NHL Sponsored Feasibility Study Shows U. Illinois Should Add D1 Hockey

[razor ray]

A downtown arena in Champaign would be needed but that is being worked on as well:

A new arena in downtown Champaign?






We are excited to share the results of our feasibility study and continue advancing our efforts to bring Division I hockey to Champaign-Urbana," said Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. "This is one of our most ambitious and potentially impactful projects in recent memory. Adding Division I hockey and building the new arena it would require would be transformative for the sport of hockey in the state of Illinois and for our university, our athletic program, and, importantly, for the Champaign-Urbana communities. We are grateful for the partnerships we have developed with the Chicago Blackhawks, the National Hockey League, and College Hockey, Inc., all of which have become true champions for this cause. We look forward to engaging with more people from across the state to generate the support necessary to make this project a reality."

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[razor ray]

Since PSU added hockey it’s making significantly more then Men’s Basketball:

State College, PA - How Hockey Became One Of Penn State's Biggest Money Makers -

 

[AmericanDream]

would love to see UIC have their team back, but UofI definitely needs to catch up with the times already for f***s sake!

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Illinois just has to hope that they have a Pegula of their own to donates tens of millions of dollars in a whale of a donation for a new arena and in funding men's and women's teams for a few years. If that happens, I have zero doubt they'd be able to reliably sell out a mid-sized collegiate arena.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Hope Rocky Wirtz helps make this happen.

But then again he’s not an alumni is he?

 

[Hynh]

I've always thought it was weird that a O6 state didn't have a Division I team

 

[BKIslandersFan]

I've always thought it was weird that a O6 state didn't have a Division I team

Illinois is a pretty big state. Northern part tend to be Chicago fans but southern part tend to be St.Louis fans.

 

[razor ray]

Arizona State was started by a 30 mill donation from businessman who’s son happen to be the goalie of the club team. 2 years prior to that the family had no connection to the university and ASU D1 hockey was unthinkable. Now ASU has a D1 program, 3 club teams, and an on-campus arena about to go under construction.

It sometimes does not take super attached alumni or funding away from other programs...it’s about finding the right person and matching them to the project. Chicago has tons of hockey mad businessmen/women and the state is having unprecedented hockey growth. I think it’s more realistic now then ever and I think Illinois is striking at the right time.

 

[ForumNamePending]

I would have been surprised if an NHL sponsored study came back and said "nah, don't bother with the whole hockey thing".

 

[S E P H]

Illinois just has to hope that they have a Pegula of their own to donates tens of millions of dollars in a whale of a donation for a new arena and in funding men's and women's teams for a few years. If that happens, I have zero doubt they'd be able to reliably sell out a mid-sized collegiate arena.

I always thought that Northwestern would be a really good place for college hockey, what are your thoughts concerning them getting a hockey team as well?

 

[No Fun Shogun]

I always thought that Northwestern would be a really good place for college hockey, what are your thoughts concerning them getting a hockey team as well?

Unlikely. Northwestern doesn't have a big market footprint (despite their slogan) or a large fanbase. Couple that with being in the same market as the enormously popular Hawks and Wolves and you'd probably have a recipe for being crowded out as a distant third fiddle hockey-wise. I'd honestly be surprised if they tried to do it.

 

[SCBlueLiner]

Go Illini. Next up, Iowa.

From what I understand a downtown arena is a city project and part of a larger project. Illini would be the tenant. Same thing is happening in Iowa City as Coralville is building the Iowa Events Center and they need a main tenant.

 

[mouser]

I always thought it was weird that Illinois didn’t produce more NHL players despite having an O6 team.

My minimal research says that Tommy Wingels is the active scoring leader among Illinois born NHL players.

 

[AmericanDream]

I always thought it was weird that Illinois didn’t produce more NHL players despite having an O6 team.

