OT : UConn looking to upgrade the Men's Ice Hockey Program?

[freescooter]

An expansion of the rink portion of Frietas wouldn't be all that complicated. That type of building is pretty easily and relatively inexpensive to expand. the issue is that any expansion would probably interfere with Morrone Stadium. So unless and until that is relocated, and I think there has been talk for years of moving soccer to the old Memorial Stadium site, an expansion might be more complicated. I would guesstimate we're talking a few million as opposed to 15-30 million for a completely new facility.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I'm sorry....I like college hockey (probably not as much as others who have posted on this) and I'm a UConn grad.....and I can't for the life find one reason why this is a good idea? I'm not buying the argument that this would make us more attractive to the B1G.

Can someone help me out to understand why this is a good idea? It just seems like it's a money loser and at a time when tuition is on an historic rise I find this hard to defend.

 

[freescooter]

I'm sorry....I like college hockey (probably not as much as others who have posted on this) and I'm a UConn grad.....and I can't for the life find one reason why this is a good idea? I'm not buying the argument that this would make us more attractive to the B1G.

Can someone help me out to understand why this is a good idea? It just seems like it's a money loser and at a time when tuition is on an historic rise I find this hard to defend.

Jimmy,
I think you miss the basic point. If it can be done at a higher level without increasing net costs significantly, or even reducing them, it makes sense to do it. If not it doesn't make sense. I don't know that either of those things is possible or that they are not possible,but I think it is worth looking into. Based on my gut feeling and what I've seen over the years, I think that if done reasonably right,hockey while it wouldn't necessarily make money, would come close to breaking even, probably being closer to even than the current program. Again, I don't know it but I think its likely enough to at least explore. Finally, there is the issue of simply putting competititve programs out there. UCONN has had so much success, mens basketball, womens basketball, baseball recently, mens and womens soccer, football, track & field. Why not at least look to see if changes can be made to the program that will make it more competitive, too?

As far as the tuition thing goes, to me that is a red herring. the tutiton increases are geared to increasing faculty and continuing the progress of the University. As I said somewhere else, the State University system (Central, Southern Eastern, Western) are the low cost options. UCONN has a very different role. And whether or not the hockey program is upgraded has little or nothing to do with this, and even less to do with the tuition rise. Susan herbst, Larry McHugh and the rest of the Board of Trustees have a vision for the future University of Connecticut as a world class, nationally recognized university. Not just a public university. In many respects looking at this move is not really much different from looking at the football upgrade or looking at building a practice gym for the basketball teams. It is about doing things at a high level, and having a potential place at the table when the opportunity comes around.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I'm sorry....I like college hockey (probably not as much as others who have posted on this) and I'm a UConn grad.....and I can't for the life find one reason why this is a good idea? I'm not buying the argument that this would make us more attractive to the B1G.

Can someone help me out to understand why this is a good idea? It just seems like it's a money loser and at a time when tuition is on an historic rise I find this hard to defend.

It makes sense because UConn has an opening to the elite conference in the country. It's not a play to get into the B1G, that's not happening. It provides more national TV exposure on NBC/VS for the school, as well as games on NESN and CBS Sports Network, all of whom have deals with HE. It provides another link to ND (could be helpful for a potential move). Hockey is NOT a money pit if you do it right and you don't let the program languish in junk. Hockey East is a fun league, games are incredibly exciting, and imagine for a hardcore fan being able to drive to 9 of your 11 conference opponents in 3.5 hours or less. You MUST keep it on campus, the fanbase starts with the students. Going to games are literally like crack, once you're sucked in, you're done for and can't get out.

 

[zls44]

I leave town for two days, and my dream might be coming true. Unreal.

I've spent way more time than I'd like to admit dreaming about how it could work. They need another building. I've tried to find another way, but there is no other option. You can't retrofit Gampel- it's physically impossible. You could play at the XL while you build a rink, but you'd need a new building. It doesn't have to be big, or The Ralph/Agganis, but you need something else.

But if they make this happen, they get a four-figure check from me.

 

[kingdobbs]

I'm sorry....I like college hockey (probably not as much as others who have posted on this) and I'm a UConn grad.....and I can't for the life find one reason why this is a good idea? I'm not buying the argument that this would make us more attractive to the B1G.

Can someone help me out to understand why this is a good idea? It just seems like it's a money loser and at a time when tuition is on an historic rise I find this hard to defend.

