NU Hockey News

[le]

Mick : Could you please clarify something for me and other members. My memory of the events relating to the failure of NU to execute Phase II of the proposed rink expansion is fading. My recollection of the "infamous wall" behind the team benches was that it was only originally constructed for temporary purposes. It was to be removed once Phase II of the rink expansion took place. As explained by Mike Hermann, soaring steal prices and funding issues slowed the full expansion plan to a grinding halt. However based on your perception of the concourse area behind the "wall", full expansion would have been impossible due to the lack of sufficient space in the existing concourse area. So in essence, the original plans were terribly flawed and would have required full demo of the auxiliary rink to complete full seating behind the team benches. Correct ? I may have heard Mike H mention the issue with auxiliary rink during the upheaval at the time over the expansion plan. Thanks - Dave

[MICKEY]

No, but the concourse as is would have required the free span of the roof to expand to about 200 feet from 140 under the original plan, costing a small fortune to expand the arena. Had they built the concourse in between the aux rink and the main the span of the roof could have stayed at140 feet. In the short term they could have saved money by not adding seats behind the benches but had about 30 feet of empty space between the rink and the wall, then added bleachers for about $250K when they needed them or had the money. The original plan had the varsity locker rooms under the free span of the roof as well. I estimate for less than $750K more than what was actually spent we would have had a 2500+ seat arena today by simply having a separate concourse on one side and a second concourse over the current varsity locker rooms on the other and buying about a 1000 more seats. The best way to explain it is: looking at the building from left to right: aux rink 95 ft, concourse with lockers underneath 20 ft, main arena 140 ft containing 12-13 rows of seats on both sides of a 85 ft wide rink, and a varsity locker area of 50 feet with a 20 ft concourse above it. Or a building 20 feet wider than we have today costing about $750k more than we actually spent.

[le]

Thanks for providing clarification on the history and expansion details of Dwyer Arena. I never fully understood the specifics involved in the flawed planning and design of the arena. I will never forget AD Mike Herman’s famous last words: "I knew it, we should completed the other damn side (benches) during the initial construction phase.” His comments were made several years after the planned expansion of Dwyer was delayed due to rising building costs along with flawed building specs.

[le]

WOW, crazy story !

Tensions Over Transfer Portal Evident at Coaches Convention

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/ ... Portal.php

[ppittin]

So what is considered "tampering?" If a Michigan student calls a Union Student and says he thinks his coach might offer him something if he enters the portal.....is that tampering?? If the Michigan coach says to his players, I'd really like player B from Union to play with us and a kid from Union calls player B...is that tampering.

Lots of fuzzy lines here. Devil is always in the detail. Catholic high schools have forever been accused of recruiting by public schools, but nobody (to the best of my knowledge) has ever been caught.

[le]

Agree Pittin. What is the” new”definition of tampering ? Honestly, I don’t think the NCAA has any interest in enforcing anything anymore. They are too busy studying their new woke religion manuals and ensuring that D2 and D3 schools are harshly penalized for transitioning to D1 status. Also, the archaic rather ridiculous rule of not allowing a D3 school to sponsor “one” D1 sport is nuts as well. I mean cmon , in light of what is going on today with the bribes and extortion as a result of the NIL/Portal and they are still harshly dealing with D2 and D3 schools. BS!

[Millsy]

With most hockey players having "family advisors" now, a coach wouldn't even have to contact the kid. All they got to do is contact the family advisor and say, "Hey, we really like the way Joe is playing. If he enters the portal, we will have some interest in him." The advisor talks to the kid, and boom, they show up in the portal. But, there was no direct contact........

[le]

IMPACT OF NIL: COLLEGE HOCKEY

College hockey isn’t there yet, and NIL may never reach the heights in college hockey that it has in football and basketball, but make no mistake, it’s coming.

In some ways, it’s already here.

“If you want to repeatedly go to Frozen Fours in the next 10 years, you need to get on board with it because it's coming,” Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said this week. “And you're going to get left behind if you don't get on board with it.”

Also Mike Snee: "I lean on the side of (D-I) hockey happening at Binghamton and Utica."

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/ ... -State.php

[NewEnglander]

If Binghamton, Utica and Lemoyne do start D1 programs as rumored it may be time to break up Atlantic Hockey to start up a New York based D1 league. Also, Jake Sibell has landed at St. Thomas of the CCHA.

[le]

If you listen to the Podcast on USCHO after the Frozen Four, the broadcasting team does mention the possibility of the new league to accommodate Stonehill, LIU, Bingo, Utica, Lindenwood, TSU, Lemoyne and possibly others (Assumption, Saint A's and SMC). I did take copious notes of the broadcast and will post them at some point. They firmly believe Bingo and Utica are done deals. There is going to be a Women's World Tourney in Utica, so the inference is Utica is thinking "big".

The City of Utica, New York, have will host the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship. The event, tentatively slated for April 4-14, 2024, will include 31 games and feature the top women's hockey players from across the world.

https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1269105