In regards to the comments that we should take a more serious look at expension, I'm game and will offer up College Hockey's latest expansion, the University of Massachusetts, as a model of exactly how it should be done. First off, the most important thing to consider is what the program is starting out with. Mankato will bring a solid DII program to the next level, something done sucessfully by UMass-Lowell (U of Lowell), LSSU (LSSC), and others. Starting at ground zero is infinately tougher. UMass made a comittment to the sport, saying, damn it we're going to have a national power in hockey. Contrary to public opinion, the palacial Mullins Center isn't the house that Calipari built, but had been on the drawing board for years as a hockey facility. Calipari simply hastened the final approval. The $51 million facility is a tremendous factor in recruiting especially as no other school in the east has a building quite like it, and although I haven't been to some of the places out west, I'm sure it could possibly be the best place in the nation. It has 8,389 seats for hockey and a pair of Olympic sized rinks, so the team doesn't have to shuttle off to a town rink to practice (on a smaller surface) whenever there's a basketball game or concert or something. UMass has a major national reputation working in its favor. Certainly others are bigger (noone can match Notre Dame in that department) but that basketball team draws some attention, and by show of hands, how many out there plan to watch them play Temple on ESPN tomorrow night? There were two reporters from a magazine in Norway at last night's game for crying out loud. UMass does not, unfortunately have I-A football working in its favor, competing instead at a .500 Yankee Conference (I-AA) level, but all the talk around campus is of jumping up a level. Travel expenses are less in HE than any other school, and this benefits the team. The Minutemen will not see an airplane this season, and will have only minimal hotel stays. This in particular might benefit a "smaller" school trying to start up in the conference (UML, MC). The travel expense can really cripple a team starting up out west. Then, to extend the coach debate, UMass hired someone with exactly the right attitude, Joe Mallen. The BC assistant from the Ceglarski days has started to lay the foundation for a great program. Well liked by his former players, both Sal Manganaro and Keith O'Connell transferred from BC to UMass (and away from Cedorchuk) when the announcement was made. Mallen also brough along former BC defenseman Mark Dennehy as an assistant coach, who has done an exceptional job in his role. Mallen didn't even have a phone when he started, and made his first recruiting call from Cal's office, but has since built a team from scratch that will very soon be seriously competing for the HE crown. The team has been inconsistant this year, but that will come with time and experience. When the team is on they leave their mark and should soon be able to put it over the top. One thing's for certain, goaltending will always be big at UMass with Mallen and assistant Bob Derraney being former collegiate goaltenders, there's no doubt that Brian Regan's one of the conference's best and a certain NHL prospect. The Whalers, which drafted him out of Westminster, have shown a good deal of interest in the sophomore. Likewise Dave Kilduff and Rich Moriarty have helped to anchor a team that has been known to struggle defensively, an area that takes more time to develop than others. Assistant coach Scott MacPherson (UML alum) in addition to knowing the league, knows goaltenders, having recruited Martin Leagault while at Merrimack. Along that line, it helps having all four coached so well versed with the league. Mallen coached at BC, where Dennehy played. Derraney is a BU grad, with ECAC experince as an assistant at Dartmouth, and MacPherson played at Lowell and coached at Merrimack. UMass has everything going for it. Great building, great coach, great reputation, great conference, great fan support (averaging 4,000+ despite the losing record) and loyal boosters, who helped get the ball rolling on the reinstatement of the program, which was axed in 1979. Friends of UMass hockey is a loyal organization that will work to see the program restored to former glories. These are some reasons why I think UNO would be in dire straights from the get-go. First off, no on-campus building, and in a non-hockey hot-bed fans will need a nice place to get them to the games (examples include the Pond, Shark Tank and Thunderdome-Miami Arena's nothing special, and coincidentally the Panthers might move). Secondly, hockey requires boatloads of funding, which UNO I assume lacks. The guys down the road at UNL though have plenty of funding and a tremendous academic reputation. Another factor is wooing recruits into Omaha. Now, many come through town when the play the Omaha Lancers in the CHL already, so if they like it, that could help. A financial problem for UNO though could be travel expense. They aren't near ANYONE. There isn't a single bus trip for them on the schedule, just flights, which add up for a full season. They also lack a natural geographic rival, which is always big both for players and fans. UNO doesn't have much of a national rep like the Lincoln campus does. They just won two DI national titles (in major sports-women's volleyball 12/16, football 1/2) in two and a half weeks for crying out loud. Has your school done that recently? When the UNL administrators came out here for the volleyball championships (held before 7,435 at Mullins) I was incredibly impressed by a class oganization. Their SWA left a definate impression on me that this is a big-time school, committed to being such, while maintaining an excellent academic rep (Nebraska had three Academic All-Americans in volleyball THIS year). If any school in the state's starting up a program it'd better be this one. College hockey should encourage growth. That goes without saying. Just be certain that the school has sufficient resources and administrative backing before leaping into a tremendous venture. Unlike adding a soccer or tennis team, hockey is a tremendous finacial commitment and should not be taken lightly. I'm all for expension, just be sure that they schools involved are ready for it. Mankato should be able to handle the jump, with a good local recruiting area, natural rivals and reportedly a good conference to join. Hopefully it will follow UML's lead and build upon the foundation already in place. It's the smaller schools with no foundation that scare me. I have confidence in Blaise MacDonald at Niagra, some others I'm not sure about. Leigh [log in to unmask] HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.