The Penn State Icers: Doing What They Do Since 1971
by Kevin HD on Dec 3, 2008 10:00 AM EST
in Other Sports
80 comments
This is your introduction, become familiar with the material because we aren't going to waste any more time with background knowledge.
Let's get you caught up. The Penn State Icers are the premiere club non-scholarship team at the university (there are others). They play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). The ACHA is considered the top club level in the nation and runs as a non-scholarship, self funded league.
This is not your roommate's club non-scholarship team. Instead of showing up a couple times a week for a lazy scrimmage, players are recruited and held to fully coached, fully mandatory practices. Don't believe me? From NHL.com:
"Club is a four-letter word in our vocabulary," says Al Murdoch, the long-time coach at Iowa State University, a top program in the ACHA.
[...]
Those with an understanding of the U.S. college hockey scene consider the top ACHA clubs -- those playing at the Division I level -- to be the equal of NCAA Division III schools.
Penn State was a charter member of the league and is consistently one of the elite teams. They won the inaugural championship in 1991-92 and have played in the championship game 13 times, winning six. This includes an eight year stretch that came to an end last season; Penn State won four titles in a row from 2000 through 2003 and then finished runner-up from 2004 through 2007.
The league has become very competitive and Penn State has developed natural rivals. Ohio University has probably become the most fierce; the Bobcats have won four titles since 1992 and played Penn State in the championship back to back years (2002-03 and 2003-04). Illinois has also been consistently competitive.
Penn State often sells out the Greenberg Penn State Ice Pavilion, a short walk to the eastern part of campus and just a stone's throw from where this happened (this also). Games are typically played in sets of two, the opener Friday night and the closer Saturday afternoon.
What you've missed so far. The team is currently ranked third nationally behind Illinois and Lindenwood.
Series record ("win" designates a 2-0 weekend, "split" 1-1, "loss" 0-2):
| Team | H/A | Result |
| Delaware | A | Win |
| Navy | H | Win |
| Ohio | H | Split |
| Drexel | H/A | Split |
| Navy | A | Win |
| Rhode Island | A | Split |
The team has played four single games, going 3-1 including a 10-3 win over Pitt. The Pitt Panthers, it was embarrassing. For Pitt I mean.
Up Next. Home game, Friday, 9pm. Penn State has another home/away match-up with in-state West Chester. The Rams are 10-5 and currently sit in the eight spot in the rankings. Penn State needs to overcome their recent loss to #11 Rhode Island if they want to maintain their three ranking. Taylor Cera, who started the season as a first line forward before being injured, is back at "100 percent" after missing the RI series.
...
Optional readings:
-Hockey Valley (Official Site)
-ACHA Rankings
-Icers Boosters
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My love for you knows no bounds...
in the most hetero way possible, of course.
So is this the point where I’m supposed to jump in and say that I’ll be glad to take any further questions? :)
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 10:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
If I Had Money
I’d donate money to scholarships/an arena/whatever the Icers would need to go to the varsity level.
by PizzaDelivery on Dec 3, 2008 10:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I don't think that is necessarily the problem
From my understanding it was a Title IX thing, since we wouldn’t have a comparable womens sport with number of athletes/scholarships
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 3, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Everything I've understood
It’s been about the arena and then getting into the budget. We’ve had the Lady Icers for a few years now (thin on roster size, sure, but growing and getting better), so Title IX has basically been thrown out.
We just don’t have the proper facility at this point to house NCAA-calibur competition. Undoubtedly, we’d also need to support ourselves some with the department budget, so having a venue that can actually generate revenue would also be helpful. I think once we can prove we can pump money back into the athletic department, then we’d have an easier shot of jumping into the NCAA.
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 11:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
doesn't Title IX just handle scholarship sports?
Would the Lady Icers be able to move up as well? I could be very wrong with the Title IX issue, but I do recall reading about it a while ago in conjunction with the hockey team (sorta like “a friend of a friend” so take it for what it’s worth)
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 3, 2008 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Right
I’d donate money for scholarships for the men’s and women’s teams, whatever is needed.
Sadly, I’m a poor college student.
by PizzaDelivery on Dec 3, 2008 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Philanthropy is all about keeping focused
Donate your limited funds to pizza and beer, and you’ll be well-rewarded.
pax et amor
by jtothep on Dec 3, 2008 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Or...
if you wish to donate beer and pizza to the ice hockey team (or the HMA members who help do the behind-the-scenes work for the team), I’m sure your donations would be gladly appreciated.
