Next American School to have DI Varsity Hockey

BigMac1212

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This is the American version of the Canadian University/College Hockey thread. Iowa was close to getting a new hockey arena close to the Iowa City Campus. Arizona State just launched a Division I program just last season. It got me to thinking; Which U.S. college or university will be the next school to have a varsity hockey program? I would of said Arizona, but the Tucson Roadrunners might of steal the IceCats thunder. This could be a interesting thread.

Discuss.
 
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sbkbghockey

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Aug 26, 2008
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Title is a bit misleading since varsity hockey doesn't equal NCAA D1.

There's four schools adding varsity NCAA D3 hockey:
  • Chatham University (Pittsburgh, PA): Men's
  • King's College (Wilkes-Barre, PA): Men's
  • Stevenson University (Owens Mills, MD): Men's
  • Trine University (Angola, IN): Men's and Women's

Also, the NAIA is working with a group of schools in the Midwest that sponsor hockey to restart their championship. That move would create the only scholarship-level varsity hockey outside of NCAA DI.

Generally sports grow faster at NCAA D2, NCAA D3, and NAIA over NCAA DI since the cost of D1 sport programs are so high. The growth of varsity hockey will likely occur the fastest in the NCAA D3 and NAIA levels. For NCAA DI varsity hockey, ASU is very exciting, I'm hopeful that it can spark other west coast schools to add the sport. Although Iowa's AD has publicly stated that it's not the intention to add hockey, you never know when a rich donor steps up to cover scholarships/program cost. Having the arena in Coralville would at least save the univ. the cost to build their own. Same for other schools like Iowa State, Rutgers, Illinois, etc... that all have some interest but not willing to commit the financial resources. There's also been interest from Simon Fraser (Vancouver, BC metro) and Minot State. Both are NCAA D2 schools and would play up in D1.
 

Marshmont63

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Jun 22, 2016
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I know it all comes down to money, but I've never understood why Syracuse, Rutgers, and Northwestern don't have hockey teams. Especially Syracuse. It makes perfect sense. Big schools that play in the ACC or B1G. All three schools reside in popular hockey territories.
 

DonskoiDonscored

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Oct 12, 2013
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I know it all comes down to money, but I've never understood why Syracuse, Rutgers, and Northwestern don't have hockey teams. Especially Syracuse. It makes perfect sense. Big schools that play in the ACC or B1G. All three schools reside in popular hockey territories.

Running a college hockey team is expensive, no matter the level.

Northwestern doesn't have the arena to do so. I'm not sure they want to invest money into that seeing as how they are still struggling to get interest in the marquee sports there (not to mention that their current athletic facilities could use some work). Until that happens I don't see them expanding.

IIRC Rutgers thought about getting a team two years ago, but I'm not sure what happened with that.
 

Rocko604

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Apr 29, 2009
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I think some PAC 12 schools are going to follow Arizona State and see how that turns out. First and foremost for all those schools, none of them have arenas, and I would imagine not many basketball arenas in the PAC can be set up properly for hockey.
 

S E P H

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Mar 5, 2010
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UNLV is probably the most logical conclusion due the rumours out there, but I will say Rutgers overall.

I think some PAC 12 schools are going to follow Arizona State and see how that turns out. First and foremost for all those schools, none of them have arenas, and I would imagine not many basketball arenas in the PAC can be set up properly for hockey.
I believe PAC 12 has the most potential of schools that could join in the future, but I think it will take a long time. Then it should be an explosion IMO.

Most importantly, a lot of these schools are rich in income and have a dedicated alumni list that could potentially give donations for D1 hockey programs. Of course USC tops that list since hockey has a strong cult following in California, but other notable ones should be CU, Utah, UCLA, and Washington State IMO. Colorado has a very strong ACHA team on a consistent basis, Utah due to the weather, I believe WSU can get a good USHL/BCHL following for players, and of course one or two Cali teams as well to get involved with their hockey gold rush that's booming. There are some teams though that I can't see get one, like both Oregon schools, Berkley, Stanford, and perhaps University of Arizona additionally. I just can never see Stanford or Berkley ever be interested in a hockey program IMO., especially if USC and UCLA get to it first.
 

PCSPounder

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Apr 12, 2012
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I think some PAC 12 schools are going to follow Arizona State and see how that turns out. First and foremost for all those schools, none of them have arenas, and I would imagine not many basketball arenas in the PAC can be set up properly for hockey.

Not a single one.

Having said that:

http://chatterbox.typepad.com/portl...iscuss-memorial-coliseum-renovation-plan.html

Memorial Coliseum in Portland was briefly considered to host this year's World Indoor Track & Field Championships... that happened instead at the Oregon Convention Center. This proposal was only hinted at during the process, and this is the first release of how a conversion to satisfy international dimensions might have been addressed. The interesting part is the video, which I'll link separately.

https://vimeo.com/159870371

Of course this never happened, the city of Portland wasn't about to show the money Nike wants them to show, the city expecting private money to spearhead whatever happens with it.

