Minnesota State 2022-23: Life After McKay

[purpleinnebraska]

Did anyone else get the feeling from the Miami statements that if ASU is added to the NCHC, it may be the straw that breaks Miami and they leave the NCHC?

Could be a bargaining position - "If they're coming in, they're going to pay us money"-type thing. Or, maybe they're looking for an exit, and this is good cover.

[njmav1]

I've been speculating about this issue for some time now. Everything I read says Miami wants out of the NCHC. They suck in that league. Their coach Bergeron coached at BG for years and knows the former WCHA like the back of his hand. What better place to go than the geographically convenient Upper Midwest? Solves two problems: Provides the CCHA with the 10th team they will need after Augustana comes in next year. And it allows the NCHC to replace Miami with a team wanting a conference and closer to their geographic footprint (hint. a team from the state of Arizona).

Miami is not a perfect fit, and you can scroll down to read some of the arguments against them, all valid. But it seems to me that if ASU really is a shoo-in for the NCHC, somebody's gotta leave. The CCHA realistically would have to a) choose between Lindenwood and Miami, or b) grab them both, plus ASU. That second option is not going to happen.

How much of a factor (if any) does Western Michigan play in any Miami decision? If ASU replaces Miami, WMU becomes an eastern outpost.

[Double Major]

How much of a factor (if any) does Western Michigan play in any Miami decision? If ASU replaces Miami, WMU becomes an eastern outpost.

"Could be a bargaining position - "If they're coming in, they're going to pay us money"-type thing. Or, maybe they're looking for an exit, and this is good cover."

I'm just another schmuck on this forum, so I don't fully understand all the moving parts to switching conferences. I think there's an exit fee for leaving a conference, maybe an entrance fee, too. I suppose ASU and Miami could work that out with the NCHC and CCHA, to make those transfers seamless.

If all this happened, (Big if),Western Michigan would become the eastern outpost and ASU would be the western Outpost. Miami would become the southeastern outpost of the CCHA, too, with Auggie being on the western frontier. Both conferences would see their territories expand. I wonder if that's a big deal?

I don't think the relationship between Miami and Western Mich is as tight as, say, Denver and CC. Western and Miami could continue to play each other in non-conference games. Bottom line is that Western has been successful in the NCHC, Miami has not. Maybe someone else on this forum could answer the question about the Western Mich / Miami relationship.

[Lost_Husky]

"Could be a bargaining position - "If they're coming in, they're going to pay us money"-type thing. Or, maybe they're looking for an exit, and this is good cover."

I'm just another schmuck on this forum, so I don't fully understand all the moving parts to switching conferences. I think there's an exit fee for leaving a conference, maybe an entrance fee, too. I suppose ASU and Miami could work that out with the NCHC and CCHA, to make those transfers seamless.

If all this happened, (Big if),Western Michigan would become the eastern outpost and ASU would be the western Outpost. Miami would become the southeastern outpost of the CCHA, too, with Auggie being on the western frontier. Both conferences would see their territories expand. I wonder if that's a big deal?

I don't think the relationship between Miami and Western Mich is as tight as, say, Denver and CC. Western and Miami could continue to play each other in non-conference games. Bottom line is that Western has been successful in the NCHC, Miami has not. Maybe someone else on this forum could answer the question about the Western Mich / Miami relationship.

Armchair observer's thought from someone who lived in K-zoo and lives close to Oxford.

It seems like BGSU and Miami is more of a thing then Western and Miami. In MAC sports, all Western cared about was Central MI and, to a lesser extent Eastern MI. Hockey, they seem to want to beat up U of MI and MI State and whoever is in the NCHC. While Miami is Western's "short" trip it isn't like to two schools are close to each other, they don't "share" a highway, same kind of climate/culture, in the same state, fans don't overlap, and neither school travels all that well.

That said, I do think Western would miss Miami. Maybe if their program slips, like Miami's has, they would want out. Other than shorter overall travel, the CCHA doesn't have much to offer them.

[njmav1]

"Could be a bargaining position - "If they're coming in, they're going to pay us money"-type thing. Or, maybe they're looking for an exit, and this is good cover."

I'm just another schmuck on this forum, so I don't fully understand all the moving parts to switching conferences. I think there's an exit fee for leaving a conference, maybe an entrance fee, too. I suppose ASU and Miami could work that out with the NCHC and CCHA, to make those transfers seamless.

If all this happened, (Big if),Western Michigan would become the eastern outpost and ASU would be the western Outpost. Miami would become the southeastern outpost of the CCHA, too, with Auggie being on the western frontier. Both conferences would see their territories expand. I wonder if that's a big deal?

I don't think the relationship between Miami and Western Mich is as tight as, say, Denver and CC. Western and Miami could continue to play each other in non-conference games. Bottom line is that Western has been successful in the NCHC, Miami has not. Maybe someone else on this forum could answer the question about the Western Mich / Miami relationship.

The problem with Miami as I see it is that they don't bring anything to the CCHA other than getting the number of schools to an even number. The CCHA won't suddenly have an automatic second bid with Miami. Western Michigan gives the conference a better shot at that.

[Lost_Husky]

The problem with Miami as I see it is that they don't bring anything to the CCHA other than getting the number of schools to an even number. The CCHA won't suddenly have an automatic second bid with Miami. Western Michigan gives the conference a better shot at that.

I think BGSU would disagree. It would give BG an arch-rival and like minded athletic (MAC) school. From a league office standpoint, Miami seems to offer more than Augustana.

