Oh, I think its highly unlikely. For it to ever happen you probably need schools which may see a bump in hockey popularity due to the Capitals recent success over the past 12 or so years to start opening up D1 programs (Georgetown, University of Maryland and UVA) before Duke would seriously consider it, and I've heard nothing of those schools considering it. They are still trying to get more Big 10 programs to join (which includes Maryland) which are in more traditional hockey markets (the University of Illinois, University of Indiana, Rutgers, etc).
Alabama-Huntsville terminates hockey program UPDATED 5/29 Program saved for 2020-21
- Thread starter Teemu
- Start date
I can tell you as someone who has worked in college hockey, Alabama-Huntsville was viewed as glorified club hockey. The way the whole program was run was very casual and it was not seen as a legitimate place for players to develop.
Also, if this program does continue to operate, which seems doubtful, it's going to be absolutely decimated. They lost their leading scorer at the end of April:
And now at least two other players have decided to move on without the fundraiser concluding:
Not the best optics.
DaveG
Noted Jerk
High Point (NC) and Kennesaw State (GA) are the only two in the region that I've heard serious, as in higher than preliminary talks about really getting a program off the ground. High Point is still looking at the opening of an arena for the purpose but nothing ever came of Kennesaw IIRC. UAH dropping and no real talk of any of the non-football Virginia or DC area schools getting a program going doesn't help.
I think someone mentioned one of the Tennessee schools looking at it as well in recent years but I haven't heard anything there personally outside this board.
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Liberty University, not sure if they have funds to go DI, but they would be one of the most successful moves considering how popular their club team is. Them and Kentucky University.
Barclay Donaldson
Registered User
High Point announced they were adding a program within 10 years in September of last year and there hasn't been a single bit of information, from any source, since that announcement. Don't expect to see them any time soon. There have been plenty of schools that have announced their intentions to join DI hockey and then never come close to getting the funding they need. I wouldn't be surprised if WPU joins them.
Kennesaw decided to build their football program up instead of adding hockey. Like Alabama-Huntsville, they saw hockey as a flagship sport they could rule the region with instead of having to be considered second rate next to nearby schools let alone the entire region with a football program. They obviously decided that increased investment in football, I believe they are still trying to get accepted to FBS, was more worthy than hockey.
The only Tennessee school mentioned was Austin Peay because the Predators are championing a hockey rink that is being built in Clarksville, and Austin Peay's logo was pictured in the rafters. People obviously took that as a sign they are adding hockey, to which there has been absolutely no evidence other than the school logo being present in the artist's renderings. Clarksville Arena Funding Approved - Arena Digest
LadyStanley
Registered User
At the risk of getting off-topic, what do you mean by this? Very curious as to what you mean here. I'm not really up on this stuff, so it does spark some intrigue, IMHO.
razor ray
Registered User
- May 8, 2011
- 1,510
- 1,586
So far 1,100 donations and $400k+ has been raised.
UAH Hockey - Keep The Dream and Tradition Alive organized by UAH Hockey Alumni and Supporters
UAH Hockey - Keep The Dream and Tradition Alive organized by UAH Hockey Alumni and Supporters
TheLegend
Megathread Gadfly
Don Lucia backed a measure that would strip players of eligibility for extra years spent in junior.
In the finest “take our pick and go home” tradition of the program.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Absolutely incredible that they pulled this off. Even with NHL'ers involved, it's not like someone airdropped a $500K check. That was some ridiculously fast fundraising.
LadyStanley
Registered User
Cam Talbot's appeal and the RTs by the media probably helped a lot.
Good, this is the coaching staff that brought them to a 5-20 record the past four/five seasons. Allow someone else to have a try even if the the franchise is still in the red.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
To be fair, they DID just get cut loose by their bosses. It’s probably a bad environment for everyone concerned.
I agree that there’s little to lose by clearing the air and trying a new leadership group.
I agree that there’s little to lose by clearing the air and trying a new leadership group.
The problem now is if they're able to sustain it long-term, they might be out of a conference because seven teams of the WCHA have plans to restart the CCHA conference which excludes both Alaska teams and Alabama-Huntsville. Perhaps they can squeeze Alabama in, but that isn't looking too good for the Alaska teams.
This is a very big issue for the growth of the college game. College hockey has always been dependent on bus leagues with a couple of notable exceptions.