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
just don’t put your Lions costume on and drive after drinking.
PSU Softball
by QBsneak12 on Dec 3, 2008 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hockey
Is a natural fit for Penn State. We have 2 great NHL teams in the state and we are sort of near the powers of Hockey East.
If only we had the facility for a D1 powerhouse…
PSU Softball
by QBsneak12 on Dec 3, 2008 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Worst decision by the AD in recent years.
Well, aside from holding on to Rene Portland for too long.
In the 15 years since the construction of the BJ Center I’m sure PSU could have developed a decent D1 NCAA hockey squad and a filled stadium.
by Cairo on Dec 3, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
On that note
How hard would it be to convert the BJC floor into a hockey rink? All you need is some water and a really big refrigeration unit.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Dec 3, 2008 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They actually do this.
They have those Disney On Ice shows that the townies love…they play at the BJC all the time.
Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries
by Kevin HD on Dec 3, 2008 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
From what I've heard
To turn the BJC into a proper hockey rink facility, it would take another couple million. Yes, they do the Disney on Ice things as Kevin mentioned, but to get it to a regularly function hockey rink would be another bump up. It’s amazing the amount of money needed to keep the ice for an entire ice hockey game from, you know, not sucking.
But that was the debate – a couple million to share the BJC? Or find a donor of a much larger amount to support a brand new facility (which all the ice-related sports/activities do need)? We’re still going after the new facility.
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Arena
I work in an arena with a hockey team and it is a lot different than Disney on ice. Some Disney shows bring in their own ice, so the ice used by the teams are not used.
Keeping the ice in good enough condition to play on is always the major problem, especially with a muli-use facility. Upkeep of ice, staff, equipment to change over to basketball or concert…it is a big headache. I was their when the hockey team refused to get on the ice because it was damaged or not “hard” enough…they should have made the BJC hockey ready at the time of the build…but with Title IX…we will need a Varsity women’s team and a new facility…too bad no former NHLers played at PSU (if they did please correct me)
PSU Softball
by QBsneak12 on Dec 3, 2008 11:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Engineering at its best.
“I work in an arena with a hockey team and it is a lot different than Disney on ice. Some Disney shows bring in their own ice, so the ice used by the teams are not used”
Do they bring in their ice in those little ice trays or does Tanya Harding just load up her pickup truck?
by keppner on Dec 3, 2008 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can't wait
until BSD gets it’s first hit from the google search: “tanya harding disney”
Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries
by Kevin HD on Dec 3, 2008 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm disappointed
I don’t know where BSD ranks yet, but spartantailgate had a hit at #62 and the collegian is #107
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 4, 2008 7:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The big issue: the architecture
Where can you fit in a giant refrigeration unit? The BJ Center was completed in 1993, at a time when every square inch of athletic facilities were designed for efficiency, but with greater consideration for spectator comfort. Any modification would probably require blowing out a wall.
Sports architecture changed radically just after this period with the completion of Camden yards in 1992. Aesthetics, future expansion, and technological efficiencies were considered as viable economic models. I’m certain the BJ Center’s plans were approved and bid out by the time Camden Yards was constructed.
Today, the Camden Yards model has been replaced with the green starchitecture building typified by the bird’s nest stadium in Beijing and the planned facilities for the London 2012 games.
by Cairo on Dec 3, 2008 11:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
meh
Finding a spot for the unit wouldn’t be hard. They must already have one somewhere for the air conditioning. You could set it out in the parking lot next to the dumpsters and just put a fence around it if you wanted to. The problem would be getting power and cooling to it. To have a unit that size you need to run a 480 volt motor which you can’t just plug into your everyday residential 110v outlet. The other problem would be water. You could get an air cooled unit, but they aren’t nearly as efficient. To get an efficient unit it should really be water cooled which poses the problem of where you get the cooling water. So in effect you could be talking about adding a cooling tower. I suspect the BJC already has a cooling tower for the A/C, so it might have enough capacity already. Especially since hockey is a winter sport and the AC probably doesn’t get used hard during hockey season anyway. Worst case you would have to add another cell onto the cooling tower which could run you a half million or so.
As you can probably tell, I know alot about refrigeration. It’s kind of what I do.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Dec 3, 2008 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting.
