College Hockey Expansion

[Und Princess]

3 hours ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

could und play a school like tennessee?  or florida?

would a exhib against a sec school be "cooler" than the bisons of manitoba?

I would love to see that happen. Anything is possible!!! It would be fun to see an exhibition against a sec school.

[SiouxHawkGuy]

On 7/10/2025 at 9:39 AM, nodak651 said:

Doe anyone else think it looks like a sheet of ice would fit perfectly into Utah Valley's arena?  

Looks like how the Betty should look

[FSSD]

1 hour ago, SiouxHawkGuy said:

Looks like how the Betty should look

After finishing outdoor track and field facility, the extra practice courts attached to the Betty and a permanent reconfiguration of the seating in the Betty should be the next priorities for the Athletic Department.

[nodak651]

On 7/12/2025 at 7:44 PM, FSSD said:

After finishing outdoor track and field facility, the extra practice courts attached to the Betty and a permanent reconfiguration of the seating in the Betty should be the next priorities for the Athletic Department.

Pipe dream of mine is to shrink the olympic ice sheet to nhl size, which I think would create 15 ft of space savings (100 -> 85ft ice width?).  

Perhaps if they shrunk the ice sheet, they could create a concourse area behind the permanent east side seating, and along with a new 2nd north side entrence, it could somehow be tied in to new permanent seating on the northern end  (which could include a new club/sports bar area).

This would make it so people don't have to walk around or IN FRONT of the seating behind either basket - seating could be much closer, and with the new practice courts, portable seating wouldnt have to be moved so frequently (if even needed).

Shrinking the ice sheet could also allow for the player areas to be exanded within the current footrint.

Also, given that all of the college hockey programs will soon be at or near NHL dimensions, the olympic sheet has become obsolete.  If it were an nhl sheet, the hockey team could practice there if needed, and this new flexibility would make it more viable to play some basketball games at the ralph again.  This could potentially help to significantly increase basketball revenue which would enable the school to attract occasional buy games vs bigger branded opponents.  Beimg able to play a team like Alabama at the big ralph would have generated a ton more money from clubs, suits, concessions, video board ads, etc.

[SIOUXFAN97]

2 hours ago, nodak651 said:

Pipe dream of mine is to shrink the olympic ice sheet to nhl size, which I think would create 15 ft of space savings (100 -> 85ft ice width?).  

Perhaps if they shrunk the ice sheet, they could create a concourse area behind the permanent east side seating, and along with a new 2nd north side entrence, it could somehow be tied in to new permanent seating on the northern end  (which could include a new club/sports bar area).

This would make it so people don't have to walk around or IN FRONT of the seating behind either basket - seating could be much closer, and with the new practice courts, it wouldnt have to be moved so frequently.

Shrinking the ice sheet could also allow for the player areas to be exanded within the current footrint.

Also, given that all of the college hockey programs will soon be at or near NHL dimensions, the olympic sheet has become obsolete.  If it were an nhl sheet, the hockey team could practice there if needed, and this new flexibility would make it more viable to play some basketball games at the ralph again.  This could potentially help to significantly increase basketball revenue which would enable the school to attract occasional buy games vs bigger branded opponents.  Beimg able to play a team like Alabama at the big ralph would have generated a ton more money from clubs, suits, concessions, video board ads, etc.

I need a siouxfan97 drawing....I kinda follow but draw it out

[FSSD]

2 hours ago, nodak651 said:

Pipe dream of mine is to shrink the olympic ice sheet to nhl size, which I think would create 15 ft of space savings (100 -> 85ft ice width?).  

Perhaps if they shrunk the ice sheet, they could create a concourse area behind the permanent east side seating, and along with a new 2nd north side entrence, it could somehow be tied in to new permanent seating on the northern end  (which could include a new club/sports bar area).

This would make it so people don't have to walk around or IN FRONT of the seating behind either basket - seating could be much closer, and with the new practice courts, it wouldnt have to be moved so frequently.

Shrinking the ice sheet could also allow for the player areas to be exanded within the current footrint.

