lindenwood

**missionhockey19** · 02-15-2007, 06:45 PM

This may have already been brought up, discussed or debated already, but why doesnt lindenwood try moving to DIII just for a season at nationals? it seems to me that they have just as easy as a time recruiting players as a regular DIII college, maybe even better. It also seems to me like they are in closer battles with dIII schools such as St. Charles CC? or at least thats what it seemed like in the other thread. Plus i know RCC wouldnt mind having a shot playin against them as well...that way we have a more even balanced D-1 divison where we might actually see a new champion every year and it would even bring up the competition in D-3...i understand that lindenwood is a D-1 school but what fun is it to watch the same school crowned champion year after year when they have an advanted over other d-1 schools, although who knows, they might do the same damage in d-3 as they do in d-1...its just a thougth that crossed my mind and i figured id bring it up to see what others thought about it or knew about it...

**missionbratt** · 02-15-2007, 08:05 PM

this is the most rediculous idea i have ever heard...if you really want to play them that bad, go to there region and play them! to suggest that they should move to another division for nationals so they can get more competitive games is absurd. lindenwood is a great team with great leadership and an advatage when it comes to recruiting...so lets hold that against them[sarcasm]. do they have an advantage in recruiting...yes. are they breaking any ncrha rules...i would say no! do they get ALL the best players...i would say no. so they win every year...big deal. nothing last a life time, that will go for lindenwood as well. what really upsets me are the people that come on this board and try to tweak what the league does to bennift there indivisual team instead of the league as a whole. there will always be teams in a club sport or any sport for that matter, that will dominate leagues. if anything, it should make other teams work harded to be the ones to knock them off....

just to be on the same page as all the other whiners...i think that the ncrha should make lindenwood play without sticks this year at nationals...just so the other teams have a fair shot.

**MBurke** · 02-15-2007, 08:30 PM

While I don't necessarily agree with the suggestion, at least it was well thought out. I hardly think I'd call that post 'whining'.

**DGlass** · 02-15-2007, 08:36 PM

What follows is NOT an official reply from the NCRHA:

Because the NCRHA's divisional structure IS NOT BASED ON TALENT.

Division I is for schools with attendances larger than 18,000
Division II is for schools with attendances less than 18,000
Division III is for community and junior colleges
Division 'B' is for secondary and tertiary teams

Riverside and the other schools within DIII technically would have a slightly tougher time recruiting than other schools because, unless I am wrong, in order to attend that school you must reside within that County (or, I suppose, live within that county long enough to gain acceptance).

It is a PERCEPTION that DI is (rather, should be) the most talented division. When people speak of Neumann or UMSL of moving "up" to DI, they are preaching against the current structure of the NCRHA. Truth is, Lindenwood and Towson should realistically switch into DII in order to properly align with the NCRHA's regulations.

Because the NCRHA is a trivial piece of collegiate sports, I very much feel it is in our best interest to align our divisional structure more closely with other collegiate sports organizations, where DI is the strongest division (organization, appearance, talent, etc) and so on and so forth. The problem here is that because of the extremely high turnover, many teams can enjoy great success one year and great failure (even lack of a team) the next (see: Penn State-Altoona).

It is up the NCRHA, and the regions, to create a system whereby each school can slowly develop and get to the point where the individual clubs are nearly self-sustaining organizations themselves. That takes work, by the regions, the teams, AND the players. Don't expect to walk into a club and it run like a well-oiled corporation (like Tyco or WorldCom). Taking a leadership role in your school's roller hockey club is excellent experience for when (if) you graduate and begin the interview process.

Again, this was not a reply from the NCRHA.

