Should Jamestown be accepted into the NSIC?

[SW_Mustang]

C'mon Crookston - it's not that bad:

ST. FRANCIS (LORETTO) ANNOUNCES PLAN TO DROP FROM D1 TO D3 | WCCS AM1160 & 101.1FM

[Purple Mav Man]

C'mon Crookston - it's not that bad:

ST. FRANCIS (LORETTO) ANNOUNCES PLAN TO DROP FROM D1 TO D3 | WCCS AM1160 & 101.1FM

From First 4 to D3 in less than 10 days.

[Dan Brookens]

Valley City and Mayville State are really swinging in the breeze right now. If they stay NAIA, they'll have to go out to western Montana frequently to find conference games. D3 UMAC seems like a better fit for them at first glance.

[Millsy]

Valley City and Mayville State are really swinging in the breeze right now. If they stay NAIA, they'll have to go out to western Montana frequently to find conference games. D3 UMAC seems like a better fit for them at first glance.

If they pulled Crookston in with them, that would get them to 10 full time members with Northland closing. You do have some outliers with affiliate members (Greenville U, Westminster College, Finlandia), but could probably set up some sort of division system in those sports.

EDIT: I haven't done a deep dive, but just a quick look at the UMAC website, not sure where the affiliates figure in other than football.

[SW_Mustang]

From First 4 to D3 in less than 10 days.

Didn'teven wait until after the Sweet 16 was over.

[SW_Mustang]

One random tidbit about UMC that I know is that they actually contributed a fair amount of money to build the hockey arena in town (and signed a five year lease).

In a move that would make even SCSU blush, they dropped hockey before the arena was even completed - so they were on the hook for all that money and didn't even have a varsity team to put on the ice.

[Stanger86]

One random tidbit about UMC that I know is that they actually contributed a fair amount of money to build the hockey arena in town (and signed a five year lease).

In a move that would make even SCSU blush, they dropped hockey before the arena was even completed - so they were on the hook for all that money and didn't even have a varsity team to put on the ice.

I guess I don't follow, because they still have hockey.

[SW_Mustang]

I guess I don't follow, because they still have hockey.

Nope. They dropped hockey in 2009 and never reinstated.

It was a very bizarre program. The NCAA was cool with them playing in the MCHA so long as they didn't offer athletic scholarships. The trade off was they were barred from playing in the NCAA Tournament.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the MCHA wanted an autobid at some point and the NCAA requires all members to be DIII, which UMC obviously isn't - so that essentially forced UMC to shut down. I'm sure money played into it too, but from my understanding they were kinda forced out.

The only real path for UMC to get hockey again is for them to join the UMAC, so they could then join the NCHA (because there's zero chance the MIAC wants them).

A pipedream of mine is for the NSIC to sponsor hockey at the conference level, so that could be another way UMC gets varsity hockey again, but... despite the exclusively positive feedback I've gotten, it'll never happen.

[SW_Mustang]

**Also, another bizarre thing - but the UWs decided to leave the NCHA to play for their primary WIAC conference, so the MCHA and the NCHA essentially merged. The MCHA kicked Crookston out and almost immediately ceased to exist themselves. Ouch.

Then, of course, NCHA Northland folded - which is convenient for Beloit College who announced they were starting hockey around the same time, and just hosted the entire Northland team on campus. That's one way to save recruiting costs.

Hockey drama. It never ends!

[oldyellaHer69]

**Also, another bizarre thing - but the UWs decided to leave the NCHA to play for their primary WIAC conference, so the MCHA and the NCHA essentially merged. The MCHA kicked Crookston out and almost immediately ceased to exist themselves. Ouch.

Then, of course, NCHA Northland folded - which is convenient for Beloit College who announced they were starting hockey around the same time, and just hosted the entire Northland team on campus. That's one way to save recruiting costs.

Hockey drama. It never ends!

Let’s not jinx the Jimmies with all this Crookston talk

[Purple Mav Man]

Nope. They dropped hockey in 2009 and never reinstated.

It was a very bizarre program. The NCAA was cool with them playing in the MCHA so long as they didn't offer athletic scholarships. The trade off was they were barred from playing in the NCAA Tournament.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the MCHA wanted an autobid at some point and the NCAA requires all members to be DIII, which UMC obviously isn't - so that essentially forced UMC to shut down. I'm sure money played into it too, but from my understanding they were kinda forced out.

The only real path for UMC to get hockey again is for them to join the UMAC, so they could then join the NCHA (because there's zero chance the MIAC wants them).

A pipedream of mine is for the NSIC to sponsor hockey at the conference level, so that could be another way UMC gets varsity hockey again, but... despite the exclusively positive feedback I've gotten, it'll never happen.

Are you just saying no NCAA hockey? Because they absolutely still have hockey.

This season’s schedule: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sports/mih/schedule

[Millsy]

Crookston still has Club Hockey (ACHA D-II, I believe) and they still use the Crookston Sports Center.

I am going off on a tangent here, I guess..... Club Hockey is going to become a lot stronger now with the ability of CHL (Major Juniors) players to play NCAA hockey. You are going to see a trickle down effect happen in recruiting, D-III is going to get stronger as there are going to be some higher level Junior players from the NAHL and Canadian leagues not making D-I rosters. In turn, you are going to see players that would have made D-III rosters in the past trickle down to ACHA teams. Some of the bigger ACHA D-I teams are fully funded, making them a pretty nice option for players. Minot and UMary have some pretty good programs, not sure on their funding, but they always seem to be up there in the National Club Rankings.

[SW_Mustang]

Are you just saying no NCAA hockey? Because they absolutely still have hockey.

This season’s schedule: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sports/mih/schedule

This is a silly discussion to have when I absolutely specified: "didn't even have a varsity team to put on the ice."

There's a student club on campus that plays hockey - just like there is at most schools, but the school itself doesn't have hockey. I guess most wouldn't confuse the two, so I'll chalk it up to people just enjoying a good argument. I'm all for it.

Now that being said - nothing I said is a knock against the athletes. Those guys go insanely hard, and are absolutely talented in their own right. It's also really cool that the university is giving them visibility with a webpage. Most schools wouldn't do that.

[Stanger86]

Yeah I don't consider that "club" hockey. They recruit, offer scholarships, etc. It'd be like trying to argue that SMSU doesn't offer wheelchair basketball.

[SW_Mustang]

Let’s not jinx the Jimmies with all this Crookston talk

The Jimothies delivered a biblical mollywhopping of sorts to Valley City State last week. 33-0.

I checked and 45 is the record though. Shucks.