Also, given that all of the college hockey programs will soon be at or near NHL dimensions, the olympic sheet has become obsolete.  If it were an nhl sheet, the hockey team could practice there if needed, and this new flexibility would make it more viable to play some basketball games at the ralph again.  This could potentially help to significantly increase basketball revenue which would enable the school to attract occasional buy games vs bigger branded opponents.  Beimg able to play a team like Alabama at the big ralph would have generated a ton more money from clubs, suits, concessions, video board ads, etc.

I agree with you on all counts.  An entire rethinking of the complex and what can it be for all of the sports.  And as you noted, I don't think it needs to be drastic changes.  But, with the idea of moving basketball to a higher D-1 experience.  Hosting a NCAA preseason tournament ie (Pentagon) - with a local corporate sponsor.  Can you host volleyball tournaments?  Not sure of the timing, but the REA hosting D-II NCAA basketball tournament finals.  It seems like there are opportunities for GF and UND to collaborate on special events to keep things going.  Even expand on the idea of Edina dabeautyleague https://dabeautyleague.com/ in Grand Forks for all the local college/NHLers.

[cberkas]

On 7/10/2025 at 7:39 AM, nodak651 said:

Doe anyone else think it looks like a sheet of ice would fit perfectly into Utah Valley's arena?  

Looking into the UCCU Center. They did have indoor/arena football for two years 1998 and 2009. looks like you'd lose all but the two top rows on the ends. Hard to find picture of the indoor football set up (there was only 4 I could find from 2009) you lose seating on the lower area, looks like there was only 7 rows before the upper area (folded in the above picture). 

As stated by @atxsioux UVU would have to put in an ice plant and redo the floor. If they wanted more end seating, only the North end could expand out South end has the basketball practice facility. Would have to add two or three locker rooms for hockey specific to go with the 6 current ones. From what I can find there are 2 upper basketball courts on each side behind the folded seating in the picture. 

Realistically they'd be better off working with BYU and playing at Peaks Arena (current arena) and adding back the 6,000 temporary seats that were removed. UVU could build an arena for hockey, they do have some room but Peaks Arena it the best option. UVU, Utah State, Utah, Weber State and BYU at Mavrick Center (Delta Center after renovations) would be a fun showcase for college hockey. 

[cberkas]

Surprised the ACHA allows this with how much the CHF/CHS/NACHL wanted to leave a couple years ago.

[cberkas]

Listened to an interview of Sean Hogan

• He said there are 3 feasibility studies scheduled this with two site visits completed. 
• Sees more teams in the future not less
• it's important for CHI needs to get the message out to more ADs that there is a free feasibility study provided by the NHL/CHI if they want to add hockey
• The niche spot in adding hockey is D1 school without a big football program (i.e. not the Power4/5).
• Big schools are interested/donors are interested on the East and West to add hockey at schools
• A school in California is possible in the next "10 years" sounded like he was trying to not spill the beans on something
• One school that CHI is working with was a surprise "would have never thought of this school". If this would come to fruition it would help grow college hockey where they need to grow hockey, very exciting. 

They have kept these NHL/CHI feasibility studies super secret squirrel so hard to find who did one without it being reported. There was originally 5 done round 2018 with only Illinois and Oakland being confirmed with 3 not announced. Sounds like 2 of the three were Lindenwood and Mayville. Looks like 11 studies have been done plus the current 3. in the works. 

• Illinois
• Oakland (MI)
• Lindenwood (men's)
• Maryville (MO)
• Northern Michigan (woman's)
• Tennessee State
• Delaware (woman's)
• Michigan (woman's)

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

17 minutes ago, cberkas said:

Listened to an interview of Sean Hogan

• He said there are 3 feasibility studies scheduled this with two site visits completed. 
• Sees more teams in the future not less
• it's important for CHI needs to get the message out to more ADs that there is a free feasibility study provided by the NHL/CHI if they want to add hockey
• The niche spot in adding hockey is D1 school without a big football program (i.e. not the Power4/5).
• Big schools are interested/donors are interested on the East and West to add hockey at schools
• A school in California is possible in the next "10 years" sounded like he was trying to not spill the beans on something
• One school that CHI is working with was a surprise "would have never thought of this school". If this would come to fruition it would help grow college hockey where they need to grow hockey, very exciting. 

