ccd494
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RE: ASU to the NCHC
The pods make a whole lot of sense, excepting Omaha being stuck with Miami and WMU. There wasn't going to be a good match for Omaha, though, and adding another Minnesota school wouldn't help that issue.
I also agree with Swami- the idea behind the NCHC was that this was going to be the big resourced western league. Sure, Minnesota State has proven itself to be the best resourced, most successful team in the WCHA/CCHA/whatever they are calling themselves this week, but they would be just barely climbing over the non-Miami bar at the bottom of the NCHC. The NCHC should be focused on two things: 1) making sure that all schools in the conference are meeting expectations (looking at you, Miami) and 2) identifying other schools that can legitimately meet those expectations that can join the conference.
At this point that is likely either a P5 or other school that gets a massive donation out west to start hockey OR someone with an existing program finding $15,000,000 in the couch cushions that they dump into hockey.
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07-06-2023 09:11 AM |
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nodak651
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RE: ASU to the NCHC
(07-06-2023 09:11 AM)ccd494 Wrote: The pods make a whole lot of sense, excepting Omaha being stuck with Miami and WMU. There wasn't going to be a good match for Omaha, though, and adding another Minnesota school wouldn't help that issue.
I also agree with Swami- the idea behind the NCHC was that this was going to be the big resourced western league. Sure, Minnesota State has proven itself to be the best resourced, most successful team in the WCHA/CCHA/whatever they are calling themselves this week, but they would be just barely climbing over the non-Miami bar at the bottom of the NCHC. The NCHC should be focused on two things: 1) making sure that all schools in the conference are meeting expectations (looking at you, Miami) and 2) identifying other schools that can legitimately meet those expectations that can join the conference.
At this point that is likely either a P5 or other school that gets a massive donation out west to start hockey OR someone with an existing program finding $15,000,000 in the couch cushions that they dump into hockey.
If the Summit League ever takes over hockey, I'd like to see SCSU get pushed out and replaced by MN State, because SCSU has lost over a third of it's enrollment and has huge budget issues. If Miami leaves, St. Thomas would be a great replacement. My prediction is that Miami leaves (with zero buyout) once St. Thomas finishes building their arena. That would leave a spot open for a team in the west, such as Arizona or UNLV.
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07-06-2023 11:27 AM |
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Schadenfreude
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RE: ASU to the NCHC
(07-06-2023 09:11 AM)ccd494 Wrote: Sure, Minnesota State has proven itself to be the best resourced, most successful team in the WCHA/CCHA/whatever they are calling themselves this week, but they would be just barely climbing over the non-Miami bar at the bottom of the NCHC.
Given that they made the Frozen Four in 2021 and 2022, this sells the Purple Cows short a bit.
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07-06-2023 12:47 PM |
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PeteTheChop
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RE: ASU to the NCHC
(07-06-2023 11:27 AM)nodak651 Wrote: If the Summit League ever takes over hockey, I'd like to see SCSU get pushed out and replaced by MN State, because SCSU has lost over a third of it's enrollment and has huge budget issues. If Miami leaves, St. Thomas would be a great replacement.
Makes a lot of sense.
Trade St. Cloud to the more affordable CCHA for Mankato, which clearly has proved it can compete at an elite level.
The Mavs averaged 4,500 per game at home last season. One can imagine the excitement an NCHC schedule would generate
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07-06-2023 01:54 PM |
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ccd494
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RE: ASU to the NCHC
(07-06-2023 12:47 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote: (07-06-2023 09:11 AM)ccd494 Wrote: Sure, Minnesota State has proven itself to be the best resourced, most successful team in the WCHA/CCHA/whatever they are calling themselves this week, but they would be just barely climbing over the non-Miami bar at the bottom of the NCHC.
Given that they made the Frozen Four in 2021 and 2022, this sells the Purple Cows short a bit.
I'm not saying that Minnesota State can't win two games against high level competition. I'm saying that they are, resource-wise, on par with the lower half of the league like Omaha, SCSU, Colorado College, and WMU. They don't spend to the level of North Dakota, Denver, or Duluth.
I'm a big believer that if a conference is expanding for a reason other than survival, the bar should be set above the middle of the pack in your conference. Arizona State with a brand new arena and P5 resources clears that bar. I don't think Minnesota State does.
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07-06-2023 02:15 PM |
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The Sicatoka
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RE: ASU to the NCHC
Effectively a "trade" down the road of Miami for UST wouldn't surprise me. Not sure who'd have to throw in a bag of used pucks. That would still leave the NCHC at nine. Maybe by then UNLV or Arizona will be looking.
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07-06-2023 03:39 PM |
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