1) It's a logical 'next step' sport, now that we've done all that the university can to make football a success (since so very much is, and will always be, out of our hands). Doubling down on football and basketball isn't the way to show off that we have a strong all-around athletic department. As limited as the collegiate hockey spread is, it's a legitimate chance to be known for something else other than basketball, and grow the UConn brand.
2) We already spend money on hockey that goes nowhere; there's a chance we could produce a self-sustaining program (minus up-front capital expenditures), which takes pressure off the basketball and football programs to produce enough to subsidize the whole AD.
3) It's of lesser concern, but I like the fact that it will bring us back together with some old-school rivalries we've outgrown; HEA is basically the old Yankee Conference.

Is that enough to counteract the fact that hockey's a relatively expensive sport (especially if you rent)? Probably not. But it could be.

 

[willie99]

this is not good news for BC. Within a few years, we'll surpass them in hockey too

it's tradition

 

[freescooter]

1) It's a logical 'next step' sport, now that we've done all that the university can to make football a success (since so very much is, and will always be, out of our hands). Doubling down on football and basketball isn't the way to show off that we have a strong all-around athletic department. As limited as the collegiate hockey spread is, it's a legitimate chance to be known for something else other than basketball, and grow the UConn brand.
2) We already spend money on hockey that goes nowhere; there's a chance we could produce a self-sustaining program (minus up-front capital expenditures), which takes pressure off the basketball and football programs to produce enough to subsidize the whole AD.
3) It's of lesser concern, but I like the fact that it will bring us back together with some old-school rivalries we've outgrown; HEA is basically the old Yankee Conference.

Is that enough to counteract the fact that hockey's a relatively expensive sport (especially if you rent)? Probably not. But it could be.

Agree with everything you said and i have one more comment on the first point. While the "spread" is limited, if you look at the participants, it is a group that we would benefit from being around. the Big 10 schools are all the well known Bigs. The Ivies. BC and our old New England rivals as you said. Much more appropriate place for UCONN to be than with Robert Morris and Mercyhurst College.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

this is not good news for BC. Within a few years, we'll surpass them in hockey too

it's tradition

I very much hope youre being sarcastic because uconn is decades from even beig able to sniff the same level as the bc hockey program. They not only are among the top five or six all time they are far and away the most successful program since the turn of the century, and there's no one that even comes close. We can definitely set our sights on surpassing UMass and Lowell, but schools like BU and BC are pipe dreams for us.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I very much hope youre being sarcastic because uconn is decades from even beig able to sniff the same level as the bc hockey program. They not only are among the top five or six all time they are far and away the most successful program since the turn of the century, and there's no one that even comes close. We can definitely set our sights on surpassing UMass and Lowell, but schools like BU and BC are pipe dreams for us.

They said that about basketball and football too. You seem like you follow HE and are a whole hell of a lot more knowledgeable than me about college hockey (I don't follow it at all), but never say never.

For what it's worth, I'm not a big hockey guy, but if tickets were reasonably priced (say $10-$20) I'd make the 50 minute drive from New London to catch a few games.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Fair enough guys. I got a better handle on the potential. I'm still not sold on the idea, but thanks for explaining it to me. I live in southern CT and take in a few Yale and Quinnipiac games down here. I like the small arena on campus (QU's arena is about a mile from campus) feel though. Games at the XL would suck. Maybe an annual game against BC there, but the games need to be campus.

 

[upstater]

My suggestion: build a new arena for basketball & hockey & basketball facilities. Just enlarge the footprint of the basketball facilities by adding an arena that seats 12,000. Then, give the students prime seating in the extra space created. Finally, you can cap the upper tier of the arena with curtains for hockey to keep the intimate feel. 6,000.

Gampel is small. Use Gampel for other purposes.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

They said that about basketball and football too. You seem like you follow HE and are a whole hell of a lot more knowledgeable than me about college hockey (I don't follow it at all), but never say never.

For what it's worth, I'm not a big hockey guy, but if tickets were reasonably priced (say $10-$20) I'd make the 50 minute drive from New London to catch a few games.

BC hockey is leaps and bounds ahead of their football and basketball programs. When you talk about BC hockey, put them at the level of an Alabama football or Duke basketball. Four national titles, fourth in all-time program wins, the list goes on. Yes, I do follow HE very, very closely, I've been a BU season ticket holder since I was in school and go to just about every home and away game each season, so I'm far too well versed in how good the BC hockey program is. Fortunately, my guys have an extra banner right now, more all-time wins, and lead the overall head to head series. That bit of info is for the BC poster reading this right now.