Studying for LEED certification has me looking into HVAC, Lighting, Refrigeration, and interior water systems for the first time in my life. Refrigeration is interesting stuff, at least to me.
Some other things you would probably have to do:
You might have to move the loading docks if the units were upsized.
You’d need to install or upsize lines to go from the cooling tower to the rink.
You would need a place for storage of the materials for the setup of a hockey facility: waterproofing materials, boards, plastic, netting, goals, equipment, possibly office space, etc.
by Cairo on Dec 3, 2008 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
c'mon
they’d just have to split the power cord into 5 separate cords and plug each one into a 110v outlet. I’m sure it would work flawlessly!
DISCLAIMER: anyone here who follows my electrical engineering advice deserves a cookie for desert at their last meal
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 3, 2008 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and
Actually,it may not be a problem with the voltage either, they probably have the 480v going to the BJC already for not only the AC units, but, the lighting as well. Another thought, is that the lighting may be at 480v as well, we just retrofitted our plant with new lighting, and the 480v lamps are most economical, especially in bulb life. What could be a larger issue would be the amp load of the building, and the power available at the street to change a transformer and increase the amps for the building.
And, as a bit of useless information, it would take about 275 or so tons of cooling.
And, the power to dehumidify it when the weather warms up, or it gets muggy out.
Ben and Alex... first commits for 2024
by 3Yardout on Dec 3, 2008 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ah
275 tons would take about a 350 hp motor. So you definitely need 480v power. Like you said, I’m sure they already have it. The question would be whether their feed transformer would be big enough.
This feels weird talking about my work stuff on here. Worlds are colliding, George! Worlds are colliding!
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Dec 3, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh no...
I thought this was your job. Here I was thinking being a blog generalissimo brought in 100K+ a year.
by Cairo on Dec 3, 2008 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
oh it does
refrigeration is just his hobby.
his comment about talking about work stuff on here was just a non sequitor…though I still don’t understand why it is weird talking about a Penn State blog on a Penn State blog…seems perfectly rational to me.
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 4, 2008 7:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But
I feel there is no need for concern until he starts s[eaking in the third person. And actually, it should probably be 3 units at 90-100 tons each, rather than 1 @ 275.
Ben and Alex... first commits for 2024
by 3Yardout on Dec 5, 2008 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
speaking even
Ben and Alex... first commits for 2024
by 3Yardout on Dec 5, 2008 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I dunno
I don’t see the need for a new facility when you’ve got the BJC sitting up there on the hill just begging to be converted into a hockey rink on the cheap. You’re talking about $2 million vs. $15 million. Any non-scholarship sport should take what they can get. Lobby for the money to convert the BJC. Then get yourself bumped up to NCAA status. Prove you can compete there, get the team on scholarship, and then go after the $15 million. You’re talking about a ten year process which is hard for the players and other people in the hear and now to accept, but that is the best course of action to achieve the ultimate goal.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Dec 3, 2008 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
doesn't hockey determine it's champion through some sort of playoff?
it obviously will therefore never be economically viable
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 3, 2008 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
It would cost more.
I’d say renovation would probably include other improvements to the facility. As long as you’re mobilizing construction and shutting down the arena, you might as well update it to 21st century standards. Fortunately raw materials costs are going down, but I would expect it to cost around $4-6 million.
I’d put the cost of an NCAA Hockey-ready facility at $20 million.
Frankly, I don’t think it’s the money. It’s not hard to find $4 million in the athletic department and $2 million from a half-dozen boosters. I think it’s incompetence and a lack of vision by the AD. As I’ve said many times before, Tim Curley should step down.
by Cairo on Dec 3, 2008 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
If they university wanted to fund a hockey team they could do it tomorrow. $20 million is chump change. The problem is they don’t think they would get a payback for it.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Dec 3, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
um...if $20 million is chump change
do you think they’d mind lending me a couple hundred thousand, you know, interest free? (heck, a million or so would be nice, too, but I’m not trying to be greedy or anything)
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 3, 2008 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's basically the issue
It’s proving that we can repay the money quick enough. And while we do a good job of filling seats, we still struggle to fill seats on some nights. Does that change with moving it to a new venue? I don’t know – there would probably still need to be a large marketing push to get people/students out.
