Future of the ccha????

[CHFAN222]

Re: Future of the ccha????

The other problem with getting 4 additional games is figuring out who and when you're going to play those games. 38 games into the 22ish week college schedule probably involves very short X-mas breaks/games during exam weeks, etc.

Schedule an additional tourney or something with the schools. At the very least they could always schedule a couple of games with UAH.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: Future of the ccha????

there won't be a CCHA

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Future of the ccha????

If Moorhead does indeed add, that means Fairbanks, Western or LSSU could go to the WCHA, and LSSU is probably the least attractive of the three.

My guess is that the WCHA's priority would be 1. Fairbanks 2. Moorhead 3. LSSU and 4. Western. I guess its not out of the realm of possibility that the WCHA just decides to load up with all of them.

 

[davyd83]

Re: Future of the ccha????

My guess is that the WCHA's priority would be 1. Fairbanks 2. Moorhead 3. LSSU and 4. Western. I guess its not out of the realm of possibility that the WCHA just decides to load up with all of them.

They won't add all of them. They've already said that their goal is 8 teams.

 

[Back check]

Re: Future of the ccha????

davyd83 - do you think there will be a league forming with the remaining CCHA teams and some Atlantic Hockey teams? Perhaps a spot for UAH?

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Future of the ccha????

davyd83 - do you think there will be a league forming with the remaining CCHA teams and some Atlantic Hockey teams? Perhaps a spot for UAH?

I do think that there's a good chance that there's a CCHA plus a few of the western AHA schools that includes UAH. It just all depends on which way the domino's fall, and they don't get started again until Norte Dame knocks over the first one of the new batch here.

 

[Back check]

Re: Future of the ccha????

If UAF heads to the WCHA, then it opens the door for the AHA-4, leaving three CCHA teams (assumes Western goes somewhere, likely to NCHC).

However, I do not see much chance of the AHA teams jumping if LSSU also leaves for the WCHA. I am confident that these AHA teams are not interested in finding themselves in a six-team league (BGSU + FSU + AHA4), especially to join with two programs that are a bit unstable themselves the last couple of years. Only way they consider that is if RIT and AFA also go along ... long shot IMHO.

As for UAH, I do not see them having much appeal until they can figure out how to secure a better working arrangement between the three parties in Huntsville (VBC, Havoc and UAH). The last season of CHA play, Niagara's visit included games on Fri-Sat but with 5:30 and 3:00 start times. UAH's schedule over the past few years is replete with games on Thursdays and Sundays and non-traditional start times (lots of afternoon games) because of conflicts with the Havoc. Very unappealing. I do enjoy the trip to H'ville and if they could get something done on the dates issue, I would support including them in a conference.

Pretty standard starting times for UAH at the VBC this year for their limited amount of home games.

 

[davyd83]

Re: Future of the ccha????

davyd83 - do you think there will be a league forming with the remaining CCHA teams and some Atlantic Hockey teams? Perhaps a spot for UAH?

I do see the CCHA and the AHA teams getting together. I hope that UAH would be included. But I hoped that would happen a couple years ago. (A little Dreamland BBQ makes for a good road trip!) If the CCHA desires to be an 8 team league and Alaska goes to the WCHA, a move with Bowling Green, Ferris and Lake Superior and the 4 from the AHA would leave a spot for UAH. That would seem to be the best hope for the Chargers. I hope that it would happen, but I'm not so sure that it will. Maybe these schools and a league that have talked so much about "what's best for college hockey" will actually make those more than words.

 

[giwan]

Re: Future of the ccha????

I would hope they work to get UAH in as well.

The goal may be to get 8 teams in the WCHA but I believe they could take more. Though speculation on my part the goal is to have both the WCHA and the CCHA viable. If teams end up folding then I see the leagues merging.

 

[BC/HE]

Re: Future of the ccha????

I do see the CCHA and the AHA teams getting together. I hope that UAH would be included. But I hoped that would happen a couple years ago. (A little Dreamland BBQ makes for a good road trip!) If the CCHA desires to be an 8 team league and Alaska goes to the WCHA, a move with Bowling Green, Ferris and Lake Superior and the 4 from the AHA would leave a spot for UAH. That would seem to be the best hope for the Chargers. I hope that it would happen, but I'm not so sure that it will. Maybe these schools and a league that have talked so much about "what's best for college hockey" will actually make those more than words.

If only those 3(BGSU, FSU, and LSS) are all that is left of the CCHA I really don't think the 4 AHA teams would join. It really would not be moving up from playing Air Force, RIT and Holy Cross instead. I think you may see a split of the AHA instead where the schools that want more scholarships break off to form their own league. If one or two of those CCHA holdovers want to join that new league along with UAH it may come down to that instead. How would 3 teams hold bargaining power over 4 to retain a league name? If 5 or more AHA teams break they could also get an autobid in addition to the remaing AHA having an autobid.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Future of the ccha????

If only those 3(BGSU, FSU, and LSS) are all that is left of the CCHA I really don't think the 4 AHA teams would join. It really would not be moving up from playing Air Force, RIT and Holy Cross instead. I think you may see a split of the AHA instead where the schools that want more scholarships break off to form their own league. If one or two of those CCHA holdovers want to join that new league along with UAH it may come down to that instead. How would 3 teams hold bargaining power over 4 to retain a league name? If 5 or more AHA teams break they could also get an autobid in addition to the remaing AHA having an autobid.

The CCHA is a name brand that would come with an autobid in 2013-14...a split of the AHA would still only have 1 autobid for 2013-14 & 2014-15. Thats the value of leave to save the CCHA not to mention the full 18 scholarships those 4 schools want.

