Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12
There may be a lot of truth in this assessment. With the restructuring of the leagues will come a new stratification of the teams. The teams which become dominant in each league ( the new WCHA included) will likely acheive elite status, and be competitive across league boundries. Likewise, the teams that sink consistantly to the bottom of the standings will demonstrate the opposite. I think it's possible the teams in the top half of the future WCHA will generally be stronger than the teams in the bottom half of the NCHC. No one wants to play for, or coach, a perennial loser, regardless of the cache of the league. The great thing about the new WCHA is that every team, and fanbase, thinks their team will be able to succeed.
It is interesting that we are talking negative about the WCHA and LSSU making it into it. When two months ago we thought it was a long shot at best. Even when the best happens we seem to have this negative come over us. The other scenario was some mutated version of the CCHA yuck. This league will be an awesome showcase. As for recruiting the Alaska teams I do not see any negative on them. As for the other teams I actually think it will be positive to recruit. One of the teams will be getting a bid. They may not attract the blue chip first liners which teams like LSSU recieved few if any in any given recruiting season in the CCHA. On the other hand I think it increases their calling card for all the other blue and red chip players as they have a shot in this league of getting that bid. There is something to be said about being a big fish in a little pond. Not to mention the history of rivalaries this league could format. I also think this league has a good shot at creating a niche cable TV spotlight. I hope the league is looking into that.
There may be a lot of truth in this assessment. With the restructuring of the leagues will come a new stratification of the teams. The teams which become dominant in each league ( the new WCHA included) will likely acheive elite status, and be competitive across league boundries. Likewise, the teams that sink consistantly to the bottom of the standings will demonstrate the opposite. I think it's possible the teams in the top half of the future WCHA will generally be stronger than the teams in the bottom half of the NCHC. No one wants to play for, or coach, a perennial loser, regardless of the cache of the league. The great thing about the new WCHA is that every team, and fanbase, thinks their team will be able to succeed.