I actually think hockey could work in Ames. Yeah the state doesn’t produce much talent, but if ISU could start a program and an invested interest From the alumni and school. Interest In the sport would grow. All you need is high schools to start picking it up as a varsity sport like in the 60s for Minnesota.
Plus Minnesota is the Texas of hockey. The state produces so much talent at a smaller population. My high school grade in my hometown produced 3 D1 hockey players and we didn’t even win state.
Plus we may be closer than many think. My friends in college talked with Jaime since they were the president and VP of the club baseball team about the possibility of D1 baseball coming back. The AD office said hockey would be a sport they would explore before baseball.
My cousin who use to coach the JV Ames hockey and the peewee flyers told me the Ames ice arena is actually built for future expansion which include an expanded two locker rooms, increased capacity, and a practice rink that will be attached.
Lastly while many states have bigger programs and history. You can’t convince me it would be harder to recruit a kid to Ames vs Bemeji State, upper Michigan, Michigan Tech, and similar hockey schools. Yes you probably won’t beat out St Cloud, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. I also think you could recruit the Minnesota suburbs since Ames isn’t that far.
If Omaha and Alabama can have D1 hockey why can’t Ames?
