Hockey is VERY important to the schools who play it, but not so vital that schools are champing at the bit to add hockey programs, and its weight in what decisions are being made across the board is minimal.
The B1G made its decision because it added some value to the BTN, but as a result of seizing an opportunity rather than seeking one out. If Penn State hadn't added hockey, though, the B1G would have been just fine leaving things as it was.
UConn made the decision it did to try and elevate hockey because things came to a situation where it would be either now or never. While Commissioner Bertagna had been on record saying he'd like to have all the New England publics playing HEA hockey, there was no way Hockey East would wait forever for us, especially not when Notre Dame had just signed on and unbalanced things. And although as much as we would like to say success will elevate our athletic prestige even further...we've got enough prestige in other sports, and none of it has helped our conference future. Some might even say chasing prestige in a sport which only certain regions of the country care about, and which only eight "major conference" schools even play, is a futile gesture on UConn's part.