St. Thomas to Division 1

[ThunderStorm22]

I think it is past due that STU make the move to D1 in college hockey. They are the largest D3 school with 11,500 students; they traditionally have a strong and successful program and they have the financial backing. The only schools larger in the west are Hockey U, Wisc., Mankato and St. Cloud. They could join the CHA conference... What do you think about this? <p></p><i></i>

[dasherdude]

I don't know if it's past due, but I like the idea. It would be great to add another D-1 team in Minnesoata. <br>What's probably holding them up the most is a venue. They'd have to build something large enough for a D-1 school, something nice so they could use as a recruting tool. Ideally if they could get something on their campus, that's be great. <br>Is there anything in St. Paul that's near campus that they could use? <p></p><i></i>

[Blue Breeze]

They could maybe use the Fairgrounds Coliseum, but I don't know if it's reasonable to expect that. It would be nice to see them make the jump considering they do have great talent and a large student body, don't know if it's going to happen in the near future though. <p></p><i></i>

[MNPuck8584]

Actually, the enrollment numbers listed abover are including graduate students. The actual enrollment of undergrads is about half that number, around 5,600. Its still large, but not necessarily large enough to go Div. 1. UST could go Div.1 in all sports, but the school just does not have the facilities to do it. <p></p><i></i>

[MSUhockey39]

I think it would be a good idea for STU to go D1 because they have the biggest program in D3 and I think they would get good prospects if they go D1. <p></p><i></i>

[D19hockey]

I like the idea.<br>Who all is inthe CHA?<br>They only have like 5 or 6 teams? <p></p><i></i>

[ThunderStorm22]

There are currently six teams in the CHA. Air Force, Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji, Niagara, Robert Morris and Wayne State. It is an NCAA rule that a conference must have six teams or more to receive an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Air Force is looking at moving to the Atlantic Hockey Conference next season so this will bring the CHA down to five teams. RIT who is a DI independent this year up from D3 could join CHA and move that back up to six teams saving their automatic bid... I suppose there may be other teams looking to move but I have not heard of anything else... <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

St. Thomas would have to move to D 1 in all sports. I read something last fall that Colorado College is getting pressure from NCAA to drop DI hockey or bring all of its sports to DI. They are currently DIII in most sports, and the NCAA is trying to get rid of that kind of situation. <p></p><i></i>

[ThunderStorm22]

Not any more hockeydad... There was a rulling last year by the NCAA that allows schools to play up in individual sports. <br>The big issue was that other D2 and D3 schools were concerned that these athletes, under scholarship, were also participating in other sports and were tipping the scales unfavorably. There were four or five schools nation wide that could have been effected in various sports most notably: Johns Hopkins in Lacrosse as well as Colorado College and Vermont in ice hockey. This is 'Officially' a dead issue. It certainly does not make sense to penalize the smaller schools with exceptional programs in certain sports. Like Cloquet and Roseau in Minnesota HS Hockey they should have the opportunity to play up in the NCAA's. CC is not going to move to D1 anytime soon... They will stay at D3 for their other sports where they are average at best. So NO St. Thomas would not have to move any other sports to D1... Just hockey. <p></p><i></i>

[goldy313]

I thought the ruling allowed teams like CC and Johns Hopkins to stay where they were, largely becuase if they forced these teams and others like them (St. Cloud, UMD, etc) down there would not be enough teams to allow an NCAA tournament in hockey and Lacrosse. A move like that would really hurt the NCAA as they have, under Title IX, run other mens sports into the ground.<br><br>However any new teams moving up to D1 had to move up in all sports, this is toprevent schools from just moving up to grab a piece of the NCAA basketball money pie. That's why schools broke away from the NCC to go D1 is largely for basketball. <br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[mnhock]

There's been talk of this on and off for the past 10 years. A very wealthy family who owns many banks in the area was going to front the $$ to start the program. Wanted them to play at Xcel, be St.Paul's D-1 team. Not going to happen. <br><br>When is Skrypek going to retire?? <p></p><i></i>

[marshall17]

St. Thomas certainly could handle playing D-1, the problem is that they just built the brand new arena with St. Thomas Acedemy two years ago and are contracted for like 20 yrs. <br>As far as playing at the Coliseum, they've been there and done that. No student section, no hype, no fun.<br>Finding space on campus would be the way to go...with only 5,000 students, it's a must to keep it on campus! But good luck hear convincing the surrounding neighborhood to agree to this...this neighborhood is forever pissed with St. Thomas's expansion as is. Good thought...not going to happen any time soon though. <p></p><i></i>

[goldy313]

Holy Cross has an enrollment of 2200, and they beat the team with the 2nd biggest enrollment in all of college hockey. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>