As Keith has reported:
 
>It was reported in yestrday's BG paper that the Albany-Times
>Union college hockey poll is no more because they have no room
>for it on the sports page.
 
According to the guy I talked to at the T-U the move is a result of "budget
cuts", with the sports section losing pages.  This is indeed unfortunate, with
RPI looking toward its best season since 1985, and the Knick hosting the 1994
regionals.  Keith Marder in particular was pretty knowledgeable about college
hockey, and didn't do a bad job reporting.  He also ran that funny college
hockey telephone line which often had interesting bits of trivia he had picked
on.  I would imagine the T-U will now concentrate on Siena basketball (uggggh!)
and try and whip up interest for the 1995 basketball regionals at the Knick.
Somehow this seems so typical with the way sports are managed in this area.
There are few teams at any level which are really successful, and a long
history of failed franchises.
 
The T-U poll was a good tool for increasing college hockey awareness in the
Capital District.  And this area does have a core of entthusiasts, between RPI,
Union and the burgeoning youth hockey leagues.  College hockey is probably one
of the few good fits for area sports fans, and the demise of the poll certainly
won't help fill the seats at the Knick this spring.
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