**missionhockey19** · 02-15-2007, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by missionbratt

this is the most rediculous idea i have ever heard...if you really want to play them that bad, go to there region and play them! to suggest that they should move to another division for nationals so they can get more competitive games is absurd. lindenwood is a great team with great leadership and an advatage when it comes to recruiting...so lets hold that against them[sarcasm]. do they have an advantage in recruiting...yes. are they breaking any ncrha rules...i would say no! do they get ALL the best players...i would say no. so they win every year...big deal. nothing last a life time, that will go for lindenwood as well. what really upsets me are the people that come on this board and try to tweak what the league does to bennift there indivisual team instead of the league as a whole. there will always be teams in a club sport or any sport for that matter, that will dominate leagues. if anything, it should make other teams work harded to be the ones to knock them off....

just to be on the same page as all the other whiners...i think that the ncrha should make lindenwood play without sticks this year at nationals...just so the other teams have a fair shot.

this is prob one of the funniest replies ive ever heard in my life, it was a simple idea that just came about so i figured id bring it up, theres nothign wrong with suggestions, and in case you havent been paying attention throughout teh past two years, theres been alot of discussion about how great the games would be i.e. lindenwood st charles and lindenwood RCC, i could care less if they win every year, however i can see maybe a diff more frusturated side coming from people as well...ive won my D-1 title, im just trying to figure out maybe another way to help the league out, so what if it was a bad idea, grow up because your reply was wayyy over thought for the outcome...

**lightitup** · 02-16-2007, 11:21 AM

Why does everyone bring up lindenwood? Looks like riverside should be worrying about teams out in California and not in the great plains.

**MBurke** · 02-16-2007, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by lightitup

Why does everyone bring up lindenwood? Looks like riverside should be worrying about teams out in California and not in the great plains.

Six years of complete dominance of the sport - if you're going to talk college roller hockey, they're bound to be a hot topic.

**missionhockey19** · 02-16-2007, 01:56 PM

well the problem is lightitup, is just about regardless of how we do this season, were already getting a bid to nationals because of the lack of dIII teams, unfortunately for some reason there isnt a very wide variety of DIII schools with roller hockey teams through-out the US but as for our record, you can ask just abotu anyone we play against in the wcrhl, were out there just to have fun with our friends during the season, then when nationals come we take things a bit more seriously, i just hate the feeling of winning a championship and knowing the fact that theres another team out there thats just as good maybe a bit better/worse that you didnt even get a chance to play against, then you might argue join a D-1 team, however for some of us its just not that easy with costs to join a d-1 type school. i guess its just something can be debated for years to come with prob no outcome...oh well

**alex** · 02-16-2007, 02:34 PM

Could anyone describe what exactly were the problems with the attempt in college roller hockey years ago to re-align according to skill level? Were there just problems with the idea in general or was it not executed right? Could it be done correctly? If so, why wouldn't splitting division based on skill with DI being the premier division be the best idea?

**MBurke** · 02-16-2007, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by alex

Could anyone describe what exactly were the problems with the attempt in college roller hockey years ago to re-align according to skill level? Were there just problems with the idea in general or was it not executed right? Could it be done correctly? If so, why wouldn't splitting division based on skill with DI being the premier division be the best idea?

Well, first I'll correct the misnomer that CRH realigned based on skill level. They didn't. If CRHL wanted only the best teams playing DI, you'd have a mix of community colleges and probably about 10-15 other schools. The problem there is team turnover and lack of organization. Having nasty players with sick dangles doesn't necessarily mean you have the budget to travel more than average teams, have a coach, etc.

The old system was mainly based on being highly organized with most of the teams involved also being able to maintain a high level of play on the floor.

Other thread has some discussion on this too - I will keep an eye on it and merge maybe...

**CUDangled** · 02-23-2007, 09:11 AM

I think if people got off of Lindenwood's nuts and just focused on their own game, you might be able to put a team together that could give them a run. Stop trying to beat them with ice hockey strategies and run-and-gun hockey and implement a true roller hockey philosophy that they (LU) obviously use, and so do the other great teams.

No disrespect meant to LU. You deserve the envy you receive, you have certainly earned it.