As for renovation vs new facility, the biggest key is the Ice Pavilion. It’s still used for practices, games, exhibitions and classes for all levels of competition. Moving us to the BJC would be a start, but that wouldn’t solve everyone’s problems – if we had to cut back THON, I can only imagine what the all the younger kids’ hockey and figure skating would have to suffer. And to be honest, the Ice Pavilion isn’t in great shape – it may even be rolled over once a new facility is in place. That’s really the biggest reason why we’re looking at a new facility – so we don’t leave everyone else out in the cold.
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 1:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Basketball
hell we let the basketball team play and we know the men don’t bring in any fans during the week and sometimes struggle during big games as well.
PSU Softball
by QBsneak12 on Dec 3, 2008 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
IcersGuy
I heard Teddy Hume is the second coming of Patrick Hoy. True?
by WPIALkid22 on Dec 3, 2008 12:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Haha
Teddy? Well, he’s not bad …
I’m kidding – Teddy is pulling off his best Siggy impersonation this year. Teddy has done very well in the extra starts he’s been seeing this season, while Signet has been solid but not perfect. (In all of this, poor John Jay is the odd man out.)
Hume and Signet will continue to swap starting roles, but I’m expecting Signet to take the lead into the playoffs.
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ted
no, I knew Ted from summer. What’s the deal with their goalies, switch them every other game?
by WPIALkid22 on Dec 3, 2008 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Playing the hot hand
While we have this lovely history of rotating our goalies, the hope this year was to find one and stick with him. However, everytime one gets settled into the “starter” role, he has an off game and allows the other to step in. And the rotation just continues and continues…
by IcersGuy on Dec 4, 2008 11:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fascinating thread
I love it when the PSU engineers start engineering and shit.
pax et amor
by jtothep on Dec 3, 2008 1:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I toured the Ice Pavilion for class...
a few weeks ago and the manager said there will at least be major renovations for the facility next year. He even said they are looking into building a completely new arena (less likely) nearby and possibly turning the old one over for football use (don’t know what for). Sorry, don’t remember the details on cost or anything like that.
by blt on Dec 3, 2008 1:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Just a few notes about the background...
We actually didn’t win the inaugural championship in 1991-92 – that was Iowa State (over Michigan-Dearborn). We just hosted the first championship tournament. The origins of the league started a couple years prior to that (89-90 season), and we won that championship, but it wasn’t officially the ACHA at that point.
That drops everything back a bit – 5-time ACHA National Champions, 7-time runner-up. And yes, from the 1997-98 thru the 2006-07, we appeared in all 10 National Championship games. Thus my terming it the “Decade of Dominance.”
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 2:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but...
The Icers are entertainingly dominating, or were when I was a student.
But, who here was at the Lady Lions brawl in 2001/02 (I forget which semester I was in; I’m leaning towards 02)? That was entertainment at its best.
(You’ll have to excuse me. I went to one Lady Icers game in four years there, and it was that game. I can’t hear the Pavilion without imagining the two goaltenders going at it.)
by MainLion on Dec 3, 2008 2:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wait, what?
Women hockey players get into fights? Cat fights on ice?
This has the makings of a brilliant marketing plan. Get Curley on the phone. Exploit! EXPLOIT!
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Dec 3, 2008 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Illini fan here...
…I covered the Illinois hockey team last season, when they went 38-0-0 and won the ACHA title. I have to say, even though they went undefeated, the competition and skill level of the ACHA as a whole definitely exceeded my expectations. I remember the Icers came into Champaign as the No. 1 ranked team at the time, and game one was a thriller — the Icers scored three unanswered goals in the third period to take a 4-3 lead before we got a late game-tying score and eventually won in OT. We’ve lost a lot of great seniors going into this year, so we’ll see what happens when the Illini travel to PSU in January.
In short: If you aren’t a fan of the Icers or ACHA hockey in general, you should be. I mean, just for the fights alone…
"And heeeere cooome the pretzels!"
by NightPutting on Dec 3, 2008 3:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Illionis games
The only thing that saddens me about PSU-Illionis games is that they’re not regulars on the others’ schedule. Last time the Illini came to State College was January 2006, so it’s nice to have you back. Still debating on going to that weekend or the following weekend (it’s our Alumni Weekend, and it’s against URI). Or I’ll do both weekends, we’ll see…
Illinois is now easily one of the top, consistent programs in the ACHA and very good all around. I’ve only known the ACHA since I started working with the Icers in 2003, but there has been a great amount of growth and talent around the league. Teams like Delaware, West Chester, Liberty, Lindenwood, and Oklahoma have really made themselves serious contenders compared to jokes/non-existant back in 2003. It’s great for the league, and says a lot about a team that can go undefeated anymore.
