So now the college hockey world gets a taste of sharp elbow in the corner
from a very powerful sports entity.   The NHL did that to us in Hartford a
couple of years ago.   Join the club.   Tastes great,  huh?
 
        I hope the irony isn't lost on folks.   Hartford is now smack dab in the
middle of MAAC country now.   I expect if MAAC hockey is marketed properly
that Hartford would become the permanent home of its tournament,  and the
NC$$ east regionals to take on a three city rotation of Albany,  Worcester
and Hartford.
 
        But if this tournament draws more than 1500 people a game this year
without UConn,  HC,  or QU in the mix,  I would be extremely surprised.
  About 15 years ago,  the Phoenix insurance company sponsored a holiday
college hockey tournament which died a very quick death.   For this
tournament to succeed,  the conferences are going to have to ante up some
pretty major promotion bucks.
 
        If they DID do that,  however,  they would have a chance.   I agree with
Mr. Dubay,  this place is actually a college hockey hotbed waiting to
happen.   The youth level is VERY robust.   Life after the Whalers has
proved to be just fine,  thank you.   The problem is that UConn may be
reluctant to lead the way in promotion since they appear to want no
competition for the roundball programs.   I will be very interested to see
if the local papers contain advertising for the UConn hockey opener of
their new building at anywhere near the same level as the soccer (currently
ranked number one in men's and four in women's in the nation) or football
advertising that they do now.   That will be the really telling clue to
UConn's intentions,  IMHO.
 
        -- Dick Tuthill
 
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