For the almost automatic 2nd bid, it doesn't matter who we pick up, if the CCHA keeps a losing NC record, they will keep being only an autobid league.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I think BGSU would disagree. It would give BG an arch-rival and like minded athletic (MAC) school. From a league office standpoint, Miami seems to offer more than Augustana.

For the almost automatic 2nd bid, it doesn't matter who we pick up, if the CCHA keeps a losing NC record, they will keep being only an autobid league.

As much as I enjoy seeing Miami State struggle, I have to grudgingly admit they would be a boost to the CCHA. Until the Tommies finish their arena, Goggin would outshine every facility in the league. That place is a palace and it would not take Bergeron long to make them competitive which would be a very good thing for all of us. LH is right, no team off the street makes us a 2-bid conference, but Miami moves the needle a ton more than Augustana. The arch-rival thing with BG is more of an add on bonus than a valid reason. I agree with the like-minded MAC thing to a point, but honestly I think that gets way overplayed. BG's loyalty lies more with the league than with some AD down in Oxford. Deciding on whether to offer MAC membership to Western Kentucky is a different animal than offering CCHA membership to Lindenwood.

Augustana brings nothing to the table. I still don't get why Lucia made that deal. Whatever. It's done. Welcome Vikings, I guess.

[njmav1]

As much as I enjoy seeing Miami State struggle, I have to grudgingly admit they would be a boost to the CCHA. Until the Tommies finish their arena, Goggin would outshine every facility in the league. That place is a palace and it would not take Bergeron long to make them competitive which would be a very good thing for all of us. LH is right, no team off the street makes us a 2-bid conference, but Miami moves the needle a ton more than Augustana. The arch-rival thing with BG is more of an add on bonus than a valid reason. I agree with the like-minded MAC thing to a point, but honestly I think that gets way overplayed. BG's loyalty lies more with the league than with some AD down in Oxford. Deciding on whether to offer MAC membership to Western Kentucky is a different animal than offering CCHA membership to Lindenwood.

Augustana brings nothing to the table. I still don't get why Lucia made that deal. Whatever. It's done. Welcome Vikings, I guess.

I get you. But I just don't get the assumption that Miami automatically thrives in the new CCHA.

[moose97]

As much as I enjoy seeing Miami State struggle, I have to grudgingly admit they would be a boost to the CCHA. Until the Tommies finish their arena, Goggin would outshine every facility in the league. That place is a palace and it would not take Bergeron long to make them competitive which would be a very good thing for all of us. LH is right, no team off the street makes us a 2-bid conference, but Miami moves the needle a ton more than Augustana. The arch-rival thing with BG is more of an add on bonus than a valid reason. I agree with the like-minded MAC thing to a point, but honestly I think that gets way overplayed. BG's loyalty lies more with the league than with some AD down in Oxford. Deciding on whether to offer MAC membership to Western Kentucky is a different animal than offering CCHA membership to Lindenwood.

Augustana brings nothing to the table. I still don't get why Lucia made that deal. Whatever. It's done. Welcome Vikings, I guess.

If this were a debate between Miami & Auggie, I'd see your point. But it's not. It's between Miami, ASU & Lindenwood. I too don't understand why Auggie was fast tracked.

I can see Miami as better than Lindenwood, but would rather have ASU. If I were running it, I'd be fine staying pat with eight.

[Lost_Husky]

I get you. But I just don't get the assumption that Miami automatically thrives in the new CCHA.

If you take the current Miami team and drop it into the CCHA, they would be fighting for home ice instead of an NCHC cellar dweller. Just a gut feeling, but I don't think their recruit talent would significantly drop with their campus/school/facilities.

I too would prefer ASU in the CCHA, but I don't think ASU wants anything to do with the CCHA. No offense to Lindenwood, I see them in a similar tier as Augustana. Lindenwood at least has an arena and hockey program. Major drawback, location.

Sadly, the only way I see Miami joining the CCHA is if the Summit League schools decide to form their own league.

[MavsFan]

Why is all this going on in the Minnesota State season thread? Take it to the CCHA conference thread.

[njmav1]

Why is all this going on in the Minnesota State season thread? Take it to the CCHA conference thread.

Because any NCHC discussion gets the MSU fans excited and hopeful?

[moose97]

Why is all this going on in the Minnesota State season thread? Take it to the CCHA conference thread.

Because your radio guys started it up again...

[Eddie Schorr]

Did anyone else get the feeling from the Miami statements that if ASU is added to the NCHC, it may be the straw that breaks Miami and they leave the NCHC?

I had two observations. First, the unmitigated gall of a school that's been the conference's bottom feeder gimp for eight years to start making demands to the rest of the conference was pretty funny. Second, they're too smug to leave with their tail between their legs, so this might be the public relations set up to bail not because they couldn't compete but under some b.s. cover of having been mistreated.

Also, the notion of Miami coming in and immediately being a top-tier CCHA school I think is wrong. Remember that amazing run they had from 2004-2014 was not their historical norm. For a quarter century before that, they were a complete non-entity on the national hockey scene with year after year of mediocrity or worse. The argument is pretty strong that the current state of their program is a return to their historical norm rather than a deviation from it. I think they'd do better, but in no way are they going to be a dominant CCHA program.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I get you. But I just don't get the assumption that Miami automatically thrives in the new CCHA.

I think their current coach knows how to compete in this league. Notice I said compete and not win as I refer to two extra attacker goals and an OT loss.

And I waited for this conversation to jump to the CCHA thread before diving in, it just never did. Apologies and thanks to the Mavs faithful for hosting.