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  • Re: New WCHA is dead

    Originally posted by ticapnews View Post
    Is this a factor in other sports? Do basketball coaches from the lower 48 complain about how fatigued players are after a trip to Alaska?
    I'll preface this by saying nothing below excuses the tactics of the 7 conspirators. But yes, it's a factor. In the CCHA days, our people used to complain about the trip to UAF. There are several things to keep in mind:

    1. Time Zones. Traveling to the time zone next door is no big deal. But a four hour time difference? Jet lag can be a real issue.

    2. Wintertime Daylight Hours. Winter days are short enough in the Lower 48. Cabin fever can be kind of depressing. Remember that feeling, now try out the winter daylight hours in Fairbanks.

    3. Plane Changes. I once got an education from one of our coaches on this. Based on an actual trip, my take was: "What's the big deal? Change planes in Minneapolis, prepare for a little extra flight time, you're there." Trouble was, my trip to Fairbanks was in the Summer. In the winter, there's far less demand for Fairbanks flights, and therefore far fewer options. I was made aware of some itineraries that were truly arduous. IIRC, the worst one was Columbus-Cincinnati-Salt Lake City-Seattle-Anchorage-Fairbanks. That crazy schedule would grind anyone down. It's not saying that was typical. If memory serves, the extreme case occurred in connection with a playoff series. In other words, travel on short notice. But multiple plane changes were the norm.

    As for hoops, they have smaller traveling parties. Maybe that gives them better itinerary options. Or, because they're a big revenue sport, maybe they get charter flights for Alaska trips.

    Comment


    • Re: New WCHA is dead

      Originally posted by pgb-ohio View Post
      I'll preface this by saying nothing below excuses the tactics of the 7 conspirators. But yes, it's a factor. In the CCHA days, our people used to complain about the trip to UAF. There are several things to keep in mind:

      1. Time Zones. Traveling to the time zone next door is no big deal. But a four hour time difference? Jet lag can be a real issue.

      2. Wintertime Daylight Hours. Winter days are short enough in the Lower 48. Cabin fever can be kind of depressing. Remember that feeling, now try out the winter daylight hours in Fairbanks.

      3. Plane Changes. I once got an education from one of our coaches on this. Based on an actual trip, my take was: "What's the big deal? Change planes in Minneapolis, prepare for a little extra flight time, you're there." Trouble was, my trip to Fairbanks was in the Summer. In the winter, there's far less demand for Fairbanks flights, and therefore far fewer options. I was made aware of some itineraries that were truly arduous. IIRC, the worst one was Columbus-Cincinnati-Salt Lake City-Seattle-Anchorage-Fairbanks. That crazy schedule would grind anyone down. It's not saying that was typical. If memory serves, the extreme case occurred in connection with a playoff series. In other words, travel on short notice. But multiple plane changes were the norm.

      As for hoops, they have smaller traveling parties. Maybe that gives them better itinerary options. Or, because they're a big revenue sport, maybe they get charter flights for Alaska trips.
      And for hoops, the Alaska schools play in basically a west coast conference (Great Northwest), so travel is less of a big deal. Unfortunately there is no Div 1 west coast hockey conference.

      Comment


      • Re: New WCHA is dead

        Originally posted by MavsFan19 View Post
        ...Those 3 teams were killing WCHA teams pairwise...
        Over the six year period of the nWCHA UAF fits right in with LSSU, NMU, FSU and BSU (except for their one good year). LSSU has only finished above UAF twice in six years, NMU three times. So now FSU, LSSU, NMU, BSU can kill the new league's pair wise. And don't forget those long, arduous, fatiguing bus trips to LSSU. Lakers better keep glancing back over their shoulders. The secrete seven could become the secrete six.

        Maybe college hockey can eventually get down to one conference of two like minded schools of just UMD and Providence. But then again, Providence would probably just be killing the two team conference's pair wise.

        This argument rings hollow to me, much like the travel cost argument. I really would like to see an unbiased accounting of a trip north. What a team's actual net cost is. Is it really that much different or higher that an average hockey trip. I think some teams think the Alaska schools should bear (see what I did there) the full cost, which doesn't make any sense.

