Men's Ice Hockey Realignment: 7 members of WCHA start process to form new men's league | The Boneyard

Men's Ice Hockey Realignment: 7 members of WCHA start process to form new men's league

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The seven schools leaving the WCHA to start a new men's ice hockey conference that is yet to be named include:

Bemidji State
Minnesota State Mankato
Bowling Green
Ferris State
Lake Superior State
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan

That only leaves the WCHA with three men's ice hockey teams: Alabama Huntsville, Alaska and Alaska Anchorage. With a massive state cut in Alaska for its public higher education institutions, it's possible sports programs will be dropped at both Alaska and Alaska Anchorage.

These moves do not effect the WCHA Women's Ice Hockey Conference.
 
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http://www.startribune.com/wcha-s-demise-stems-from-geography-struggling-programs/512220692/

Here is another article that talks about the geography problems of the WCHA. It says the new league wants to add an eighth member. Huntsville wants to be that member, but I doubt it will be or they would have been invited with the 7 breakaway schools.

Arizona State is an independent and would be a possibility, but not geographically in the region.

A third new option is in the geographical footprint in Minnesota - the St. Thomas Tommies - which is being pushed out of the Division III MIAC. St. Thomas may switch from Division III to Division II in all sports. There is no NCAA Division II hockey, so that means St. Thomas would have to play Division I hockey if their other sports jump from Division III to Division II.
 
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A press release/statement from Bowling Green -

Hockey League Affiliation Statement (PDF) - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Seven prominent NCAA Division I men’s hockey playing institutions have announced the exploration of a new Division I men’s hockey conference that would begin play with the 2021-2022 season. The seven institutions include: Bemidji State University; Bowling Green State University; Ferris State University; Lake Superior State University; Michigan Technological University; Minnesota State University, Mankato; and Northern Michigan University.

The group is comprised of institutions rich in history and tradition with a strong commitment to academic and athletic excellence. They are like-minded in their goals and aspirations for the potential new league with a focus on improving regional alignment and the overall student-athlete experience while building natural rivalries within a more compact geographic footprint.

The potential new conference is also committed to providing the best possible collegiate hockey experience for its student-athletes, fans, and all stakeholders. Finally, the group would plan to establish itself as an elite hockey conference that would have the highest standards for overall competitiveness and rigorous non-conference scheduling, along with a level of institutional investment that demonstrates significant commitment to their hockey programs and facilities, while also establishing relationships with corporate partners and others that create a high degree of visibility and positive media exposure for the league.

As current members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) men’s league, the schools have independently submitted formal Letters of Notice to the conference office, initiating the withdrawal process in accordance with WCHA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The institutions will continue to play in the WCHA during the 20192020 and 2020-2021 seasons.

The seven institutions have engaged Dr. Morris Kurtz, a long-time athletics administrator and noted athletics and hockey consultant, to serve as spokesperson and to assist them as the group sets out to transform the college hockey landscape.

During these initial stages of developing the potential new conference there will be no further comment from these institutions, including Presidents, Athletic Directors, and Coaches. Media inquiries should be directed to Dr. Kurtz.
 
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https://www.miningjournal.net/sports/2019/07/wcha-still-trying-to-figure-things-out-after/

Another article. It says the schools will not have to pay any exit fees because they gave a 25 month notice (2 year notice is required).

WCHA wants to add members. (I'm not sure where they will find members. They were at the bottom of the totem pole in men's ice hockey as is).

Article talks about problems at both Alaska schools and Huntsville. It talks more about the state budget cuts in Alaska, but also other problems hockey-specific to the Alaska schools, including each moving into smaller arenas next year that seat a few hundred people when WCHA rules state they must seat at least 2,500.
 
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What's wrong with U of Alaska? Both of them? You might see a Southern College Hockey League soon...ASU, Huntsville, USF...
 

zls44

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Travel expenses are the problem for the Alaska schools. If you are in a conference with them, that means you have to go there to play.

It would seem like this conference should either have Alabama-Huntsville OR the Alaskas, but not...both.
 
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What's wrong with U of Alaska? Both of them?

Too far away from everyone, and too hard for the teams in the WCHA with little scheduling leverage in general sometimes to take advantage of the benefits of trips to Alaska (ie the freebie games you get beyond the scheduling limit). In the older arrangement of WCHA and CCHA, having them split between two conferences meant the pain was spread around across essentially all of Western hockey, and no one would be forced to travel to Alaska every year. In the current WCHA people are traveling yearly, and it’s the western schools with the lowest budgets taking all the pain

The fact that they are in a consistent budget flux due to State govt meddling is relevant. That’s one of the reasons why they’re investigating cheaper arena options than essentially renting the Fairbanks and Anchorage equivalent of the XL.

You might see a Southern College Hockey League soon...ASU, Huntsville, USF...

There aren’t a huge number of schools in general, much less concentrated in the American South, that are champing at the bit to add hockey at this juncture. 4 adds gets you a serviceable league, 6 might give you stability. And the number of DI schools or DII play ups that have added hockey in the last ten years can be counted on Jason Pierre-Paul’s right hand. Two in the last ten (PSU and ASU), three in the last twenty.

College hockey is not a growth industry at the moment.
 
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The WCHA is the oldest hockey conference and it's about to die. That's dire.

North Dakota also cut their women's program? Never would think a powerful hockey program would do that, in an era as of the present.

Would have been nice if they brought along UAH. Alaska schools will probably be absorbed by the KHL in Russia. :eek:
 
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