Rumor: Illinois to announce D1 hockey soon
Per John Buccigross, Illinois is going to announce they are returning to D1 hockey in the next few days. Rumors of Illinois adding hockey again have been simmering since they got that 'feasibility study' a few years ago. They would be the 8th team to join the Big Ten if they did
Sources tell me the University of Illinois is very close, perhaps in the next few days, to finally announce their plans to birth a Division 1 @collegehockey program. It would be the 61st D1 #cawlidgehawkey program. pic.twitter.com/SBd1jdn6dQ
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) February 27, 2020
February 27th, 2020 at 5:18 PM ^
About bloody time.
February 27th, 2020 at 5:19 PM ^
wasn't the big issue that they had no feasible place to play, and to build a new rink would cost $XX million and they said 'no'?
February 27th, 2020 at 5:40 PM ^
Well, seems like hockey now is contingent on finding deep enough pockets to fund it. Maybe Illinois has been able to get enough commitments that its now viable to form a program. Or maybe its just another empty rumor. Hard to say yet
February 27th, 2020 at 5:46 PM ^
Shoot, can't they just play on Lake Michigan?
February 27th, 2020 at 6:25 PM ^
Not quite.
The whole reason for Illinois' interest in hockey was that they needed an anchor tenant for a mid-size downtown arena project that included bars/restaurants/other development.
Rumors have been that Illinois had the money committed for starting a hockey program, but there were still details that needed to be worked out to get the $100+M arena development going.
February 27th, 2020 at 7:35 PM ^
Could they convert their Assembly Hall (I forget what it’s called now) into a dual-purpose arena?
February 27th, 2020 at 7:39 PM ^
Theoretically? Anything is possible in theory. But in practice, even if it were big enough (almost no way it is) it’s a costly and impractical operation that results in a facility that is only slightly less poorly suited for hockey than it was before. Almost certainly costs nearly the same, too. And ask Ohio State how the dual-purpose arena works out.
February 27th, 2020 at 7:51 PM ^
No. Assembly Hall doesn't have ice making capabilities and it's insanely expensive and not practical to do that.
Plus, like I said, Illinois doesn't necessarily care about adding hockey per se; it's all about getting the downtown development built, which could also host some other Illini sports. The goal is to add facility space, not take away space by cramming another sport into what they have.
February 27th, 2020 at 5:28 PM ^
Are they sure this time?
Can Illinois join the B1G and Michigan goes back to the CCHA?
February 27th, 2020 at 5:39 PM ^
Yeah seems like its an annual tradition to rumor that Illinois is adding hockey. Im hoping Buccigross is selective enough with his rumor-spreading that this actually has some validity to it.
Im into that CCHA idea
February 27th, 2020 at 6:56 PM ^
YES PLEASE!!!
February 27th, 2020 at 5:29 PM ^
Every school in the B1G should be required to operate a minimal set of D1 teams, and that set should include men’s ice hockey.
February 27th, 2020 at 5:34 PM ^
With our luck Rutgers and northwestern would reach the frozen four in their first year.
February 27th, 2020 at 5:59 PM ^
Hopefully for their sake they do it the same way Penn State did and not the way we did our LAX program...
February 27th, 2020 at 6:16 PM ^
The state of Illinois produces a ton of hockey talent. If the funding is there, this could quickly become a competitive program.
February 27th, 2020 at 6:42 PM ^
This is the third or fourth year this has come up. Where there's smoke . . .
But seriously, there's enough youth hockey in the Chicago area and general interest in hockey because of the Black Hawks that I expect Illinois to eventually get to the point of having a D-1 hockey team. It makes more sense to me than some of the schools in the south.
February 27th, 2020 at 9:50 PM ^
Your age is showing, Mr. Kass. The Chicago Blackhawks haven't been the Black Hawks since 1986.
February 27th, 2020 at 8:05 PM ^
I presume this means womens' hockey as well?
February 27th, 2020 at 9:58 PM ^
If Illinois follows through its time to uninvite Notre Dame from Big Ten Hockey.
Let them play ACC hockey.
February 28th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
Let them form their own league with the Alaskas.
February 29th, 2020 at 11:55 AM ^
What’s ACC hockey?
February 28th, 2020 at 1:48 AM ^
"returning to D1 hockey"...
When were the ever part of D1 hockey?
The UIC Flames were the team from Illinois in the CCHA many years ago.
February 28th, 2020 at 5:38 AM ^
Yeah, they were D1 briefly back in the 30s and 40s
https://mgoblog.com/diaries/history-big-ten-hockey-1922-present
February 28th, 2020 at 10:28 AM ^
1 more B1G team after Illinois and kick Notre Dame out
February 29th, 2020 at 11:56 AM ^
Why? Notre Dame is a great addition to B1G hockey.
Notre Dame conveniently for them plays an independent football schedule, an ACC basketball and baseball schedule, and Big Ten hockey.
If they had Water Polo the PAC 12 would likely invite them in.
F ND