Hockey East is an all-New England conference, with all bus trips (other than to Orono) less than four hours. Syracuse fits neither, and would have to build a program from scratch. Should HE expand to 12 (I hope they do), my preferences are either Sacred Heart or Holy Cross. Both are easy drives for the team and its fans, have existing programs, and would elevate their profiles moving from Atlantic Hockey to HE. The gold ring would be Quinnipiac, but I don't see them leaving ECAC. SH and HC both create natural and accessible hockey rivals for UConn. Holy Cross women already compete in HE as well.SU is a major market for hockey to target, Hockey East could use a little expansion. Cuse sponsors WHOC so why haven't they pursued MHOC yet? I feel like they'd make a great addition to Hockey East, also a great rivalry for UConn.
Eh. Some people think the purpose of a rival is to beat the crap out of them as often as you can. Not be happy where you avoid competing with them.
Unless, of course, you think the BCU model is how normal fantasies want to operate.
Screw SU. They certainly didn’t do UConn any favors during realignment.SU is a major market for hockey to target, Hockey East could use a little expansion. Cuse sponsors WHOC so why haven't they pursued MHOC yet? I feel like they'd make a great addition to Hockey East, also a great rivalry for UConn.
Hockey East is an all-New England conference, with all bus trips (other than to Orono) less than four hours. Syracuse fits neither, and would have to build a program from scratch. Should HE expand to 12 (I hope they do), my preferences are either Sacred Heart or Holy Cross. Both are easy drives for the team and its fans, have existing programs, and would elevate their profiles moving from Atlantic Hockey to HE. The gold ring would be Quinnipiac, but I don't see them leaving ECAC. SH and HC both create natural and accessible hockey rivals for UConn. Holy Cross women already compete in HE as well.
dbmill:Agreed. The only team from outside New England to compete in Hockey East was Notre Dame. That sure didn't work out. Seriously doubt Hockey East is about repeat that experiment and add a team that far outside its base region. Especially a school with pretty much no college ice hockey history to begin with.
dbmill:
I appreciate your supportive comment. If you are a fellow season ticketholder, let's get together prior to, or between periods of, the next game. I am in section 114, Row N, seat 9. If you travel to away games, perhaps we can meet up for a pint on the road as well.
Probably won’t happen unless they get their own Pegula that foots the bill for a venue and to seed the first few seasons of scholarships.SU is a major market for hockey to target, Hockey East could use a little expansion. Cuse sponsors WHOC so why haven't they pursued MHOC yet? I feel like they'd make a great addition to Hockey East, also a great rivalry for UConn.
No hockey or baseball. Cuse sucks.I had no idea Cuse didn't have a hockey team. I've never heard of a Canadian university without one.
I could be wrong, hoping someone can shed some light on this, but I thought there was a stipulation in the HE by-laws that if a school had an established team in HE that the women's and/or men's team had in automatic invite for their respect team once they decided to support the team. Since HC women are in HE, once the men decide to upgrade there's already a spot in HE.Agreed. The only team from outside New England to compete in Hockey East was Notre Dame. That sure didn't work out. Seriously doubt Hockey East is about repeat that experiment and add a team that far outside its base region. Especially a school with pretty much no college ice hockey history to begin with.