Wait, wait, hear me out...

Maybe not soon, but eventually a hockey league would be a good thing for the SEC.

Now Southerners aren't know as big time hockey fans. They aren't big time hockey players either for obvious reasons although in the cities where opportunities are afforded to kids to play, the game tends to take off.

A few years ago, I would have counted myself in the camp of the typical Southerner that didn't give a rip about hockey. That was until I actually went to a game. Several years ago, a club team started up at UA. A few of such teams already existed at schools like Tennessee and Vanderbilt and probably others that I was not aware of at the time.

I was intrigued by the idea of a school like Bama, based in a town that didn't even have an ice rink, fielding a hockey club. I decided to head out and give it a shot. The team played and still plays today at the Pelham Civic Complex outside of Birmingham. It's a fairly easy drive from Tuscaloosa despite being so far from campus.

I was a little surprised, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. The action was quick, the strategy was fairly easy to pick up on, and it was physical most importantly. It's a bit like football on ice and that's how some of those early Tide hockey players tried to sell the sport to the community. They succeeded with me.

Since then, I've gone to games regularly. Not as regularly as I would like mind you. Last season, Bama hockey, known as the Frozen Tide, moved up to the Division I of the club association. Unfortunately, they left behind many of their old conference rivals in the SECHC which included club teams from almost every SEC school. Moving up with them was Arkansas who, like Bama, had developed a winning way and a good following. Hopefully, Arkansas and Bama will be in the same conference next year. What's interesting is that this is the highest level of competition below NCAA DI.

This brings me to the point of the post. The only Power conference that currently sponsors hockey is the Big Ten. Naturally, hockey is pretty popular in the region, but I was surprised to find that league had not existed for very long.

Most of the NCAA DI programs are in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. A few outliers stretch from Alaska, a state that has no DI football or basketball, all the way to Alabama-Huntsville. Most of the schools are small and many are private.

It occurs to me that there is an opportunity to not only advance a sport that has real potential to grow in the South and provide additional sporting opportunities during the Winter months, but to increase the profile of the SEC and even add revenue to the conference.

Apparently, several of the Big Ten programs, even the new ones, are money makers. In a world where most athletic programs operate at a loss, an additional revenue sport would be very helpful. Combine that with the fact that the SEC is one of the few leagues with the resources to compete at a high level.

Recently, Arizona State joined NCAA DI and became the first PAC school to do so. I suppose it's possible that the PAC will develop their own league in the not too distant future, but no news of that yet. Apparently, UNLV is exploring promoting their club to NCAA DI as well. The point here is that hockey can be successful in places where it doesn't ice over for most of the Winter.

NHL teams have actually been pretty popular when located in Southern cities. The Nashville Predators fill their arena and the tickets are quite expensive. I know because I've looked into making a trip up there for a game. There are popular franchises in Miami, Tampa, Dallas, and Raleigh as well. The only recent failure was the Atlanta Thrashers who were apparently the victim of an owner never really committing to the city. Even then, Atlanta sports fans are known for not showing up. Just check the attendance for any Braves game.

I say all this to say that it could work. I've read that there aren't enough DI programs to take advantage of all the talent that comes out of hockey playing regions...even Canada.

The opportunity will be there to capitalize.

Hockey is an undervalued sport. Louisville has hosted several minor league teams from the Riverfrogs to the Ice Hawks. Unfortunately they were all mismanaged or moved to larger cities. It is really a fun sport to watch in person.

I think Lacrosse is the better option for a southern conference

You get all the fast action and roughness of hockey (which itself is based on lacrosse) but no need for expensive facilities. Just a field and some bleachers.

The other positive is that as a Title IX counterpart, women's lacrosse is much less expensive to field than women's hockey is since in lacrosse the women (except for the goalie) don't wear helmets and gloves and padding.

(01-23-2016 11:54 AM)10thMountain Wrote:  I think Lacrosse is the better option for a southern conference

You get all the fast action and roughness of hockey (which itself is based on lacrosse) but no need for expensive facilities. Just a field and some bleachers.

The other positive is that as a Title IX counterpart, women's lacrosse is much less expensive to field than women's hockey is since in lacrosse the women (except for the goalie) don't wear helmets and gloves and padding.

You may be right about that.

Have you looked into whether lacrosse programs tend to generate money for the ADs? That was one of my reasons for suggesting hockey because it appears to make money more often than not.

Looks like Arkansas plays in both DI and DIII leagues.

