New Teams??

[OhiohockeyDad]

Ok, thought I'd start a new thread- so we can talk about something other than coaches ;)
Last summer, it was great - new teams starting, both in D3 and D1, RPI moving up, that was exciting to see...this year- nothing... :confused:
Anyone heard anything about new teams coming down the pipe?? Oswego is starting a club team this year (again!!), and I hear that the new rink has a women's dressing room, so maybe thats one down the road.
Anyone else?

[scillacc]

I know Findley ended their team, along with Lake Superior State, any idea if they are returning?

[kustomice]

Good topic but do you think the game needs more teams?

I think before it expands any further they need to develop a stronger core of committed competitive programs. More teams at this point will simply water down the talent pool and the gap between the top teams and the rest of the pack will only widen.

[OhiohockeyDad]

Good topic but do you think the game needs more teams?

I think before it expands any further they need to develop a stronger core of committed competitive programs. More teams at this point will simply water down the talent pool and the gap between the top teams and the rest of the pack will only widen.


I think with the growth of the youth ranks, along with the growing talent level, new teams can be competitive very rapidly-Elmira ceratinly was more than competitive, St. Anselms last year started strong. At the D1 level, the gap between the top 10 teams is pretty close, it was only a few years ago, that the top 4 or 5 were leaps and bounds better than the next tier, so it is approaching more parity.
That said, I think that the bottom will always be the bottom, so that gap may widen even more in the coming years. It seems too many schools treat their womens hockey teams as just slightly better than the 'jumping jacks' club team, or whatever else they have at the school... It's great that the girls have a chance to play, but to have the school support it half-a##'ed is a shame.
In an ideal world, we'd see more schools jump in full-force (at any level-even club, look at Robert Morris College!!), and the weaker programs want to try to keep up!!!

[hockeysb11]

It is possible that RIT womans program will be making the jump to D-1 for the 06-07 season. The RIT womans team is on the rise ending last season as the #10 ranked team. Together with last years recruiting class and this years incoming class, Coach Grainsky has done a great job. I think in 05-06 RIT will move up in the top 10 D-3 schools and challenge some of the mainstays in D-3. They also are getting the support needed form the school.

[Quizmire]

boston university's club team is making the jump to d-1 this year.

[kustomice]

It's great that the girls have a chance to play, but to have the school support it half-a##'ed is a shame.
In an ideal world, we'd see more schools jump in full-force (at any level-even club, look at Robert Morris College!!), and the weaker programs want to try to keep up!!!

Any idea what keeps the stronger club programs such as RM College from going to DIII (or DI for that matter) and the weakest DIII schools like Chatham, Salve, MIT etc. from going to a club format?

[kustomice]

boston university's club team is making the jump to d-1 this year.

Is the school getting rid of the club team?

If so will it leave any players with no place to play?

[OhiohockeyDad]

Any idea what keeps the stronger club programs such as RM College from going to DIII (or DI for that matter) and the weakest DIII schools like Chatham, Salve, MIT etc. from going to a club format?

In RMC's case, it's an NCAA issue- the school is not, they play NAIA, so the whole athletic dept has to switch- very expensive, but I understand that the move is underway, probably take 3 or 4 years though. In some of the other schools cases (Michigan State comes to mind)- its strictly the school, they won't spend the money.
My guess would be that it costs the same to be a non-competitive team at D3 (with some teams budgets), as to play club, so VARSITY looks better...

[OhiohockeyDad]

boston university's club team is making the jump to d-1 this year.


I was including BU with last years announcements- they were part of the excitement I was talking about. kustomice does raise a good point, as an ex-player, you must know, will there be a BU club team this year??

[Quizmire]

Is the school getting rid of the club team?

If so will it leave any players with no place to play?

yes. the club team will be going away. there is some weird school rule that if a sport is varsity, there cannot be a club team of the same sport - thus the reason why there is no men's club ice hockey at bu though there are definitely enough talented players to have a competitive one.

yes, most of my teammates from last year will have no "real" team to play for - intramurals and hockey class are options, but sort of pathetic ones at that. there is a possibility that a few of the club players can make the varsity team, but realistically, only one or two will do so. me, i don't have to worry about that. yay graduation. :p it is hard to think of my hockey-loving teammates who don't have the talent for varsity to just not play. HOWEVER ... i know of some who are sort of glad there is no team for they will have more time to devote to their studies. :-/