Which academy has the best Hockey team?

M

Magii

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I saw this season Air Force was really hot and even almost won over University of Minnesota Duluth. So even though Army and Navy did bad this season who usually does the best at Hockey?
 
Can't really compare...USAFA and USMA have D1 hockey programs, USNA is only club hockey. That being said, usually USNA men's club will play USMA men's club each year and typically win in that contest...but if they played the D1 team they would get smashed. Don't know if USAFA has a club team.
 
USNA does not play D1 hockey. Both USAFA and Army do, and both play in the Atlantic Conference, which is among the lower regarded leagues in D1, but still quite competitive (there are only 60 schools which play D1 hockey, and anyone team can beat any other team on any given night).

My kid is at West Point, so I am biased, but even though Army finished higher in the regular season standings this year and hosted Air Force in the league playoffs, AF won the series, and ultimately made it to the NCAA tournament (for the second year in a row). AF followed that up by beating the #1 team in college hockey this year, St Cloud, before loosing to Minnesota Duluth (last year's NCAA runner-up) last night.

In short, I think AF has the better program between the two. Although the teams are very competitive.

As for the club teams, I think all three schools have club programs. I don't follow the club hockey like I do D1 hockey, so I can't comment much, but not having a varsity team probably gives navy a bit of an advantage with the club program. That likely varies from year to year though.
 
USAFA has the better team.

Also CGA has a club team, as does USMMA (right?)
 
Not an SA but just sayin'
Norwich Mens Hockey,NCAA DII Champions
Norwich Womens Hockey, NCAA DIII Champions
 
But usafa and USMA are the only academies with D1 programs. Both are in same league, and very close in terms of quality of team/program. Depends on the year. This season Army won the regular season series 2-0, but AF won the Atlantic Conference playoff series against Army, 2-1, after a game 3 OT win.
 
The USNA Club team has been on the cusp of being made a varsity program over the years and was told on a number of occasions that they were "next" but Title 9 changed things and actually led to killing off the fencing team despite its influential alumni who were willing to FULLY FUND the program. I doubt that hockey at USNA will ever move to varsity status at this point which is similar to the spot that Rugby is in.
 
OldRetSWO said:
I doubt that hockey at USNA will ever move to varsity status at this point which is similar to the spot that Rugby is in.
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Going back to my days ('85), but I thought Hockey was a club sport because they didn't have a D1 level facility. Hockey was played in Dahlgren --could actually get a beer and watch from the balcony overlooking the rink. I think I heard that a first class ice rink was built across the river. Also, back in the day ...Rugby didn't want to be a varsity sport, as a lot of the draw and popularity was the ability to have a post game party on Hospital Point.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
OldRetSWO said:
I doubt that hockey at USNA will ever move to varsity status at this point which is similar to the spot that Rugby is in.
Click to expand...

Going back to my days ('85), but I thought Hockey was a club sport because they didn't have a D1 level facility. Hockey was played in Dahlgren --could actually get a beer and watch from the balcony overlooking the rink. I think I heard that a first class ice rink was built across the river. Also, back in the day ...Rugby didn't want to be a varsity sport, as a lot of the draw and popularity was the ability to have a post game party on Hospital Point.
Click to expand...
Being from the MD area originally, I used to play some youth games in Dahlgren. The rink there no longer exists, and there is a top tier facility nearby but not aboard the Academy.
 
Went to many Conn College Rink games with CT Polar Bears for both daughters, nice facility. New Rink at USNA across the river looks nice.
 
Curious if the OP is asking because they are planning to be on the hockey team or just asking out of curiosity? "BEST" with any sports team can be defined in several different ways.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
OldRetSWO said:
I doubt that hockey at USNA will ever move to varsity status at this point which is similar to the spot that Rugby is in.
Click to expand...

Going back to my days ('85), but I thought Hockey was a club sport because they didn't have a D1 level facility. Hockey was played in Dahlgren --could actually get a beer and watch from the balcony overlooking the rink. I think I heard that a first class ice rink was built across the river. Also, back in the day ...Rugby didn't want to be a varsity sport, as a lot of the draw and popularity was the ability to have a post game party on Hospital Point.
Click to expand...
New Hockey facility across the river is very nice. Next to the Tennis facility that my classmate donated.
 
Not as cold as others like Choate, South Kent, Kent before they closed in the chicken wire, Gunnery before they closed in the Rink but even after it was cold. Hockey parents have a special place in Heaven (although Hell might be a lot warmer).
 
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