WCHA 2020-21: We Can Do Better than Two Bids and Eight Teams Exiting

[John J. MacInnes]

Welcome to the Board. Not to nit-pic, but based on accumulated standings during the nWCHA (not including this past season), Fairbanks average 6^th overall, close behind #5 NMU. Finished in the top four 3 times and never finished in the bottom two spots. Which can’t be said for LSSU or FSU.

But the CCHA teams should get more respect in the future. With the tremendous savings from not having to travel to Alaska, high coaching salaries and unlimited recruiting budgets are just around the corner.

Not to nit-pic, but...

The combined playoff series records of UAF, UAA, and UAH since 2014 was 1 win and 9 losses. The only win came from Anchorage in 2014, who beat...Fairbanks.

The Nanooks accounted for the lion's share of that total, going 0-5 in playoff series since joining the league. They were outscored 51-24 in playoff games and only forced a third game once, in the aforementioned series loss to Anchorage. They earned two home playoff series and lost both.

In all, the combined 8 season playoff game win total of UAF, UAA, and UAH is 4 wins. Three of them also came in the aforementioned Anchorage-Fairbanks series. LSSU equalled that with 4 just by winning the 2021 WCHA playoff championship.

The CCHA teams should get more respect in the future just by eliminating three non-competitive programs.

[LSSULaker889294]

I don't think Covid is going away anytime soon. If it's still causing problems into next season, what does it mean for Alaska hockey?

[njmav1]

But the CCHA teams should get more respect in the future. With the tremendous savings from not having to travel to Alaska, high coaching salaries and unlimited recruiting budgets are just around the corner.

It wasn't about the "tremendous savings." It was about a conference whose members are committed to their hockey programs.

[lakersparty]

Welcome to the Board. Not to nit-pic, but based on accumulated standings during the nWCHA (not including this past season), Fairbanks average 6^th overall, close behind #5 NMU. Finished in the top four 3 times and never finished in the bottom two spots. Which can’t be said for LSSU or FSU.

But the CCHA teams should get more respect in the future. With the tremendous savings from not having to travel to Alaska, high coaching salaries and unlimited recruiting budgets are just around the corner.

I get so tired of the digs by Alaska fans at schools like Lake State. The truth is that when you win 3 national titles and refresh your stadium in those very good times, you can absorb a lot of bad times even if you are a tiny school with a limited budget like Lake State is.

Also, I think the league showed what it was without the Alaska schools. It became a three-bid league with LSSU finally getting back to the tournament, Bemidji beating a heralded Big Ten team, and Minnesota State getting to the Frozen Four. I wish Alaska well, but the league did just fine this year without them.

[mmf]

I think this was bound to happen. The nWCHA had to take on both schools plus Huntsville- all of whom are geographic outliers. Let's face it, none of those programs did the conference any favors by being at the bottom for the better part of the nWCHA's run. Hopefully the nCCHA gets more respect.

Welcome to the Board. Not to nit-pic, but based on accumulated standings during the nWCHA (not including this past season), Fairbanks average 6^th overall, close behind #5 NMU. Finished in the top four 3 times and never finished in the bottom two spots. Which can’t be said for LSSU or FSU.

But the CCHA teams should get more respect in the future. With the tremendous savings from not having to travel to Alaska, high coaching salaries and unlimited recruiting budgets are just around the corner.

[njmav1]

I'll never understand why it's so important for the NCAA to spend money to bring in new teams and sell them on hockey but not important at all to assure that the teams that already made a commitment to hockey are doing ok. If the NCAA had leaned on one of the other leagues or helped out in some way maybe this would be different.

I think this was bound to happen. The nWCHA had to take on both schools plus Huntsville- all of whom are geographic outliers. Let's face it, none of those programs did the conference any favors by being at the bottom for the better part of the nWCHA's run. Hopefully the nCCHA gets more respect.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I'll never understand why it's so important for the NCAA to spend money to bring in new teams and sell them on hockey but not important at all to assure that the teams that already made a commitment to hockey are doing ok. If the NCAA had leaned on one of the other leagues or helped out in some way maybe this would be different.

It's kinda like Comcast's or DirecTV's introductory pricing plans...

[manurespreader]

I'll never understand why it's so important for the NCAA to spend money to bring in new teams and sell them on hockey but not important at all to assure that the teams that already made a commitment to hockey are doing ok. If the NCAA had leaned on one of the other leagues or helped out in some way maybe this would be different.

[pdt1081]

Not just kind of. To me, the only reason the league is folding is the political climate in hockey where other leagues were not willing to step up and help out with the Alaska schools issues.
If the Ncaa or anyone else would have either helped financially or been willing to take in one of the two schools I don't think this would have happened.

With all due respect to those schools, they didn't actually do much to help themselves. The constant state of unknown future was detrimental to the rest of the league. Huntsville seems to be finally doing something positive to help their future outlook. Anchorage is taking next season off, but planning on playing the following one. Fairbanks seems to be in a better place than Anchorage, but that may just be because the situation in Anchorage overshadows them, and they've been the better team on the ice.

[MavsFan19]

We were left in a situation where the schools least able to afford Alaska and Alabama trips were forced to make more of those trips. It was unsustainable. The NCAA had two choices - Step in and help out (or get its members to help out), or stay out of it and let things run their natural course. I'm not saying which they should have done, but I also don't think they can just wash their hands of the whole thing and say, "Hey, don't look at us. It's those greedy WCHA schools' fault!"
I suppose if you're the NCAA, you're happier that you added LIU (geographically a better fit) and ASU (financially a better fit), so you can live with killing off the WCHA and possibly the Alaska programs.

Personally it no one's fault but when your state is financially strapped you cut unnecessary things. Had their hockey teams been good and drawing packed crowds I'm sure things might have been different. It's a tough situation for those schools but I'm not sure it could have been avoided.

[purpleinnebraska]

Not just kind of. To me, the only reason the league is folding is the political climate in hockey where other leagues were not willing to step up and help out with the Alaska schools issues.
If the Ncaa or anyone else would have either helped financially or been willing to take in one of the two schools I don't think this would have happened.

We were left in a situation where the schools least able to afford Alaska and Alabama trips were forced to make more of those trips. It was unsustainable. The NCAA had two choices - Step in and help out (or get its members to help out), or stay out of it and let things run their natural course. I'm not saying which they should have done, but I also don't think they can just wash their hands of the whole thing and say, "Hey, don't look at us. It's those greedy WCHA schools' fault!"
I suppose if you're the NCAA, you're happier that you added LIU (geographically a better fit) and ASU (financially a better fit), so you can live with killing off the WCHA and possibly the Alaska programs.

[manurespreader]

Not just kind of. To me, the only reason the league is folding is the political climate in hockey where other leagues were not willing to step up and help out with the Alaska schools issues.
If the Ncaa or anyone else would have either helped financially or been willing to take in one of the two schools I don't think this would have happened.

[HuskyDut]

And with that, the WCHA is no more. Kind of a bummer.

[Double Major]

Well just saw that St. Lawrence is out after a positive Covid test. How sad for the team! Feel bad they can't move on.

However, two words for the committee: Bemidji State

[Double Major]

Well, here we are after an convincing win by LSSU. Glad to see them get in after so many dismal or mediocre years. Also, the Bemidji fans must be feeling a lot better today.

I noticed both USCHO pundits have got three WCHA teams in, and that all five Minnesota teams will make the tournament. If it turns that way, that will be a first!

We'll see how this all shakes out tonight. Looking forward to seeing all the reactions to the committee selections. I'll post mine here as well.