disagreements on how large the impact will be, but nobody who wants to be taken seriously should say that losing Minnesota and Wisconsin will not diminish the WCHA "at all."

[buckysieve]

I understand that McLeod has to be optimistic from a public relations standpoint, but this quote is absurd. You can have reasonable disagreements on how large the impact will be, but nobody who wants to be taken seriously should say that losing Minnesota and Wisconsin will not diminish the WCHA "at all."

The WCHA won't be as sexy but college hockey overall will be better off simply by being associated with the Big Ten. I think it will elevate the status and popularity of college hockey to new heights.

[Goon]

I understand that McLeod has to be optimistic from a public relations standpoint, but this quote is absurd. You can have reasonable disagreements on how large the impact will be, but nobody who wants to be taken seriously should say that losing Minnesota and Wisconsin will not diminish the WCHA "at all."

Bruce McLeod is a buffoon and needs to go, it's like he has been drinking heavily the last couple of weeks.

[siouxforeverbaby]

Bruce McLeod is a buffoon and needs to go, it's like he has been drinking heavily the last couple of weeks.

weeks? I would have guessed longer

[tnt]

I would be in favor of the WCHA letting Michigan Tech and Alaska Anchorage go to the CCHA to fill the place of Michigan and Michigan State. That would allow the WCHA schools to be more flexible in scheduling non-conference games. But as everybody else, I don't think McLeod has a clue and is just waiting until he is forced to do something, much like he was instructed to get Nebraska Omaha. I don't think he has a bone in his body that is proactive, and goodness knows we don't want him making knee-jerk decisions, much the same like he did with suspensions where there was no rhyme or reason. Maybe the Big Ten would take him as their Commissioner.!

[Ray77]

I would be in favor of the WCHA letting Michigan Tech and Alaska Anchorage go to the CCHA to fill the place of Michigan and Michigan State. That would the WCHA schools to be more flexible in scheduling non-conference games. But as everybody else, I don't think McLeod has a clue and is just waiting until he is forced to do something, much like he was instructed to get Nebraska Omaha. I don't think he has a bone in his body that is proactive, and goodness knows we don't want him making knee-jerk decisions, much the same like he did with suspensions where there was no rhyme or reason. Maybe the Big Ten would take him as their Commissioner.!

Let's not stop there. Why don't we get them started off on the right foot by supplying them with a reffing crew, from the refs all the way up to their very own Supervisor of Officials. We'll call it our housewarming gift!

[star2city]

Why everyone in college hockey, including Michigan fans, are freaking out

To those who follow college hockey, as Joe Biden would say, this is a BIG F****** DEAL.

[Goon]

weeks? I would have guessed longer

You might be right.

[Goon]

I would be in favor of the WCHA letting Michigan Tech and Alaska Anchorage go to the CCHA to fill the place of Michigan and Michigan State. That would allow the WCHA schools to be more flexible in scheduling non-conference games. But as everybody else, I don't think McLeod has a clue and is just waiting until he is forced to do something, much like he was instructed to get Nebraska Omaha. I don't think he has a bone in his body that is proactive, and goodness knows we don't want him making knee-jerk decisions, much the same like he did with suspensions where there was no rhyme or reason. Maybe the Big Ten would take him as their Commissioner.!

I don't understand why the WCHA schools don't decide they have had enough and fire him? I mean there is nothing impressive about the man and his legal troubles while he was at UMD troubles me. I think the WCHA needs a strong leader going forward and I think Bruce McLeod and his comments recently prove he isn't up to the task.

[siouxfan123]

I would be in favor of the WCHA letting Michigan Tech and Alaska Anchorage go to the CCHA to fill the place of Michigan and Michigan State.

While the WCHA would love to have Michigan and Michigan State, this move would make the BTHC more of a reality. Ohio State and Penn State would not want to be in a conference where they were the only Big Ten Schools. The current set up is the best way to keep the Big Ten Conference out of the hockey business (if that is the goal). I think Michigan and Michigan State like the arrangement because they get to play the MI schools along with some other big names like Miami, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Ohio State and Penn State should like the agreement because they get some big names like Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Miami while willing to play the "other" schools for the ease of scheduling and keeping travel costs down.

On the WCHA side from what I understand Minnesota likes being in the WCHA by getting to play all of the Minnesota schools along with the likes of Denver, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan and Michigan State once a year. Wisconsin on the other hand seems to be the one school that is not happy with the arrangement, but having one school displeased with the status quo is much easier for the Big Ten to stay out of college hockey, two schools on the other hand, not so much.

[star2city]

Roman Augustovicz: Illinois downplays likelihood that it start hockey

Two other Big Ten teams have made inquiries about doing the same, But Paul Kelly, executive director of College Hockey, Inc., the education and marketing arm of NCAA hockey, isn't saying which teams.

"At this point there is no plan to add men's and women's ice hockey teams," said Kent Brown, the Illini assistant athletic director. "We have a very successful club program but not a facility to host a varsity sport. There's been no discussion."

The Big Ten, according to USCollegeHockey, is already looking at Chicago as the site of a Big Ten hockey tournament in 2015. The Illini might want to be part of that in their home state. Just a thought.

[GeauxSioux]

Big gift more than hockey

It also is likely to enhance another huge revenue generator for Penn State and all Big Ten schools - the Big Ten Network. Hockey isn't a conference sport for the Big Ten, but PSU will become the sixth conference school to have it, making it eligible. Increased hockey programming and its revenue would produce additional money to be shared by all Big Ten universities.

Mr. Pegula's gift has been compared to that of oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens' gift in 2006 to his alma mater, Oklahoma State University - $165 million for an array of new athletic facilities. But it's not even the biggest gift to a college hockey program. In 1998 Las Vegas casino owner Ralph Engelstad gave $100 million to his alma mater, hockey power University of North Dakota, for a new hockey arena.

[tnt]

While the WCHA would love to have Michigan and Michigan State, this move would make the BTHC more of a reality. Ohio State and Penn State would not want to be in a conference where they were the only Big Ten Schools. The current set up is the best way to keep the Big Ten Conference out of the hockey business (if that is the goal). I think Michigan and Michigan State like the arrangement because they get to play the MI schools along with some other big names like Miami, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Ohio State and Penn State should like the agreement because they get some big names like Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Miami while willing to play the "other" schools for the ease of scheduling and keeping travel costs down.

On the WCHA side from what I understand Minnesota likes being in the WCHA by getting to play all of the Minnesota schools along with the likes of Denver, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan and Michigan State once a year. Wisconsin on the other hand seems to be the one school that is not happy with the arrangement, but having one school displeased with the status quo is much easier for the Big Ten to stay out of college hockey, two schools on the other hand, not so much.

I meant that Tech and Anchorage would fill the place in the CCHA if a Big Ten conference was formed. I want things to stay as they are now, but if it happens, I wouldn't mind seeing an 8 team WCHA with the flexibility to schedule more non-conference games.

[stickboy1956]

Big gift more than hockey

It also is likely to enhance another huge revenue generator for Penn State and all Big Ten schools - the Big Ten Network. Hockey isn't a conference sport for the Big Ten, but PSU will become the sixth conference school to have it, making it eligible. Increased hockey programming and its revenue would produce additional money to be shared by all Big Ten universities.

I can't believe the BTN propaganda is re-published verbatim without journalists thinking about the premise.

No-one/nobody/ziltch/nada viewers in the Twin Cities market will tune in to a BTN broadcast of a Penn State vs. Ohio State/fill in the blank match up when the Gophers are playing on another network. If they can't get MSP viewers, do they really think they will get viewers from the rest of the BTN coverage area to watch?