It looks like Illinois isn't going to expand into B1G Hockey until they get a Terry Pegula to pay for it.
D-1 men's hockey may be moving forward at Illinois.
Illinois is still working on financing the D-1 hockey arena/program. It looks like they won't be playing a B1G hockey schedule until at least 2022. It's good to hear that they are still working on starting D-1 hockey.
Very cool, would be nice to see them in the fold.
A three-part series of articles by Jess Myers lays out the present situation and prospects for expansion of B1G hockey. The first article is an interview of the B1G Assistant Commissioner for hockey, the second talks about the situation in Illinois, and the third looks at two other possible schools (Iowa and Nebraska). Illinois appears to be waiting on arrangements with the property developer and a neighboring landowner. So, hopefully it gets done soon and the arena is ready by 2022. Between Iowa and Nebraska, it appears Iowa would be the better possibility, but neither seem very willing at this time. If Illinois starts D-1 hockey and does well, then that could change.
https://www.brainerddispatch.com/sports/hockey/4629988-look-big-ten-hockey-part-1-q-commissioner
https://www.twincities.com/2019/06/27/iowa-nebraska-are-possibilities-for-big-ten-hockey/
I like the quote from Nebraska: "So we are several hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not $1 million or $2 million away from doing hockey."
So.... in other words a drop in the bucket for Nebraska, could do it tomorrow financially if they wanted to. LMAO.
The Chicago Tribune published an article on the prospects for Illini Hockey yesterday. Not much new in the article. It did say Athletic Director "Whitman has said Illinois wouldn't face Title IX implications because its percentage of male students outnumbers female students, but he mentioned that adding women's lacrosse one day would be appealing." Otherwise, the same story with 3-4 things having to fall into place before they pull the trigger.