Is the NCHC lacking name-recognition?

Chris Peters of the United States of Hockey has this little blurb on his blog today – it’s worth a look. I sure there will be NCHC fans will take issue with some of the things that he said. Or not!

In all honesty, the league didn’t have to do terribly much to seemingly come out ahead on realignment. By just letting things play out and adding Notre Dame, largely due to the league thanks to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s (seriously, that’s as hard to type as it is to say) lack of foresight and possibly arrogance, Hockey East took another significant step forward by attracting UConn.

Meanwhile the NCHC has very little name-recognition, and therefore a second-rate TV deal, a second-rate tournament venue, but a high level of on-ice competition. From a hockey standpoint, it’s a fantastic league, but that’s where it ends. That might be enough for you as a fan, but it’s not enough to lead me or anyone else to believe it’s going to be a great business long term.

The Big Ten Hockey Conference will have good exposure on the Big Ten Network, but it’s still merely a six-team league. Until a few more Big Ten schools step up for hockey, and there’s nothing to indicate that will happen anytime soon, the conference’s size doesn’t make for a lot of variety and excitement, though the rivalries should remain intense. Still, the exposure and brand recognition resonates with the casual fan.

First off, is Chris Right? For disclosure – Chris was not a big fan of the re-alignment that took place last summer, he isn’t alone there are a lot of people that weren’t fans of last summer's re-alignment plan as well. It's not like we had a choice in the matter, said schools pursued this venture without any input from the fans.

That being said, do you agree with what he said? Right now, I am more concerned with what NCHC fans think than the B1G fans. It's obvious that the B1G has name-recognition.

Does the new NCHC has very little name-recognition? In my opinion; no! I am also not so sure how you can say that there is little name recognition with the teams that make up the NCHC. Teams like UND, DU, C.C. UMD have all won NCAA titles and have storied histories.

Add to the mix up and coming teams like Miami University and Western Michigan from the soon to be defunct CCHA and UNO and SCSU and you have the making of a very well balanced hockey league. The NCHC brings to the table 16 NCAA titles, only the B1G will have more NCAA titles (20), so were not talking about a second rate bunch of pathetic cupcakes here. We already know the title counts of all three leagues involved.

Let's take a look at the financials. Historically, the NCHC teams have been successful on the ice as well as financially; if you look you will see that five of the future NCHC teams make about 3.2 million off of their Division I hockey programs as opposed to the reconfigured Hockey East which loses about $395,000 a year of their hockey programs. Only Denver and Western Michigan have lost money with their hockey programs.

I am not here to disrespect Hockey East or (Chris for that matter) because Hockey East is a very good hockey league and has piled up an impressive four NCAA titles during the 2000’s, however, it’s only been two teams that have won the NCAA titles during that time period ( BU and B.C.) – besides the three power schools currently in the Hockey East no other really stands out in that conference, except maybe the University of New Hampshire.

If anything I think that the two leagues are on equal footing as far as name recognition goes in college hockey.

I think historically speaking people are just as familiar with BU and B.C. as they are with DU, UND when it comes to college hockey.

Adding Notre Dame to the Hockey East was a good move but what exactly have they accomplished during their hockey existence? Yep! You will be able to watch your team play Notre Dame when they play their Hockey East foes, but the rest of the league is not going to benefit financially from that television deal.

Breaking it down further – outside of the power schools Boston College, Boston University, Maine and UNH who else in the current Hockey East stands out and packs fans in the stands? Maybe Notre Dame when they get to Hockey East in 2013-14.

Are University of Connecticut hockey fans going to suddenly realize that they have a college hockey team and fill the XL center when it’s 30 miles from their campus? This isn’t the UCONN Men’s or Women’s Basketball teams.

This is a very different animal, the UCONN Huskies hockey team with very little history that is currently a member of the AHA conference, that’s not to say that they can’t evolve into a power house hockey team. Let’s call UCONN a work in progress.

Here is the part that I do agree with Chris with. If the Target Center which is exclusively a Basketball venue doesn’t improve after the 100-150 million dollars improvements Target Center is going to be a second rate tournament venue. That’s really not debatable; the Target Center has its work cut out for it.

The central location of the Target Center does make it an attractive venue and the majority of the fans that have the most rabid fan bases are all driving distance away.

Finally, I am not so sure we can call the deal with CBS Sports a second-rate TV deal, before we even see how it turns out.

Besides the Notre Dame TV deal with NBC Sports Net, how is the rest of Hockey East doing when it comes to games being televised? I have watched a few of the games on NESN via my DirecTV Satellite Dish but I don’t see a lot of UMASS Lowell or Amherst games on the dish.

There are a lot of unknowns going forward – no one knows how this deal is going to shake out – I would say at least give the NCHC a chance before we bury them and kick dirt on a conference that hasn’t even played a collegiate hockey game as of yet.

I also think that it’s too early to declare winners and losers – with college athletics none of this stuff stays static – things change constantly. Who knows, maybe there are more moves in the re-alignment phase before the 2013-14 season kicks off.

