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Kennesaw State could be moving from club level to varsity: <a href='http://www.mdjonline.com/92/10196935.txt' target='_blank'>http://www.mdjonline.com/92/10196935.txt</a>

Quote:Hockey decision imminent

Monday, October 3, 2005 3:03 AM EDT

By David Friedlander
Marietta Daily Journal Sports Writer

KENNESAW - Wednesday is a much anticipated day for hockey fans in Cobb County, and not just because of the NHL's official return from a lockout that wiped out all of last season.

It also is the day of reckoning - at least, for now - for Kennesaw State's proposal to upgrade its current club hockey program to Division I varsity status and join College Hockey America.

Sources from both KSU and CHA confirmed the school is expected to notify the conference about its hockey plans Wednesday.

It could mean giving the go-ahead for a move to Division I hockey for next season, perhaps delaying the start of a program until the 2007-08 season or scrapping the plan altogether.

"On Wednesday, we will give our response as to what we can do," said Bill Morrison, director of hockey operations for KSU's club team, who is spearheading the potential move to Division I. "We've got to let them know whether we can do it for 2006 or 2007."

Reached at his home in Minnesota on Sunday, CHA commissioner Bob Peters confirmed he expected to receive some word from KSU by Wednesday, at which time he would report to the athletics directors of the current conference members - Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji (Minn.) State, Niagara (N.Y.), Robert Morris, the U.S. Air Force Academy and Wayne (Mich.) State.

"We're having a conference call with the athletics directors about 2 p.m. Eastern (on Wednesday) to discuss some issues, including the Kennesaw situation and where we are," Peters said. "We have to hear from them first, and then issue a formal invitation if they can move forward."

Timing is critical, according to both Peters and KSU athletics director Dr. Dave Waples.

"We've been moved to make a decision because they (CHA) have scheduling issues, and it's getting late for this to still be hanging out there."

However, the decision could "hang out there," as Waples put it, further even if KSU decides not to go ahead for next season.&nbsp;

Both Waples and Morrison confirmed a decision could be made to delay the startup of a program until 2007.

However, that probably is not what CHA officials are hoping for with Air Force leaving the conference after this season and the conference needing a sixth member to maintain its automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

CHA could wait to replace Air Force with KSU, or any other school, until 2007 without losing the bid, but Peters left no doubt about his preference for adding another team.

"We could (wait), but it gets kind of complicated," Peters said. "The best scenario, without a doubt, is to get it going next year."

It appears approval from the Board of Regents is no longer an issue in KSU's decision.

"It is my understanding the Board of Regents has been notified of (the proposal to add hockey)," Waples said. "It is also my understanding they have not yet passed any rules that say we have to get permission to start it. At least, it's not (official) policy yet. Now, that being said, we don't want to do anything that is not in the best interest of our institution. We probably wouldn't do anything they wouldn't OK anyway."

That leaves finances as the remaining hurdle.

KSU would receive an attractive financial package from CHA if it joined - including waiver of the expansion fee, waiver of league dues and $150,000 for each of KSU's first three years in the league, all worth approximately $400,000 - and the school has worked out plans to play at Philips Arena until an on-campus arena can be built.

However, Morrison says additional funding is essential for hockey to go forward.

"We're still working on a budget," Morrison said. "The program must financially stand on its own. So, we've gone to support groups and sponsorships to help us. We're just about there."

dfriedlander@mdjonline.com

My brother used to go watch hockey at Alabama-Huntsville when he was on co-op assignment up there & said he had a blast. I'd love to have varsity hockey this close!

Duke and I believe UNC has hockey.

The ACC hockey league is different then the ACC

Tech & Georgia both have club teams like KSU, but not varsity. And I have no idea how they align collegiate hockey. Just look at who makes up the conference that KSU would be joining:

Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji (Minn.) State, Niagara (N.Y.), Robert Morris, the U.S. Air Force Academy and Wayne (Mich.) State.

<a href='http://www.acchockey.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.acchockey.com/</a>

dont know if varisty or not. but thats the ACC

Quote:The long-term goal of the League is to promote its teams to full NCAA varsity-level status.

Not varsity and thus don't compete for the Frozen Four.

aight

I didn't know that Alabama-Huntsville had a hockey team... cool

Quote:KSU plan for hockey put on ice

Saturday, October 15, 2005 3:06 AM EDT

By David Friedlander
Marietta Daily Journal Sports Writer

The plan to elevate Kennesaw State's club hockey program to Division I varsity status is officially frozen - at least, for now.

That was made clear with a statement released by KSU athletics director Dr. Dave Waples on Friday afternoon in which he announced the school had "regrettably declined the offer of the College Hockey USA Conference to join the CHA and commence a Division I competition in Fall 2006."

"The University is unable at this time to provide the financial resources necessary to internally support the hockey program at a level commensurate with KSU's expected standards of excellence and on a parallel footing with our other programs," Waples said in the statement.

Reached later in the day, Waples specified the main financial sticking points to adding hockey as being the costs of KSU's move to Division I and the Atlantic Sun Conference in all its other sports programs, plus the addition of other sports over the next two years.

"Essentially, student funds were unavailable," Waples said. "And due to the upgrade to Division I and the addition of (men's and women's) outdoor track and field and women's golf this year and (women's) volleyball next year, plus the uncertainty about funds in the future, we couldn't make it happen."

The decision by KSU not to elevate its club hockey program to Division I varsity means CHA will now have to look elsewhere to fill a vacancy that will occur when the U.S. Air Force Academy leaves for the Atlantic Hockey Association next year.

The CHA still has through the end of the 2006-07 season as a grace period to find a sixth member before it risks losing its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"We made a sincere and concerted effort to help Kennesaw (State) elevate its club program to Division I," CHA commissioner Bob Peters said. "Unfortunately, they were unable to reach a comfort level to do that. College Hockey America will continue to pursue (a new) active conference member."

And while Waples' statement put to rest any attempt for KSU to drop the puck for the 2006-07 season, he wouldn't totally close the door on reviving the effort in the future if financial circumstances change

"We would not rule anything out," Waples said. "We made a real hard run at it this year. Right now, we can say we won't be pursuing a (varsity) hockey team through 2006-07. That's the way we have to leave it for now.

"Commissioner Bob Peters and the member institutions of the CHA worked cooperatively with us and responded to our every request throughout this process. (KSU) President (Dr. Betty) Siegel and I will forever by grateful for their effort, the respect they have shown for our University and their keen interest in bringing NCAA Division I hockey to Georgia."

Peters also wouldn't shut the door on KSU joining the CHA someday in the future, though he added the conference is now looking at other options.

"That is their question to answer," Peters said. "It's been our sincere hope to bring Kennesaw up to Division I hockey. - We stand ready to help college hockey throughout the country. - We're certainly hoping to bring Division I college hockey to Georgia or elsewhere in the Southeast. There are all sorts of club teams in the Southeast."

dfriedlander@mdjonline.com