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
On our rivalries...
Thanks to a lack of other major universities in the ACHA (especially from the beginning), the Icers have a few rivalries that aren’t shared with the other sports.
Ohio Bobcats – Hate ‘em. With a passion, we hate ’em. They have a very strong history, with a number of championship games between the two of us. Yeah, that didn’t help this rivalry along or anything. While I’ve never experienced it, I hear their fans can be quite the assholes. And some of their players like to follow suit. Never a dull moment when these two tangle.
Rhode Island Rams – They had a couple of good years, and became really cocky. And their coach is an ass. Oh, and there might have been a game a couple years back they won where they won on some rather shoddy reffing. Like really shoddy. …Their coach is still an ass….
Delaware Blue Hens – It’s a natural rivalry thanks to location. Thankfully, the Blue Hens have become extremely competitive in recent years, so it actually makes this set of games something to look forward to.
And there are the other games that we will normally get up for – Illinois, West Chester, and West Virginia come to mind. Pitt joined only in the past few years, so there isn’t really a rivalry between the two ice hockey teams – nothing more than the normal one created. And if they keep their arrogance up, the Liberty Flames might find their way onto this list of rivalries.
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 3:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ohio Bobcats
Would I be correct to assume the school is full of Ohio State fans that either couldn’t get into Ohio State or were too scared to leave mom and dad’s nest?
I don’t even know them, but I hate them on the advice of Icersguy. F’in Bobcats. F Ohio.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Dec 3, 2008 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll answer your questions
“While I’ve never experienced it, I hear their fans can be quite the assholes.”
You have heard correct – stadium only holds about 150 people though. Its the same size as a medium sized high school rink. Drunks enjoy fights, drunks enjoy instigating fights, simple as that. Its pretty much that they do the same 5/6 chants that are pretty unsportsmanlike/vulgar. Not much to cheer for in Bobcat land…
"Would I be correct to assume the school is full of Ohio State fans "
Yes you would – On Saturday you will see a hundred Buckeye jerseys for every Bobcat jersey.
" that either couldn’t get into Ohio State "
It’s a completely different school, very comparable academically though. The same companies that recruit from OSU recruit at OU. I don’t know a single student that is going to OU because they didn’t get into OSU.
“or were too scared to leave mom and dad’s nest?”
There isn’t a major town/city/anything within an hour of campus. If anything, people go to Athens to escape mom and dad’s nest.
I’m not from nittany land so I have no real comparison. But OSU v. OU is the same as PSU v. a similar but smaller school that has no real athletic program.
Look forward to you guys coming early next month.
http://sportinvestments.blogspot.com
by HolyBuckeye on Dec 3, 2008 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So its like
PSU -pitt then.
Onward to the Rose Bowl!!!!!
Traped in the SF Bay area.....nothing like kickoff at 9 am.
by bconway6 on Dec 4, 2008 12:44 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
hahahaha, beat me to it!
though in reality a better comparison might be to Temple in football…but that’s been a very friendly rivalry. If we played Rutgers more, they’d probably qualify too
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 4, 2008 7:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you...
Take away any hatred between either side. Take away any semblance of a successful athletic program. Take away the city of Pittsburgh. Take away all subarbs within an hour and a half of Pittsburgh. Add a ton of alcohol. The only real similarities are the # of students and the presence of a shitty, overrated big name coach.
So no, not really.
http://sportinvestments.blogspot.com
by HolyBuckeye on Dec 4, 2008 8:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
oh, we weren't seriously comparing Pitt to Ohio U
but we’ll take any chance to diss them.
Similar to the probable comparisons of Michigan this year and "Sisters of the Poor’ that I’m sure OSU fans were making.
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 4, 2008 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Regarding OU and Pitt
It’s not really fair to OU, I mean:
Ohio U 16, Pitt 10
Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries
by Kevin HD on Dec 4, 2008 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Uh oh
I’m going to killed for this, but I am not a fan of the hockey team. Not at all. I’ll just refrain from further comment and not rain on the parade here. Carry on.
by speedomike on Dec 3, 2008 3:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wrong.