Lastly, I know there are a lot of unhappy people with the NCHC Television deal, I gathered this by reading the reactions of the fans over on Brad Schlossman’s blog. Due to the size of UND’s fan base there are a lot of fans that live outside of the Midco.net foot print and watch UND hockey on DirecTV or FTA Satellite dishes. After the upcoming season, many of them are worried that they will no longer be able to watch all of UND’s home games. I too wonder if I need to re-subscribe to Midco.net myself?

In conclusion, there is also no reason to panic just yet because there is a whole year left to work out the details. As we get closer to the kickoff of the NCHC more details will emerge and we will get a better idea what is going to transpire. I also don't think that the NCHC will lack name-recognition.

UConn Men's Ice Hockey To Join Hockey East for the 2014-15 season

STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut has been offered and has accepted an invitation to join the Hockey East Association in the sport of men's ice hockey in a joint announcement made on Thursday. Connecticut will join the league for men's ice hockey in 2014-15 and is already a member of the league in women's ice hockey.

Connecticut's membership in the men's league will put the conference at 12 teams for the 2014-15 season, including: Boston College, Boston University, Maine, Merrimack, UMass-Lowell, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Notre Dame (beginning in 2013-14), Providence and Vermont.

The Huskies will continue to compete in the Atlantic Hockey Association for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

"This is a historic day in the history of the University of Connecticut and its Division of Athletics," said Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. "Hockey East is the premier men's ice hockey conference in the country and we are proud to say that the Huskies are now part of it. I would like to thank Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna and the Athletic Directors at the institutions that comprise Hockey East for providing us this special opportunity.  We are committed to developing a men's ice hockey program that can and will perform successfully on the national level and compete for Hockey East and NCAA championships.

"I would also like to recognize Commissioner Robert DeGregorio and our fellow Atlantic Hockey institutions for their support during this decision making process."

The Hockey East Association was founded in 1984 and league teams have won eight NCAA championships in the past 20 years. Hockey East teams have made 37 appearances in the Frozen Four and 21 appearances in national championship games in the 28-year history of the league. Since 1999, Hockey East has won six NCAA Championships and has placed 20 teams in the Frozen Four, along with 53 teams in the NCAA Tournament. Thirty-two Hockey East alums have won the Stanley Cup with their respective NHL teams.

"This is one of the most historic and significant days in the history of our conference," said Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna. "We have enjoyed a terrific relationship with the University of Connecticut for more than a decade through our involvement with its women's hockey program. Today we start a new chapter in this relationship and we couldn't be more pleased.

"Warde Manuel and his staff did a commendable job in preparing for this moment and I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the role played by the state's biggest hockey fan, Governor Dan Malloy. Our directors have always said that we would welcome growth through any institution that brings value to our conference. No other school was better positioned to do this than the University of Connecticut."

UConn plans to play its home Hockey East conference games at the XL Center in downtown Hartford and will continue to play non-conference games in Storrs at the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum. The XL Center is the longtime off-campus home of both the UConn men's and women's basketball teams.

"The State of Connecticut is very excited that UConn is joining Hockey East and will be bringing the passion of college hockey to downtown Hartford," said Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy. "I have been a longtime fan of college hockey and believe that this is an incredible opportunity for the University. It is also a great opportunity to bring more top-flight events to the XL Center and further enhance the quality of life in downtown Hartford."

"We are thrilled with the University of Connecticut's decision to join Hockey East," said Chuck Steedman, AEG Management CT/XL Center Senior Vice President and General Manager. "AEG is extremely excited about the opportunity to play host to UConn Hockey at the XL Center and will support UConn's program in a variety of areas.

"We commend the forward-thinking vision of both the University of Connecticut and Governor Malloy, as Hockey East represents a major win for the state of Connecticut and the capital region will see the direct impact of these games being played downtown."

Connecticut currently does not offer athletic scholarships in men's ice hockey, but plans to elevate to the NCAA maximum of 18 scholarships as a participant in Hockey East. UConn will also add additional athletic scholarships to women's sports to ensure compliance with gender equity regulations.

UConn joins an elite group of seven other schools that compete on the national level as a member of the BCS Conference in football and play college basketball and college hockey in a national elite conference. Those other schools with their future conference hockey affiliation are: Boston College (Hockey East), Michigan (Big Ten), Michigan State (Big Ten), Minnesota (Big Ten), Notre Dame (Hockey East), Ohio State (Big Ten) and Wisconsin (Big Ten).

"It is a very exciting time to be part of the University of Connecticut and the joining of Hockey East is a reflection of the continuing efforts to advance our great university," said President Susan Herbst. "UConn is one of the top 20 public research institutions in the country, and our athletic prowess has been a terrific part of our overall success.  I would like to thank Governor Malloy for his support of our membership in Hockey East.   I am also extraordinarily grateful to the leadership of Hockey East, and to the university presidents of the league.  We are honored to stand alongside such excellent institutions and look forward to meeting them on the ice." 

The University of Connecticut first fielded a varsity men's hockey team in 1960-61. UConn elevated its program to Division I status in 1998-99 as a founding member of both the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Atlantic Hockey in 2003-04.

