I think that Illinois needs to get a d-1 hockey program I say this because of all the kids in minnesota and michigan tht go to u of minnesota minnesota state st. cloud umd or for the michigan kids u of michigan western michigan lake superior state Illinois has such great hockey talent and the kids are so spread out going to college

no state school in IL wants to fund a D-1 hockey team. Schools have been recently cutting sports.

Need some rich hockey fan alumni from UofI or some Blackhawks who call Illinois home to set up an endowment. Or someone needs to lead fundraising. Good luck.

...some big money stepped up for UI, odds are they wouldn't be able to get into DI without:

1. bringing enough other schools with them to form a conference - all the exisitng conferences are full (or have even # teams).
2. bringing one other school so an existing conference could still have even # teams (then convince a conference to take on two new programs.
3. an existing program (Bowling Green?) drops hockey.
4. Big 10 Conference is created.

The CHA, which had served as a conference for new programs to start in, is disbanding after this upcoming season. Niagara and Robert Morris will be heading to Atlantic Hockey. Bemidji State is going to the WCHA, and with that Nebraska-Omaha is leaving the CCHA and joing the WCHA as well (gives the WCHA 12 teams, only way Bemidji could get in). Alabama-Huntsville hs applied to join the CCHA, hoping to take the spot left with UNO's departure.

Here's a conference for you: BIG TEN!

Minni
Wisco
Illini
Mich
Mich St
Ohio St

No way Minnesota and Wisconsin give up playing North Dakota and the Colorado colleges and the more close other Minnesota teams. WCHA has too strong of competition and draw for fans to only hope to play them once a year in an exhibition game like they do Mich. State and Mich.

WCHA is too profitable for the NCAA and college hockey to change it.

The Big Ten is one of the most profitable conferences in the country. And it isn't a one-sport conference. WCHA is small change in the world of college athletics. The Big Ten is big business. I agree Big Ten hockey probably won't happen. But that's because college hockey is a minor sport. If it got to be important, the Big Ten ties would easily outweigh WCHA ties.

The reason the big ten is profitable is that they are built around the powerhouse teams in football and basketball. The WCHA is built around the powerhouses in hockey. Unless Il. and Penn. could develop strong hockey programs that draw attendance the big ten won't happen. Hockey in Il. doesn't have the following of hockey in North Dakota, the alumni support isn't there for a college team beyond club. Money comes from attendance, selling of team wear and donations and the WCHA has some of the most profitable small school programs in the country. Until the other "big Ten" schools develop strong programs no way will Minnesota and Wisconsin leave the WCHA. With the current economic condition look for the WCHA to remain as is with the additions of BSU and UNO they have added two more great venues to play in which are easy to travel to.

nebraska-omaha is leaving the ccha after the 09-10 season and bowling greens program is on the rocks would this make room for illinois or not?

Illini Hockey has a following at the campus level. 1000 show up on a bad night and 2000 show up on a good night. That is a good start to a program. In state tuition at a great school would bring in a lot of talent from the Illinois based juniors and AAA at a 1/2 ride level. Market it with a few games in the Chicago and St. Louis area and D1 has a good chance to take off in Illinois.

They are trying to become a NCAA D3 team, but NCAA will not allow them because they are too big of a school.

BUT, This site tried mandatory reg. 3 times the past 8 years. The hits dropped over 75%.
1. Site is here for one reason - each "hit", the owner gets credit on monthly fees towards their other website(s)
2. 90% what read on CH is used to sway your opinion- ie. a players future/team/coaches etc.
3. One of the first things every coach tells players "stay off the chat boards, Its all garbage". (ask jr)
4. Mandatory registration cries are b/s--its no different than non-registration. By registering, the only entity to have info are owners/law enforcement.(by warrant) YOU wont see who someone is
Your computer ID is recorded, each time you visit. REGARDLESS of registration.
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace etc. all require registration. You may register as yourself, or register using an alias. If you break the guidelines, account closed. Your computer ID and/or the alias is banned. But then again, those sites are more or less not used to screw kids over.
Why or how did I end up on this hell site?
I asked a coach where to find scores for AAA games-he steered me here. He was from the Chill. Believed this junk for years, till things made little sense. Had good friends and coaches screwed here.
So, I spoke to coaches, owners, board members, to see if this site is mostly propaganda. Same answer from all. Yes.
Have a close friend who advertises on hundreds of sites. He gave me the facts as to how the money is made here.

