FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Ice Bear]

SJU vs. Bethel game notes are up:

https://gojohnnies.com/documents/2022/9/21/092422_Bethel_GameNotes.pdf

This is a karmic danger weekend for SJU.  The notes say we're 5-8 all time on this date.  And we've lost the last two.

We've had a better TOP of that helps people breath a little easier.

Ice Bear says this is telltale for sure +k. If the Bear is being honest, if the data shows a clear advantage in the TOP department for any one team...the ****ing game isn't even worth playing. Ice Bear says (with a giant ****ing caribou antler stuck in his teeth) you can take that to the bank...game blouses!

[sjusection105]

We've had a better TOP of that helps people breath a little easier.

[Caz Bombers]

I mean, I'm biased but I generally agree that there isn't a meaningful bump in any of those things, and that includes exposure.

For Utica, it would mean a chance to do D-I hockey, though, and that is meaningful in that part of the country.

Utica's gimmick is they only care about hockey, but like having close to 30 other sports to increase enrollment. D2 differentiates themselves from most other schools in the region (they'll get to be one of only 6 D2 schools on the I-90 NYS corridor) and through hyper-regionalization of the playoffs gives them a better chance at NCAA postseasons than being SJF and Nazareth's speed bump in the E8. Again though, their administration is fine if they end up a complete doormat in Division II as long as men's ice hockey becomes an AHA power.

[DuffMan]

We've had a better TOP of that helps people breath a little easier.

+K 

[SagatagSam]

I mean, I'm biased but I generally agree that there isn't a meaningful bump in any of those things, and that includes exposure.

For Utica, it would mean a chance to do D-I hockey, though, and that is meaningful in that part of the country.

That makes more sense. Utica has outdrawn everyone else in D3 in attendance for the past 15 years--and it's not even close. Utica averaged 1,300 more people than the second place team (Oswego St.) in 2019 (Utica: 3,394; Oswego St.: 2,073). Over 80% of all D3 schools average fewer than 800 fans per game.

For reference, those numbers would put Utica in the top half of D1 in hockey attendance.

My only thought now is how oversaturated New York (and New England) are for D1 hockey programs. Where do you find the talent?

[Ice Bear]

I mean, I'm biased but I generally agree that there isn't a meaningful bump in any of those things, and that includes exposure.

For Utica, it would mean a chance to do D-I hockey, though, and that is meaningful in that part of the country.

That makes more sense. Utica has outdrawn everyone else in D3 in attendance for the past 15 years--and it's not even close. Utica averaged 1,300 more people than the second place team (Oswego St.) in 2019 (Utica: 3,394; Oswego St.: 2,073). Over 80% of all D3 schools average fewer than 800 fans per game.

For reference, those numbers would put Utica in the top half of D1 in hockey attendance.

My only thought now is how oversaturated New York (and New England) are for D1 hockey programs. Where do you find the talent?

Ice Bear says the game has certainly grown across the country and today you see many more players from the likes of Florida and California than ever before. Ice says you'll soon see kids coming from Arizona (and other western states) as well. Also, the flow from Canada never dries up even with all the competition from the CHL. Ice says (and many on here are probably aware of this) that the recruiting world for D1 hockey (even D3 hockey) is such a unique pipeline that there are always so many players plugged into it from when they were quite young (8th/9th grade) whether it be playing juniors and/or some high level Prep School hockey. Very rarely if ever, aside from the state of Minnesota (maybe one or two others at best) do you have any D1 players (or D3) coming right out of high school. So D1 hopeful players are already separated and on their own path and are not in small numbers.

Ice says with all that being said, with the continuing addition of D1 programs some feel the level of play has slipped a bit. Ice doesn't quite buy it though as more and more college hockey players are making a living playing professional hockey and continuing to make more noise in the draft each year. Ice also spent the first 20 years of his life completely immersed in the game and world and believes D1 hockey is still played at an incredibly high level.

[hazzben]

Hazz- BU still cool with adult beverages while minding our own business flipping a few burgers in the parking lot Saturday morning?

If you don't flaunt it, I think you'll be just fine. Just make sure you aren't dancing and drinking at the same time ... 

[sjusection105]

 

Hazz- BU still cool with adult beverages while minding our own business flipping a few burgers in the parking lot Saturday morning?

If you don't flaunt it, I think you'll be just fine. Just make sure you aren't dancing and drinking at the same time ... 

[repete]

I mean, I'm biased but I generally agree that there isn't a meaningful bump in any of those things, and that includes exposure.

For Utica, it would mean a chance to do D-I hockey, though, and that is meaningful in that part of the country.

That makes more sense. Utica has outdrawn everyone else in D3 in attendance for the past 15 years--and it's not even close. Utica averaged 1,300 more people than the second place team (Oswego St.) in 2019 (Utica: 3,394; Oswego St.: 2,073). Over 80% of all D3 schools average fewer than 800 fans per game.

For reference, those numbers would put Utica in the top half of D1 in hockey attendance.

My only thought now is how oversaturated New York (and New England) are for D1 hockey programs. Where do you find the talent?

Ice Bear says the game has certainly grown across the country and today you see many more players from the likes of Florida and California than ever before. Ice says you'll soon see kids coming from Arizona (and other western states) as well. Also, the flow from Canada never dries up even with all the competition from the CHL. Ice says (and many on here are probably aware of this) that the recruiting world for D1 hockey (even D3 hockey) is such a unique pipeline that there are always so many players plugged into it from when they were quite young (8th/9th grade) whether it be playing juniors and/or some high level Prep School hockey. Very rarely if ever, aside from the state of Minnesota (maybe one or two others at best) do you have any D1 players (or D3) coming right out of high school. So D1 hopeful players are already separated and on their own path and are not in small numbers.

Ice says with all that being said, with the continuing addition of D1 programs some feel the level of play has slipped a bit. Ice doesn't quite buy it though as more and more college hockey players are making a living playing professional hockey and continuing to make more noise in the draft each year. Ice also spent the first 20 years of his life completely immersed in the game and world and believes D1 hockey is still played at an incredibly high level.

My experience is the Eastern schools of all levels rely a lot more heavily on players from the Great White North than those from the Midwest (Fightin' Sue excepted). But I've lost a lot of interest in D1 pux since the Big Ten and its money intervened, They completely bulldozed the landscape and ended the great WCHA, a wonderful conference.

[art76]

Sounds like Roste is going to be playing on Saturday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpOTVI7FvEE

[DuffMan]

SJU/Baptist week and we're talking hockey.  Barf.   

[art76]

More non-football info - this just ran today in the Pioneer Press:

https://www.twincities.com/2022/09/21/bethel-university-rocket-society-beat-big-ten-teams/

[OzJohnnie]

Sounds like Roste is going to be playing on Saturday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpOTVI7FvEE

Maximum stakes.  I like it.

[Ice Bear]

Sounds like Roste is going to be playing on Saturday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpOTVI7FvEE

This makes the Bear giddy! Let's go Roste N Royals!

[BDB]

In the annual "MIACPP First/Last Furnace Turn-On" competition, let me be the Kramer here as in the infamous "Master of My Domain" episode and say I'm Out!

That beautiful machine in my lower level is energized and fresh filter installed.

I'll leave it up to the rest of you to battle this out. However, Duffman is the undisputed king of this annual hold out to hit the on switch, and you better be ready to break out the woolies if you think you are going to outlast him.