Here is a story that has caught my eye. If a league wants to have an even number of teams you would believe that Hockey East needs a 12th member after adding Notre Dame. Enter the University of Connecticut, who has been exploring the possibility of moving their Division I hockey program to Hockey East.
The Hartford Courant ---- UConn announced in December that it had hired a sports consulting firm to “conduct a complete evaluation of its men’s ice hockey program.”
The purpose, a press release stated, was “to assess the program’s current level of support to that of Atlantic Hockey league members and other programs in the region. The assessment will include financial support, staffing, facilities and potential revenue sources.”
I don’t think that a program that is looking to upgrade its program by moving to a more competitive league is doing its cause a lot of good, when they come right out and say that they have money issues. Also, the arena formerly known as the
Hartford Civic Center which was renamed the XL Center, would be the home of the UCONN Huskies because they don’t have a home arena that is considered acceptable by Hockey East Standards.
The Hartford Courant --- Hockey East is interested in UConn and the Huskies have interest in elevating their program, but money remains the major issue.
Hockey East officials are visiting UConn and the XL Center Thursday and reportedly meeting with Gov. Dannel P.Malloy, a source confirmed Wednesday. UConn officials had no comment.
Last year, UConn hired a national consulting firm to evaluate the hockey program and see how it compares with other Atlantic Hockey programs. New athletic director Warde Manuel, who was not at the school when the consultant was hired, does have a history with big-time hockey from his days at Michigan.
