On Mon, 22 Mar 2004, Andy Weise wrote:

> Also, it seems to me that the ECAC just doesn't market its teams as
> well as the other of the big 4 conferences. The CCHA, WCHA, and
> Hockey East are hockey-only conferences (correct?), whereas the ECAC
> isn't. There's not much widespread TV coverage, so most people in
> New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey don't realize there is hockey
> outside of the NHL. The ECAC needs to advertise better to attract
> the crowds.

Actually getting more of the games on TV would help as well.  The
league hasn't had a regular season TV deal since 2000-2001, and from
http://www.uscho.com/news/2004/03/04_008102.php
it sounds like they blew a chance to develop a relationship with CSTV
by having them broadcast the ECACs rather than just pick up the CN8
feed of the final.

I also miss Lake Placid.  Moving to Albany was supposed to be a "step
up" for the ECAC, but like I said at the time, we went from having
something special, a league tournament in an intimate, magical
location, to an attempt to chase the other leagues' big-city sites
with a second-rate metropolis.  Remember how the ECAC TV game of the
week broadcasts would start off with "The Destination is Lake Placid"?
"Destination Albany" doesn't really have the same ring.

                                          John Whelan, Cornell '91
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                                     http://www.amurgsval.org/joe/