Where should the D-III championships be held in 2014 and on?

[Derek Dunning]

Playing the first round games on a Saturday instead of a Wednesday makes a lot of sense.  As you said, it also puts Lake Placid back in play as a venue for the championship round -  My favorite proposal is to put the Semis and Finals at Lake Placid for both genders and make it into a real hockey fest. Since most of the top women's programs are the same schools as the top men's programs, there's a good chance that the cross-over effect could boost attendance at the Women's games.  If a couple of  Norwich/Plattsburgh/Middlebury could get both teams into the championship round, I think there would be a lot of synergy.

Agreed. It was so disappointing to read Derek Dunning's article about the women's championship on the other site and find out that their commissioner hadn't even thought of this option. Why does it seem like such a no-brainer to all of us, yet the powers that be don't even have it on their radar? It's just weird...

In conversations I've had with a few coaches, one of the opinions against combining the D-III championships would be missed class time having to do it over three days and also the thought that the women's tournament would be the "step sister" and "after thought" when it came to ice scheduling etc.

[Steve Wiitala]

Derek, I don't buy that.  Logisitcs can be worked out.  It should be possible to work out scheduling in an equitable fashion.

Furthermore, the class time thing makes no sense. You are talking about Fri-Sun compared to Fri-Sat.  If the tournament were held in the East, most of the teams would be within  a day's drive of the venue, so you're still home by Monday. 

[Derek Dunning]

Derek, I don't buy that.  Logisitcs can be worked out.  It should be possible to work out scheduling in an equitable fashion.

Furthermore, the class time thing makes no sense. You are talking about Fri-Sun compared to Fri-Sat.  If the tournament were held in the East, most of the teams would be within  a day's drive of the venue, so you're still home by Monday.

I'm with you. You know my thoughts on it. I, for partially some selfish reasons am one of the biggest proponents of combining them both.

I was simply providing some feedback I have heard from a couple of coaches that I have had talks with about it.

[Matthew Webb]

Isn't it odd that there seems to be one faction that pushed for the men's title game to be in Spokane or wherever they wanted it with one of the selling points (if we want to call it that) being that it will expose the DIII game to new fans, while at the same time there is a faction that would prefer not to combine DIII men's/women's championships despite the fact it would hold a legitimate possibility to expose the women's game to more fans.  Fans who, most importantly, are obviously already right in the DIII wheelhouse, which is a far cry from whatever they were after with that concoction involving the men's title game.

Can anyone tell me what the real priorities are with things like this? Because I honestly don't know sometimes.

[Steve Wiitala]

Derek, I don't buy that.  Logisitcs can be worked out.  It should be possible to work out scheduling in an equitable fashion.

Furthermore, the class time thing makes no sense. You are talking about Fri-Sun compared to Fri-Sat.  If the tournament were held in the East, most of the teams would be within  a day's drive of the venue, so you're still home by Monday.

I'm with you. You know my thoughts on it. I, for partially some selfish reasons am one of the biggest proponents of combining them both.

I was simply providing some feedback I have heard from a couple of coaches that I have had talks with about it.

Derek, I wasn't putting that thought on you, I was not trying to shoot the messenger, but pointing out the absurdity of such a claim.  It's almost like the powers that be are afraid to do something like that. 

I had the opportunity to watch Norwich's women's program grow from a club program that didn't even compete in the ACHA when it was first created to become one of the perennial DIII powers.  I watched some of my students be part of that development, and I really enjoyed seeing it grow.  It is true, the women's game is  a bit different from the men's game, but it's not that different.  Once in a while you see moves that make you scratch your head because if that move were made in a men's game, somebody would probably be picking up a few teeth off the ice after getting hit in a totally exposed position, but once you get the idea, its a great game.  Now that I'm out here in CO, I still get to see the NU Men's games on NSN, and other video streams, but I don't get a chance to see the Women play, and I miss that.

I think if people were exposed to the game, they would embrace it.

[Pat Coleman]

The combined Final Four does occasionally come up in basketball and it's not popular with the women's basketball folks because of one of the reasons mentioned above -- it's feared the women's championship would play second fiddle.

I suspect in basketball that's probably true. I can't speak to hockey.