"The entire UConn men's ice hockey family is very excited about this announcement," said UConn head coach Bruce Marshall. Marshall is a 1985 UConn graduate and former men's ice hockey student-athlete. He has been the head coach of the program since 1988 and is the winningest coach in program history as he enters his 25^th season in 2012-13. "We are very grateful to the administration of the University and to the entire state for bringing Connecticut into Hockey East. From our current student-athletes to our dedicated hockey alumni base, there is great anticipation about this move. I believe that there is a strong appetite for this level of college hockey here in Connecticut and that Husky fans will embrace our entry in Hockey East."

A Rant on the future of NCHC Officiating (RW77)

With the recent post on Don "The Imagineer" Adam and his life as a police officer (which, as an aside, I would have thought would have made him an excellent official since police officers know the value of rules and enforcement therein but I digress) I thought I would chime in (again) on officials and what the NCHC should be looking for (but they probably will not listen to me anyways).

The NCHC should start fresh

There is nothing saying that the current officials in the WCHA and soon-to-be-defunct CCHA wouldn't want to be in the NCHC... especially the CCHA officials as they would undoubtedly be out of work otherwise.  However, I think the NCHC did something wise:  They hired outside the established officiating infrastructure.  Though Novak has experience with college hockey, he hasn't been mired in the beaurocacy that bogs down the WCHA and whatnot that hiring someone like Greg Shepherd or Steve Piotrowski does.  The Big 10 hired Steve Piotrowski to run their officiating.  Despite mixed reviews lately (which I believe those negative reviews were erroneous thanks to the WCHA's dire ideal of what makes a good officiating system), Piotrwoski will be a great leader in that field but...I believe Novak will be able to see what the entire officiating "world" really is like and hire accordingly.

Therefore, the NCHC can pick and choose and there is no obligation otherwise.

The Silver Lining of the Transferring Official

What if the NCHC does hire the buffoons in black and white that call themselves WCHA on ice officials?  Well, they may not entirely be buffoons, they may merely be products of the King Buffoon himself:  King Idiot Greg Shepherd. 

Here's a case in point:  I remember when Jon Campion came to the WCHA.  I watched him call a game at the REA and said to myself "This guy gets it."  He called it pretty evenly and when he did call a penalty, it was clearly a penalty.  He was as consistent as you can reasonably expect from an on-ice official (especially since at that time there was only 1 official and 2 ARs).  But as he spent more and more time around the beaurocracy and "Old Boy's Network" Greg Shepherd set up in the WCHA (with the blessing of Bruce McLeod), he started to "buy in" to Shepherd's system and his "game" deteriorated gradually until it reached the cliff:  That fateful night at the REA where Campion went awkwardly into the boards and tore his ACL.  When he returned he was a half step slow and his judgment became skewed such that it was hard to differentiate Campion from Anderson and Randy Schmidt (now fired thanks to his idiocy being caught on tape and garnering almost national attention). 

So, the official may not be all that bad, just a warped cog in a defective machine. 

So what do I think the NCHC should do (in summation)?

Hire the right guys.  Do not give excessive weight to pre-existing college hockey experience but do not turn them away.  The NCHC should mold itself more in the fashion of the NHL and USA hockey while embedding the NCAA mandate.  They should endeavour to uphold all NCAA crackdowns consistently and equally throughout the season regardless of whether or not it is a problem specific to the NCHC or otherwise.  Likewise, they should endevour to NOT be the reason behind a crackdown (such as the Don Adam Rule otherwise known as the mandatory major for CFB).  In the end, we do not want to become complacent like the WCHA as that has been the undoing to quite a few NCAA Regional trips by WCHA teams as of late. 

I am curous though:  Do American officials officiate in foreign leagues such as the Finnish Elite League or the Swedish Elite League or even the KHL?  If so, would it be feasible to try to attract those American officials back to the States?

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir or whatnot but I'd love to know what you'd like to see in the running of the NCHC officiating corps.

Spirt Lake Tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect files appeal

Here is the latest from the Fighting Sioux nickname story – the Spirit Lake Tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect has appealed their lawsuit that was thrown out of by U.S. District Court Judge Raph Erickson to 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- Three days after their effort to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname at UND was roundly rebuffed by state voters, nickname supporters at Spirit Lake filed documents outlining issues they want to address at the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect has appealed last month’s decision by U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson to dismiss its lawsuit against the NCAA, in which the tribe argued that Sioux people were inappropriately denied “a seat at the table” in negotiations over use of the name, among other issues.

Erickson ordered the lawsuit dismissed on May 1, saying that none of the several counts brought by the pro-nickname committee stated a sufficient legal claim under federal law.

The Spirit Lake committee filed its notice of appeal on June 1 and then turned its attention to the statewide referendum it had placed on the primary election ballot through a petition drive. Last Tuesday, North Dakota voters overwhelmingly rejected that effort and voted to allow UND to retire the nickname.

So is this a losing cause or does the Spirit Lake tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect have a chance to have their appeal heard? Personally, I think this lawsuit will be thrown out of court. I would love nothing more than to have the NCAA lose a lawsuit in court but I don’t think this lawsuit has a chance of moving forward.

More on the nWCHA's new playoff format

When I first heard about the nWCHA’s playoff format I actually thought it was a joke and or a misprint abut as the details emerged I realized that they weren’t kidding.