They have kept these NHL/CHI feasibility studies super secret squirrel so hard to find who did one without it being reported. There was originally 5 done round 2018 with only Illinois and Oakland being confirmed with 3 not announced. Sounds like 2 of the three were Lindenwood and Mayville. Looks like 11 studies have been done plus the current 3. in the works. 

• Illinois
• Oakland (MI)
• Lindenwood (men's)
• Maryville (MO)
• Northern Michigan (woman's)
• Tennessee State
• Delaware (woman's)
• Michigan (woman's)

My guess for CA outside of the usual suspects in the Big Ten is UCSB. Rink near campus, insane amounts of money floating around Santa Barbara, and no football team destroying the athletic department's budget.

[cberkas]

Just now, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

My guess for CA outside of the usual suspects in the Big Ten is UCSB. Rink near campus, insane amounts of money floating around Santa Barbara, and no football team destroying the athletic department's budget.

Mine would be San Jose State, they already play at the Sharks/Barracuda facility.

[nascar99]

20 minutes ago, cberkas said:

Listened to an interview of Sean Hogan

• He said there are 3 feasibility studies scheduled this with two site visits completed. 
• Sees more teams in the future not less
• it's important for CHI needs to get the message out to more ADs that there is a free feasibility study provided by the NHL/CHI if they want to add hockey
• The niche spot in adding hockey is D1 school without a big football program (i.e. not the Power4/5).
• Big schools are interested/donors are interested on the East and West to add hockey at schools
• A school in California is possible in the next "10 years" sounded like he was trying to not spill the beans on something
• One school that CHI is working with was a surprise "would have never thought of this school". If this would come to fruition it would help grow college hockey where they need to grow hockey, very exciting. 

They have kept these NHL/CHI feasibility studies super secret squirrel so hard to find who did one without it being reported. There was originally 5 done round 2018 with only Illinois and Oakland being confirmed with 3 not announced. Sounds like 2 of the three were Lindenwood and Mayville. Looks like 11 studies have been done plus the current 3. in the works. 

• Illinois
• Oakland (MI)
• Lindenwood (men's)
• Maryville (MO)
• Northern Michigan (woman's)
• Tennessee State
• Delaware (woman's)
• Michigan (woman's)

Guesses for the "would have never thought of this school".

1. Old school SEC country, could be a bigger university from the SEC or a small university outside of the Power 4/5.

2. Any school in Texas.

3. Utah/BYU/Utah State or even just a random university in the Mountain West portion of the country.

4. West Virginia

[petey23]

14 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Guesses for the "would have never thought of this school".

1. Old school SEC country, could be a bigger university from the SEC or a small university outside of the Power 4/5.

2. Any school in Texas.

3. Utah/BYU/Utah State or even just a random university in the Mountain West portion of the country.

4. West Virginia

Not that I haven't thought of them, but FGCU would/could make the move. Arena in place with 3 sheets of Ice. 2 ACHA programs that have had plenty of success(d2 and d3) and they draw pretty well. No football program. Beach right on campus and the student body is 56% female.

[cberkas]

31 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Guesses for the "would have never thought of this school".

1. Old school SEC country, could be a bigger university from the SEC or a small university outside of the Power 4/5.

2. Any school in Texas.

3. Utah/BYU/Utah State or even just a random university in the Mountain West portion of the country.

4. West Virginia

Would be perfect for CHI to work with UND about having two Texas ACHA schools (Texas and Texas A&M) play before the UND/Michigan State game and get a discounted ticket to the UND/Michigan State. CHI could be using UND and their destination games to expand the game. 

The school he never would have thought of would have been one I've thought of lol. Thinking of 4 regions that it could be, Florida, Texas, PNW (Portland), and Utah.

I do wonder about the new arena for Oklahoma that is going to be built. Oklahoma would raise an eyebrow, not because of it being in Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma has been very good at the AHCA level. But Oklahoma's ACHA team has never been that good.

