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Future of the ccha????

Re: Future of the ccha????

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
Back to the CCHA: Let's suppose that the rumors are true, and in addition to losing Miami to the BHHC, Notre Dame has other plans, and UA(F) and NMU are going to the WCHA. I see no reason to deny any of that. Now it really is down to WMU, BGSU, FSU and LSSU.

What are the odds that they can pick up at least two more schools (UAH, RMU, Niagara, Mercyhurst or some other school TBD)? What are the odds that they try to latch on with the WCHA, like UA and NMU are? What are the odds that they just slowly become the next CHA and piece by piece fade into oblivion?
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A reworked CCHA has the possibility to do something the CHA didn't...make geographical sense. It could offer schools that want to offer full scholarships the chance to do so without having the travel expenses of the "Superconference". It seems like a niche that the CCHA should be actively trying to fill.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
Back to the CCHA: Let's suppose that the rumors are true, and in addition to losing Miami to the BHHC, Notre Dame has other plans, and UA(F) and NMU are going to the WCHA. I see no reason to deny any of that. Now it really is down to WMU, BGSU, FSU and LSSU.

What are the odds that they can pick up at least two more schools (UAH, RMU, Niagara, Mercyhurst or some other school TBD)? What are the odds that they try to latch on with the WCHA, like UA and NMU are? What are the odds that they just slowly become the next CHA and piece by piece fade into oblivion?
Click to expand...

So at this point we are looking at a new WCHA composed of: BSU, StCloud, MinnState, MTU, NMU, AA, and probably AF.

Notre Dame is probably headed to Hockey East. Given a choice, I see Notre Dame playing in the east where all of their other sports play rather than the west against teams they will only play in hockey.

WMU has a chance to get into the supersix if Notre Dame decides to go there instead. Otherwise, WMU will probably try to become the eighth member of the WCHA.

So the CCHA is likely left with just its three teams...LSSU, FSU, and BG. (UAH is also out there.)

My best guess is they are probably already having conversations with several eastern teams (Niagara, Robert Morris, and Mercyhurst..maybe others) to see if they have an interest in joining the depleted CCHA. For a viable league they probably need at least 7 teams with 8 even better. If the eastern teams choose not to move then the remaining leftovers have to hope the WCHA will expand to 12...or they will likely cease to exist unless.....WMU isn't accepted by the supersix and either chooses not to go or isn't accepted by the WCHA. With WMU the path to keeping a viable CCHA is brighter as you have a better chance of getting the eastern teams to move and make a 6-8 team league.

Best case (and least likely) scenario is Notre Dame decides to stay in the CCHA. If Notre Dame stays so does WMU and you only need to add UAH to have six.

I personally hope the CCHA can hobble together at least six teams and make it work. College hockey can't afford to lose teams.
 
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Re: Future of the ccha????

CHFAN222 said:
Niagara University, Robert Morris, UAH, Mercyhurst, and maybe Canisus. These schools would at least listen to the possibility of joining the CCHA especially UAH. It would create a league without too many outliers besides UAH. Most of the trips wouldn't be to bad in terms of bus rides especially if Ferris state cuts through Canada for road trips to NY.

Atlantic hockey would loose a few teams but would still be in decent shape and would be able to take on new teams again like Navy.
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Take Niagara, Canisius, Robert Morris, AND Canisius from the AHA and then I could see RIT at least take a look.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

davyd83 said:
That is not going to happen unless Notre Dame joins as a full member.
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Just passing along what I heard. I'm sure there are lots of discussions going on right now and obviously Notre Dame as well as the conferences interested in them have to weigh all their options. Just don't be so fast to dismiss Notre Dame joining as an associate member.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

Federal League said:
Just passing along what I heard. I'm sure there are lots of discussions going on right now and obviously Notre Dame as well as the conferences interested in them have to weigh all their options. Just don't be so fast to dismiss Notre Dame joining as an associate member.
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If you can post a link to any info on Notre Dames talks to join the Big !0 as a hockey only member, that would help.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

komey1 said:
Take Niagara, Canisius, Robert Morris, AND Canisius from the AHA and then I could see RIT at least take a look.
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And while we're at it, let's take Canisius ;)

ecbrevik said:
A reworked CCHA has the possibility to do something the CHA didn't...make geographical sense. It could offer schools that want to offer full scholarships the chance to do so without having the travel expenses of the "Superconference". It seems like a niche that the CCHA should be actively trying to fill.
Click to expand...

"Should" being the operative term, but who knows what'll happen at the CCHA's offices.

I agree that UAH, Mercyhurst, Canisius, Niagara and Robert Morris would be prime candidates to enter the CCHA. It's a preexisting conference so there shouldn't be any issue about autobids, and it's a bus league in all senses of the phrase. LSSU (if they stay) and UAH (if they're invited) would be outliers, but at the most you're making one trip to each per season plus tournaments.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

davyd83 said:
If you can post a link to any info on Notre Dames talks to join the Big !0 as a hockey only member, that would help.
Click to expand...

He will not be able to because the Big Ten does not have associate members.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
Back to the CCHA: Let's suppose that the rumors are true, and in addition to losing Miami to the BHHC, Notre Dame has other plans, and UA(F) and NMU are going to the WCHA. I see no reason to deny any of that. Now it really is down to WMU, BGSU, FSU and LSSU.