The rugby team is the premier “club” team at Penn State.
Started in 1962, 24 final four appearances 4 national championships. The school support for the team was even less than that for hockey until the past year or so when hockey, lacross and rugby were given a special status of “team sport”.
by mstafford on Dec 3, 2008 3:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I meant premier *hockey* team.
There are other club hockey teams at penn state that play in different leagues.
From what I hear rugby is very successful, men’s and women’s, but isn’t all rugby “club”? I might be making this up but I thought I remember being told that there is not D1 rugby, that it’s all self funded.
Also, lacrosse is very much an NCAA D1, fully funded team. They are no different than the football, basketball, or baseball team as far as status. Trivia: Penn State had the very first college lacrosse team.
Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries
by Kevin HD on Dec 3, 2008 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t know that about the lacrosse team.
I rag on hockey because we share a building with them, or at least did when I was there. That’s not quite right anymore, although there used to not be divisions in rugby in general. Penn State is a D1 team now.
by mstafford on Dec 3, 2008 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Different levels
Lacrosse has a varsity and club level at State. There are a number of overlaps like that (I know for certain baseball and soccer have both varsity and club teams). However, I think the term “team sport” is still relegated to just men’s and women’s ice hockey and rugby. I could be wrong – I was sorta on the way out when that whole transition was taking place.
I’ve always liked the rugby teams – never saw a match (sadly, I’m not 100% sure where they’re held….). But they are damn successful and respected – both men’s and women’s. And one of these days, you’ll get the recognition the ice hockey teams get. ;)
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 4:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A and B side
Rugby had two sides, A and B. Basically first and second string, with players moving up and down as their skill level changed.
Our matches, unfortunately, were held out by the Salvage building (where the school of law is being built) on a crappy pitch. They built a new turf pitch for club soccer and rugby though, right on Atherton by the golf course. That used to be the practice field but it became unusable when all the grass died…
by mstafford on Dec 3, 2008 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What I heard from someone
I talked to a prominent University official who had long-time, high profile ties to the Icers before moving to his current position, in 2006 about D-I hockey at Penn State. He indicated that the reason there is not D-I hockey is that there is not a suitable arena. Apparently, money is not the biggest problem either, but pressure from the commonwealth to hold back on building was holding up a new arena. I asked about the BJC and he indicated that it would take 6 months of construction to make it ready for hockey and the sightlines are not ideal for the sport. Closing the BJC for six months is not practical because of all of the income it generates from concerts, etc. So, we have to hope that in a few years the commonwealth backs off and lets Penn State build a new arena. Once that happens, we’ll have men’s and women’s D-I hockey. I believe Penn State going varsity would mean the Big11Ten would become a hockey conference too.
Blogging about D.C. Baseball since April '04. Penn State alum. Also partial to the Washington Capitals, New York Yankees and Yale football.
by WFY on Dec 3, 2008 4:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Just curious
if you’d be willing to share the name of your “prominent University official”. Not because I don’t trust you, but because I have a couple ideas who it may be. And I worked very closely with a couple of these possible people, so I’m just curious who you chatted with. (I can send you an email addy, if you’d prefer that course.) Also, the part about pressure from the commonwealth never really came up. But I guess it explains why the focus was on finding a donor – might as well find the money to help give some incentive.
As for Big Eleven hockey, I guess we could screw up the current systems, but i’d like a few more teams to make the jump (I’m looking at you, Illinois!). Unless I’m forgetting someone, there’s only 5 currently – Minn, Wisc, Mich, MSU, and OSU. So it’s plausible with 6, but it’s barely the Big Televen.
by IcersGuy on Dec 3, 2008 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not the Big Eleven!!!
It would probably be the ‘natural’ thing to so, but I cringe every time I hear that come up. I am a PSU Alum, but I am from St. Cloud, MN. Saint Cloud State University is a NCAA D1 team that plays in the WCHA (home to the gophers and badgers). Loosing those two team to make a big ten hockey conference would decimate that league. It would remove some very important rivalries with schools like the University of North Dakota, and a bunch of other Minnesota schools that have had some level of national success. It would be like putting PSU, o$u and scum in separate football conferences, crushing.
There are many relatively unknown schools that field nationally competitive programs that are seldom heard from otherwise, The university of North Dakota, Denver University, New Hampshire, Maine etc. Kind of like Johns Hopkins are lacrosse, has anyone else heard of any other Johns Hopkins team? Because of the strange conference alignments with large schools and the smaller schools it’s just not good for the game to have something like the Big Ten hockey conference.