Meanwhile, within the past couple years, Vin Lananna (former Oregon track coach, currently in charge of preparing Hayward Field for the outdoor worlds in Eugene in 2021) mentioned a desire to have an indoor track facility in Eugene. It won't happen at the site he wanted to claim... but the point is that Nike has this design in storage, there's a desire to do something, and if Lananna can coax some money out of Phil Knight, maybe this could happen.
 

nnynetpotato

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Sep 9, 2008
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I know it all comes down to money, but I've never understood why Syracuse, Rutgers, and Northwestern don't have hockey teams. Especially Syracuse. It makes perfect sense. Big schools that play in the ACC or B1G. All three schools reside in popular hockey territories.

In SU's case,men's hockey would compete with the basketball program.Colgate and Cornell are nearby which have DI teams.Also,the Crunch are at War Memorial and Utica is next door.Add it up,and I don't think there is space in the market for another hockey team.
 

MiamiHockey

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Sep 12, 2012
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This is the American version of the Canadian University/College Hockey thread. Iowa was close to getting a new hockey arena close to the Iowa City Campus. Arizona State just launched a Division I program just last season. It got me to thinking; Which U.S. college or university will be the next school to have a varsity hockey program? I would of said Arizona, but the Tucson Roadrunners might of steal the IceCats thunder. This could be a interesting thread.

Discuss.

It's not easy to convince any AD to start an expensive hockey program. Budgets are tight. An AD would have to be convinced that (a) the school can attract quality hockey players and (b) fans would support it. ASU and Penn State both had good club teams with solid fan bases before making the leap.

So, start with schools that have successful, well-supported club teams, and go from there. Do not assume that just because a school is large it's a likely candidate to add hockey.
 

mk80

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Jul 30, 2012
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UNLV wants to move out of club hockey. Title IX and funding as usual holds them back.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports...-ncaa-division-i-after-victory-t-mobile-arena

I know someone mentioned Lindenwood in St. Charles, MO. While I would love to see them add a NCAA D1 Mens team, I doubt it will happen at least not for the forseeable future. I know they had talks in the past about trading the Daniel Boone home for the Family Arena but those talks failed. That would have at least given them a facility.

One school I wouldn't be surprised about is Liberty University in Virginia. They have a strong club program, which plays at a 3,000 seat arena on their campus. Like I said if they ever step up, I wouldn't be surprised.
 

Big Z Man 1990

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Jun 4, 2011
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In SU's case,men's hockey would compete with the basketball program.Colgate and Cornell are nearby which have DI teams.Also,the Crunch are at War Memorial and Utica is next door.Add it up,and I don't think there is space in the market for another hockey team.

Of course if UConn joins the ACC I expect Syracuse women's hockey to move to the Hockey East to join UConn and BC (Cuse and BC are also in the ACC).

As for what programs could start varsity hockey...

California has seven FBS football teams. Those schools could definitely start hockey. Hockey has seen a surge of popularity in California in recent years with the Kings winning the Cup twice. As such, many hockey fans in California wanted better minor league product than the ECHL, and it just so happened that many of the Pacific NHL teams wanted to move their AHL affiliates out west. So, put two and two together and 5 Pacific NHL teams ended up moving their AHL affiliates to California, including the three California teams in the NHL.

So, naturally, the next step is for California's seven FBS schools to launch NCAA D1 ice hockey.

To save on startup costs, existing arenas could be utilized for each team's home games as follows:

California: Oracle Arena (which will need a tenant once the Warriors leave)
Stanford: Cow Palace
UCLA: The Forum
USC: Long Beach Arena
Fresno State: Save Mart Center
San Diego State: Valley View Casino Center (especially if the new Gulls arena is built)
San Jose State: HP Pavilion (especially if Barracuda move to San Francisco or Sacramento which are both building new arenas for their NBA teams)

These seven teams could form their own conference, which would only be the second D1 hockey conference to consist entirely of FBS schools - the other is the Big Ten, which is an all-sports conference that sponsors hockey.

And with the Big Ten going to seven hockey members with the addition of Notre Dame, the all-California conference could enter into a challenge series with the Big Ten in which each Big Ten school plays one of the Cali schools twice every year (once in each arena), alternating who plays who every year - allowing Notre Dame to play USC and Stanford in hockey on occasion (in addition to the annual football meetings with both of them).
 

PCSPounder

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Apr 12, 2012
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Of course if UConn joins the ACC I expect Syracuse women's hockey to move to the Hockey East to join UConn and BC (Cuse and BC are also in the ACC).

As for what programs could start varsity hockey...