        Comment


        • Re: New WCHA is dead

          Originally posted by pgb-ohio View Post
          I'll preface this by saying nothing below excuses the tactics of the 7 conspirators. But yes, it's a factor. In the CCHA days, our people used to complain about the trip to UAF. There are several things to keep in mind:

          1. Time Zones. Traveling to the time zone next door is no big deal. But a four hour time difference? Jet lag can be a real issue.

          2. Wintertime Daylight Hours. Winter days are short enough in the Lower 48. Cabin fever can be kind of depressing. Remember that feeling, now try out the winter daylight hours in Fairbanks.

          3. Plane Changes. I once got an education from one of our coaches on this. Based on an actual trip, my take was: "What's the big deal? Change planes in Minneapolis, prepare for a little extra flight time, you're there." Trouble was, my trip to Fairbanks was in the Summer. In the winter, there's far less demand for Fairbanks flights, and therefore far fewer options. I was made aware of some itineraries that were truly arduous. IIRC, the worst one was Columbus-Cincinnati-Salt Lake City-Seattle-Anchorage-Fairbanks. That crazy schedule would grind anyone down. It's not saying that was typical. If memory serves, the extreme case occurred in connection with a playoff series. In other words, travel on short notice. But multiple plane changes were the norm.

          As for hoops, they have smaller traveling parties. Maybe that gives them better itinerary options. Or, because they're a big revenue sport, maybe they get charter flights for Alaska trips.
          Wow.
          Alaska Hockey is a Seawolf fan but is out fishing somewhere. So I feel I must represent. His comment would probably be mostly unintelligible, but the jest of it would be...
          ...a lot of you folks need to turn in your man card. Immediately!

          Comment


          • Re: New WCHA is dead

            Well based on the Seawolves decision to move to an 800 seat rink, they might as well fold up the tent. As a non season ticket holder who attends 75% of their home games, my family and I are shut out of getting tickets to attend games now. That is a slap in the face to an already (a)pathetic fan base. Seems to me like UAA was inviting this development......so based on that, part of me says screw em.

            Comment


            • Originally posted by Scrum Bucket View Post
              Well based on the Seawolves decision to move to an 800 seat rink, they might as well fold up the tent. As a non season ticket holder who attends 75% of their home games, my family and I are shut out of getting tickets to attend games now. That is a slap in the face to an already (a)pathetic fan base. Seems to me like UAA was inviting this development......so based on that, part of me says screw em.
              UAA has about 300 season ticket holders. There’s still room.

              UAF has about 1,100 in case anybody cares.
              “We offer no apology for our location at 64 51’21’’ north latitude. We are building for the future and we are confident that well directed effort and education are the forces which make progress possible”

              —UA President Charles E. Bunnell, 1925

              Comment


              • Re: New WCHA is dead

                Originally posted by BGDrew View Post
                How many other sports play back-to-back games in a sport where collision forces are similar to those of car crashes?
                I guess that is unique only to Alaska. In every other state we play checkers.

                Originally posted by pgb-ohio View Post
                I'll preface this by saying nothing below excuses the tactics of the 7 conspirators. But yes, it's a factor. In the CCHA days, our people used to complain about the trip to UAF. There are several things to keep in mind:

                1. Time Zones. Traveling to the time zone next door is no big deal. But a four hour time difference? Jet lag can be a real issue.
                There are ways to deal with jet lag and time differences. And the Alaska teams have it much worse.

                2. Wintertime Daylight Hours. Winter days are short enough in the Lower 48. Cabin fever can be kind of depressing. Remember that feeling, now try out the winter daylight hours in Fairbanks.
                The players spend most of their time in the hotel or the arena anyway. This is really only a factor for fans.

                3. Plane Changes. I once got an education from one of our coaches on this. Based on an actual trip, my take was: "What's the big deal? Change planes in Minneapolis, prepare for a little extra flight time, you're there." Trouble was, my trip to Fairbanks was in the Summer. In the winter, there's far less demand for Fairbanks flights, and therefore far fewer options. I was made aware of some itineraries that were truly arduous. IIRC, the worst one was Columbus-Cincinnati-Salt Lake City-Seattle-Anchorage-Fairbanks. That crazy schedule would grind anyone down. It's not saying that was typical. If memory serves, the extreme case occurred in connection with a playoff series. In other words, travel on short notice. But multiple plane changes were the norm.

