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College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Tue May 26, 2020 8:45 pm
by econalum
Let's hope that this is a one-time thing.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports ... lf-century

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Wed May 27, 2020 6:10 am
by Old Cage

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Wed May 27, 2020 3:58 pm
by UMass02
The story of UAH (not UAB) decision to drop hockey is multifaceted with financial implications and conference affiliation. UAH was in the "new" WCHA, which was the sloppy seconds of the "old" WCHA and the "old" CCHA after the Big Ten blew apart the college hockey conference structure. The WCHA ranged from Alabama to Alaska to Minnesota to Ohio. Lots of travel. The nearest hockey school to Huntsville is several hundred miles away. The cost of operating the sport as well as the substantial travel costs were obviously the major reasons the school dropped hockey.

Travel was a major reason the "new" WCHA disbanded this season. Most of the WCHA decided to leave the conference to form a new conference (with the old name of the CCHA, which was owned by Bowling Green apparently). Essentially, they kicked out Huntsville and the two Alaska schools. Huntsville was likely not going to get an invitation to join any other conference. Scheduling as an independent is difficult in college hockey; Arizona State is independent and has huge lulls in their schedule between, say, late January and the NCAA postseason in late March because every other team is deep into conference play. BTW, don't be surprised if one or both Alaska programs are cut as they were on life support before COVID.

The story of LIU is bizarre. They came out of absolutely nowhere when they announced the program, especially in the middle of a pandemic where schools are slashing programs. Nobody in college hockey circles was even aware of LIU forming a varsity hockey program. Then word leaked out about their planned budget for the program of (I think) $350k. Administrators and coaches around college hockey were puzzled at how they can afford to pay coaches (in the Metro NY region), equipment, support staff, ice time, travel, and scholarships for $350k and offer a competitive D-I program. Come to find out, the department assumed that the cost of the men's program would be the same as the women's program they currently offer. Yikes. In addition, they made the decision to go varsity in hockey without a conference invitation. They are in the same boat as the two Alaska schools and Arizona State.

My gut instinct is that LIU is not going to offer scholarships. They will wind up being a program with players who want to play D-I hockey, can't get a scholarship at another D-I school for whatever reason, and can afford to pay their own way. LIU could make a nice tidy profit if all of the players pay their own way.

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Wed May 27, 2020 5:09 pm
by mdogt12
LIU finally hired a head coach.

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 12:35 pm
by UMass02
UAH boosters have put together a last-second effort to save the program. They need to raise $750k by Friday to keep the program for next year. A couple of UAH alums donated a significant part. Flames goalie Cam Talbot (a UAH guy) is helping out with the fundraising, as well as a handful of NHL players. Looks like they are close.

BTW, it appears that the WCHA will be intact for one more season before disbanding. UAH would have a hockey home next season, if they are able to hold a season.

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 10:47 am
by PreecherJenkins
sad about UAH, but no one else joined em in the southeast.

LIU probably used that $350k that DK saved them the first two years of his deal while Bamford was still paying em!
UMass02 wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 3:58 pm The story of UAH (not UAB) decision to drop hockey is multifaceted with financial implications and conference affiliation. UAH was in the "new" WCHA, which was the sloppy seconds of the "old" WCHA and the "old" CCHA after the Big Ten blew apart the college hockey conference structure. The WCHA ranged from Alabama to Alaska to Minnesota to Ohio. Lots of travel. The nearest hockey school to Huntsville is several hundred miles away. The cost of operating the sport as well as the substantial travel costs were obviously the major reasons the school dropped hockey.

Travel was a major reason the "new" WCHA disbanded this season. Most of the WCHA decided to leave the conference to form a new conference (with the old name of the CCHA, which was owned by Bowling Green apparently). Essentially, they kicked out Huntsville and the two Alaska schools. Huntsville was likely not going to get an invitation to join any other conference. Scheduling as an independent is difficult in college hockey; Arizona State is independent and has huge lulls in their schedule between, say, late January and the NCAA postseason in late March because every other team is deep into conference play. BTW, don't be surprised if one or both Alaska programs are cut as they were on life support before COVID.

The story of LIU is bizarre. They came out of absolutely nowhere when they announced the program, especially in the middle of a pandemic where schools are slashing programs. Nobody in college hockey circles was even aware of LIU forming a varsity hockey program. Then word leaked out about their planned budget for the program of (I think) $350k. Administrators and coaches around college hockey were puzzled at how they can afford to pay coaches (in the Metro NY region), equipment, support staff, ice time, travel, and scholarships for $350k and offer a competitive D-I program. Come to find out, the department assumed that the cost of the men's program would be the same as the women's program they currently offer. Yikes. In addition, they made the decision to go varsity in hockey without a conference invitation. They are in the same boat as the two Alaska schools and Arizona State.

My gut instinct is that LIU is not going to offer scholarships. They will wind up being a program with players who want to play D-I hockey, can't get a scholarship at another D-I school for whatever reason, and can afford to pay their own way. LIU could make a nice tidy profit if all of the players pay their own way.

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Sat May 30, 2020 7:22 am
by UMass02
It looks like UAH hit the $750k goal to keep the program for the 20-21 season.

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2020 4:09 pm
by UMass02
The University of Alaska Anchorage is disbanding men’s hockey after the 2020-2021 academic year.

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2020 10:46 pm
by econalum
U Alaska had major funding issues before the pandemic. And with its long-distance travel requirements for games, an easy cut for a university in true crisis. Witness https://www.insidehighered.com/news/202 ... ograms-and

Fundamentally, Alaska's economy has been dependent on the Alaska pipeline for 40+ years, but the flow has diminished as has the value of oil itself, so fewer tax receipts.

Too bad.

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2020 6:05 am
by Old Cage
Bucci Mane @Buccigross
The University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves are trying to save their hockey program set to be eliminated by a Board Of Regents vote next Thursday. Coach Matt Curley told me tonight they are looking for the BOR to delay their decision for 3-6 months, shooting for late Feb..

Re: College Hockey retracting? UAB drops sport

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 9:43 pm
by jjmc85
St. Thomas is moving to D1. So that makes two teams adding and maybe on subtracting. I donated to UAH. I’ll donate to UAA too Id given the opportunity.