This is from today's (2/20) Boston Globe, by Bob Monahan.
UMASS' LONG-TERM GOAL HOCKEY EAST
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst will have two Olympic-sized ice
rinks - one for hockey, the other for recreational skating - when the
William D. Mullins Memorial Center open next year. There also is long-range
talk about the Minutemen joining Hockey East.
UMass, which won the ECAC Division 2 championship in 1972, dropped hockey
after the 1978-79 season. UMass had played and practiced at Amherst College's
Orr Rink and at Greenfield, but obtaining ice time became so difficult, the
sport was dropped.
The Mullins Center will seat 9,296 for basketball, 8,200 for hockey and
10,500 for concerts, graduations and other events.
"We have an invitation to join Hockey East if and when the program gets to
that level," said David Bischoff, dean of the school of physical education.
Bischoff also predicted, "It won't be very long [after the building opens]
that we'll have a hockey team again."
Hockey East commissioner Stu Haskell said, "We indicated what [UMass] would
have to do, and we know it would take some time. But down the line it could
be done and we would welcome UMass."
A hockey program at UMass seems far-fetched to the casual observer in light
of the football program eliminating scholarships and the soccer program
surviving budget cuts only because it will be financed by private funds
for the next few years.
Bischoff, who has been fighting for top-flight athletics at UMass for more
than 15 years, indicated the hockey program would not take funds from
existing sports. It is hoped revenue would come from ice rentals, gate
receipts and alumni.
The hockey program would face major financial barriers. In addition to a
coaching staff (full-time head coach, full-time assistant, part-time
assistant), it would need money for scholarships (18 are allowed by the
NC$$) and equipment.
Total annual costs are estimated at between $400,000 and $500,000, including
travel, recruiting, and miscellaneous expenses.
(end)
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