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Victor Maitlin

Any NCAA Hockey Fans On Here?

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2 hours ago, NorthWestCowboy said:

Or drop some current men's sports like BSU did with wrestling when they added baseball.

Perhaps, but for an athletic department running on subsidies does it really make any sense to drop less costly sports that have regional conference affiliations and lower travel and equipment costs to add a high cost sport with very few other D1 teams in the region.  But hey, it's UNLV.  I'm not going to crap my pants in shock should they choose to do the irresponsible thing.

SteelCityBlue

November 24th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^

I'm looking forward to a new head coach who isn't a cud-chewing autistic retard.

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On 9/26/2018 at 12:22 PM, NorthWestCowboy said:

Arizona State really put themselves out there in moving up to NCAA D1 and I hope it'll spark others to do the same. 

It takes more than a "spark".  ASU received something like $30 Million from one donor toward getting their program off the ground.  Also, Phoenix is rich with hockey rinks - I've been to three facilities down there that have more than one rink.

On 9/27/2018 at 5:52 AM, 4UNLV said:

I'd love to see UNLV move up, their program has grown by leaps and bounds since the Knights have taken them under their wing. They play at City National Arena and more fans are going all the time. Maybe in the next few years, if they keep improving like they have.

UNLV hockey had a lot of momentum even before the VGK, but the program is only a decade old and it took a lot to progress up to ACHA D1 level.  Having the VGK's facilities and culture have definitely been a boost, but UNLV is a long way from making the next step to varsity (scholarship) level.  UNLV hockey at least is actively working toward that, but in the near-term the only possible way that would happen is if a donor like (billionaire VGK owner) Foley decided to make it happen.  In the meantime, There are a few wealthy Las Vegans that have helped get this far (Engelsteds and the guy from D casino).

Las Vegas at least is seeing some of the infrastructure benefits that will help grow hockey, along with a lot of emerging support for youth hockey, with lots of kids getting gear at almost no cost and a few dozen low-income family kids getting gear, ice time, and basic coaching at no cost.  But we're a decade away from any of those kids playing for UNLV.

Meanwhile success at ACHA level is within reach.  The Skatin' Rebs are 4-0 to start the season and there is a lot of new talent.  I believe 5 guys came to UNLV from Canada over the summer to join the program, and one of them even left varsity D1 Alabama Huntsville to transfer and become a Rebel.  Last season I heard the attendance average was around 800 paid and 1100 total (including students, RAF cardholders, etc.), which is more than the majority of scholarship level sports (cue the football and basketball sarcasm...)

 

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Second poll of the season out, and THE Ohio State University jumps to #1.  They play two games this weekend at ASU, so the Sun Devils' fledgling program is starting off the season in the deep end of the pool. 

https://www.uscho.com/2018/10/08/ohio-state-assumes-top-spot-in-latest-uscho-com-division-i-mens-poll/

SteelCityBlue

November 24th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^

I'm looking forward to a new head coach who isn't a cud-chewing autistic retard.

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8 minutes ago, Rebels2k3 said:

I wonder how the Fighting Sioux (Hawks) will do this season.

They're one of the sport's bluebloods. They should bounce back from a subpar season last year.  Their conference is tough, but I'd still be surprised if they don't compete for a title and NCAA bid. 

SteelCityBlue

November 24th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^

I'm looking forward to a new head coach who isn't a cud-chewing autistic retard.

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On 9/26/2018 at 3:22 PM, NorthWestCowboy said:

Hopefully, more schools in the west will add NCAA D1 hockey but I'm not holding my breathe as it's an expensive sport when it comes to facilities, equipment and Title IX.  Arizona State really put themselves out there in moving up to NCAA D1 and I hope it'll spark others to do the same.  At present, 10 NCAA DI mens programs reside west of the Mississippi out of 60 total D1 programs nationwide.  Two of those schools, Denver and North Dakota are tied for #2 all time at 8 naty's apeice trailing only MI in number of naty's won.

Unfortunately, I think it's nearly impossible for a MWC school to be able to afford NCAA D1 hockey.  I think private schools like Stanford and USC could make it work rather easily.  Maybe even Gonzaga and BYU.  As far as public universities west of the Mississippi that don't currently have NCAA D1 hockey I think there are several that could make it work.  Washington, UCLA, Kansas and Texas could rather easily and perhaps Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona and Utah could fund D1 hockey and have enough population and interest to draw reasonable attendance.  Who knows but a hockey fan can dream.

Air Force competes in the Atlantic Hockey Conference and is the media pick to place first this year.  We'll see what they look like this weekend when they play #10 Denver University...

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Not a bad showing for Arizona State, opening up against the #1 team in the country that has two legitimate Hobey Baker candidates on it, and they played tough.  Game was tied for much of the second period before Ohio State pulled away.

