Enough has been said to cover my thoughts on the Union-RPI game.. So I won't add more. I'm looking forward to the rematch next weekend. On to more long-term issues. This morning's Sunday Gazette in Schenectady contained a front page story updating the situation regarding the new rink for Schenectady Youth Hockey and potentially for Union College. The article is included below (from http://www.dailygazette.com). Although the article reports that nothing has been decided from the Union end, I've heard from a few people who heard from a few people (I can't say for sure if they're more than rumors) that the deal is pretty much done, and that if Union doesn't agree to be part of the new facility, it won't get financing. Unfortunately, it seems that the official decision on Union's part may already be made, with very little time having been given to get a feeling for what people think of the idea. Reaction I've heard has been almost unanimously against moving the team off campus. Arguments against the move that I've heard (and agree with) include that it will make it harder for students to attend games, make it more difficult recruit players, and would take away a lot of the advantages a small rink like Achilles can give. If it has been determined that Achilles is not a good enough facility for a Division I hockey program, it seems that it would make sense to look into improving Achilles or replacing it with a new on-campus facility. Here's the Gazette article: Hockey rink may be built Developer, association agree on $5 million Sch'dy facility By COLLEEN BRUSH Gazette Reporter SCHENECTADY - A developer plans to build a $5 million ice rink on North Jay Street for the city's Youth Hockey Association and others to use, the association's president said Saturday. The association forged a deal Friday with the developer after a year of searching for a new home, said Michael J. Caruso, association president. The association and other city skating groups would lease space at the two-rink complex, Caruso said. The rink would also be available for public skating, he said. The 350-player youth hockey group currently skates at the City Center ice rink on State Street in the city. But that rink is closing at the end of the month and will be transformed into a soccer complex. The new rink's developer, who Caruso said does not want to be named yet, is already trying to get the financing for the rink, Caruso said. The land is owned by David P. Fusco, who could not be reached for comment Saturday. The rink would be built on land behind the Nott Street Ramada Inn at the former site of the American Locomotive Co., which left about 35 years ago, Caruso said. Fusco owns three of the 4= vacant acres on the site and the Colonial Car Wash on the Nott Street side of the property, Caruso said. "The developer has put in motion and laid the groundwork to go ahead with the project to build a twin-sheet facility," Caruso said Saturday. "We want the skating public to know we are definitely going to have a facility next year to skate in." Before the agreement with the developer, many city ice skating groups were in danger of not having anywhere to skate. The hockey league met with the developer late Friday and reached the agreement, Caruso said. "We worked very hard to put a business plan together," Caruso said. "We've made this developer very interested in this project, and he has started the ball rolling." Union College, which is debating whether to move its men's and women's ice hockey teams, is another possible tenant for the new rink. But college officials have not made up their minds yet about moving from the Achilles Rink on campus to an off-campus site. "Union is still in the discussion stage about a new rink," college spokesman Charles Casey said Saturday. "It is way too early for us to make a decision. We will consider a proposal I'm sure." Union College President Roger Hull met last week with students from both the men's and women's hockey teams, along with other student lead- ers, to discuss the possibility of moving to an off-campus rink. "We wanted to get them on board with the discussions," Casey said. "Nothing has been decided yet." If Union decides to join the new rink venture, the size of the rink would increase to at least three sheets of ice in the skating complex, Caruso said. That could increase the cost by a couple of million dollars. But with or without Union, the developer plans to move forward with the project, Caruso said. "Union's been very cooperative. They've worked very hard on something that could benefit the college too," Caruso said. "If they decided it isn't in their best interest at this time, we want the public to know it is going on regardless." Several other groups have plans to lease space at the new rink, including the city's adult hockey league and local figure skating groups, Caruso said. Caruso said the hockey league has not signed the agreement with the developer yet. He did not say how much the league would pay to lease the rink. He also did not say when construction would begin. He said the developer would have to get city approvals to build the rink. Mayor Albert P. Jurczynski said Saturday he is happy to see the youth league accomplish its goal of finding a new rink in the city. "If there is anything we can do to help them, within reason, I will certainly make sure we do it," he said. The mayor said he does not know what type of approvals the rink will need from the city, but he added if the plans look anything like what was discussed in the past, he expects no opposition. "I will encourage the zoning officer to be as cooperative as we can be in making this a reality," Jurczynski said. The youth hockey league and the developer plan to release more specifics about the project once the developer begins to design the complex, Caruso said. "It's been a long road," Caruso said. "We are very excited about this project." reply to Gazette Newspapers: [log in to unmask] -- Jim Teresco '92, '93G - [log in to unmask] Lab Manager - Union College PASTA Lab, http://www.pasta.union.edu Visit the Union Hockey Pages at http://www.vu.union.edu/hockey HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.