                As for hoops, they have smaller traveling parties. Maybe that gives them better itinerary options. Or, because they're a big revenue sport, maybe they get charter flights for Alaska trips.
                This is a legitimate concern and one that lacks an easy solution. My response would be that a lower 48 team has to endure that once a season while teams from Alaska do that several times a year.

                Comment


                • Originally posted by pgb-ohio View Post
                  I'll preface this by saying nothing below excuses the tactics of the 7 conspirators. But yes, it's a factor. In the CCHA days, our people used to complain about the trip to UAF. There are several things to keep in mind:

                  1. Time Zones. Traveling to the time zone next door is no big deal. But a four hour time difference? Jet lag can be a real issue.

                  2. Wintertime Daylight Hours. Winter days are short enough in the Lower 48. Cabin fever can be kind of depressing. Remember that feeling, now try out the winter daylight hours in Fairbanks.

                  3. Plane Changes. I once got an education from one of our coaches on this. Based on an actual trip, my take was: "What's the big deal? Change planes in Minneapolis, prepare for a little extra flight time, you're there." Trouble was, my trip to Fairbanks was in the Summer. In the winter, there's far less demand for Fairbanks flights, and therefore far fewer options. I was made aware of some itineraries that were truly arduous. IIRC, the worst one was Columbus-Cincinnati-Salt Lake City-Seattle-Anchorage-Fairbanks. That crazy schedule would grind anyone down. It's not saying that was typical. If memory serves, the extreme case occurred in connection with a playoff series. In other words, travel on short notice. But multiple plane changes were the norm.

                  As for hoops, they have smaller traveling parties. Maybe that gives them better itinerary options. Or, because they're a big revenue sport, maybe they get charter flights for Alaska trips.
                  Wintertime daylight hours? Are you ****ing kidding me?
                  “We offer no apology for our location at 64 51’21’’ north latitude. We are building for the future and we are confident that well directed effort and education are the forces which make progress possible”

                  —UA President Charles E. Bunnell, 1925

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by mmf View Post
                    Over the six year period of the nWCHA UAF fits right in with LSSU, NMU, FSU and BSU (except for their one good year). LSSU has only finished above UAF twice in six years, NMU three times. So now FSU, LSSU, NMU, BSU can kill the new league's pair wise. And don't forget those long, arduous, fatiguing bus trips to LSSU. Lakers better keep glancing back over their shoulders. The secrete seven could become the secrete six.

                    Maybe college hockey can eventually get down to one conference of two like minded schools of just UMD and Providence. But then again, Providence would probably just be killing the two team conference's pair wise.

                    This argument rings hollow to me, much like the travel cost argument. I really would like to see an unbiased accounting of a trip north. What a team's actual net cost is. Is it really that much different or higher that an average hockey trip. I think some teams think the Alaska schools should bear (see what I did there) the full cost, which doesn't make any sense.
                    All these arguments about the three teams “being a drag on the PWR and costing us NCAA bids” are ridiculous as well.

                    Wanna know what’s costing your teams NCAA bids? Your s-ty NC records.
                    The conference went 5-22-2 against the NCHC last season (with one of those wins from UAA BTW), that never looks good in comparison.
                    U-A-A!!!Go!Go!GreenandGold!
                    Applejack Tells You How UAA Is Doing...
                    I spell Failure with UAF

                    Originally posted by UAFIceAngel
                    But let's be real...There are 40 some other teams and only two alaskan teams...the day one of us wins something big will be the day I transfer to UAA
                    Originally posted by Doyle Woody
                    Best sign by a visting Seawolf fan Friday went to a young man who held up a piece of white poster board that read: "YOU CAN'T SPELL FAILURE WITHOUT UAF."

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by Squarebanks View Post
                      UAA has about 300 season ticket holders. There’s still room.