SteelCityBlue

November 24th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^

I'm looking forward to a new head coach who isn't a cud-chewing autistic retard.

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New Poll.  B1G  and NCHC take 8 of the top 10 spots.

1    Ohio State (38)
2    Notre Dame (4)
3    Minnesota Duluth
4    St. Cloud State (6)
5    Providence
6    Minnesota (2)
7    Minnesota State
8    Cornell
9    Denver
10    Penn State
11    Michigan
12    Northeastern
13    Boston University
14    Princeton
15    Wisconsin
16    North Dakota
17    Bowling Green
18    Boston College
19    Western Michigan
20    Union

SteelCityBlue

November 24th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^

I'm looking forward to a new head coach who isn't a cud-chewing autistic retard.

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USCHO.com GAME OF THE WEEK: Minnesota, North Dakota play Vegas, where UNLV has eyes on moving to D-I

https://www.uscho.com/2018/10/26/uscho-com-game-of-the-week-minnesota-north-dakota-play-vegas-where-unlv-has-eyes-on-moving-to-d-i/

Nice article on the D1 game here in Las Vegas this weekend, pitting ranked teams Minnesota and North Dakota against each other at the Orleans Arena, where the UNLV (ACHA) hockey team broke in the ice yesterday.  The article goes into the links between UNLV's aspiring program and the ASU and North Dakota D1 programs.

The article mentions the "feasibility studies" that the NHL has funded for universities in NHL markets to start roadmapping becoming D1.  Illinois and Oakland are the only two of the five universities that have made public their participation.  Outside of LV people have speculated that UNLV was one of the five, but at the time the feasibility studies were kicking off it was assumed there that there was simply too much going on with the VGK organization for anything that trivial to be even close to their radar - and that seems to be confirmed in the article (" College Hockey Inc.’s deputy director Nate Ewell said that there are still funds available to conduct such studies but still would require an actual go-ahead from the athletic department at UNLV.")

Minnesota vs. North Dakota is the fifth D1 hockey game that Las Vegas is hosting in 2018, since in January Boston College, ASU, Michigan Tech, and Northern Michigan faced off in a tournament at T-Mobile Arena.  This winter it will be Connecticut, Air Force, Western Michigan and St. Lawrence.

The article talks a lot about UNLV's aspirations of going D1, but for now that's an unrealistic goal.  While there are a few millionaires giving the program some love, it will take someone like (VGK owner) billionaire Bill Foley deciding it should happen for it to take off.

 

 

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2 hours ago, BleedRebelRed said:

USCHO.com GAME OF THE WEEK: Minnesota, North Dakota play Vegas, where UNLV has eyes on moving to D-I

https://www.uscho.com/2018/10/26/uscho-com-game-of-the-week-minnesota-north-dakota-play-vegas-where-unlv-has-eyes-on-moving-to-d-i/

Nice article on the D1 game here in Las Vegas this weekend, pitting ranked teams Minnesota and North Dakota against each other at the Orleans Arena, where the UNLV (ACHA) hockey team broke in the ice yesterday.  The article goes into the links between UNLV's aspiring program and the ASU and North Dakota D1 programs.

The article mentions the "feasibility studies" that the NHL has funded for universities in NHL markets to start roadmapping becoming D1.  Illinois and Oakland are the only two of the five universities that have made public their participation.  Outside of LV people have speculated that UNLV was one of the five, but at the time the feasibility studies were kicking off it was assumed there that there was simply too much going on with the VGK organization for anything that trivial to be even close to their radar - and that seems to be confirmed in the article (" College Hockey Inc.’s deputy director Nate Ewell said that there are still funds available to conduct such studies but still would require an actual go-ahead from the athletic department at UNLV.")

Minnesota vs. North Dakota is the fifth D1 hockey game that Las Vegas is hosting in 2018, since in January Boston College, ASU, Michigan Tech, and Northern Michigan faced off in a tournament at T-Mobile Arena.  This winter it will be Connecticut, Air Force, Western Michigan and St. Lawrence.

The article talks a lot about UNLV's aspirations of going D1, but for now that's an unrealistic goal.  While there are a few millionaires giving the program some love, it will take someone like (VGK owner) billionaire Bill Foley deciding it should happen for it to take off.

 

 

I think Bill Foley could be interested in boot strapping UNLV hockey in the future if and when his Golden Knights are firmly entrenched in Las Vegas and Nevada's sports landscape.  They had a dream come true season last year and while this season is still relatively new it looks as though winning will come a little or perhaps even a lot harder this season for the Golden Knights.  I do think this franchise will ultimately be successful but it takes a good decade if not two to know for certain.