[atxsioux]

Saw a good reddit forum of schools without football so gona cherry pick the ones that fit the category of east coast, west coast, mystery area team. Some of these schools do well with basketball so in theory you'd think it wouldn't be "as much" of a financial burden if they can get hockey to run close to a net 0. (Creighton and Marquette come to mind as those types)

 

Bradley Braves: Peoria, Illinois. 

Charleston Cougars: Charleston, South Carolina

Creighton Bluejays: Omaha, Nebraska

Denver Pioneers: Denver, Colorado

DePaul Blue Demons: Chicago, Illinois

Drexel Dragons: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gonzaga Bulldogs: Spokane, Washington

High Point Panthers: High Point, North Carolina

La Salle Explorers: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Long Beach State Beach: Long Beach

Loyal Chicago Ramblers: Loyola Chicago (Sister Jean Memorial Arena is 100% the name of it if they ever build it)

Loyola Maryland Greyhounds: Baltimore, Maryland.

Loyola Marymount Lions: Los Angeles

Marquette Golden Eagles: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pepperdine Waves: Malibu, California

Portland Pilots: Portland, Oregon

St Johns Red Storm: NY, NY

Saint Joseph's Hawks: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Saint Louis Billikens: Saint Louis

Saint Mary's Gaels: Moraga, California

Saint Peter's Peacocks: Jersey City, New Jersey

San Francisco Dons: San Francisco

Santa Clara Broncos: Santa Clara, California

UC Riverside Highlanders: Riverside, California

UC San Diego Tritons: San Diego

UC Santa Barbra Gauchos: Santa Barbra

Xavier Musketeers: Cincinnati, Ohio

[nascar99]

35 minutes ago, atxsioux said:

Saw a good reddit forum of schools without football so gona cherry pick the ones that fit the category of east coast, west coast, mystery area team. Some of these schools do well with basketball so in theory you'd think it wouldn't be "as much" of a financial burden if they can get hockey to run close to a net 0. (Creighton and Marquette come to mind as those types)

 

Bradley Braves: Peoria, Illinois. 

Charleston Cougars: Charleston, South Carolina

Creighton Bluejays: Omaha, Nebraska

Denver Pioneers: Denver, Colorado

DePaul Blue Demons: Chicago, Illinois

Drexel Dragons: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gonzaga Bulldogs: Spokane, Washington

High Point Panthers: High Point, North Carolina

La Salle Explorers: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Long Beach State Beach: Long Beach

Loyal Chicago Ramblers: Loyola Chicago (Sister Jean Memorial Arena is 100% the name of it if they ever build it)

Loyola Maryland Greyhounds: Baltimore, Maryland.

Loyola Marymount Lions: Los Angeles

Marquette Golden Eagles: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pepperdine Waves: Malibu, California

Portland Pilots: Portland, Oregon

St Johns Red Storm: NY, NY

Saint Joseph's Hawks: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Saint Louis Billikens: Saint Louis

Saint Mary's Gaels: Moraga, California

Saint Peter's Peacocks: Jersey City, New Jersey

San Francisco Dons: San Francisco

Santa Clara Broncos: Santa Clara, California

UC Riverside Highlanders: Riverside, California

UC San Diego Tritons: San Diego

UC Santa Barbra Gauchos: Santa Barbra

Xavier Musketeers: Cincinnati, Ohio

Assuming you forgot to delete Denver lol?

One school with FCS football but in an area of the country where hockey makes a ton of sense is Rhode Island. Always found it odd that they didn't have hockey

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

40 minutes ago, cberkas said:

 

The school he never would have thought of would have been one I've thought of lol. Thinking of 4 regions that it could be, Florida, Texas, PNW (Portland), and Utah.

 

 

34 minutes ago, atxsioux said:

 

Portland Pilots: Portland, Oregon

Wife is a prof at U of P. Money and enrollment problems resulting in a downward spiral (like many colleges). 