In a nut shell since some of the member schools in the nWCHA don’t want to have to pay for any additional travel to or from Alaska
and this is a way to alleviate travel costs.  

This is a bad plan, because this move will cheapen or could in essence ruin the integrity of the nWCHA conference tourney. The best way to run a tourney is to have your top 1-8 teams play based on seeding, or you make the regular season meaningless. So if the Alaska Schools finish second and third you will have knocked out one team that might have gotten to the nWCHA Final Five if they had played their appropriate seed. If I was a fan of one of the Alaska schools I would be upset - I don't care for this and I am not a fan of either program.

Jack Hittinger, Bemidji Pioneer ---- Bemidji State athletic director Rick Goeb Thursday confirmed that all nine of the league’s teams would make the playoffs and that the regular-season champion would receive a bye into the Final Five.

That much could have been gleaned from the press release the league released Thursday afternoon.

What wasn’t on the press release, however, was the fact that the Alaska schools would be playing each other every year – regardless of league finish – unless one of them got that first-round bye.

In other words, there will always be at least one hockey team from Alaska in the Final Five.

“There were mixed feelings about that,” speaking from the Detroit airport following the meetings. “If they both finish above or below the top four, there might be a feeling that it was a little unfair.

“But we discussed a lot of different options and this was the one that seemed to make the most sense for everyone from a travel perspective and from an economic perspective.”

I believe that Brad Schlossman of the Grand forks Herald might have been right last summer when he wrote this piece.

A source told the Herald that when business was conducted in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, there were often times two blocks of voting.

The schools with larger budgets typically wanted to spend money, invest and try new things. Schools with smaller budgets often resisted.

With Minnesota and Wisconsin departing for the Big Ten Hockey Conference, the smaller-budget schools take over control of the voting block. This caused athletic directors with larger budgets to worry about the future of the conference.

I don’t think it’s that hard of a stretch to figure out that there are haves and have not in college hockey. College hockey is no different than the other sports in division I, II and III sports, you can also see this in FBS and FCS football - some schools are more committed to their sports teams more than other schools and not all is equal. That being said, there has to be an integrity associated with a conference tourney, if the best teams aren't representing the conference in their conference tourney you have short-changed and cheapened the playoff system.

What happened if both UAA and UAF were sitting high in the Pairwise Rankings and on the cusp of making the NCAA tourney and needed to make the Final Five to solidify their chances at an at-large bid to make the NCAA tourney? By one of these teams losing their first round bid they would in essence end their season and kill any chance they had of making the NCAA tourney.

NCAA makes "all" hand passes illegal...

Historically the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee has come up with some good rules and some really bad rules as well. This year the Rules Committee decided that they are in favor of doing away with all hand passes even in the defensive zone.  

Hand passes made illegal

Committee members proposed that all hand passes be made illegal, including in the defensive zone.

The referee will stop play on any hand pass, and the faceoff will be in the offending team’s defensive zone. Additionally, if the team commits the violation in its defensive zone, that team will not be able to change its players before the ensuing faceoff.

 “This is a way to promote scoring and create more chances on offense,” McLaughlin said. “Not being able to make a line change can have a pretty big impact, and this takes away a rule that gave the defensive team an advantage.”

From the bad rules department – this rule change is a head scratcher – there is no reason to change the hand pass rules. 

The NHL has a hand pass rule and this rule works very well n the NHL game. 

I don’t see the logic in this rule change what-so-ever, it’s incoherent… I don’t know how it’s going to promote more scoring in the offensive zone – that’s also an illogical reason for promoting this rule change. If hockey seriously wants to "promote" goal scoring in hockey then they need to change the size of goalie equipment in all levels of hockey (NCAA, Junior Hockey, ECHL, AHL, NHL). The size of goalie equipment is too big.

Would it not make sense if the NHL and the NCAA mimicked each other closely if college hockey is going to serve as a development league for the professional ranks? 

Before you bite my head off consider this, College Hockey Incorporated is promoting the NCAA route as a way to making it to the NHL – so if the NCAA “is” going to be an alternative development – as opposed to going the CHL route – why not have the NCAA rules mimic the CHL, NHL and AHL rules?

Is the NCAA not sending players to the professional ranks in high numbers? College Hockey INC said that 301 ex-college hockey players played in the NHL during the 2011-12 season. That means that the NCAA is currently supplying about 1/3 of the players in the NHL. Wasn’t this one of the reason for promoting the half shields/three-quarter shields? 

Honestly, I don’t see how anyone couldn’t make the argument that NCAA Division I Hockey isn't a developmental hockey league – all you have to do is watch the AHL and the NHL playoffs this season and you will see many ex-college hockey players playing in the playoffs.

Related articles

• NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee Misses Boat

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• NCAA Rules - Net Dislodgement change

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• NCAA to look at the use of three-quarter face shields

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• Three-quarter shields may replace full facemasks in college hockey

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Ice Hockey Rules Committee to examine three-quarter face shields

Official Press Release
By Greg Johnson
NCAA.org

The NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee plans to establish a collaborative process with the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports to collect data and fully explore the possibility of allowing men’s players to wear three-quarter visors.

Current rules require a full face shield to be worn.