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6 hours ago, NorthWestCowboy said:

I think Bill Foley could be interested in boot strapping UNLV hockey in the future if and when his Golden Knights are firmly entrenched in Las Vegas and Nevada's sports landscape.  They had a dream come true season last year and while this season is still relatively new it looks as though winning will come a little or perhaps even a lot harder this season for the Golden Knights.  I do think this franchise will ultimately be successful but it takes a good decade if not two to know for certain.

Given the current finances of UNLV's athletic department and UNLV's level of fundraising, I think the only way that they make the jump to D1 is if some whale donor writes the big check.  That's what it took at ped state, and they actually have an ad that makes money.

SteelCityBlue

November 24th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^

I'm looking forward to a new head coach who isn't a cud-chewing autistic retard.

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On 10/27/2018 at 7:51 AM, Victor Maitlin said:

Given the current finances of UNLV's athletic department and UNLV's level of fundraising, I think the only way that they make the jump to D1 is if some whale donor writes the big check.  That's what it took at ped state, and they actually have an ad that makes money.

Currently UNLV's hockey club program - and fundraising for it - operates fairly independently of the athletic department.  Unfortunately at the moment there is a turbulent relationship between the Engelstad Foundation (which still gives several hundred thousand each year to UNLV hockey, and just paid for UNLV hockey's locker room in the VGK facility) and the highly dysfunctional University of Nevada Board of Regents (which is the minor league for local start-up politicians).  The foundation is now run by a UNLV alumna and is still the biggest donor to UNLV's medical school even after rescinding $14M of it because of the BOR axing Jessup.  The Engelstad Foundation has strongly supported hockey elsewhere by donating $105 million to the University of North Dakota (her father's alma mater, which now has a similar strained relationship with EF as the Nevada BOR) to build them a hockey arena, as well as $13M to build a hockey rink in Minnesota and $5M for one in Fargo, ND.

This summer the owner of the D Las Vegas gave another $100K toward Las Vegas youth hockey through the Golden Knights Foundation, which now makes several hundred thousand from him.   There are a lot of kids in those programs now that will be feeding heavily into college hockey within 10-15 years, so that could potentially boost local college hockey.  There are dozens of low income kids getting all their equipment and coaching free that otherwise never would have tried hockey, and hundreds of kids getting coaching and equipment costs subsidized.  Still there aren't nearly enough girls.  Writers keep saying if hockey gets men's scholarships then women's scholarships could be funded for a sport like lacrosse... but there is no money that's interested in lacrosse. 

The whales are there.

A study before the NHL decided to come to LV concluded that there are 140,000 "avid hockey vans" in LV, which far exceeds the number of "avid UNLV fans".  There are simply more Las Vegans that relocated here from the Midwest, Canada, or Europe than there are UNLV alumni.  UNLV hockey had ambitions of reaching D1 level even before the Golden Knights existed, but NHL here seems to boost the chances.

 

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I like NCAA Hockey and wish their were more teams here in the Pacific Coast states. I think Alaska is the only state on the Pacific coast that has NCAA hockey. All the others are club teams like at San Jose State (2017 PCHA Champions). http://sjsuhockey.net/

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sjsu_csn2.jpg

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Don't look now, but Arizona State has skated their way to #7 in the pairwise rankings.  The polls haven't quite ranked them that high (14th and 17th), but it's looking like the Sun Devils have a real shot at making the tourney in only their 2nd? 3rd? year.

SteelCityBlue

November 24th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^

I'm looking forward to a new head coach who isn't a cud-chewing autistic retard.

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2 hours ago, Victor Maitlin said:

Don't look now, but Arizona State has skated their way to #7 in the pairwise rankings.  The polls haven't quite ranked them that high (14th and 17th), but it's looking like the Sun Devils have a real shot at making the tourney in only their 2nd? 3rd? year.

I've been somewhat impressed thus far with ASU's season.  Splitting games with Penn St. and while not beating Ohio St the Sun Devils played very well.  The real test begins in late December thru January with the Desert Classic tournament (MN-Duluth, Clarkson, MN State) and series against Boston College, Boston University, Minnesota and Cornell.

I could care less about ASU athletics but I'm pulling for their hockey team.  A successful program at ASU could, fingers crossed spark more NCAA D1 hockey programs in the west.

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Anyone in Las Vegas who is interested in seeing four top NCAA D1 college teams match up, the Fortress Invitational includes #2 Cornell, #6 Ohio State, #14 Providence, and #20 Army.  Those teams will play Friday in T-Mobile Arena and the results will determine the matchups for the two games that will follow the NHL game between VGK and the St Louis Blues.