[Derek Dunning]

Isn't it odd that there seems to be one faction that pushed for the men's title game to be in Spokane or wherever they wanted it with one of the selling points (if we want to call it that) being that it will expose the DIII game to new fans, while at the same time there is a faction that would prefer not to combine DIII men's/women's championships despite the fact it would hold a legitimate possibility to expose the women's game to more fans.  Fans who, most importantly, are obviously already right in the DIII wheelhouse, which is a far cry from whatever they were after with that concoction involving the men's title game.

Can anyone tell me what the real priorities are with things like this? Because I honestly don't know sometimes.

I will say the coaches I have talked to have really only been women's coaches about the D-III combining possibilities. Don't have as many connections on the men's side.

[maineman]

Sites come to mind - as they probably do to everyone who visits this forum...

(1) Ridder
(2) Lake Placid
(3) DECC / Amsoil
(4) Matthews Arena (Boston)
(5) Walter Brown Arena (Boston)
(6) Resch Center (Green Bay)

How about Manchester, NH?  The AHL affiliate there, the Manchester Monarchs play at the Verizon Wireless Arena that hold about 9000.  Manchester is centrally located with plenty of hotels and great air service.  Plus, it is close to alot of D-3 schools.

[Steve Wiitala]

A 9000 seat arena is a bit too big.  One facility that I have thought about a lot, but nobody else advocates is Thompson Arena at Dartmouth  as a location that could replace Lake Placid

Great facility - just the right size

Great community - close to lots of D3 hockey programs, and plenty of things do in the area

It would be available because Dartmouth would be playing in the ECACs in Lake Placid if they were still playing.

Of course somebody would have to ask them - The ECAC E could host with Norwich and NEC as host institutions. 

[PeterLangella]

A 9000 seat arena is a bit too big.  One facility that I have thought about a lot, but nobody else advocates is Thompson Arena at Dartmouth  as a location that could replace Lake Placid.

Wonderful idea. I'd love to hang out in Hanover for a great weekend of hockey. Good chowder served in the rink as well!

[Derek Dunning]

A 9000 seat arena is a bit too big.  One facility that I have thought about a lot, but nobody else advocates is Thompson Arena at Dartmouth  as a location that could replace Lake Placid

Great facility - just the right size

Great community - close to lots of D3 hockey programs, and plenty of things do in the area

It would be available because Dartmouth would be playing in the ECACs in Lake Placid if they were still playing.

Of course somebody would have to ask them - The ECAC E could host with Norwich and NEC as host institutions.

I'd be all for Thompson Arena. Great barn! Ample press box space, 4000 seats, great location. Close to Burlington and Manchester airports.

I'd be all for Dartmouth.

[Steve Wiitala]

A 9000 seat arena is a bit too big.  One facility that I have thought about a lot, but nobody else advocates is Thompson Arena at Dartmouth  as a location that could replace Lake Placid

Great facility - just the right size

Great community - close to lots of D3 hockey programs, and plenty of things do in the area

It would be available because Dartmouth would be playing in the ECACs in Lake Placid if they were still playing.

Of course somebody would have to ask them - The ECAC E could host with Norwich and NEC as host institutions.

I'd be all for Thompson Arena. Great barn! Ample press box space, 4000 seats, great location. Close to Burlington and Manchester airports.

I'd be all for Dartmouth.

So Derek, you know a member of the men's championship committee

[Derek Dunning]

A 9000 seat arena is a bit too big.  One facility that I have thought about a lot, but nobody else advocates is Thompson Arena at Dartmouth  as a location that could replace Lake Placid

Great facility - just the right size

Great community - close to lots of D3 hockey programs, and plenty of things do in the area

It would be available because Dartmouth would be playing in the ECACs in Lake Placid if they were still playing.

Of course somebody would have to ask them - The ECAC E could host with Norwich and NEC as host institutions.

I'd be all for Thompson Arena. Great barn! Ample press box space, 4000 seats, great location. Close to Burlington and Manchester airports.

I'd be all for Dartmouth.

So Derek, you know a member of the men's championship committee

Last year on the committee.

[Steve Wiitala]

All the more reason to put the bug in his ear

[PeterLangella]

Since Dartmouth was mentioned, I've been thinking a lot about other D1 rinks. Many of them would be really great fits.