The ice hockey committee did not make a formal proposal but focused more on continuing the process of a full review and data collection effort in the review of current technology. Committee representatives will meet with the competitive-safeguards committee next week to review a wider package of potential enhancements that can be made to enhance student-athlete safety. The committee hopes that a partnership with the competitive-safeguards committee and other hockey organizations (for example, National Hockey League, USA Hockey, United States Hockey League) will lead to the use of visors.

A recent survey of 1,000 student-athletes showed that 83 percent would prefer to utilize a three-quarter shield if given the opportunity. The overwhelming majority of men’s coaches favor three-quarter visor use.
Ice hockey rules committee members, who met Wednesday and Thursday in Indianapolis, believe that such support of the concept mandates a thorough review.

The development of newer, better facial shields that are more protective than traditional half-shields is one driving factor for the committee’s reconsideration of appropriate equipment. In its review, the committee believes that other aspects of equipment must be considered in conjunction with visor technology. For example, representatives of the NHL recently discussed working with manufacturers to develop softer padding, and the NCAA will engage in that discussion.

The NCAA has had an injury surveillance program in all sports for decades. Data will be compared to injury information that other entities, such as the United States Hockey League, collect after players completed their first seasons with the new visors. Over the past year, the USHL collected information on the number of facial injuries and concussions that occurred and has offered to partner with the NCAA on data collection.
Committee members understand the challenge of explaining how removing a piece of protective equipment may have a positive impact on student-athlete safety.

“Our coaches and student-athletes feel the game will be played with more respect, and players will play with less of a sense of invincibility,” said Ed McLaughlin, the chair of the Ice Hockey Rules Committee and director of athletics at Niagara. “We’ve talked about the visors, but also about softer padding in general as another important part of this.”

McLaughlin will meet with the competitive-safeguards committee next week to request engagement and partnership on those issues.

Since 1978, NCAA hockey players have worn full cages. The rule was implemented to protect the eyes of the players. At the time, there wasn’t talk of other injuries such as concussions or facial injuries.

Times have changed, especially in regard to head and brain injuries.

“That is why we want to take a measured approach to this,” McLaughlin said. “We look at how some of the technology has evolved, and the three-quarter visors may be able to address the same needs as when the full cages were put in.”

McLaughlin also noted that student-athletes are coming from playing with these visors before and after NCAA competition.

“All of this factors in as to why this is a passionate issue,” McLaughlin said. “We know our coaches and student-athletes are strongly in favor of this. We want to be sure the broader community has the opportunity to review this and fully understand the potential benefit as one part of a larger improvement to the sport.”
A more detailed communication will be distributed to hockey institutions regarding the committee’s plan in the near future.

The committee did propose several changes to current rules. All rules changes must be approved the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to meet in July via conference call. The main proposals are listed below. All changes will be sent to the membership for comment next week and all feedback will be shared with the hockey committee and the oversight panel.

Overtime option

After a thorough discussion, the committee recommended giving conferences and institutions the option of playing four-on-four, five-minute overtime periods in the regular season beginning with the 2012-13 season. That is the system used in the NHL.

The goalies would still be required to switch ends of the ice, which causes teams to make long line changes, leading to additional scoring opportunities.

The proposed rule is not a mandate. If teams playing in a nonconference game can’t agree on which way overtime will be played, it will default to a five-on-five, five-minute extra period where the goalies will switch ends of the ice.

The format for NCAA tournament games has not changed (five-on-five until a winner is decided).

“There was some support in the membership for four-on-four overtime, and it is an exciting brand of hockey,” McLaughlin said. “We also wanted to respect the membership views that it might not be the best for all levels of hockey right now. Providing an option for everyone is the right step for us.”

The committee will monitor the overtime formats for the next two years to see if any other changes should be made.

“When we made the change two years ago for the goalies to change ends going into overtime, it lessened the number of ties in the sport,” McLaughlin said. “We think making another option available will allow for more data to be collected and to review the impact on our game.”

Hand passes made illegal

Committee members proposed that all hand passes be made illegal, including in the defensive zone.
The referee will stop play on any hand pass, and the faceoff will be in the offending team’s defensive zone. Additionally, if the team commits the violation in its defensive zone, that team will not be able to change its players before the ensuing faceoff.

 “This is a way to promote scoring and create more chances on offense,” McLaughlin said. “Not being able to make a line change can have a pretty big impact, and this takes away a rule that gave the defensive team an advantage.”

Net dislodgement change

The committee also adjusted its rules dealing with the goal cage becoming dislodged. The committee essentially moved to the NHL rule in this area, which allows some displacement of the goal as long as the posts remain in contact with the pegs or pins.

“Our rules currently don’t allow for much leeway, and we believe we have disallowed too many goals that really should count,” McLaughlin said. “The NHL rules have been used effectively, and we believe this is a positive change.”

To award a goal in these situations, the goal post must have been displaced by the actions of a defending player. To award a goal, the referee must determine that the puck would have entered the net between the normal position of the goal posts.

Distinct kicking motion

Another proposed change by the committee is intended to enhance scoring and also make its rules more consistent. The committee approved a change that will allow most goals off of attacking player’s skates, with the exception of a distinct kicking motion. In recent years, the committee has attempted a variety of interpretations in this area.