 

[komey1]

Re: Future of the ccha????

I don't think you will see six AHA teams split off. I would expect that RIT may have voted to increase the scholarships by 1, but I don't see them being part of a new league where they offer a full amount at this time. The CCHA-AHA 4 need to convince 2 more teams. I don't expect RIT to do it. Air Force won't likely go without Army - and when Air Force joined one of the conditions was that they would only play each other 2 times. A 6 team league would force 4 games with each other or an interlock with the other league.

 

[GoNU5]

Re: Future of the ccha????

I don't think you will see six AHA teams split off. I would expect that RIT may have voted to increase the scholarships by 1, but I don't see them being part of a new league where they offer a full amount at this time. The CCHA-AHA 4 need to convince 2 more teams. I don't expect RIT to do it. Air Force won't likely go without Army - and when Air Force joined one of the conditions was that they would only play each other 2 times. A 6 team league would force 4 games with each other or an interlock with the other league.

The number is 4 AHA teams+ the 3 CCHA teams (BGSU, Ferris, LSSU). Even is LSSU manages to get into the WCHA they still have the 6 teams for the autobid without having to grab more AHA teams.

 

[Lakerblue]

Re: Future of the ccha????

If only those 3(BGSU, FSU, and LSS) are all that is left of the CCHA I really don't think the 4 AHA teams would join. It really would not be moving up from playing Air Force, RIT and Holy Cross instead. I think you may see a split of the AHA instead where the schools that want more scholarships break off to form their own league. If one or two of those CCHA holdovers want to join that new league along with UAH it may come down to that instead. How would 3 teams hold bargaining power over 4 to retain a league name? If 5 or more AHA teams break they could also get an autobid in addition to the remaing AHA having an autobid.

I think that would be a far better scenario for the remaining CCHA teams than trying to keep alive the rotting hulk of the long-mismanaged mess called the CCHA (just a little bitter, not much).

While I would prefer to see LSSU head west -- heading east would be OK if it was under the umbrella of a new league, with a new mission (other than survival of the CCHA offices and staff), with a new dedication (teams trying to grow their programs, instead of the CCHA hanging on for dear life and praying Michigan will allow them to play in Ann Arbor once ever three years).

A split of the AHA, including UAH, with the CCHA schools would be a mess under the CCHA leadership. But under perhaps a newly born, dedicated, and concieved league -- it might work.

It all sounds like a ticket sellers nightmare, though.

 

[komey1]

Re: Future of the ccha????

The number is 4 AHA teams+ the 3 CCHA teams (BGSU, Ferris, LSSU). Even is LSSU manages to get into the WCHA they still have the 6 teams for the autobid without having to grab more AHA teams.

My point was that the AHA won't split to 2 leagues. I certainly see (and wouldn't be overly surprised) to see those those teams bolt for that kind of league. However, they won't necessarily be automatically let back in should the new league not work out. Mercyhurst and Canisius reportedly were ready to join the CHA but wanted assurances that they would be let back into the AHA if the league did not work out. The AHA refused to just automatically let them back in.

 

[5hole]

Re: Future of the ccha????

And as I posted earlier, do not expect the AHA4 to make a move into a six-team league. They will stay put if it shapes up that way.

 

[Bill]

Re: Future of the ccha????

I think that would be a far better scenario for the remaining CCHA teams than trying to keep alive the rotting hulk of the long-mismanaged mess called the CCHA (just a little bitter, not much).

While I would prefer to see LSSU head west -- heading east would be OK if it was under the umbrella of a new league, with a new mission (other than survival of the CCHA offices and staff), with a new dedication (teams trying to grow their programs, instead of the CCHA hanging on for dear life and praying Michigan will allow them to play in Ann Arbor once ever three years).

A split of the AHA, including UAH, with the CCHA schools would be a mess under the CCHA leadership. But under perhaps a newly born, dedicated, and concieved league -- it might work.

It all sounds like a ticket sellers nightmare, though.

I doubt it will happen as a brand new league. They will likely stay under the CCHA umbrella in order to retain the autobid. I don't think any of the teams will want to give that up.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Future of the ccha????

I doubt it will happen as a brand new league. They will likely stay under the CCHA umbrella in order to retain the autobid. I don't think any of the teams will want to give that up.

Agreed, even if LSSU and UAH are not involved in the new CCHA, the travel between the schools isn't going to be the best. A lot of long bus trips. At least having that Autobid gives them all something to play for, and making the NCAA's will be something that any decent Sports Marketing department can work with to drum up more local support for their own program. The locals coming out to see their team is what's going to keep that league afloat.

 

[davyd83]

Re: Future of the ccha????

Agreed, even if LSSU and UAH are not involved in the new CCHA, the travel between the schools isn't going to be the best. A lot of long bus trips. At least having that Autobid gives them all something to play for, and making the NCAA's will be something that any decent Sports Marketing department can work with to drum up more local support for their own program. The locals coming out to see their team is what's Tgoing to keep that league afloat.

Travel actually isn't that bad, except for LSSU. The next longest trip, Big Rapids to Erie is about 460 miles and to Buffalo is just a little over 400 miles.

 

[RamboWildcat]

Re: Future of the ccha????

We've been over this...you most certainly can get 4 exempt games if you play 2 @ Anchorage and 2 @ Fairbanks.

Perhaps the WCHA could get creative with the Alaska scenarios.....whoever travels up there plays 4 games.....stays up there all week...perhaps a Friday, Saturday series, followed by a Weds. Thurs series. Or something like that. One long trip but worth it compared to two long trips up there.