It's not the case as is with their football and basketball programs where they hype some history and mystique that isn't there. They're the real mccoy in hockey, and UConn is not and will not be on par with their program until there are multiple national title banners hanging from a new arena.

 

[upstater]

BC hockey is leaps and bounds ahead of their football and basketball programs. When you talk about BC hockey, put them at the level of an Alabama football or Duke basketball. Four national titles, fourth in all-time program wins, the list goes on. Yes, I do follow HE very, very closely, I've been a BU season ticket holder since I was in school and go to just about every home and away game each season, so I'm far too well versed in how good the BC hockey program is. Fortunately, my guys have an extra banner right now, more all-time wins, and lead the overall head to head series. That bit of info is for the BC poster reading this right now.

It's not the case as is with their football and basketball programs where they hype some history and mystique that isn't there. They're the real mccoy in hockey, and UConn is not and will not be on par with their program until there are multiple national title banners hanging from a new arena.

UConn might not be able to match the history, but that goes without saying.

Nonetheless, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont have all had top teams. Heck, Merrimack and UMass Lowell have had top teams. Lake Superior State! has had top teams. I see no reason why UConn couldn't jump in and immediately compete.

My current school, Buffalo, is joining D1 next year, and if they ever dropped football and focused on hockey, they would dominate in short order. It's dumb of them not do so, since WNY is a hockey hotbed, and Ontario is 5 minutes away. I can think of no better placed school in America for hockey, and yet they persist with this football fantasy.

 

[kingdobbs]

They said that about basketball and football too. You seem like you follow HE and are a whole hell of a lot more knowledgeable than me about college hockey (I don't follow it at all), but never say never.

For what it's worth, I'm not a big hockey guy, but if tickets were reasonably priced (say $10-$20) I'd make the 50 minute drive from New London to catch a few games.

Unlike football and basketball, BC has actually won national championships in hockey.

 

[HartfordHank]

My current school, Buffalo, is joining D1 next year, and if they ever dropped football and focused on hockey, they would dominate in short order. It's dumb of them not do so, since WNY is a hockey hotbed, and Ontario is 5 minutes away. I can think of no better placed school in America for hockey, and yet they persist with this football fantasy.

If that were the case why hasn't Niagara or even Mercyhurst been able to dominate? Niagara is the same location as Buffalo and although they have had some success they are far from dominant!

 

[upstater]

If that were the case why hasn't Niagara or even Mercyhurst been able to dominate? Niagara is the same location as Buffalo and although they have had some success they are far from dominant!

Niagara is not fully subscribed with scholarships, nor does it have the resources, or the population. Ever been to Niagara? It's way out there, approx. 40 minutes from Buffalo. Mercyhurst isn't around here.

All the youth teams here play in Ontario leagues, and even the High schools are in Ontario leagues. The ice hockey talent here is higher than what you'll find in the Boston area. Not as any people, but the high school kids play the game at a higher level.

 

[whaler11]

UConn might not be able to match the history, but that goes without saying.

Nonetheless, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont have all had top teams. Heck, Merrimack and UMass Lowell have had top teams. Lake Superior State! has had top teams. I see no reason why UConn couldn't jump in and immediately compete.

My current school, Buffalo, is joining D1 next year, and if they ever dropped football and focused on hockey, they would dominate in short order. It's dumb of them not do so, since WNY is a hockey hotbed, and Ontario is 5 minutes away. I can think of no better placed school in America for hockey, and yet they persist with this football fantasy.

I heard Buffalo had a lot of BCS quality players on their defense this year.

The problem with the hockey upgrade is this:
It won't work unless they do it right, but to do it right is going to be extremely expensive. They need their own legitimate on-campus building, with it's own legitimate parking lots and access to roads.

 

[upstater]

I heard Buffalo had a lot of BCS quality players on their defense this year.

The problem with the hockey upgrade is this:
It won't work unless they do it right, but to do it right is going to be extremely expensive. They need their own legitimate on-campus building, with it's own legitimate parking lots and access to roads.

Buffalo has a huge expanse of space for such a thing but there's already the Buffalo Sabres practice rink right next to campus, and it currently has seating for about 1,500-2,000. We'll see if they can fill that up first.

 

[whaler11]

Buffalo has a huge expanse of space for such a thing but there's already the Buffalo Sabres practice rink right next to campus, and it currently has seating for about 1,500-2,000. We'll see if they can fill that up first.

I meant UConn's upgrade. I just like making fun of Buffalo's football program. I shouldn't have tried to combine the two into a reply to your post.