- As a solo hockey parent, spent over 5000 hours attending games, & practices, (I don't mean dropping of junior and going to the bar till its over, like some do) was mgr for 2 years, hung with coaches, dined with NHL, NAHL, & USHL owners (all were friends of coaches that enjoyed my company) gained much knowledge of "hockey life" without trying.

sad most will never know how fake this site is.
and it is

Kinda full of yourself "guy".

That's not all "guy" is full of.

ncaa rules require that all teams froma school are D1, if even one of them are. D2 and D3 are different, but the biggest issue is funding!

Title 9 could play a part in this. Having to do with how many scholarships they can hand out. They have to have some sort of balance between men's and women's sports.

It would be great if UoI could attract a NCAA D1 program. It would be a lot of work and a big committment from Illinois hockey fans. The Champaign area will attract 1-2 thousand an a good night. A solid NCAA D1 program will need twice those numbers to work and draw fans from Chicago and St Louis area. Until then, our best Illinois skaters will continue to go out of state to play for NCAA D1 schools. Here is the 2009-2010 UoI roster.

Printer Friendly Roster
2009 - 2010 Player Roster

No. Player Position Year Hometown Ht. Wt.
1 Mike Burda Goaltender Senior Buffalo Grove, IL 5' - 11" 170
2 Gabe Heller Defense Sophomore Skokie, IL 6' - 0" 185
3 Joe Cardona Defense Junior Palatine, IL 6' - 2 " 200
5 Brian Saliba Defense Sophomore Lake Forest , IL 6' - 1" 165
6 Mark Ergun Forward Senior Wood Dale, IL 5' - 9" 160
7 Mike Basili Defense Freshman Melrose Park, IL 6' - 0" 170
8 Anthony Carlsen Defense Freshman Crystal Lake, IL 5' - 10" 195
9 Tom Connell Forward Senior Chicago, IL 5' - 9 " 170
10 Tim Gilbert Forward Junior Woodridge, IL 5' - 10" 200
11 Pat Saliba Forward Senior Lake Forest , IL 5' - 11" 170
12 Pierce Butler Defense Senior Rochester, IL 6' - 3" 170
13 Sam Fatigato Forward Sophomore Carol Stream, IL 5' - 6" 170
14 Matt Jennings Forward Senior Chicago, IL 6' - 1" 190
15 Tony Razik Forward Sophomore Palos Park , IL 5' - 8 " 165
16 Kent Kovalsky Defense Freshman Newtown Square, PA 6' - 2" 195
17 Daniel Cohen Forward Junior Northbrook, IL 5' - 10" 170
18 Rob Deubel Forward Junior Woodridge, IL 5' - 8" 185
19 Nick Stuercke Forward Freshman Glenview, IL 6' - 0" 200
20 Justin Wirt Defense Sophomore Mundelein, IL 6' - 0" 170
21 JJ Heredia Forward Senior Wadsworth, IL 6' - 0" 170
22 Chad Himley Forward Sophomore Long Grove, IL 6' - 0" 165
23 Michael Chiligiris Defense Sophomore Downers Grove, IL 6' - 0" 180
24 Joe Sullivan Forward Junior Glenview, IL 5' - 8" 175
26 Brad Hoelzer Defense Senior Batavia, IL 6' - 0" 180
27 Andrew Cardona Forward Sophomore Arlington Heights, IL 6' - 0" 175
28 Mike McBride Forward Junior Glenview, IL 5' - 11" 175
29 Ryan Woulfe Goaltender Freshman Alsip, IL 5' - 6" 140
31 DJ Kohler Goaltender Senior Park Ridge, IL 5' - 10" 180
32 Mike Ursitti Forward Sophomore Shorewood, IL 5' - 10" 160