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Big Ten Women's Conference is Coming!

That would give us five BIG Ten schools that have women's hockey (Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin). Wouldn't we still need one more team?
 
I didn't read anywhere that there would be a BIG 10 Conference, or that WCHA would leave, as OSUAlumn stated, and I believe to be correct - you'd need 6 teams for a conference. - Likely tied to the autobid.
 
The question would then be "who is the 6th team?"

Or would the five Big Ten teams not bother worrying about having to have an "auto-bid" into the NCAAs.

The Big Ten has in the past - and present - taken on "adjunct" members to get up to the 6th team; Notre Dame in men's hockey, and Johns Hopkins in lacrosse (yes, really, Big Ten member Johns Hopkins).

From a hockey and geographic standpoint, Duluth would make the most sense.

But...

The Big Ten prides itself on being a "scientific research association, that also has athletic teams". They make a big deal about all Big Ten schools being members of the "Association of American Universities". When Notre Dame was added for men's hockey, they were not members of the AAU, but were 'in process' to be added? They became an AAU school in 2023. (Johns Hopkins was obviously already there when they were added for lacrosse. And we can go through the details about Nebraska, if we must.)

And no offense to UM-Duluth, but I doubt they're anywhere close to being eligible to be in the AAU.

I can't really see who would be a good fit, from both a hockey and AAU-membership point of view. My guess is they would say 'we don't need no sticking 6th team". But that might make putting together schedules all the more difficult.
 
Windchill22 said:
I didn't read anywhere that there would be a BIG 10 Conference, or that WCHA would leave, as OSUAlumn stated, and I believe to be correct - you'd need 6 teams for a conference. - Likely tied to the autobid.
Click to expand...
The implication was if Michigan gets a team it will be inevitable as there is a push for women's B1G hockey going in that most aren't aware of.
Once the six team number is reached the conference will be formed and OSU, Wisconsin, Minnesota & Penn State will be required to leave their current conference just like it was when the men's conference formed, the individual schools have no say in it when it comes to joining or not joining.
 
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robertearle said:
The question would then be "who is the 6th team?"

Or would the five Big Ten teams not bother worrying about having to have an "auto-bid" into the NCAAs.

The Big Ten has in the past - and present - taken on "adjunct" members to get up to the 6th team; Notre Dame in men's hockey, and Johns Hopkins in lacrosse (yes, really, Big Ten member Johns Hopkins).

From a hockey and geographic standpoint, Duluth would make the most sense.

But...

The Big Ten prides itself on being a "scientific research association, that also has athletic teams". They make a big deal about all Big Ten schools being members of the "Association of American Universities". When Notre Dame was added for men's hockey, they were not members of the AAU, but were 'in process' to be added? They became an AAU school in 2023. (Johns Hopkins was obviously already there when they were added for lacrosse. And we can go through the details about Nebraska, if we must.)

And no offense to UM-Duluth, but I doubt they're anywhere close to being eligible to be in the AAU.

I can't really see who would be a good fit, from both a hockey and AAU-membership point of view. My guess is they would say 'we don't need no sticking 6th team". But that might make putting together schedules all the more difficult.
Click to expand...
Good point on the adjunct member and I was going to bring that up that if they want the conferenc formed bad and quick enough it could be very possible. I would assume if the is a new conference that we'd still schedule the remaining WCHA teams for our non conference.
If there is a new conferenc and the WCHA still exists that would create another tournament auto bid shrinking even more the chances of teams to make it without auto bids unless the NCAA changes the tournament format.
 
Hockeybuckeye said:
Good point on the adjunct member and I was going to bring that up that if they want the conferenc formed bad and quick enough it could be very possible. I would assume if the is a new conference that we'd still schedule the remaining WCHA teams for our non conference.
If there is a new conferenc and the WCHA still exists that would create another tournament auto bid shrinking even more the chances of teams to make it without auto bids unless the NCAA changes the tournament format.
Click to expand...
The WCHA will be screwed if it loses its 3 best teams *and* falls below 6. Same as happened on the men's side.

They'd have to merge with the Atlantic, who would be in the same spot (<6) if they lose Penn St.

Collegiate athletics is so messed up these days.
 
Timothy A said:
They should just join the WCHA. I don't want a B10 hockey conference for women.
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I wonder if it would be good for Bemidji and Mankato, etal, to have a reasonable chance of winning a WCHA championship and getting an auto-bid, or would it just turn it into the western version of Atlantic Hockey
 
davearm said:
If we're already counting Michigan, then you just need Michigan St and/or Notre Dame.
Click to expand...
I spoke with Michigan State's AD yesterday on if there has been any recent discussion on starting a woman's program given rival Michigan may be moving forward on it. He spoke positively about their club team but said it's mostly a money issue why they don't currently have a D1 women's team.
 
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