Notre Dame to Join Hockey East in 2013-2014

[hampshirepuck 2]

Thoughts?

I really think the costs(literally) seem to outweigh the gains. Especially since the farthest drive for any Hockey East team right now is around 4 hours. I understand Hockey East is trying to bring in new blood but why not bring in teams with rich history in the northeast region such as RPI or Cornell, even Dartmouth? IMO i feel in 2013 college hockey as we know it is going to change for good.

[BarDownGinos 3]

Because RPI, Dartmouth and Cornell are extremely high end academic schools. RPI is the only non-Ivy you listed. If the ECAC had the same draw that Hockey East does, Notre Dame probably would have gone there. And on top of that, Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the country, why would you go after Dartmouth when you can have Notre Dame??

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Or explain Alaska-Fairbanks. LOL

[goblue9280 33]

Because RPI, Dartmouth and Cornell are extremely high end academic schools

And what is Notre Dame? So they didn't choose RPI, Dartmouth or Cornell because of their high academics? Notre Dame is ranked right up there with Dartmouth/Cornell and most would agree ahead of RPI. *Ugh* Now I need to go take a shower after defending Notre Dame.

[hampshirepuck 2]

HAHA very true JR....

Because RPI, Dartmouth and Cornell are extremely high end academic schools. RPI is the only non-Ivy you listed. If the ECAC had the same draw that Hockey East does, Notre Dame probably would have gone there. And on top of that, Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the country, why would you go after Dartmouth when you can have Notre Dame??

I am not thinking about academics or team bias, I am thinking about pure logistics. JR did make a good point of Alaska-Fairbanks, but Notre Dame in Hockey East? Now Hockey East schools have to increase their travel budgets just for the national tv contracts with VS and CBS sports. Its Athletics not Academics its dosn't matter really how good of a school it is as long as they can produce a championship team and maybe because of the league they are playing in is why they can't achieve that goal.

[BarDownGinos 3]

And what is Notre Dame? So they didn't choose RPI, Dartmouth or Cornell because of their high academics? Notre Dame is ranked right up there with Dartmouth/Cornell and most would agree ahead of RPI. *Ugh* Now I need to go take a shower after defending Notre Dame.

I think you need to re-read my post. I know Notre Dame is an extremely strong academic school. I believe my exact words were "if the ECAC had the same draw as Hockey East, Notre Dame would have probably gone there." But, with Notre Dame you get a team that's currently ranked #1 in the pre-season polls and also carries with it everything that is The Fighting Irish. Hockey East now gets to add the ND vs BC rivalry to everything else they have going for them.

HAHA very true JR....

I am not thinking about academics or team bias, I am thinking about pure logistics. JR did make a good point of Alaska-Fairbanks, but Notre Dame in Hockey East? Now Hockey East schools have to increase their travel budgets just for the national tv contracts with VS and CBS sports. Its Athletics not Academics its dosn't matter really how good of a school it is as long as they can produce a championship team and maybe because of the league they are playing in is why they can't achieve that goal.

You said it yourself, "National TV Contracts" That will probably cover their extra trips to South Bend right there and if not, anytime Notre Dame comes to town you can bet that the rink will be full. It's not difficult to get from New England to South Bend, I checked. Lots of flights from Logan to Detroit, Indianapois, and Chicago. And as far as an ECAC team being held back by their league, false. There's 4 teams from the ECAC in the top 20, including RPI and Cornell, to the 5 from Hockey East. Even so, BC/BU/Maine/NH has a lot more appeal league wise than Harvard/RPI/Cornell/Dartmouth.

[goblue9280 33]

I think you need to re-read my post. I believe my exact words were...

I get what you're saying now, but I don't think I misconstrued your original statement considering I directly quoted the first line. I agree with your second point, that being Hockey East looked at ND over the other schools listed mainly because of the quality of ND's program over the past decade... as well as the name recognition/athletic tradition of the school itself (despite the fact that they suck.)

[hampshirepuck 2]

I think you need to re-read my post. I know Notre Dame is an extremely strong academic school. I believe my exact words were "if the ECAC had the same draw as Hockey East, Notre Dame would have probably gone there." But, with Notre Dame you get a team that's currently ranked #1 in the pre-season polls and also carries with it everything that is The Fighting Irish. Hockey East now gets to add the ND vs BC rivalry to everything else they have going for them.

You said it yourself, "National TV Contracts" That will probably cover their extra trips to South Bend right there and if not, anytime Notre Dame comes to town you can bet that the rink will be full. It's not difficult to get from New England to South Bend, I checked. Lots of flights from Logan to Detroit, Indianapois, and Chicago. And as far as an ECAC team being held back by their league, false. There's 4 teams from the ECAC in the top 20, including RPI and Cornell, to the 5 from Hockey East. Even so, BC/BU/Maine/NH has a lot more appeal league wise than Harvard/RPI/Cornell/Dartmouth.

The question is will they actually be able to sell tickets considering they are already having a tough time selling tickets as it is?

[BarDownGinos 3]

The question is will they actually be able to sell tickets considering they are already having a tough time selling tickets as it is?

Having Notre Dame come to town certainly can't hurt.

[Apes44 7]

Having Notre Dame come to town certainly can't hurt.

theres alot of ND alums in new england! Add in fans like me whod love to trek up to BU for a game, now ND be playing there all the more reason for me to go up.

I think its really the best move other than trying to join the big 10 for all sports and then going to Big 10 hockey too