We took Monday off at College Hockey Insider for the holiday, and I spent it bouncing between rinks around Massachusetts. I haven’t shared much personal stuff here before, but I have two teenage sons who both play hockey, and the long weekend meant tournaments. I was hoping to catch up on sleep. Instead, I set alarms for 6 a.m., 5 a.m. and 5 a.m.
At least the Alaska schools were on the road, so Friday and Saturday nights didn’t run too late around college hockey.
Speaking of youth hockey for a minute: I know I’m not the only one tired of gate fees. Paying $20 for a bracelet to watch my 14-year-old play irks me. I get it. Everyone needs to make money. But figure 15 players per team and two parents per player. That’s 30 gate fees per team. I wouldn’t blink if a tournament’s entry fee went up $600 per team (30 x $20) and that cost got passed along to parents through tuition or tournament fees.
If it’s not a tournament my son’s organization covers, we might pay $130 per player just to enter. Paying $130 and then another $40 at the gate annoys me. If I were charged $170 up front, I wouldn’t care.
It’s just the principle, I guess.
I actually wrote “I feel like I’m getting robbed” in the Venmo note when buying my wife and I a bracelet this weekend, and the volunteer at the table laughed and said, “I hear ya.”
Opening Faceoff
Here’s what you’ll find in this edition of College Hockey Insider:
I have some quick-hit weekend reactions. I’m going to have capsules on teams 1-4 in my power rankings later tonight, so these are going to be more quick-hit style this week.
Notes on the Dave Hakstol and his negotiation process with Arizona State. He’s still with the Colorado Avalanche as of Tuesday morning, but that will change very soon.
Colorado College had to cut its athletics budget thanks to some low enrollment numbers, but it shouldn’t impact hockey much.
Maryville won’t be in this year’s United Collegiate Hockey Cup.
The Big Ten and the NCHC are leading the nonconference race through two weeks (it’s very early).
Weekend Reactions: Bowling Green rebounds with a win in the Ice Breaker
— Fresh off getting swept at Michigan, Bowling Green looked sharp in winning the Ice Breaker in Connecticut. UConn and Sacred Heart co-hosted the event, and the Falcons beat both. The season numbers for goaltenders Tyler Palmer and Jacob Steinman still look rough after Michigan lit them up the week before, but this was a solid bounce-back weekend for Bowling Green’s netminders.
