There is one other item to consider as well. In the Great Lakes Region of the USA, one of the better NCAA leagues, the Big Ten, a large number of its schools do NOT have hockey programs. However, there have there have been rumblings for nearly two decades in some states to add these programs, money so far being the limitation. Well-heeled alumni are always competing to show off their wealth and brag about their ownership or support of things. If they can’t own a piece of an NHL club, what better way to be part of the ”in” crowd in your social circle than being the major donor to a hockey program. Think University of Illinois, or Purdue, Penn State or Rutgers, none of which have hockey programs today. Add in new Big Ten members Washington and Oregon. Another example - the Illich family was in discussions just before Mike’s death to fully fund a new hockey program at 50,000 student Wayne State University in the heart of Detroit. With lots of new players don’t you think the Illich’s would revisit those discussions?
@@keithpodhradsky1314 I know about the Wayne State program, I'm an alumni. There have been talks about its revival which is where the Illich's come in. Also there might be one other possibility. What if Canadian Universities petitioned the NCAA to join some of the Division 2 hockey programs in American Collegiate Hockey Association as well as those in Division 3. That could make for some interesting new conferences.
There is one other item to consider as well. In the Great Lakes Region of the USA, one of the better NCAA leagues, the Big Ten, a large number of its schools do NOT have hockey programs. However, there have there have been rumblings for nearly two decades in some states to add these programs, money so far being the limitation. Well-heeled alumni are always competing to show off their wealth and brag about their ownership or support of things. If they can’t own a piece of an NHL club, what better way to be part of the ”in” crowd in your social circle than being the major donor to a hockey program. Think University of Illinois, or Purdue, Penn State or Rutgers, none of which have hockey programs today. Add in new Big Ten members Washington and Oregon. Another example - the Illich family was in discussions just before Mike’s death to fully fund a new hockey program at 50,000 student Wayne State University in the heart of Detroit. With lots of new players don’t you think the Illich’s would revisit those discussions?
Wayne State had a hockey program and dropped it. Penn State has played in Big Ten for about 13 years.
@@keithpodhradsky1314 I know about the Wayne State program, I'm an alumni. There have been talks about its revival which is where the Illich's come in. Also there might be one other possibility. What if Canadian Universities petitioned the NCAA to join some of the Division 2 hockey programs in American Collegiate Hockey Association as well as those in Division 3. That could make for some interesting new conferences.
W across the board
Not true. Bad for aspiring ncaa players playing American junior
@@alexf1412 Yeah, this might affect the USHL a ton. I still think the Wirtz cabal bought Chicago Steel to go OHL with it.
@@alexf1412 this will be good in the long term, though. This will force the development models in the US to shift in a drastic way.