My minimal research says that Tommy Wingels is the active scoring leader among Illinois born NHL players.

it has been odd as at one point we had : Chelios, Granato, and Olczyk as NHL stars all from the south side of the city...other players like Todd Krygier as well from Illinois were sprinkled in during that time, but having 3 players of that stature to then going decades without much is hard to believe.

there is a lot of talent coming up from Illinois though, plenty of young kids that will be drafted very high over the next few years and a system in place that is attracting kids from all over to play minor midget. The resurgence of the Hawks is going to make Illinois a hotbed for talent over the next decade...

right now outside of Wingels, you have Ryan Hartman, Christian Dvorak, and Vinnie Hinostroza are all NHLers right now...

Alex Turcotte will be a major name for the 2019 draft, potential top 5 pick right now from Illinois.
Alex Vlasic a potential top 30 pick for 2019 is out of Illinois as well...

Jack Drury a potential top 30-45 pick for this years draft is from Illinois as well...

almost 70 players out of Illinois playing d-1 hockey right now as well as that has grown massively over the past 5-6 years.

it is coming, it has taken its time, but Illinois is going to be a major player year in and year out with developing NHL talent. Now get a few damn d-1 teams in the state, that will only further the development as well..

 

[razor ray]

Go Illini. Next up, Iowa.

From what I understand a downtown arena is a city project and part of a larger project. Illini would be the tenant. Same thing is happening in Iowa City as Coralville is building the Iowa Events Center and they need a main tenant.

Illinois has a forward thinking AD that looks at the big picture. You could tell from his interviews he wants hockey to happen.

Here are some quotes form the Iowa AD:

On the Beat: Iowa should add ice hockey at new Coralville arena

 

[SCBlueLiner]

Barta is crying poor because he is in the middle of the north end zone project at Kinnick. It's hard to have your hand out to donors when you are simultaneously adding another sport.

A city doesn't build an arena that size for a club hockey team that plays in a mall. The USHL? Iowa City won't get a team because it infringes on Cedar Rapids territory only being about 35 miles away as the crow flies. Besides, that arena would be huge for a USHL team. Only Sioux Falls plays in a barn that big.

An Iowa D1 program is the only logical conclusion, but Barta can't come out and say it under the current circumstances.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I figured Northwestern would be the Illinois team to do it.

 

[canuckfan75]

all for this.... anything to keep growing the sport

 

[Terrier]

As a Boston-area college hockey fan who remembers UIC, I will jump for joy if Illinois goes D-I, gives the Big Ten eight teams and ignites natural rivalries with Notre Dame, the Badgers, etc. Massachusetts has ten D-I teams. It's about time Illinois was on the college hockey map.

 

[VikingAv]

As a Boston-area college hockey fan who remembers UIC, I will jump for joy if Illinois goes D-I, gives the Big Ten eight teams and ignites natural rivalries with Notre Dame, the Badgers, etc. Massachusetts has ten D-I teams. It's about time Illinois was on the college hockey map.

You don't like the idea of hockey in Arizona, do you?

 

[Terrier]

You don't like the idea of hockey in Arizona, do you?

Sorry about that. I should know better, since BU did visit ASU for two games.

Here:

 

[razor ray]

Sorry about that. I should know better, since BU did visit ASU for two games.

Here:

Illinois and Iowa would both be perfect geographical locations and both have new arenas in the works.

 

[S E P H]

So Illinois is the third team of the five proposed by this study correct? If I remember correctly we have University of Pittsburgh, Oakland University (MI), and now University of Illinois. Anyone want to predict the next two? I think I am anticipating something like Rutgers and a PAC 12 team such as in California or Northwest region....maybe even Boise State.

 

[Mike in MN]

This would be so great. Illinois, then Iowa; then Iowa State could join the NCHC.

NDSU? The entire Pac-8 club league jumping up?!?

 

[tarheelhockey]

I would have been surprised if an NHL sponsored study came back and said "nah, don't bother with the whole hockey thing".

I’ve been on the inside of feasibility studies like these before. The reason they contract a firm to do the study is because there is already a plan to move forward.

That doesn’t mean the study is corrupt or anything, as the point of it is to provide the university with a road map to success. But you’re right, they wouldn’t have gone into this blindly. The fact that they spent the money on a study in the first place means they already have some pieces lined up, and the study itself helps them get to the next phase.