I'm having a hard time trying to figure out why the North Dakota State University athletic director and the mayor of Fargo are doing everything they can to prevent a Division I hockey program from ever coming to NDSU. The proposed 7,000-8,000 seat addition of a multipurpose arena next to the Fargodome would be a perfect size venue and location for hockey. Gene Taylor and Dennis Walaker are quick to point out that hosting hockey is not part of the plan. Once again, the sport of ice hockey ranks lowest on the totem pole in the NDSU sports world.
I have never come across a town more ripe for collegiate hockey than Fargo. The benefits of having a hockey program at NDSU would be too numerous to mention. Just take a drive 70 miles north and witness for yourself the impact UND hockey has had on Grand Forks. One just has to look at how many hundreds (or thousands) of people drive to Grand Forks on weekends to watch a Fighting Sioux hockey game.
I understand the football program is the primary focus at NDSU but I believe the university is missing the boat on a great opportunity to bring the sport of D1 hockey to the F-M area. In my opinion, if the game of ice hockey was played with a pigskin instead of a puck, NDSU would already be playing in the WCHA.