As far as SEC teams go here is who is on the Arkansas schedule
D3: LSU, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, MSU
D1: Alabama


I would like to see some games wind up on the SEC Network or even the SEC Network+/online.

(01-23-2016 05:40 PM)murrdcu Wrote:  Looks like Arkansas plays in both DI and DIII leagues.

As far as SEC teams go here is who is on the Arkansas schedule
D3: LSU, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, MSU
D1: Alabama


I would like to see some games wind up on the SEC Network or even the SEC Network+/online.

Yeah, Bama used to play a schedule of mostly SEC schools with a few regional teams mixed in. This year, they still played a few including an annual match-up with Auburn called the Iron Cup this weekend. They also played a few NCAA DI schools like UAH. Their schedule was much tougher this year and the record has reflected it.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the SECHC was going to the conference tournament at the end of the year and all the teams were there at once. I guess Bama won't be in that this year.

Would love to see some games on SECN, but I think they have to be a varsity sport in order for the school to have the rights to sell them.

I really think though that the money for a hockey program would be well spent as the facilities could be used for other things kind of like how basketball arenas are used for concerts and other gatherings.

(01-23-2016 09:50 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  Wait, wait, hear me out...

Maybe not soon, but eventually a hockey league would be a good thing for the SEC.

Now Southerners aren't know as big time hockey fans. They aren't big time hockey players either for obvious reasons although in the cities where opportunities are afforded to kids to play, the game tends to take off.

A few years ago, I would have counted myself in the camp of the typical Southerner that didn't give a rip about hockey. That was until I actually went to a game. Several years ago, a club team started up at UA. A few of such teams already existed at schools like Tennessee and Vanderbilt and probably others that I was not aware of at the time.

I was intrigued by the idea of a school like Bama, based in a town that didn't even have an ice rink, fielding a hockey club. I decided to head out and give it a shot. The team played and still plays today at the Pelham Civic Complex outside of Birmingham. It's a fairly easy drive from Tuscaloosa despite being so far from campus.

I was a little surprised, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. The action was quick, the strategy was fairly easy to pick up on, and it was physical most importantly. It's a bit like football on ice and that's how some of those early Tide hockey players tried to sell the sport to the community. They succeeded with me.

Since then, I've gone to games regularly. Not as regularly as I would like mind you. Last season, Bama hockey, known as the Frozen Tide, moved up to the Division I of the club association. Unfortunately, they left behind many of their old conference rivals in the SECHC which included club teams from almost every SEC school. Moving up with them was Arkansas who, like Bama, had developed a winning way and a good following. Hopefully, Arkansas and Bama will be in the same conference next year. What's interesting is that this is the highest level of competition below NCAA DI.

This brings me to the point of the post. The only Power conference that currently sponsors hockey is the Big Ten. Naturally, hockey is pretty popular in the region, but I was surprised to find that league had not existed for very long.

Most of the NCAA DI programs are in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. A few outliers stretch from Alaska, a state that has no DI football or basketball, all the way to Alabama-Huntsville. Most of the schools are small and many are private.

It occurs to me that there is an opportunity to not only advance a sport that has real potential to grow in the South and provide additional sporting opportunities during the Winter months, but to increase the profile of the SEC and even add revenue to the conference.

Apparently, several of the Big Ten programs, even the new ones, are money makers. In a world where most athletic programs operate at a loss, an additional revenue sport would be very helpful. Combine that with the fact that the SEC is one of the few leagues with the resources to compete at a high level.

Recently, Arizona State joined NCAA DI and became the first PAC school to do so. I suppose it's possible that the PAC will develop their own league in the not too distant future, but no news of that yet. Apparently, UNLV is exploring promoting their club to NCAA DI as well. The point here is that hockey can be successful in places where it doesn't ice over for most of the Winter.

NHL teams have actually been pretty popular when located in Southern cities. The Nashville Predators fill their arena and the tickets are quite expensive. I know because I've looked into making a trip up there for a game. There are popular franchises in Miami, Tampa, Dallas, and Raleigh as well. The only recent failure was the Atlanta Thrashers who were apparently the victim of an owner never really committing to the city. Even then, Atlanta sports fans are known for not showing up. Just check the attendance for any Braves game.

I say all this to say that it could work. I've read that there aren't enough DI programs to take advantage of all the talent that comes out of hockey playing regions...even Canada.

The opportunity will be there to capitalize.

For the concept of hockey to be sold to SEC schools, I think the slogan "A little bit like football on ice" is the best route.