“We ultimately believe bringing some clarity to this rule is important and allowing goals that are directed into the goal with a skate will be a positive move,” McLaughlin said. “It seems like the hockey community is comfortable with the concept of a distinct kicking motion, so we hope this brings some clarity to this rule as well.”

Officiating system

Effective with the 2013-14 season, the committee voted to make the two-referee, two-linesman system mandatory for men’s ice hockey. Feedback from the women’s ice hockey community indicated that the two-referee, one-linesman system should remain as an option for the foreseeable future. All four NCAA championships used the two-referee, two-linesman system in 2012.

Additionally, goal judges are no longer required for NCAA games and will only be recommended.
“Our rules truly require two referees, and the committee strongly believes the four-person system is the best overall,” McLaughlin said. “We believe providing a grace period will allow institutions time to adjust and plan.”

The NCAA adjusted officiating fees in the 2012 Division III championships (men’s and women’s) to make the change immediately and reduced travel costs by not using a back-up official.

Postgame review of disqualifications

The committee voted to allow a postgame review of disqualification penalties by the on-ice officials. The group requested conference feedback on how best to implement a procedure and guidelines for the concept, but the belief is a disqualification penalty, with the help of video evidence, is an important determination and should be reviewed. The calling official will have the final decision on any review.

New chair

The committee approved the appointment of Tom Anastos, head men’s coach at Michigan State, as the chair of the committee, effective Sept. 1.

Idalski - Recruits' concern real.

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Next Tuesday "North Dakota" voters will go to the polls to vote on four ballot measures one of the measures is the Fighting Sioux nickname ballot measure 4. My advice to you is to vote with your conscience but there are a few things to remember going forward.

Do not believe the false rhetoric that the sanctions from the NCAA are minimal and or overblown. If the Fighting Sioux nickname is not retired the first team to suffer from the NCAA Sanctions will be the UND Women's Hockey team.

The Fighting Sioux women's team is going to be one of the top teams in Division I hockey during the 2012-13 season - the UND Women have a legitimate chance of winning their first NCAA title based on who is returning to Idalski's squad - they will be hard pressed to make the Women's Frozen Four if they have to travel instead of hosting a quarter final series. The sanctions have more teeth than some want to believe.

Marino Eccher, INFORUM --- They said they wanted to speak out to counter claims by nickname supporters that the consequences of keeping the nickname are overblown.

Idalski said the consequences of the sanctions hit home for him when they came up while recruiting a blue-chip recruit from Canada.

“Her family called me and asked, what does this mean for us?” he said. “Their concerns were very real.”

Before you think about attacking Brian Idalski, or think that he has been told to get in line by the UND Administration, think again, Idalski was speaking out about the NCAA sanctions before the Measure 4 movement became hot and heated -  Idalski has discussed this issue before at the Wednesday press conferences and he voiced his concerns about the consequences of the NCAA sanctions and what they meant to his team. As long as UND is known as the Fighting Sioux UND will never be able to host an NCAA tourney event in anything.

That being said, Idalski has been consistent on this issue - the woman's head coach is a realist - he knows that his team will suffer very soon if the name if the Fighting Sioux nickname is not dropped. This isn't a scare tactic or some over blown pontification.

For the record; all of UND's teams were conforming with the settlement  and the woman's team was in was the first UND hockey team to wear the new jersey's that said "NORTH DAKOTA" on the front of them, the men's hockey team had to wait a little longer and received their new jerseys right before the West Regional.

None of us want to have to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname - but the cost to the University is good big - teams will not play UND as long as they are under NCAA sanctions. Contrary to what some politicians think, the NCAA is not going to budge from their opinion - the NCAA doesn't care how Sioux Country is going to vote - the NCAA has a signed settlement that was signed by the Attorney General of North Dakota. Al Carlson is clueless if he thinks other wise - before you try to call me a democrat or a liberal think again,  think again, I am life long registered republican and I wouldn't vote for Al Carlson, under an circumstances, even if it meant the house or senate would turn from blue to red. I would vote for the Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck instead. My question is; where were this people five years ago when we could have saved the Fighting Sioux nickname?

Here is the Ballot measure again.

The measure as it appears on the ballot reads: This referendum measure concerns Senate Bill 2370 as passed by the Legislative Assembly in the November 2011 special session (Session Laws, Chapter 580). Senate Bill 2370 repealed section 15-10-46 of the North Dakota Century Code, which required the University of North Dakota to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

YES – means you approve Senate Bill 2370, the effect of which would allow the University of North Dakota to discontinue the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

NO – means you reject Senate Bill 2370, and would require the University of North Dakota to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

SCSU Assistant Hockey Coach Job annoucement

English: St Cloud State University Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Assistant Men’s Ice Hockey Coach #792767 (contingent on funding)

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Institution:	St. Cloud State University
Location:	St. Cloud, MN
Category:	Admin - Athletics and Coaching
Posted:	06/04/2012
Application Due:	06/18/2012
Type:	Full Time

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Date of appointment: July 16, 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter
Description: Assistant Men's Ice Hockey Coach
Responsibilities:
Assist head coach in planning, organizing and administrating all aspects of a highly competitive Division I men's hockey program. Responsibilities include but not limited to: all aspects of on ice coaching, recruiting, video analysis and all other areas of organizational needs. This person should also have the ability to assist in fundraising and public relations.
*Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the Inter Faculty Organization which can be found at: http://www.ifo.org/contract09-11/2009-2011.pdf.