 

[HartfordHank]

Niagara is not fully subscribed with scholarships, nor does it have the resources, or the population. Ever been to Niagara? It's way out there, approx. 40 minutes from Buffalo. Mercyhurst isn't around here.

All the youth teams here play in Ontario leagues, and even the High schools are in Ontario leagues. The ice hockey talent here is higher than what you'll find in the Boston area. Not as any people, but the high school kids play the game at a higher level.

Actually Niagara is less than 25 miles from U of Buffalo. Actually closer to Ontario than UofB. Won't one of the problems be competing against the Junior hockey leagues for both talent and fans? Pretty established fan bases in many of the Ontario communities.

No question that upstate New York has a lot of talent. BC has taken advantage of it for years.

 

[upstater]

I meant UConn's upgrade. I just like making fun of Buffalo's football program. I shouldn't have tried to combine the two into a reply to your post.

In that case, ditch Gampel, create a new facility for Basketball and Hockey instead of a basketball practice facility only.

 

[upstater]

Actually Niagara is less than 25 miles from U of Buffalo. Actually closer to Ontario than UofB. Won't one of the problems be competing against the Junior hockey leagues for both talent and fans? Pretty established fan bases in many of the Ontario communities.

No question that upstate New York has a lot of talent. BC has taken advantage of it for years.

U Buffalo is in the northern burbs of Buffalo, 10-15 miles from the city center, so yeah NU is closer to UB than it is to Buffalo. I was referring to the city of Buffalo (the center of the population) to Niagara U. It takes me about 40-45 minutes. Trust me I've done it when I visit a friend on the reservation right next to Niagara U.

The junior hockey leagues will continue to take top talent. Even in the Buffalo area, you have kids like Patrick Kane going to the juniors. Fans? No. I think they'd be much more interested in college than the junior teams. So, juniors would be a talent drain, but they are now already for all colleges. But, for the Buffalonians and Canadians who are interested in college hockey, it would be a draw to play an hour away from your hometown. Heck, St. Catharine's and Mississauga have great youth hockey.

Buffalo has ramped up its youth hockey. They start at 3 years old here, which is ridiculous, if you ask me. By 5 years old, they start traveling to Ontario. Even I set up a backyard rink (though not this year, may not do it all in this balmy weather). Hockey has exploded here in the last decade or so far beyond what it was in any other place I've lived (Boston, Providence, New Haven, Albany, even Rochester).

I really think the upgrade would be a big winner, but only if they devoted football resources to it.

 

[Dann]

upstate NY hockey is 2nd to only Minn in my mind. I am a firm believer that a Cuse hockey program would draw 10k to games and be really good quick. alot of the best players in the sport dont play in hs or college and thats not going to stop, but there is easily enough talent around for Cuse to build a winner quickly. the d3 following up there is strong. and all of those ppl are cuse bball/fball fans. it wouldnt take much to built up there.

 

[upstater]

upstate NY hockey is 2nd to only Minn in my mind. I am a firm believer that a Cuse hockey program would draw 10k to games and be really good quick. alot of the best players in the sport dont play in hs or college and thats not going to stop, but there is easily enough talent around for Cuse to build a winner quickly. the d3 following up there is strong. and all of those ppl are cuse bball/fball fans. it wouldnt take much to built up there.

Cuse has fans in Cuse. That's it. It's not a big deal upstate. Even the Cuse board agrees with this.

 

[whaler11]

upstate NY hockey is 2nd to only Minn in my mind. I am a firm believer that a Cuse hockey program would draw 10k to games and be really good quick. alot of the best players in the sport dont play in hs or college and thats not going to stop, but there is easily enough talent around for Cuse to build a winner quickly. the d3 following up there is strong. and all of those ppl are cuse bball/fball fans. it wouldnt take much to built up there.

I had a cousin that played at Utica after going the junior route. They got some big crowds for DIII up there. Really any decent public school could be successful if they just invested the resources in hockey. If Quinnipiac can be decent, no reason UConn or Buffalo or anyone else couldn't.

 

[Dann]

I had a cousin that played at Utica after going the junior route. They got some big crowds for DIII up there. Really any decent public school could be successful if they just invested the resources in hockey. If Quinnipiac can be decent, no reason UConn or Buffalo or anyone else couldn't.

thats cool, utica hockey is strong and ive seen them a couple times. i hope my alma wneu can developed something like they have over time. a good friend on mine that i visit a couple times a year grew up down the street in new hartford. they for a public hs have a great hockey program. he has several friends that have been active in the nhl recently and always rips me for my fp friends as they are in the minors right now lol. i learned the hockey scene up there through being around him and a couple other guys in college. it would take a real idiot to not be able to win quick up there.