California has seven FBS football teams. Those schools could definitely start hockey. Hockey has seen a surge of popularity in California in recent years with the Kings winning the Cup twice. As such, many hockey fans in California wanted better minor league product than the ECHL, and it just so happened that many of the Pacific NHL teams wanted to move their AHL affiliates out west. So, put two and two together and 5 Pacific NHL teams ended up moving their AHL affiliates to California, including the three California teams in the NHL.

So, naturally, the next step is for California's seven FBS schools to launch NCAA D1 ice hockey.

To save on startup costs, existing arenas could be utilized for each team's home games as follows:

California: Oracle Arena (which will need a tenant once the Warriors leave)
Stanford: Cow Palace
UCLA: The Forum
USC: Long Beach Arena
Fresno State: Save Mart Center
San Diego State: Valley View Casino Center (especially if the new Gulls arena is built)
San Jose State: HP Pavilion (especially if Barracuda move to San Francisco or Sacramento which are both building new arenas for their NBA teams)

These seven teams could form their own conference, which would only be the second D1 hockey conference to consist entirely of FBS schools - the other is the Big Ten, which is an all-sports conference that sponsors hockey.

And with the Big Ten going to seven hockey members with the addition of Notre Dame, the all-California conference could enter into a challenge series with the Big Ten in which each Big Ten school plays one of the Cali schools twice every year (once in each arena), alternating who plays who every year - allowing Notre Dame to play USC and Stanford in hockey on occasion (in addition to the annual football meetings with both of them).

Cal doesn't have the money to fund their current programs. Nor do any of the other state schools.

Stanford and Oregon may be waiting on each other to get their, um, ducks in a row. However, I wonder if Oregon is currently tied up with Hayward Field renovations.
 

ac9er

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Jan 9, 2015
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Fort Wayne would be cool if they can share the Coliseum with the Komets. However that won't happen bc of cash and the school splitting between IU and Purdue.
 

JiggsNY

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Sep 14, 2016
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Rutgers always has rumors around D1 hockey. Always wanted some bigger upstate NY schools like Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany etc.
 

Blue Liner

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Dec 12, 2009
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I could see U of Arizona making the jump at some point in the not too distant future. They have a very well established club program, an arena, and they have a huge following and draw really well. You also have an in-state rival in ASU with a program already. It could be another shoe to drop in western schools jumping on the Division I train over time.

In the midwest, Northwestern really makes sense but it would take a major donation because they would need an arena. The market would allow for them to do really well at the gate and they'd be in prime recruiting territory with all of the youth/AAA hockey in the Chicago area and all of the other youth, USHL and NAHL teams within a five-hour radius of Evanston. (five hours is arbitrary...just illustrating how much recruiting ground they have within a short drive for budget and convenience purposes) I think if done right, a program there could be really successful.

University of Illinois would be a logical one as well, but again, comes down to money and other red tape. The state of Illinois should have a a Division I program with all of the hockey players there are here, especially in the Chicago metropolitan area. You could keep a lot of talented players in-state and build up a competitive program fairly quickly, in my opinion.
 

Firebrd828

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Oct 21, 2015
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Agree about the Chicago area needing a D1 team. They've been without since UIC folded their program in the early-mid 90's. Lots of talent there.

Syracuse has always surprised me by not having a team.

Grand Valley State is always flirting with the idea of D1 athletics.

Also, Oakland University, who already has a loose connection to one of the bigger AAA programs in the USA.
 

SemireliableSource

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Fort Wayne would be cool if they can share the Coliseum with the Komets. However that won't happen bc of cash and the school splitting between IU and Purdue.

Indiana Tech recently started a D1 club team and added a D3 team in short order but they're equally as unlikely as IPFW since Tech is a NAIA school right now.

Rutgers always has rumors around D1 hockey. Always wanted some bigger upstate NY schools like Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany etc.

Rutgers needs a lot of things. Like money ... for their other sports. They're not too far removed from worrying about dropping sports due to lack of funding.
 

NTDP

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Dec 20, 2010
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It's a big money issue but also you want to expand with a team that is going to have enough div.1 capable commits to have the team competitive. The USHL commissioner is always questioned on expansion and he said other leagues have shot themselves in the foot by doing this. He won't expand until he knows they can ice a team with a full roster of kids that will be competitive. Arizona state before they went D-1 was one of the best club D-1 teams and already had a fair amount of USHL talent on the team. So as the growth of the game at the minor levels (especially out west) continues to get better and elite players are coming out of programs like the LA Jr Kings, Omaha AAA, Colorado Thunderbirds, Phoenix Jr Yotes, Arizona Bobcats...Then you'll see one of the Cali schools or whoever make the jump when they know high end talent that can compete will want to stay out west and play.

By the way, I know many of the AAA youth players out there can hang with some of the best U16 teams in the country and in Canada. I'm just saying you'll have to get them to not go the WHL or other college route like Denver, Minnesota, North Dakota etc.
 

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