Qualifications and experience:
Required:
· Bachelor Degree
· Coaching and/or playing experience at the collegiate or professional level
· Evidence of demonstrated ability to teach and work with persons from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Preferred:
· Understanding of the NCAA rules and regulations
· Familiarity at the high school, junior and collegiate hockey levels

Application Procedures:
To apply for this position, please continue the process via this website or directly at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/stcloudstate/default.cfm.

Application Review begins June 18, 2012 position is open until filled.
A complete application will include the following:
· Cover Letter
· Resume/Curriculum Vitae
· Contact information for three (3) current, professional references
· Copies of official Transcript(s) (undergraduate/graduate/PhD)
Contact Information:
Search Committee Chair - Bob Motzko
Phone: 320-308-4806
E-mail: rgmotzko@stcloudstate.edu

St. Cloud State University is committed to excellence and actively supports cultural diversity. To promote this endeavor, we invite individuals who contribute to such diversity to apply, including minorities, women, LGBT, persons with disabilities and veterans. St. Cloud State University is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

Application Information

Contact:	Bob Motzko Department of Athletics St. Cloud State University
Phone:	320-308-4806
TDD:	1-800-627-3529 or (612) 297-5353
Online App. Form:	http://agency.governmentjobs.com/stcloudstate/default.cfm

s/t to Husker Mike for posting this on another message board. This Job announcement would be to replace former Fighting Sioux hockey player and SCSU assistant hockey coach Steve Johnson who is moving on to be an assistant Hockey Coach at UNO under Dean Blais.

BC Interruption, "NCAA Ice Hockey Regionals Were Run Like College Baseball? "

As we are about four months away from the start of the Division I college hockey season - here is a great idea from Brian Favat from B.C. Interruption for you to chew on. Favat throws the idea of having the four highest seeds host the regionals and have a double elimination tourney. I think this would definitely prove to be an exciting regional format.

B.C. Interruption --- Had an interesting thought while taking in some of this weekend's NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament regional action. After another year of poor Regional attendance, lots of talk about ways of improving the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Regional format. Could the answer come from college baseball?

What if the men's ice hockey tournament Regional round took on the same format as the NCAA baseball regional format?

The baseball regional round is a four team, double elimination format hosted by the top seed in each region. The regionals start on Friday, pairing the 1 seed up against the 4 and the 2 against the 3. The winners of those two games advance to the 1-0 game, while the losers face each other in an elimination game.

It would look something like this, I don't know if the NCAA would approve of this Idea... I am up for improving the current state of the college hockey regional format - as we saw from this last year that the NCAA regionals were poorly attended.

Thursday

No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed
No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed

Friday

1-0 game: 1/4 Winner vs. 2/3 Winner
Elimination game: 1/4 Loser vs. 2/3 Loser

Saturday
1-0 Game Loser vs. Elimination game Winner

Sunday
Saturday game winner vs. 2-0 team

Monday (if necessary)
2-1 Elimination game

Here are the attendance figures from the four regional final games from this season’s NCAA regionals – 5,328, 10,974, 4,470, 3,108 – The highest attended regional was the West Regional in Xcel Energy Center. The NCAA should have more fans attending the regionals, something needs to be done to improve attendance.

Another Idea that I am in favor of - having the four number one seeds host the regionals on their campus sites and keep the format the rest of the way. I think that the number one seeds should have some benefit from playing well all season long and gaining a number one seed. You call also probably have higher attendance numbers that we had last season.

One problem facing UND is that the school is currently under NCAA sanctions and would not be able to host an NCAA regional.

