On Thu, 9 Dec 1993, Brian Morris wrote:
 
> I will try to obtain some background on the story.  But I would put the rumor
> in the same category as all the rumors regarding re-alignment between Hockey
> East and the ECAC.  In fact going back to the nascent days of Hockey East
> certain teams were allegedly invited to "join" Hockey East--I remember hearing
> that Clarkson and St. Lawrence were at one time actively soliciting Hockey East
> membership.  The RPI rumor is interesting only in terms of the context of
> recent events in its relationship with other ECAC schools.  I believe Jason
> broke the story of RPI being refused permission to participate in the Alaska
> tournament last year by the ECAC, supposedly at the behest of the Ivies, since
> it would exceed the 30 game maximum.  And thereupon Yale seized the opportunity
> and traveled up to the 49th state to participate.  And the other contextual
> event is Hockey East's public statement that it was looking to expand after
> U Mass Amherst begins play.
 
 Geographically RPI represents the best fit for
> any ECAC team looking to migrate over to the other Eastern league.
 
Wouldn't Harvard actually be a better fit?
 
>
> That said, I wouldn't get too excited about RPI jumping ship--unless all the
> old ECAC teams are involved.  First I don't think the administration would
> like RPI to increase the number of games it plays to that of Hockey East.  Like
> the other old ECAC teams, e.g. Colgate, I think RPI is more comfortable with
> the Ivies' idea of sports, with competition taking a back seat to the academic
> image of the university.  Granted RPI has no problem with scholarships, but the
> players admitted have to be willing to accept an extremely rigorous course load
> at a university that offers few "gut" courses.  And the university would not
> want to apply any additional academic hardship on its players through the
> adoption of the expanded Hockey East schedule.
>
> Second, I think RPI feels it has a responsibility to its fellow old ECAC
> schools in defining its actions to ensure their mutual benefit.  RPI, St.
> Lawrence and Clarkson are all Divison II or III schools for their athletic
> programs, with the exception of hockey;
 
True- which means that the move (of RPI or Harvard) might benefit Hockey
East, OTOH.  Merrimack and Providence are relatively small schools with
primarily DivII sports (I think, not sure about PC).  Although there are
several large schools in HE (Northeastern, BU, BC, Univ. Maine,
Mass-Lowell, okay, a lot of large schools) the league could help build a
better reputation for academics (and perhaps counter the effects of
certain recent events) by enticing in another school that doesn't
over-emphasize athletics.
 
> But, having gazed into my crystal ball, I don't think any of this will happen,
> for my first reason, and, finally, a fundamental question--what would RPI gain
> by joining Hockey East?  Currently (and historically) RPI has been an Eastern
> hockey power.  The Engineers apparently do not have any difficulty in
> scheduling games with Hockey East teams, and certainly don't have any problem
> in filling the Houston Fieldhouse with screaming fans.  Recruiting-wise I also
> doubt that Hockey East membership would make any difference.  HE membership
> wouldn't automatically provide a ticket to the Massachusetts pipeline, nor
> provide additional access to the Joe Juneau-type of scholar athlete that RPI
> prides itself upon.
 
That, admittedly, seems an inescapable fact.
 
David M. Josselyn
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