Minn hockey is in another world. but i would say that some NY hockey teams could go there and compete with Minn teams. i would say the top 30 schools in NY, top 15 in MA(catholic/bc/malden etc) top 5 in NJ(db/sh/delbar etc) and in CT just FP/Hamden are all on the same level. throw in BH and a school or 2(ice hogs) from RI and thats the real legit hockey being played at the hs level in the northeast. the prep school leagues that don't play publics in new england and buffalo areas are a whole nother ball game.

edit- i should also mention that Mich hockey is very good, on par with NY and then WI/ND/SD are like new england...for those just learning about hockey levels.

 

[huskyrob1]

I know this has been discussed before on this board...but just saw this release posted on UConnHuskies.com:

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/122011aaa.html

UConn To Evaluate Men's Ice Hockey Program
Assessment will include financial support, staffing and potential revenue sources.

Dec. 20, 2011
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut Division of Athletics has named Stafford Sports, LLC, a nationally recognized sports consulting firm, to conduct a complete evaluation of its men's ice hockey program. The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the program's current level of support to that of Atlantic Hockey league members and other programs in the region. The assessment will include financial support, staffing, facilities and potential revenue sources.
Stafford Sports, of Medford, NJ, provides strategic planning, negotiation services and operational consulting for the public and private sector in the development of sports and entertainment properties and facilities. Collegiate clients in the past have included UMass-Lowell, Georgetown, Villanova and Wake Forest. The firm currently is providing consulting and strategic services to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, a newly formed, eight-team Division I men's hockey conference that will commence play in the 2013-14 season.

I doubt it, but I really hope that this is Herbst evaluating the potential for UConn to upgrade it's Men's Ice Hockey program and look to finally join Hockey East and play with the 'big boys'. I am already a donor for the Ice Hockey program...but if this goes anywhere I will definately look to up my donation level. This is long overdue in my opinion.

In related news, I think Bruce Marshall has already started cleaning out his office!

I think upgrading hockey in conjunction with Herbst trying to get AAU membership for UCONN makes UCONN much more attractive to the Big 10 than Rutgers. College hockey in the Big 10 is big and about to get bigger.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=6243751

 

[kibblesnbits]

Big 10 level ice hockey will take a level of facilities commitment far beyond just blowing out a few walls to expand Freitas. Penn State will be opening a gorgeous new arena that sounds similar in specs to Agganis. MN, UW and tOSU play in very large, relatively new buildings (with the former two filling them on a regular basis) and the Michigan schools draw extremely well in their traditional 6,000+ seat barns. MN, UW, UM and MSU all have multiple national championships to their credit.

Unless it was almost completely flattened and replaced with an essentially new building, an enlarged Freitas would probably be in the bottom 1/3 of HE - trailing modern facilities at ND, BU, BCU, UNH, UML and UMass (albeit the latter is oversized for its market) as well as classic facilities at UVM and NU. Even Merrimack's barn, the traditional bottom of the HE barrel has undergone renovations but I haven't seen it since the recent work.

If UConn does decide to go forward hopefully it will be in a first class manner to be competitive rather than an attempt to get by with the minimum upgrade possible to gain admission. Of course the same could be said for staffing requirements, scholarships, operating budget, etc.

 

[freescooter]

If that were the case why hasn't Niagara or even Mercyhurst been able to dominate? Niagara is the same location as Buffalo and although they have had some success they are far from dominant!

Niagara has only had a team for maybe 10-15 years. They are one of the few, maybe the only, team to make the NCAA tourney as an idependent and they beat a very good New Hampshire team when they did it. their problems have been related to their leagues. First they were in a new and very unstable CHA that spread from Buffalo to Alabama to colorado to Michgan and Bemiji Minnesota. The league was practically a revolving door, losing members, barely keeping NCAA eligible. Twice it almost went under only to be saved at the 11th hour. It finally ended for good a couple of years ago. It was a very tough league to recruit in,partly because of the travel, and partly because of the instability, though they won it a couple of times and have been back to the NCAAs at least one or two other times. Now they are in the same league with UCONN, the AHA. That league limits scholarships to 12 compared witht he NCAA limit of 18. Sort of think of it as 1AA hockey. While the situation is now stable, I think if you take into consideration the situation they have been in, that, not location, is why they haven't dominated.