Time for NDSU Hockey

[Professorbum]

I know there have been other threads on this. I know some people hate the idea. But the landscape for college sports in North Dakota has changed since the last hockey conversation.

Now that UND is going to be in the Summit and MVFC, we've no longer got something that UND doesn't have, and that annoys me. In fact, we helped them achieve those league memberships. So, there should be absolutely no reason why UND would oppose NDSU starting D-1 hockey. We could join the WCHA in 5 minutes and be competitive. Scheels would be perhaps the nicest arena in the league. It would sell out every game.

Of course, any change in athletics would have to be gender neutral, so that means a women's team (most leagues require that anyway for membership). In our budget climate, such a move would also have to be revenue neutral or better. That's the kicker...when I look at hockey programs at schools our size, hockey is a money-maker (and that includes calculating for the net loss of revenue with women's hockey). For example, at St. Cloud State, net expenses for men's and women's hockey combined in 2016 was $3.28 million; net revenue was $3.76 million. At Minnesota-Duluth, they were about $1 million in the black.

If there is a plan at NDSU to go FBS, then I would understand not being distracted by hockey. But with an arena already in place and a potentially very large fan base for D-1 hockey in F-M, I'm at a loss for why we would not consider this.

[BisonTeacher]

Boooooo! Omg so dumb.

[Professorbum]

Boooooo! Omg so dumb.

I don't understand... what's so dumb about it?

[HerdBot]

It's the same decision Gene Taylor made. Either get hockey or go D1 in other sports.

I won't dismiss it like others will.

I think we could actually do well in hockey. It's expensive but it's also a revenue sport. We could never be in the same discussion as UND is in facilities but looking at the talent pool in the Midwest and success some pretty small schools have had, I have no doubt we could be competitive within 10 years.

I think we need to build up basketball before we can have that discussion.

But it would take some big time donors to make it happen.

[BisonTeacher]

I don't understand... what's so dumb about it?

1.Hockey is a financial drain.
2.Addition of title 9 sports.
3.We already have a thread dedicated to this nonsense.
4. Un_ sucks. Let them have this ridiculousness.

[EC8CH]

Canadian Ice Soccer blows!

[HandoEX]

I'd burn my diploma if NDSU ever added hockey.

[AKBison]

1.Hockey is a financial drain.
2.Addition of title 9 sports.
3.We already have a thread dedicated to this nonsense.
4. Un_ sucks. Let them have this ridiculousness.

I believe you meant, Women's Hockey is a financial drain. Consider this, if NDSU football goes FBS, we will have ZERO sports on campus capable of winning a national championship. Let me repeat, NDSU will no longer be able to win a national Championship. That's a tough pill to swallow for an institution and alumni base that is accustomed to it. For that reason alone I hope we look at Hockey someday.

Football at FBS: Boise State type status which would be awesome.
M&W Basketball: Ceiling is probably a Sweet 16
Softball: Ceilling is probably a Super Regional but since we have done that perhaps a College World Series
Wrestling is the one sport where we are likely to see an individual national championship.

Rest of the Olympics? Very unlikely

Lastly, imagine the epic anguish and butthurt from GF if NDSU ever made it to a Frozen Four in a year when UND didn't.

[moosbah]

I believe you meant, Women's Hockey is a financial drain. Consider this, if NDSU football goes FBS, we will have ZERO sports on campus capable of winning a national championship. Let me repeat, NDSU will no longer be able to win a national Championship. That's a tough pill to swallow for an institution and alumni base that is accustomed to it. For that reason alone I hope we look at Hockey someday.

Football at FBS: Boise State type status which would be awesome.
M&W Basketball: Ceiling is probably a Sweet 16
Softball: Ceilling is probably a Super Regional but since we have done that perhaps a College World Series
Wrestling is the one sport where we are likely to see an individual national championship.

Rest of the Olympics? Very unlikely

Lastly, imagine the epic anguish and butthurt from GF if NDSU ever made it to a Frozen Four in a year when UND didn't.

I think it needs to be kept in mind how long it would take to be competitive in hockey in the NCHC. It's a BIG jump in level of play from where they are now. And that's IF the NCHC would take them, as they already shoot down WCHA teams that are jumping off that sinking ship (WCHA will likely dissolve in the near future). If they didn't go NCHC, where would they go to? No one is going to add a program from North Dakota if there aren't other teams nearby to play and college hockey is, as you know, a super niche sport.

That's a lot of huge ifs to address.

[El_Chapo]

I believe you meant, Women's Hockey is a financial drain. Consider this, if NDSU football goes FBS, we will have ZERO sports on campus capable of winning a national championship. Let me repeat, NDSU will no longer be able to win a national Championship. That's a tough pill to swallow for an institution and alumni base that is accustomed to it. For that reason alone I hope we look at Hockey someday.

Football at FBS: Boise State type status which would be awesome.
M&W Basketball: Ceiling is probably a Sweet 16
Softball: Ceilling is probably a Super Regional but since we have done that perhaps a College World Series
Wrestling is the one sport where we are likely to see an individual national championship.

Rest of the Olympics? Very unlikely

Lastly, imagine the epic anguish and butthurt from GF if NDSU ever made it to a Frozen Four in a year when UND didn't.

Oh so beating out 58 teams that are over 50% D2 and D3 institutions would give you a chubby? oh wow, you beat out Quinnipiac, Union and Ferris State, Mankato, & Bemidji. hahaha.

Do you think Illinois, Rutgers, Arizona fans hate their lives too, they will never win a ncaa football title either will Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas State.