Early this morning I encountered the Army team in City National Arena.  They walked right past me and at first I thought it was Faith Lutheran High School (FL practices there several mornings each week) because on average the players were much smaller than I expected for a D1 team.  Army has ties to LV due to VGK owner Bill Foley, who even originally intended to name the Las Vegas team the Black Knights (but couldn't due to legal issues with Army).  Three weeks ago I had a similar encounter at Sobe Arena, when ACHA D2 Cal and @crixus' SJSU team walked in to play NAU and some team from the east coast.  Those players were even smaller on average than Army. 

Speaking of club hockey, Saturday night ACHA D1 UNLV will be playing Jamestown just a mile away from the Fortress Invitational, in the Orleans Arena.  Hopefully the college hockey reporters in town for the Fortress event give some mention to UNLV hockey's NCAA D1 aspirations again this year... even though they aren't playing in the same venue as the NCAA D1 programs this year, they are practicing in the same venue.  The main development this past year that has improved the outlook are the new rink projects that are underway.  Next July a $25M hockey facility will open on Water Street in old town Henderson - it will be similar to CNA with two rinks.  In summer of '21 another 2-rink facility will open down south (near M-Resort).  That means within 18 months Las Vegas valley will be going from the current 5 hockey rinks at 3 facilities to 9 rinks at 5 facilities.  For UNLV the math says that in 10-15 years there will be a good supply of local hockey talent, especially now that some former NHL players are getting involved with the youth programs.  Having two local billionaires who love college hockey helps the odds, although unfortunately UNLV has been associated with actions that have annoyed both (Englestead due to the firing of UNLV pres Jessup, Foley due to the public funding for the Raiders stadium after T-Mobile was entirely privately funded).

FortressInvitational.PNG

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31 minutes ago, BleedRebelRed said:

Anyone in Las Vegas who is interested in seeing four top NCAA D1 college teams match up, the Fortress Invitational includes #2 Cornell, #6 Ohio State, #14 Providence, and #20 Army.  Those teams will play Friday in T-Mobile Arena and the results will determine the matchups for the two games that will follow the NHL game between VGK and the St Louis Blues.

Early this morning I encountered the Army team in City National Arena.  They walked right past me and at first I thought it was Faith Lutheran High School (FL practices there several mornings each week) because on average the players were much smaller than I expected for a D1 team.  Army has ties to LV due to VGK owner Bill Foley, who even originally intended to name the Las Vegas team the Black Knights (but couldn't due to legal issues with Army).  Three weeks ago I had a similar encounter at Sobe Arena, when ACHA D2 Cal and @crixus' SJSU team walked in to play NAU and some team from the east coast.  Those players were even smaller on average than Army. 

Speaking of club hockey, Saturday night ACHA D1 UNLV will be playing Jamestown just a mile away from the Fortress Invitational, in the Orleans Arena.  Hopefully the college hockey reporters in town for the Fortress event give some mention to UNLV hockey's NCAA D1 aspirations again this year... even though they aren't playing in the same venue as the NCAA D1 programs this year, they are practicing in the same venue.  The main development this past year that has improved the outlook are the new rink projects that are underway.  Next July a $25M hockey facility will open on Water Street in old town Henderson - it will be similar to CNA with two rinks.  In summer of '21 another 2-rink facility will open down south (near M-Resort).  That means within 18 months Las Vegas valley will be going from the current 5 hockey rinks at 3 facilities to 9 rinks at 5 facilities.  For UNLV the math says that in 10-15 years there will be a good supply of local hockey talent, especially now that some former NHL players are getting involved with the youth programs.

During the 2018-19 season the average NHL player was 6'1" and 199 lbs.  NCAA D1 hockey players would be a little smaller and generally the military academies are a little smaller still.

145972599_NewProject.gif.93270b08b9f2936fbbdee29e15d536a8.gif

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6 minutes ago, NorthWestCowboy said:

During the 2018-19 season the average NHL player was 6'1" and 199 lbs.  NCAA D1 hockey players would be a little smaller still and generally the military academies are a little smaller still.

After I posted that I compared the roster for Army with Ohio State, and Ohio State was a little bigger, and "listed" pretty close to the NHL average you mention.

Like most sports, the "listed" height and weight for hockey are probably more than the "actual".  For Army I believe that to be the case, unless they measure with skates and pads on. (joking)

Anyway, the reason I notice the player sizes so much is that my step-kid will probably only grow to about the size of the smallest players for Army.  But since there are players that size on Army then I would expect there are a lot of NCAA D1 players that size.

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Las Vegas and Golden Knights hope that this weekend’s Fortress Invitational will be a major stepping stone towards attracting a Frozen Four

https://www.uscho.com/2020/01/02/las-vegas-and-golden-knights-hope-that-this-weekends-fortress-invitational-will-be-a-major-stepping-stone-towards-attracting-a-frozen-four/

Not mentioned in the article, but Cornell and Providence won yesterday to advance to the final today.  Ohio St and Army will face each other.

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