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2018-19 UAB Hockey (13-6)

09/07 UAB 8, Tennessee 3
09/08 UAB 10, Tennessee 0
09/14 at Georgia Tech 5, UAB 2
09/15 UAB 6, at Lynn University 2
09/21 UAB 5, at Auburn 3
10/05 at Georgia 7, UAB 1
10/12 UAB 6, at Tennessee 5
10/13 UAB 8, at Tennessee 3
10/26 UAB 9, at UAH 3
10/27 UAB 6, at UAH 5
11/16 at Kentucky 10, UAB 2
11/17 at Kentucky 4, UAB 1
11/30 UAB 18, Mississippi State 0
12/01 UAB 10, Mississippi State 1
01/12 at FAU 4 , UAB 2
01/13 at FAU 6, UAB 3
[b][color=#006400]02/15 UAB 7, Auburn 5
02/16 UAB 7, Auburn 4
02/22 UAB 5, UAH 3

Not a lot of home games early season

Is there anything to be read into the absence of Bama from this schedule since UAB has played them H&H in the past?

(08-03-2018 02:04 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Is there anything to be read into the absence of Bama from this schedule since UAB has played them H&H in the past?

UAB played UAT twice two years ago. UAT has since moved up to the top club level and no longer plays teams from the lower two club levels with the exception of one game against Auburn.

I thought there was just "club level" teams, so what are the parameters for levels of club level teams? What would UAB have to do to move to a higher level in club sport?

(08-12-2018 02:46 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  I thought there was just "club level" teams, so what are the parameters for levels of club level teams? What would UAB have to do to move to a higher level in club sport?

Basically more money and a more organized program, with a set budget, marketing plan, website, game-day facilities

College club Ice Hockey is governed by the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). It consists of 3 men's divisions and 2 women's divisions.

Division 1:
• $2,000 yearly membership dues
• $50,000 yearly budget (minimum)
• Marketing/PR plan on file with association office.
• A team website maintained and updated during the season
• Home arena with a minimum capacity of 500
• Private locker rooms for each team
• Private referee room
• Roster of 16-21 players
• Minimum attendance 300/game
• Games must start between 6-9pm (weekdays); 1-9pm (Sat); 1-5pm (Sun). Games may start outside these times with documented presold tickets of 300 or more. Games must be the facilities main event of the day.

Division 2 & 3:
• $1,700 yearly membership dues
• 16 game schedule (minimum)
• Roster of 16-21 players

The difference between these two divisions seems vague. Generally D3 is intended for smaller enrollment institutions (less than 10,000); schools sponsoring more than 1 club hockey team; and D2 schools that have not participated in that division's tournament for 3+ years and request a waiver to move to D3 for a period of no more than 3 years.

(08-12-2018 02:46 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  I thought there was just "club level" teams, so what are the parameters for levels of club level teams? What would UAB have to do to move to a higher level in club sport?

BAMANBLAZERFAN, In order to move up the division we have to dominate our current division level and consistently make it to the national tournament every year. To do this we need to attract highly skilled hockey players to commit to UAB, we have to fill up the stadium and win. It is our third year we have been able to build up a brand and we have been able to get a couple players to UAB. One of which is Phil Zbell who had NCAA offers, but a knee injury derailed those chances. He still has the skills and can be a top end player in division 3 club. We also have his younger brother Matt Zbell enrolled at UAB who played AAA for the point mallard ducks.

It comes down to the financials, most of our money comes from our players who pay into the $35k a year budget. We have been lucky with sponsorships from Coca-cola/Powerade, CRM motors in Pelham. The more successful teams have an even higher operating budget. They can build nice locker rooms, have charter busses, and flights to big time games. Those teams usually attract the big time players who either cant get ice time in the NCAA and want to move to club level or players who just missed the cut at the NCAA level. A handful of players who dominate the club level have gone on to play professional hockey in the SPHL, ECHL and overseas.

Our organization would like to one day get hockey to be an NCAA sport at UAB. The NHL has made a push to invest in college hockey. We have an advisory board in place who will be keeping the organization on track in the longterm, and to keep moving us towards that goal. However we need the support of the UAB, Birmingham, and hockey community. We need fans at games and donations/sponsorships to help us move closer to the goal. If we can consistently be one of the highest attended sports at UAB and continue to win, the sky is the limit!

Go Blazers! Fire on Ice!

Season tickets $50 if interested -

http://www.uabhockeyclub.com/

(08-03-2018 02:04 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Is there anything to be read into the absence of Bama from this schedule since UAB has played them H&H in the past?

The travel for Alabama hockey involves some really long road trips. The travel for UAB is much less. That in itself makes any move upward much more difficult for UAB student athletes?

I noticed in the ads for "Disney on Ice" coming in November that the show will be at the Legacy Arena of the BJCC. They must have restored the ice maintenance machinery so perhaps the Arena might be used in the near future to upgrade the UAB club ice hockey program.

Back when the Arena was new, the guide on our tour said the ice was kept year round except for when the circus came to town (it needed access to tie downs mounted in the concrete floor) and UAB used a floor laid on the ice for its games there. Since UAB is now going to deal with the BJCC for its new stadium, perhaps we might look at developing serious ice hockey there as well.