Hockey Celebration Video

[whaler11]

It was a great turnout but the Hartford Hellcats had huge crowds on a few special occasions too.

First game. Magic Johnson All Stars.

I firmly believe they need to play hoops at XL, but hockey belongs on campus.

 

[CL82]

It's an outside shot, but I could see SNY going after UConn hockey games. NYC is a hockey town... and UConn's ratings have been strong in NYC.

Of course all this is predicated on UConn having a competitive program... good things will happen if they reach their potential be it increased TV coverage/money. A fourth revenue producing sport certainly couldn't hurt.

And thankfully the games are part of the AAC so we don't have to worry about Aresco giving them away to ESPN.

 

[UCFBfan]

I firmly believe they need to play hoops at XL, but hockey belongs on campus.

I know last night was awesome but I think many are having wishful thinking that a game vs someone other than BC would have the same excitement year after year. There were so many factors that played into this (It was BC, they were #3, we hadn't played BC in hockey before). Some hockey games in Hartford would be good but to have all HE games there would be wrong.

Let's see if the turnout stays the same all season. I hope it does but I have a feeling not as many would show up if the opponent was Umass-Lowell.

 

[Lethalinjection]

I was there last night and went to many Whalers games. I have never been to a Wolfpack game, not out of protest, but just wasn't interested. Last night felt big time. These were knowledgeable hockey fans, not just fans looking to be part of an event. I say this because you could tell by their reactions to the game action. I think UConn hockey is entering the picture at the right time. Connecticut will support big time. Hockey East is big time and the only conference that can hold that interest due to the fact that there will be a number of nationally ranked programs year in and year out visiting the XL. The "dregs" of the league will be better than most programs in other conferences. I think the typical Whaler fan will return to root for the Huskies. There are a relatively small number of home games per year and at only $12-$17 per ticket the season ticket base may grow rather quickly.

 

[bc puckett]

Of course UConn could have been in Hockey East 20 plus years ago had not two prima donna basketball coaches stopped the installation of ice making capabilities during the construction of Gampel.

 

[TheDoggPound]

I didn't even purchase ST's myself because I plan on attending the games with a few people and I didn't see how'd that work if I was in a permanent location all the time. I'd have to hope and pray there would be open seats next to my ST's.

 

[zls44]

Of course UConn could have been in Hockey East 20 plus years ago had not two prima donna basketball coaches stopped the installation of ice making capabilities during the construction of Gampel.

You mean the two basketball coaches who have season tickets and were there last night?

 

[Hoophound]

Of course UConn could have been in Hockey East 20 plus years ago had not two prima donna basketball coaches stopped the installation of ice making capabilities during the construction of Gampel.

I prefer that we kept them happy.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Haha hey I know... it's great. But I just think comparing college hockey to the heyday of the Whalers is a bit silly. I am very happy for the team, but I don't think this means hockey is "back" in Hartford like it once was.

When was the Whalers' hey day? Unfortunately, however short-lived it was on the ice most of CT's hockey fans in the strongest hockey towns never transitioned from Rangers' or maybe Bruins' fans, never cared, and playoff success was limited. UCONN is CT's sports brand, it's great that may now extend to hockey, and CT residents including ex-whalers fans, UCONN students and alumni have a team to support. Go Huskies!

 

[CTBballfan243]

I would hope UCONN can do better than the play by play guy on Whus. The color commentator is ok but the play by play guy is not very good. I grew up listening to Chuck Kaiton, so maybe I am expecting to much from a college radio broadcast.

 

[whaler11]

I would hope UCONN can do better than the play by play guy on Whus. The color commentator is ok but the play by play guy is not very good. I grew up listening to Chuck Kaiton, so maybe I am expecting to much from a college radio broadcast.

Yeah I'd say comparing a college station kid doing the games for free is unfair against a hall of fame broadcaster.

 

[huskymedic]

I would hope UCONN can do better than the play by play guy on Whus. The color commentator is ok but the play by play guy is not very good. I grew up listening to Chuck Kaiton, so maybe I am expecting to much from a college radio broadcast.

Geez - Comparing the WHUS guys to arguably one of the best hockey announcers in the game is a bit unfair. For a university radio broadcast - they do a pretty good job.