                      UAF has about 1,100 in case anybody cares.
                      I hope you're correct. I'd gladly pay for a season ticket to D1 hockey in a small rink

                      Comment


                      • Re: New WCHA is dead

                        If UAH is still progressing and remains committed, I don't see why they wouldn't fit in well with the AHA and NCHC can happily take AF if needed to balance their conference out. At the end of the day, college (and it's sports) are a business and the Alaska schools are more complicated. I would agree that it's unsustainable for two Alaska schools to be in the same conference especially in a conference like the WCHA that just got assblasted a few years ago with realignment leaving only the smaller schools behind.
                        And if a bus league is what the WCHA/CCHA wants, let them have Miami and WMU back and I'd gladly take back Mankato or Bemidji or whatever need be. With all this going on though, it's a guarantee ASU will be welcome to a conference in the very near future--just remains to be seen which one. I do hope this is just a warning shot for some negotiations to begin and maybe Denver and UND would be more receptive of one weekend trip to Anchorage once per year especially if their travel is balanced out by picking up local schools AF(Denver) and Bemidji(UND). But again, it's a business and they may not at all. I always wanted to make a trip to Anchorage

                        Should be plenty of room for some negotiations to be had and some interconference co-operation (although did somebody suggest the B1G may take one of the teams? lol... not until they find an oil-bearing gold deposit under one of the Alaska campuses..)
                        Last edited by UMD21; 06-29-2019, 02:29 PM.
                        I wanna go fast!

                        Comment


                        • Re: New WCHA is dead

                          We really shouldn't be surprised at the formation of a bus league. Travel is exhausting. Perhaps that is one of the reasons the Alaska schools are perennial cellar-dwellers.
                          bigmrg74: "You can't drink the day away if you don't start early!"
                          SledDog: "UncleRay seems to be the most sensible one here tonight."
                          All great men are dead and I'm not feeling well.
                          A Margarita! in every hand and another Margarita! in the other hand!

                          And stay off the lawn!

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                          • Re: New WCHA is dead

                            Just for the record, I wouldn't have broken up the CCHA had it been my choice. Nor would I have favored kicking UAF out. Personally I wasn't making the trip to Fairbanks in the Winter, but did feel that the CCHA's deal with UAF was reasonable.

                            A factual question was asked about what the travel complaints were. I did my best to give a factual response, reporting concerns I've heard expressed over the years. React with insults or go into denial if you want. But the cited complaints are a factor in this story.

                            Stated up front, but apparently it needs to be repeated: None of the travel concerns justify Friday's action.

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by Sidthekid87 View Post
                              Looks like the CCHA will return and I hope it does. Which Atlantic Hockey teams will join? The old CHA members...Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Niagara????


                              Maybe this move speeds up the process for other schools thinking about making a jump to NCAA D1??? A lot going on...who knows, but interesting.

                              Alabama should join. The worst part is the Alaska teams, they may be in real trouble, I hope not.
                              My prediction is this. WMU and Miami will hook up with the departing WCHA 7, and BSU and Mankato joins the NCHC. Then the new CCHA can pick up ASU or maybe get RMU to move.
                              That community is already in the process of dissolution where each man begins to eye his neighbor as a possible enemy, where non-conformity with the accepted creed, political as well as religious, is a mark of disaffection; where denunciation, without specification or backing, takes the place of evidence; where orthodoxy chokes freedom of dissent; where faith in the eventual supremacy of reason has become so timid that we dare not enter our convictions in the open lists, to win or lose.

                              Comment


                              • Re: New WCHA is dead

                                Originally posted by Scrum Bucket View Post
                                I hope you're correct. I'd gladly pay for a season ticket to D1 hockey in a small rink
                                288 Booster most have multi tickets some with pup pass ..all will be honored for the loyal fans.

                                If you are a Seawolf Hockey season ticket holder who purchased a Seapups Youth Pass last season, please contact the Terry Ann Homan Box Office at 907-786-1562 by the July 8 deadline for information on purchasing additional Hockey season tickets.
                                Last edited by Alaska Hockey; 06-29-2019, 08:20 PM.
                                Alaska Dispatch .... Doyle Woody
                                UAF made the kind of hockey history on October 10th 2015 that no team wants to claim – the Nanooks became the first NCAA Division I victim of Arizona State.


                                Originally Posted by WeWantMore At least you guys have Packers colors.

                                I Must be Famous ....a School named their program after me

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