Colllege Hockey INC - Executive Director annoucement

JOB DESCRIPTION
NAME: TBD
DATE: JULY/AUGUST 2012
JOB TITLE: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JOB STATUS: FULL TIME
WORK LOCATION: TBD
SUPERVISOR: BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COLLEGE HOCKEY INC.
JOB SUMMARY:
Under general supervision, the Executive Director manages the interests of College Hockey Inc.
This position supervises two full-time positions as well as other potential part-time positions in
the areas of education, NCAA rules, media platforms and camps. The Executive Director will
create a vision to promote and market of college hockey, grow the economic resources of
College Hockey Inc., improve the recruiting efforts of college hockey and its member institutions
and grow the relationships with USA Hockey and the National Hockey League. Salary and a
benefits package are commensurate with experience. This position requires the ability to travel,
work nights and weekends and holidays as needed.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Oversees an assigned number of areas with the following duties:
· Reports to the Board of Directors of College Hockey Inc.;
· Develops plans and materials to promote and market college hockey;
· Meets with various multi-media entities, including television and websites;
· Manages IceBreaker Tournament and other special events;
· Develops recruiting and youth marketing campaign directed to amateur hockey players;
· In conjunction with the Board of Directors, addresses NCAA legislative issues affecting
college hockey;
· Manages relationships with USA Hockey, National Hockey League and a variety of junior
hockey organizations;
· Ensures College Hockey Inc. is in compliance with NCAA rules;
· Develops and manages annual operating budget and finances for College Hockey Inc.; and
· Performs other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
1) Knowledge of amateur hockey, particularly college hockey, and a level of experience with
the sport.
2) Knowledge of supervisory techniques, leadership training, coaching techniques and
appropriate consensus-building skills.
3) Knowledge of NCAA rules, specifically as they relate to recruiting.
4) Knowledge of appropriate computer software applications (e.g., PowerPoint, Excel,
QuickBooks) as they relate to the position.
5) Ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays when necessary.
6) Strong interpersonal, organizational, written and oral communication skills.
QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
1) Bachelor's degree in related field is required, Master's degree preferred.
2) Five years experience performing similar tasks is required.
Class II OSHA
NOTE: MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR
REASSIGN JOB DUTIES OR COMBINE POSITIONS AT ANY TIME.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications and nominations of candidates should be sent via e-mail to Stephen Hagwell
(shagwell@ecachockey.com). All application materials must include a cover letter, resume and
list of professional references. College Hockey Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

It will be interesting to see who is selected or this job. 

Spirit Lake nickname supporters to appeal

Here is the latest in the Fighting Sioux nickname – A notice of intent to appeal was filed with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week by lawyer Reed Soderstrom – I am not a lawyer by any stretch of the imagination, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I cant see an appeals courting taking this case. I am going to predict that the appeal will be thrown out as well. Maybe one of our resident lawyers can give us some free legal advice...

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- Fighting Sioux nickname supporters at the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe have signaled they intend to appeal U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson’s dismissal of their lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association. A notice of intent to appeal was filed with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week by Reed Soderstrom, a Minot attorney who represents the pro-nickname Committee for Understanding and Respect, which sued the NCAA over its efforts to have UND drop the nickname and related Indian-head logo. The committee, authorized by Tribal Council action to speak for the tribe on matters relating to the nickname and logo, had sought at least $10 million in damages from the NCAA. It also sought reversal of the 2005 NCAA policy discouraging use of American Indian names and imagery by member schools.

I love the Fighting Sioux nickname, and there is no way that the school will ever be able to replace the Fighting Sioux nickname with anything that I consider to be acceptable, but I don’t see any way UND can keep the name “unless” the Spirit Lake Tribe wins it’s appeal against the NCAA, the cards are stacked against them this time as well. I also would love nothing more than to see the NCAA lose their law suit – I think they deserved to have that happen to them because I think they are a bunch of hypocrites. I am not holding my breath but I hope the Tribe wins.

NDSU won’t play UND until nickname situation is resolved

NDSU won’t play UND until the Nickname issue is resolved… Small price to pay right, just like the NCAA sanctions being “manageable.” Wait, what? Someone must have gotten to NDSU, this can't be.

Really it’s a small price for keeping the Fighting Sioux nickname – screw them right! Who needs NDSU, they can go play someone else. Right! It’s really just a marginal and minor cost for keeping the Fighting Sioux nickname.

I am sure that some will say that Gene Taylor is lying – he can’t be telling the truth. I suppose others will accuse Taylor of folding and changing his view to appease Robert O. Kelley and Brian Faison. I suppose we will also have someone file a FOIA request to see what Gene Taylor knows and when he knew it… I can’t wait to read through all of Taylor’s email when they are posted on a blog somewhere in North Dakota. I can only imagine what else will be said.

Jeff Kolpack,Fargo Forum --- Not so fast, says the NDSU athletic director.

“No details have been worked out,” Gene Taylor said.

Taylor said the schools have dates that would work in both years and that he and Faison talked by phone earlier this week about resuming the game. Taylor said both sides talked a few months ago on a few occasions, but communication stopped until UND could get its nickname situation resolved, he said.

“We don’t have a solid contract,” Taylor said.

I want to address a couple of issue that has come up on line a few times.

First off, no one from the University of North Dakota has ever asked me to write against the Fighting Sioux nickname. No one! It has never happened; not once. No one has ever asked me to change my stance on the Fighting Sioux nickname issue. Seriously! If the President of the United States of America is allowed to evolve on an issue, what can’t others?

No one from the University of North Dakota has ever dangled my press pass in front of me and said if you don’t parrot the University Line against the Fighting Sioux nickname, I would have that press pass pulled. UND has been great and nothing but professional with me.

I have also developed relationships with some at the University of North Dakota and they have been nothing but accommodating and personable, they go out of their way to help people from the press, media and writers. UND is a first class organization that I am proud to be an alumnus of (1996, 1999). I find it mind numbing that some people that don’t have all the information calling reputable alumni, coaches and great people liars and toadies.

Lastly, I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and I think it’s the best logo in all of college sports or professional sports – nothing that they replace the Fighting Sioux nickname with will ever be good enough in my opinion. I have never wavered from that opinion, but like other Alumni that have actually attended class at the University of North Dakota, I know that UND can’t go on forever with the Fighting Sioux nickname and I don’t want to see the University hurt by the sanctions.

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