FWIW - Kaiton started his career as a college hockey PBP guy for Michigan. Gotta start somewhere.

 

[Waquoit]

I grew up listening to Chuck Kaiton, so maybe I am expecting to much from a college radio broadcast.

Anyone remember who called the games before Kaiton? Yup, it was Bob Neumeier who unfortunately suffered a stroke last week.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Yes, Neumie, I remember him well. His famous call of the brawl against the Fighting Saints will never be forgotten.

"Jack Ferreira and I talked about the conspicuous absentee of Bill Butters in period number 1, and he's out there drawing another minor penalty........."

The "brawl" was on the b side of the brass bonanza record.

 

[whaler11]

As great as Kaiton is. He was never better than with Andre Lecroix.

 

[Doggie Style]

As great as Kaiton is. He was never better than with Andre Lecroix.

Ha! Can still hear Lacriox chiming in... Well Chuck "Da Whaaaaalerrrs....."

 

[coachcap]

Anyone remember who called the games before Kaiton? Yup, it was Bob Neumeier who unfortunately suffered a stroke last week.

And before Neumeier, it was Bill Rasmussen, who along with his son Scott had a crazy dream about starting up a 24 hour all sports network centering around UConn athletics. Yes, the founder of ESPN was the Whalers first pbp announcer after the move to Hartford. But, I digress...

 

[coachcap]

Of course UConn could have been in Hockey East 20 plus years ago had not two prima donna basketball coaches stopped the installation of ice making capabilities during the construction of Gampel.

First of all my Thunderchicken visitor: "Thank you for your support of UConn athletics"!
Secondly, get your facts straight: John Toner had the blueprints & mockup of Gampel drawn up in the late 70's. Plans were for a multipurpose arena with seating capacity of 8000 to be used for both basketball & hockey. The State wouldn't allow a larger facility on campus as it felt that such a facility would negatively impact attraction of events to the Hartford Civic Center, which it had just rebuilt after the roof & ceiling collapse post blizzard. It was a time of fiscal austerity, & Toner only got State funding for the project after lowering building cost by trimming out the hockey rink & associated refridgeration system.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Don't think the two future HOF's had the juice before Gampel was funded. It was interesting to read from Malloy that UConn had an open invitation to join HE, didn't know that.

 

[Marty Jackson]

I am very happy with the win and excited for UConn hockey, but let's not act like college hockey is even close to as big a deal as the NHL is. I'll go to a few games, but if the Whalers came back, I'd be scooping up season tickets without thinking twice.

on a national stage you're right. but locally the crowd that showed up indicates there is a huge interest in meaningful hockey when it's played at the highest level. you can't substitute a NHL franchise with a minor league team and expect the fans to remain interested. At least now uconn is competing at the highest level against the best teams. and winning.

 

[Adios]

Having been to the last AHA playoff game against Robert Morris last season and the Hockey East home season opener at XL (and beating BC!), as someone else said, we are now a hockey school. Knew this day would come but never this fast and beautifully.

We'll have the largest crowds in CT on a regular basis. Yale and QU won't be able to keep up (unless QU goes to the HE, and they do want to). I am sure Rand Pecknold is having more nightmares about his missed championship opportunity for now.

 

[bc puckett]

First of all my Thunderchicken visitor: "Thank you for your support of UConn athletics"!
Secondly, get your facts straight: John Toner had the blueprints & mockup of Gampel drawn up in the late 70's. Plans were for a multipurpose arena with seating capacity of 8000 to be used for both basketball & hockey. The State wouldn't allow a larger facility on campus as it felt that such a facility would negatively impact attraction of events to the Hartford Civic Center, which it had just rebuilt after the roof & ceiling collapse post blizzard. It was a time of fiscal austerity, & Toner only got State funding for the project after lowering building cost by trimming out the hockey rink & associated refridgeration system.

You're welcome and my "facts" come directly from someone who was very involved in the design and construction of the building. Sorry I'll take his "facts" over yours.

 

[Dooley]

Don't think the two future HOF's had the juice before Gampel was funded. It was interesting to read from Malloy that UConn had an open invitation to join HE, didn't know that.

I wonder if we also have open invites to the SEC for football, the ACC for basketball and the AAU for research.