What are the odds that they can pick up at least two more schools (UAH, RMU, Niagara, Mercyhurst or some other school TBD)? What are the odds that they try to latch on with the WCHA, like UA and NMU are? What are the odds that they just slowly become the next CHA and piece by piece fade into oblivion?
Click to expand...

My opinion is: it basically hinges on Atlantic Hockey and the league scholarship limit. The most recent vote on it went down 7-5, with 8 needed for passage. One mind is pretty easy to change, and if it means preserving the league as is, that lone voice might be convinced to swing over.

Travel costs, absent Air Force (obviously accounting for the trips to Colorado would make a rump CCHA more attractive), would be roughly the same in either league (though that number goes down with the number of AHA-West teams one can attract; my hypothesis is that RIT and AFA would stay aboard no matter what). That would make the primary difference between a recentered CCHA and AHA the scholarship limit.

If there is no difference in scholarships, maybe the western teams might go anyway. Not having to go to Colorado every year has to be pretty attractive.

That being said, I still think the most likely situation is a full merger with the new WCHA.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

davyd83 said:
If you can post a link to any info on Notre Dames talks to join the Big !0 as a hockey only member, that would help.
Click to expand...

No links, just talk. Could be nothing to it, as you seem to think, but that's what I heard. I'm not trying to be confrontational here. I was just refuting the assessment that ND is "probably headed to Hockey East," because I have heard otherwise. Just thought some people might be interested to hear that is all.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

Beer Pong Horn said:
I agree that UAH, Mercyhurst, Canisius, Niagara and Robert Morris would be prime candidates to enter the CCHA. It's a preexisting conference so there shouldn't be any issue about autobids, and it's a bus league in all senses of the phrase. LSSU (if they stay) and UAH (if they're invited) would be outliers, but at the most you're making one trip to each per season plus tournaments.
Click to expand...

I suspect that the AHA teams will need a fairly long term commitment from the remaining CCHA teams to keep their programs before they would agree to move over. They are in a very stable conference right now; I doubt they want to be put into the same position they were in with the CHA.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

RMUColonials said:
I suspect that the AHA teams will need a fairly long term commitment from the remaining CCHA teams to keep their programs before they would agree to move over. They are in a very stable conference right now; I doubt they want to be put into the same position they were in with the CHA.
Click to expand...

Stable? Nothing is stable.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

I was intrigued to see the auto bid rules. It will be interesting to see if the B1G, BHHC will have auto bids in their first year and if the WCHA, CCHA will losentheirs for a period of time...none of these leagues will retain a consistent 6 members from 2012-13 to 2013-14.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

RMUColonials said:
I suspect that the AHA teams will need a fairly long term commitment from the remaining CCHA teams to keep their programs before they would agree to move over. They are in a very stable conference right now; I doubt they want to be put into the same position they were in with the CHA.
Click to expand...

What 4four4 said.


But beyond that, let's say that UAH finally is offered a spot in the CCHA, and four teams from AHA come over. You'd only need to have a guarantee from one current CCHA team to have a viable league without NCAA waivers, though preferably they'd retain two or more. I don't see why the four AHA schools wouldn't very heavily consider it, honestly, because they now have a viable chance of getting an autobid to the NCAA without having to fight through RIT and Air Force.

To save a little money, we can even merge the front offices of the CCHA men's and CHA women's leagues since three members would be the same. :D


EDIT: Though I don't know if one or two league members can "carry the torch" for an autobid and keep it valid with a massive league turnover, like Shirtless Guy suggested. If they can't, the four AHA schools in question may hesitate much more, not that they're consistent NCAA teams anyway.
 
Re: Future of the ccha????

Shirtless Guy said:
I was intrigued to see the auto bid rules. It will be interesting to see if the B1G, BHHC will have auto bids in their first year and if the WCHA, CCHA will losentheirs for a period of time...none of these leagues will retain a consistent 6 members from 2012-13 to 2013-14.
Click to expand...

Continuity of membership (aka the six teams for five years rule) is not a qualification for continuing with an automatic bid, only on a new league gaining one in the first place.

After the 2005 conference realignment, the following things were true:
The six remaining WAC teams (SJSU, La Tech, Boise, Nevada, Hawai'i, Fresno State) had only played as a group for four years.
The six remaining CUSA teams (Tulane, USM, UAB, Memphis, Houston, East Carolina) had only played as a group for four years.

Both leagues retained automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.

After the 2010 realignment, the WAC will be left with only five continuous members (SJSU, Idaho, Utah State, La Tech, NMSU) in 2012. When their 5 new members arrive that year, they will keep their automatic bid.

So would the CCHA and WCHA (although they may have an issue with the requirements of full D-I members; the new WCHA will have none, and the CCHA may be able to retain only two). The Big Whatever and the SuperFriends will, on the other hand, likely have to wait for theirs (and the SuperFriends also has an issue with the full D-I requirements).
 
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Re: Future of the ccha????

The WCHA already has a waiver from the full d1 membership issue. The cha also had that waiver before it's demise.
 
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