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From media.
3 out of the 6 Program Coaches spoke frankly about B1G expansion (Michigan's Red Berenson, Michigan State's Tom Anastos (former commissioner of conference) and Wisconsin Mike Eaves).
http://btn.com/2015/10/01/audio-listen-to-the-big-ten-hockey-preseason-coaches-teleconference/
And, without reservation, each stated that the conference is eager and enthused to expand. BRAND name Universities and peer partners to the current 6. They talked about it extensively in the Spring. And, backdoor behind-the-scenes discussions have taken place. One suggested that the likely timeframe is 3-5 years. Asked specifically whether this could be for Hockey only, Red Berenson (*the dean of College Hockey here) said that it was possible and something discussed; however, it was more likely to be a bigger commitment from a school beyond hockey. Asked whether this was embraced across the conference, Anastos stated enthusiasm on all parties.
Berenson said he played in the NHL when there were only 6 clubs and that worked well; and this B1G structure worked well. But, he thought that there were a lot of good ideas on adding at least 2.
Looking at the Map. I make the following assumptions: (a.) No Ivy University will go to the B1G. They don't really need the money. They will like to continue to be attached to the other Ivy. So, the most likely (in my mind), Cornell and Princeton are out. Yale, Harvard, Brown and Dartmouth are all non-starters. (b.) You can't take the B1G to the next time zone and take Privates. So, Colorado College and University of Denver are out. Lots of good Privates throughout the Hockey East and the ECAC; but, I can't see it. (c.) Nope on Notre Dame. This is not something important to ND; they aren't likely to give on this when there are strong reasons in their other sports. (d.) Lesser State schools in current B1G states are not candidates unless they are overwhelmingly great Academics. No to Minnesota State, Minnesota - Duluth, Bowling Green, Western Michigan.
OK ... I nominate UConn.
But ... what else might work?
I really only see 3 possibilities and all are hard to wrap your head around better than dear old Storrs.
They are: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) - a Public Ivy of 15,726 that would balance off the state of Ohio from Columbus. Excellent Academics. Not likely to be All-Sports though. Nebraska - Omaha - a solid peer/sister school to Nebraska - Lincoln and already a solid Hockey school. Plays in that new conference and doesn't look like all that easy a fit. Decent size at 14,903 enrollment. North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND) with 15,250 enrollment. A great Hockey Program; yet, hard to see the Grand Forks market desirable or any of the other pieces. No offense.
Not one whisper of a Illinois or a Purdue/Indiana or a Rutgers (ha) starting a Program. Zero. Emphasis was on grabbing an existing Program.
3 out of the 6 Program Coaches spoke frankly about B1G expansion (Michigan's Red Berenson, Michigan State's Tom Anastos (former commissioner of conference) and Wisconsin Mike Eaves).
http://btn.com/2015/10/01/audio-listen-to-the-big-ten-hockey-preseason-coaches-teleconference/
And, without reservation, each stated that the conference is eager and enthused to expand. BRAND name Universities and peer partners to the current 6. They talked about it extensively in the Spring. And, backdoor behind-the-scenes discussions have taken place. One suggested that the likely timeframe is 3-5 years. Asked specifically whether this could be for Hockey only, Red Berenson (*the dean of College Hockey here) said that it was possible and something discussed; however, it was more likely to be a bigger commitment from a school beyond hockey. Asked whether this was embraced across the conference, Anastos stated enthusiasm on all parties.
Berenson said he played in the NHL when there were only 6 clubs and that worked well; and this B1G structure worked well. But, he thought that there were a lot of good ideas on adding at least 2.
Looking at the Map. I make the following assumptions: (a.) No Ivy University will go to the B1G. They don't really need the money. They will like to continue to be attached to the other Ivy. So, the most likely (in my mind), Cornell and Princeton are out. Yale, Harvard, Brown and Dartmouth are all non-starters. (b.) You can't take the B1G to the next time zone and take Privates. So, Colorado College and University of Denver are out. Lots of good Privates throughout the Hockey East and the ECAC; but, I can't see it. (c.) Nope on Notre Dame. This is not something important to ND; they aren't likely to give on this when there are strong reasons in their other sports. (d.) Lesser State schools in current B1G states are not candidates unless they are overwhelmingly great Academics. No to Minnesota State, Minnesota - Duluth, Bowling Green, Western Michigan.
OK ... I nominate UConn.
But ... what else might work?
I really only see 3 possibilities and all are hard to wrap your head around better than dear old Storrs.
They are: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) - a Public Ivy of 15,726 that would balance off the state of Ohio from Columbus. Excellent Academics. Not likely to be All-Sports though. Nebraska - Omaha - a solid peer/sister school to Nebraska - Lincoln and already a solid Hockey school. Plays in that new conference and doesn't look like all that easy a fit. Decent size at 14,903 enrollment. North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND) with 15,250 enrollment. A great Hockey Program; yet, hard to see the Grand Forks market desirable or any of the other pieces. No offense.
Not one whisper of a Illinois or a Purdue/Indiana or a Rutgers (ha) starting a Program. Zero. Emphasis was on grabbing an existing Program.
