UPDATE: USCHO Article
http://www.uscho.com/blogs/uscho/in-the-corner-with-jim-connelly
I stumbled onto some information, conflicting information about the Wayne State Hockey program, almost ironic to find it now. Apparently WSU's $500,000 a year budget for the hockey program, is the largest of all of the school's 17 NCAA programs. According to WSU's AD, Rob Fournier, the claim that the folding of the Wayne State Men's Hockey Program is due to budget cuts, doesn't nessisarily seem like that is entirely true, but also may not actually happen after all, good news right? Well, not really.
Wayne State was promised, by who; no idea (probably the University, that only makes sense), that when the Men's and Women's Hockey Programs were introduced that a new arena would be built on campus, but apparently there isn't any money for that yet. Fournier has been in talks with Detroit Red Wing owners, Mike and Marian Ilitch, about a deal that would build a brand new arena on the WSU campus to make it the official practice facility of the Red Wings. But here is the interesting part, from a quote in the Detroit Free Press:
"Every time the electric bill comes, I'm not sending it to" the Ilitches, he said. "Or that security guy they have to hire? Not your cost. You want a legacy? I'll name a building after you. I'm looking at it from a different window, but I only see upsides. I can only make that offer. It's up to others to see the shared value in it."
So, money doesn't seem to be an issue then, right? If you are saying that you can afford to pay all of the bills without asking for anything from the Redwings, then why is it a problem to play at an off campus site for your Men's Program? Is it about money or about ego?
It may not even be about either of those as well, check this out:
Detroit Free Press:
The addition of a campus rink, Fournier believes, also would make WSU an attractive addition to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
"It would be a strong statement," CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said. "Building a rink or securing a suitable facility is a huge step in demonstrating commitment" to college hockey.
Could a campus rink help Wayne State get into the CCHA?
"I'd never say never," Anastos said. "I always had the position that I'd like to see Wayne State have tremendous success, but it takes a level of commitment to make that happen."
Bemidji is moving towards the WCHA, Wayne State is talking about joining the CCHA, things don't look so good for the CHA. I wonder how a hockey program can even get accepted into a better conference when they keep threatening to no longer exist.
Read the Article yourself here in the Detroit Free Press