Speculation: Illinois about to announce jump up to NCAA Division I hockey?

[No Fun Shogun]

EDIT: Disregard this post. Apparently going to be nothing, the folks at the US College Hockey twitter account are just blowing hot air.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooh snap....

https://twitter.com/USCollegeHockey/status/361255995890085889

Been speculated for a few days that a major ACHA program was going to announce jumping up to the NCAA with a varsity hockey program, and the twitter feed that started the speculation seems to be hyping Illinois hockey's supposed big announcement.

Hoping like hell that the speculation's true. Would love to see the Illini create a varsity hockey program, but there'll have to be news about a major donation to build a new arena if this is true, and I have some difficulty believing the school could've kept the lid on it.

In other words, very hopeful and yet simultaneously doubtful right now.

Click to read more...

 

[RomersWorld*]

That would be awesome. I really hope it is true.

 

[LBS8844]

If it happens, I can promise you it was a long, LONG time in the making. Truly the next logical Big-10 program to make the jump, all considered. Would be interesting to see how Illinois would fit the program into the varsity athletic budget. Can tell you one thing, if they were to open for a year or two at the U of I Ice Arena before building a new facility, things would get very interesting with the ridiculously wide surface and overhanging fans. That house gets downright intimidating for visitors.

http://www.campusrec.illinois.edu/facilities/icearena/

Here's their schedule for the upcoming ACHA D1 season... http://www.illinihockey.com/News/2013_07_24.htm

 

[Gurth]

It might actually be EIU...


https://twitter.com/EIUHockey


Or maybe both?

 

[Ace Rothstein]

This would be outstanding, especially since I'm only 85 miles north of CU. I really hope this is true.

 

[LBS8844]

Like Shogun said, hard to imagine they'd have been able to keep a lid on it. That said, they simply historically have not made advance press releases like these.

 

[Sevanston]

I was just getting my hopes up.

Chris Peters ‏@chrismpeters 25m
The cryptic Illinois hockey Facebook post has already been removed. Might have nothing to do with anything. We'll see. (H/t @UTPbrandon)

Chris Peters ‏@chrismpeters 16m
Hearing Illinois hockey's "big announcement" is regarding a new jersey for the club team, not a new B1G team. Fun.

 

[madgoat33]

It might actually be EIU...


https://twitter.com/EIUHockey


Or maybe both?

one of my years ay eiu our team played u of i and irc a ton of eiu people got booted for getting too rowdy.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Wet blanket'd. Illinois' big announcement is apparently just going to be a new sweater.

Knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

 

[committedindian86]

I was just getting my hopes up.

Chris Peters ‏@chrismpeters 25m
The cryptic Illinois hockey Facebook post has already been removed. Might have nothing to do with anything. We'll see. (H/t @UTPbrandon)

Chris Peters ‏@chrismpeters 16m
Hearing Illinois hockey's "big announcement" is regarding a new jersey for the club team, not a new B1G team. Fun.

I worked with Chris Peters in High School, good dude for USA hockey

 

[hockeydoug]

I was excited about the title, maybe they'll make the leap someday.