Comments on: NCAA hockey going with new “super conferences” a dangerous route to take

By: mlauver

mlauver — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:02:25 +0000

why start a big 10? the big 10 already exists. penn state adds hockey, and that makes 6 big 10 schools with hockey — they HAVE to start a big 10 hockey conference. nothing mn, wi, mi, msu, osu, or psu can do about that.

By: cliverush

cliverush — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:08:01 +0000

The Big Ten Network is a cash cow so who can blame the big schools for banding togethor. Recruits to the school see themselves playing other major programs in packed areas on TV. Sorry for the small guys but they should survive. Look east at the ECAC vs. Hockey East. The smaller ECAC field competitive teams who make the tourney. The new super conference will build on their own merits.

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:53:52 +0000

Do you believe in miracles? Yes, yes I do! That still haunts me. Holy Cross grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

By: tlndma

tlndma — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:47:09 +0000

Your article has WMU both in and out of the new conferences.
Everyone should calm down. If Holy Cross can put together a team able to beat Minnesota in an NCAA tournament game, the remaining teams can form a conference capable of competing. Small schools can compete in hockey. (Merrimack, last year) Many of these teams have plenty of tradition and the facilities to do so.
People have to realize when these new conferences are formed some teams will be the winners and others the losers. (hypothetically) Will a kid want to play for perennial door mat Penn St. or play for home town Northen Michigan, who went to the NCAA tourney last year?.. This will shake itself out.

By: mnsuhockeyfan

mnsuhockeyfan — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:16:49 +0000

As a Minnesota State University, Mankato graduate (It hasn’t been Mankato State since 1999), I am appalled by this move. The biggest games of the year were when Minnesota or Wisconsin would come to town; the arena was standing-room only. It gave us pride knowing that we could compete with the big name schools. Now, we are losing two of our three biggest rivals to a conference to schools in states that can’t even keep ice on the ground on New Years (Ex: Winter Classic at Heinz Field). There is no reason for this to happen. The NCAA is taking the pride away from the small schools. Minnesota State will always be able to compete with the schools in the WCHA. How will Penn State and Ohio State ever be successful in the Big 10 conference??

By: mjl3475

mjl3475 — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:49:33 +0000

Other than selling out EVERY game last year including the Blue Cross Arena for homecoming weekend?

By: wingsdjy

wingsdjy — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:23:41 +0000

Agreed that RIT had a nice run, but has it helped the school finacially? That’s the root of the author’s argument IMHO.

By: mjl3475

mjl3475 — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:58:05 +0000

The NCAA has been giving autobids to shall-we-say undeserving conferences for years, and how much good has it done them? Next to none.

Does anyone remember RIT’s run to the Frozen Four? They were an auto-bid and beat out big names in college hockey Denver and New Hampshire to get to Detroit. Don’t count out the little guys.

By: emperorzero

emperorzero — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:56:15 +0000

I assume we’ll see a conference with the remaining Minnesota schools, the Upper Peninsula teams and Western Michigan. However, Northern Michigan left the WCHA years ago because they couldn’t afford the travel. The Minnesota schools aren’t that far away (I feel at least) but we’ll see I guess.

By: bigbear42

bigbear42 — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:39:27 +0000

My question is how is this going to affect automatic bids into the championship tournament?

By: nikesparq

nikesparq — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:52:44 +0000

I loved seeing Minnesota State University play University of Minnesota. Those small schools vs big schools were always great games and competitive. Switching to the Big 10 will automatically make it the gold standard premier conference. Sadly UMD, BSU, MSU, were not invited and these rivalries that once were are no longer there.

By: sknut

sknut — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:32:55 +0000

this stinks, I always liked the smaller schools going against the big guys and 6 teams hardly a conference makes and we are all assuming Penn St. will succeed. this hurts college hockey in the long run but like everything else the powers that be are blinded by the money.

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:14:55 +0000

I think it’s bad that Minnesota and Wisconsin both left the WCHA. It will kill the programs at Anchorage and Bemidji. Why start a Big 10 (actually 12 but that’s a whole other story) when only half have varsity hockey? Minnesota and Wisconsin will hurt too. WCHA only plays their games Friday and Saturday. It’s tradition. Now with Big 10 network, we will have games on Tuesday’s, Friday’s, Wednesday’s, etc. I can see student attendance dropping during weekday games. All Big 10 games might have to go up against NHL, NBA, college basketball games. That will dip into viewership as well.