Hey now that SLU has dropped to D2, why doesn't someone organize an East West Challenge Tournament either for the end of the season or preseason for next season. Seems to me it would be a pretty good match up for all teams.

East Teams
SIUE
McKendree
SLU

vs.

West Teams
Lindenwood D2
MSU
Mizzou

This would be a perfect one for LU to host as their rink shows up in the middle. Would be a great recruiting tool for all teams if they promote it right to their local youth programs. I know that Larry T. use to run that Big Muddy thing but it was not promoted correctly to get any attention from local kids. It was also tried in a four team format about three years ago but because it was going to include SLU D1 and LU D1, MSU's Alexander and Mizzou's Lamond got cold feet and would not participate.

Now that all 6 teams are perfectly aligned in D2 and MSU has no Alexander factor and Lamond could now "man-up" and be one of the stronger contenders and not fear D1 competition, all teams should see the light. Make this a solid annual event as it sure would save on big travel costs and provide a nice three game weekend. Maybe even split gate reciepts for a little meal money for the teams? LU doesn't need all the cash on this one. Betcha they'd do it this way if asked.

As Rodney King once said, "Why can't we all just get along?"

So basically 3 solid gold teams, against 2 mediocre gold teams and a silver team?

Sounds very unpredictable

Ya no kidding. Mckendree?? are you joking! They would get absolutely slaughtered by all of those teams.

You obviously have not seen SLU play.

I think the original challenge didn't take place because of scheduling and cost issues. Get your facts. Missouri St. had beaten Lindenwood D1 and I think Mizzou had taken them to overtime and beat SLU the year before so I doubt anyone was scared to play. It would have been a good tourney and is still a good idea.

Talk to the people at St. Peters Rex Plex. Brand new facility, NHL style benches on main rink, would be great publicity for the schools!

Here's the real facts. MSU's Coach Alexander did not want Lindenwood to make the money on the tournament and Missouri's Coach Lamond had a transfer student from Lindenwood playing for them that had kept some equipment along with fearing the Lindenwood smack down that they would get in a game. Now if it would strictly be D2 teams and since the MSU coach is gone, both of those teams should be agreeable. The six teams should do it. Maybe even go to eight teams and include Kansas and Illinois in the mix then it would really be a great tournament for the RecPlex.

And we are supposed to believe what an anonymous poster says? Give me some facts or shut up.

As an administrator, I was organizing that potential tournament and speaking with the coaches that's what Alexander, Lamond and Schaub all said. Schaub just thought that Mizzou was dodging him because of the equipment and the beating they would take so, probably shouldn't be so hard on Mizzou. Maybe they have their own story for pulling out. That's the facts.

give me a break. Mizzou wasnt dodgin ****. They wanted to play as like the poster said earlier, they had taken Lindenwood to overtime(they actually had a 2 goal lead with about 5 minutes left). The whole equipment situation was a player who did transfer, and it was a pair of gloves...and they called the cops over them. ****in joke. Like you need the money or the gloves. From my understanding Schaub didnt want to schedule the game until the gloves were returned, and they tried scheduling Mizzou and MSU late and early games while favoring Lindenwood and SLU. So instead Mizzou and MSU scheduled games against each other and avoided this stupid drama. Get your facts straight.

All in all it sounds like a bunch or crap. Teams should play wherever placed in a tournament and if the host team wants the prime time spot who cares. If you want to showcase your team then playing against LU or SLU at the better time would have helped everyone. Your story holds no water. Sounds like MSU and Mizzou were just making it hard to do a tournament like this. Too bad.

Hey there was a good move, Mizzou and MSU decided to play against each other in front of their parents. Great recruiting tool there. Try looking beyond your own goal line, that's called future growth.

msu and mizzou arent going to be able to compete against lindenwood in recruiting. They cant offer "academic" scholarships to players to play. They also arent going to bring in kids from Canada for crying out loud. Kids go there to go to a big school to party, get a good education, and play hockey on the side. They dont really "recruit" players, they get them by who decides to go there for "school" purposes

So you are telling me that 7 years ago MSU had this many good hockey players that were there just because they went there "to party" and for "school purposes"?

Lindenwood has a nice recruiting pitch. You will notice at the start of this video they have a disco ball in their locker room. What other team in the league has live music and a disco ball in their locker room? All they need now is a pole.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8D2xZn7TKg&feature=related

Abney and Schaub have both been on the pole at FACES!