UConn to apply to Hockey East

[KnightsOfTheRound]

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/new...ockey_east.php

reported on CHN.

[Priceless]

Kick {rov and Merrihack out of Hockey Rast for Hahvahd and UConn!

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

This was inevitable, right?

Well, assuming that UConn can finally start looking at playing in a rink not suited for high school hockey, that is.

The long, slow transformation into the BEHC has begun...

[Patman]

This was inevitable, right?

Well, assuming that UConn can finally start looking at playing in a rink not suited for high school hockey, that is.

The long, slow transformation into the BEHC has begun...

I can't imagine that games at the HCC will be anything other than problematic*. My guess is they'll split time somehow and Hockey East will consider that adequate until they come up with 20-30 million for a bigger facility. At this point, however, I'm unsure who would grant that kind of money or if CT or Eastern CT can justify that capacity of a building.

Good-bye Bruce Marshall.

----

HCC is a haul for students... and its not like UConn hockey has a strong tradition or roots. It should be interesting to see what they do in the meantime.

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Meh. No thanks. I'm fine with 11 teams.

[Rover]

I like it for one big reason. I think the conference is committed to finding a 12th team. I'd rather have that team be UConn than RPI or The Q. Its also a better fit with PC, BC, and UMass. The league needs to be vigilant about the school upgrading their program but aside from that this plan works for me.

[KnightsOfTheRound]

I like it for one big reason. I think the conference is committed to finding a 12th team. I'd rather have that team be UConn than RPI or The Q. Its also a better fit with PC, BC, and UMass. The league needs to be vigilant about the school upgrading their program but aside from that this plan works for me.

I agree, and UConn as a large New England state university is a better fit than almost any other school with D1 hockey. I can't imagine UConn would go to HE to be a doormat year after year. They will be good eventually, which will be good for the conference

[alfablue]

This was inevitable, right?

Well, assuming that UConn can finally start looking at playing in a rink not suited for high school hockey, that is.

The long, slow transformation into the BEHC has begun...

I had thought so back with the Notre Dame talk.

[Patman]

I agree, and UConn as a large New England state university is a better fit than almost any other school with D1 hockey. I can't imagine UConn would go to HE to be a doormat year after year. They will be good eventually, which will be good for the conference

I still see Notre Dame as the misfit. If UConn can deliver and the NCHC gets going strong (IMO, unlikely, I expect them to be a strong third behind HEA and Big6) it wouldn't shock me if ND left when/if another eastern school started to show interest/prominence... somewhere in a big circle starting at the far NY/PA border and sweeping through New Jersey. 'cuse, Nova, Pitt, Rutgers... etc. That being said, its a low-chance situation. On the other hand, you have to seriously say that the attention and the balance is starting to shift. Not so much because of the Big6 but because of interest shown by NBCSports and others. Its a matter of time... I wouldn't be surprised if a few of the "rumor schools" make a foray. Navy, EWU, Lindenwood, etc.

The next eastern conference will come out of the western AHA split... RMU, Mercyhurst, Canisius, etc. (excluding Air Force). After that, the gates are wide open and you'll see expansion throughout the northern atlantic, Ohio, and Illinois.

[theprofromdover]

I don't trust Uconn to follow through on any construction promises they make. Look at the problems Maine, UHN, Lowell, Zoomass and Vermont have in getting funds. I'll be happy with 11 until they obtain financing and break ground on a campus rink.

[bunt_q]

From the article: Last year, UConn hired the same consulting firm used by the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), to determine the school's capability for upgrading the program.

That must mean this is part of the greater conspiracy to destroy college hockey's smaller programs. Forget all the talk of them upgrading anything. This is meant to harm, not help.

[Patman]

I don't trust Uconn to follow through on any construction promises they make. Look at the problems Maine, UHN, Lowell, Zoomass and Vermont have in getting funds. I'll be happy with 11 until they obtain financing and break ground on a campus rink.

This I'll agree with. No half promises which can be walked back. The other issue is that Hockey East forced a bit of a schedule quandry by taking ND (foolishly)... but you don't compound bad with bad. Any acceptance should be conditional on an arena-based expulsion clause.

[claver2010]

Is this like them "Applying" for the ACC before they got the ol middle finger?

Pass

[KnightsOfTheRound]

Just throwing it out there: what do people think of playing games at the Hartford Civic Center? Think they could draw a crowd or too far from campus? I dont know anything about the area so I have no idea

[REDMEN2002]

UConn can go pound sand - stay out of Hockey East!

[Patman]

Just throwing it out there: what do people think of playing games at the Hartford Civic Center? Think they could draw a crowd or too far from campus? I dont know anything about the area so I have no idea

HCC is just too big and unless you are successful students just don't come along... its also too far from campus. UConn has a strong "bandwagon" and "must win" component because of basketball. Football has been realigning expectations but I think it would be a slow build. UConn can help themselves immensely by doing the local outreach they've not done over the years... kids groups and the like. Youth group nights, kiddos playing 5x5 on the ice, so on.

HCC is just a non-starter. Nothing wrong with location per se (other than traffic patterns!) but that place will just be a cavern.

[lmg6841]

Don't you dare leave AHA! RIT wants to move into the ECAC....

[RIT Winters]

Cya, you suck?

For a middling team in AHA I think their first few years will be real rough in HE. Beyond that, I don't want to see AHA lose any teams. Would be nice if we could adopt UAH..

[claver2010]

Just throwing it out there: what do people think of playing games at the Hartford Civic Center? Think they could draw a crowd or too far from campus? I dont know anything about the area so I have no idea

It would realistically be the 3rd winter sports in terms of priorities for fans. Think about that. Them playing in the HCC would be like the 2011 regional in St. Louis, about 500 people there

They have a subpar high school rink.

Just like the ACC said, go pound sand.

[FlagDUDE08]

Don't you dare leave AHA! RIT wants to move into the ECAC....

And screw up the league's travel partner schedule?