(Though if PSU wanted to geographically leapfrog over the CHA, and CCHA and join the WCHA when they do become D1 that would officially be awesome :end football playoff-like pipe dream here: )
Onward to the Rose Bowl!!!!!
Traped in the SF Bay area.....nothing like kickoff at 9 am.
by bconway6 on Dec 4, 2008 1:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
College hockey is a completely different beast when it comes to the different alignments of teams, not to mention the teams that are involved. The only thing I can think is that, with just 6 teams, there wouldn’t be much in terms of in-conference play – allowing for a lot of the teams to reach back and play their old opponents with a good regularity.
But I’ll be glad to just make the jump at this point – they can put us wherever the hell they want for now, as long as we’re playing NCAA D1.
by IcersGuy on Dec 4, 2008 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Definitely
Anyplace to get up to NCAA D1 would be excellent! Someday making a Frozen Four would be fantastic. A few big name schools making the jump too, like Illinois could help save the CHA with Robert Morris, and three other randomly spread out teams from Niagara, Bemidji State to Alabama-Huntsville. Now to just wait on funding…some more.
Onward to the Rose Bowl!!!!!
Traped in the SF Bay area.....nothing like kickoff at 9 am.
by bconway6 on Dec 4, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not to whine
but UNH and Maine both made NCAA football playoffs, yes 1-AA, but they have a playoff. And UNH competes regularly with PSU womens gymnastics.
Ben and Alex... first commits for 2024
by 3Yardout on Dec 5, 2008 9:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rhymes with JoePa
He said a donor had been found. This was in 2006 or 2007, I think. Now I am recalling that a Collegian article from earlier this year contradicted what I had heard a bit.
http://www.yurasko.net/wfy/2008/05/details-on-what-is-keeping-icers-from.html
Blogging about D.C. Baseball since April '04. Penn State alum. Also partial to the Washington Capitals, New York Yankees and Yale football.
by WFY on Dec 4, 2008 8:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
lol at the argument
“do not have to fund major football, basketball, or baseball teams” right, because I’m sure the school is losing so much money with the football program :-p
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 4, 2008 9:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How hard would it be to "upgrade" the Ice Pavilion?
That article mentions that originally it was meant to hold more people, but they basically ran out of money.
Just curious as to what the costs would be like in upgrading that facility to increase seating capacity? I may be dumb, but it seems some of the biggests costs (refrigeration, etc) are already handled. If they could blow out a wall and/or raise the roof (probably harder, considering the refirgeration and air conditioning) they could increase seating that way, couldn’t they? Or would this basically be as expensive as building a new facility, in which case, might as well build a new one?
by The JuggerNitt on Dec 4, 2008 9:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hard to "upgrade"
The issue with the Ice Pavilion is that there’s little room to expand at this point. It’s surrounded by the football buildings and parking – there’s no place to really go at this point. And I’m sure the money is needed more for other repairs/renovations before seating capacity.
by IcersGuy on Dec 4, 2008 9:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's what I figured...
Good guy. Hilarious guy – has some of the greatest stories ever.
I know we’ve had interested donors, but we’ve had trouble getting them to stick from time to time. I’ve heard we had someone interested – new or return, I don’t know – but until I see construction beginning, I’ll expect to see the inside of the Greenberg for a few more years.
by IcersGuy on Dec 4, 2008 9:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What ACHA schools have made the jump to NCAA Division I?
Any of them?
by Cairo on Dec 5, 2008 2:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Just as a first thought
None that I can think of have made that jump to this point, at least nothing within the past 5 years. I’d have to check to see if any teams from the beginnings of the ACHA have jumped, but I doubt it. My guess is that, if none of the more successful programs have made the jump, then nobody has done so.
by IcersGuy on Dec 5, 2008 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey Icersguy and BSD staff...
Always appreciate you guys keeping me in the loop with our hockey team and I will keep looking for updates throughout the year. Thank you so much!
PS- I used to be all about college hockey when I lived in Alaska for 4.5 yrs and went to UAA for a while (WCHA). Saw lotsa games and I remember when they made the jump up from club to WCHA and man were those first couple years brutal but now they are competing nationally
I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member
by TheMightyErik on Dec 6, 2008 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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