From that reddit list Gonzaga, High Point and aforementioned UCSB (as well as the rest of the CA schools) are in areas they need to grow the game. Philly too now that I think of it.

[nascar99]

Just now, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

 

Wife is a prof at U of P. Money and enrollment problems resulting in a downward spiral (like many colleges). 

From that reddit list Gonzaga, High Point and aforementioned UCSB (as well as the rest of the CA schools) are in areas they need to grow the game. Philly too now that I think of it.

Very odd that none of the Philadelphia universities have D1 hockey, especially Penn. I guess it has to do with them all being basketball schools and hockey isn't native to the Philadelphia Metro Area, Ed Snyder is the only reason why the Flyers ever became an NHL team.

[atxsioux]

33 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Assuming you forgot to delete Denver lol?

One school with FCS football but in an area of the country where hockey makes a ton of sense is Rhode Island. Always found it odd that they didn't have hockey

Was meant to be a bit haha. (Denver? never heard of them)

[cberkas]

UNLV vs Denver Oct 4th

CC vs Simon Fraser Jan 17th

[nascar99]

1 hour ago, cberkas said:

UNLV vs Denver Oct 4th

CC vs Simon Fraser Jan 17th

Feel like they're one big donation from the Golden Knights, KEM, or another donor away from going D1. Not sure what KEM's relationship with UNLV is now, I know the Engelstad Foundation had stopped funding UNLV in the recent past.

[nodak651]

18 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Feel like they're one big donation from the Golden Knights, KEM, or another donor away from going D1. Not sure what KEM's relationship is with UNLV now, I know the Engelstad Foundation had stopped funding UNLV in the recent past.

I feel like Arizona is in a simlar boat.  Apparantly Sean Engelstad went there, and Sean Hogan (College Hockey Inc Director) coached there and he said he bugs them about it every year.  Plus they have the new arena coming on board, and the Roadrunners are likely headed to Reno, plus they have the ASU rivalry and can see ASU's success.  

Of course.... football, basketball, and money will continue to be an issue.

As for a suprise school, Roosevelt and Austin Peay are my guesses.  Perhaps UMKC if they include hockey in the arena they are building, but I doubt it.  All they have to do is look up the road though and see how UNO created a niche for themselves in a similarily competetive market.  He could have also been thinking of Maryville as a suprise school.  IPFW and IUPUI both also have nearby arenas that would work well and both schools would be great for college hockey geographically, but I doubt those schools have the gumption.

[cberkas]

5 minutes ago, nodak651 said:

I feel like Arizona is in a simlar boat.  Apparantly Sean Engelstad went there, and Sean Hogan (College Hockey Inc Director) coached there and he said he bugs them about it every year.  Plus they have the new arena coming on board, and the Roadrunners are likely headed to Reno, plus they have the ASU rivalry and can see ASU's success.  

Of course.... football, basketball, and money will continue to be an issue.

As for a suprise school, Roosevelt and Austin Peay are my guesses.  Perhaps UMKC if they include hockey in the arena they are building, but I doubt it.  All they have to do is look up the road though and see how UNO created a niche for themselves in a similarily competetive market.  He could have also been thinking of Maryville as a suprise school.  IPFW and IUPUI both also have nearby arenas that would work well and both schools would be great for college hockey geographically, but I doubt those schools have the gumption.

Maryville had their feasibility study done in 2018, the school he was talking about is in the process of doing one. 

Illinois State is another that is an area that needs a team and fits what he was talking about when it comes to D1 schools (with football).

[nodak651]

3 minutes ago, cberkas said:

Maryville had their feasibility study done in 2018, the school he was talking about is in the process of doing one. 

Illinois State is another that is an area that needs a team and fits what he was talking about when it comes to D1 schools (with football).

Illinois State would kill it and they would eventually be a great fit for the NCHC imo.

[cberkas]

6 minutes ago, nodak651 said:

Illinois State would kill it and they would eventually be a great fit for the NCHC imo.

I'd like to see them move up.

I've been making a list of schools and nearby arenas when I'm bored. For example, the Dallas area schools have two arena options in Allen and Frisco TX.