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New WCHA is dead
- Thread starter Dirty Dream No. 2
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I understand that but it’s fairly apparent that they will go D2.
BGSU was the last school to commit to a league when the CCHA exploded. Had Ferris and Lake Superior not jumped to the WCHA immediately, this league would have probably formed back then, and everybody would have had a different opinion of the schools involved. The difference now is the landscape has changed slightly with Tech, BSU, Northern, and Mankato involved. AHA has also went full scholarship since then. BG also has a coach with very strong ties to the state of Minnesota.
This isn't the final look of the conference. My crystal ball says ASU to Big Ten, Huntsville to AHA, one Alaska team added to CCHA 2.0, and one is gone forever.
aparch
Well-known member
Never going to happen. Air Force and Army are a bonded pair.
Happy
Registered User
Re: New WCHA is dead
To leave the WCHA without a penalty, they had to give a 2 year warning. My assumption is, they gave the warning as soon as they could. So, they gave a 2 year notice, as required. The only good thing about it, is it makes decisions by the alaska and alabama schools a last choice, basically they can't dick around, they have to figure it out soon. I have always assumed, since the Big Ten came, that the Alaska schools were screwed.
To leave the WCHA without a penalty, they had to give a 2 year warning. My assumption is, they gave the warning as soon as they could. So, they gave a 2 year notice, as required. The only good thing about it, is it makes decisions by the alaska and alabama schools a last choice, basically they can't dick around, they have to figure it out soon. I have always assumed, since the Big Ten came, that the Alaska schools were screwed.
broncoinak
New member
I don't see WMU being interested in leaving. Our OOC schedule is almost always very local so travel costs wouldn't be a significant enough savings to make the difference when we're very competitive in the best conference in the country.
Re: New WCHA is dead
And then Minnesota and wisconsin ditch the POS conference that ruined college hockey and join this new NCHC. And they call it the WCHA2. And it's the best conference that ever existed.
And then Minnesota and wisconsin ditch the POS conference that ruined college hockey and join this new NCHC. And they call it the WCHA2. And it's the best conference that ever existed.
First Time Long Time
Rebuilding
They are going to pay the buyout of one year league expenses?
At last check that was 1.5 million.
The CCHA was left with BGSU, LSSU, Ferris, and Fairbanks. With Notre Dame and WMU “exploring” their options. The “new” WCHA was to have UAA, Bemidji, Minnesota St, St Cloud, Tech and NMU. Notre Dame joined Hockey East after they couldn’t reach an agreement with the NCHC. Then Western and St Cloud jumped to the NCHC. That left 5 teams in the WCHA, four in the CCHA and Huntsville as an independent. The “leftovers” had little choice but to merge.
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You're forgetting Robert Morris, Niagra, Canisius, and RIT. That deal just ran out of time.
Deals can be made.
Split-N
All Hail
Re: New WCHA is dead
I feel so bad for the two Alaska fan bases, both of which are passionate about hockey in general and their teams in particular. But geographical, logistical, and fiscal realities are conspiring to make D1 college hockey in Alaska untenable. There might be some hope if some sort of west coast conference could be formed around Washington and Washington State, with some of the British Columbia colleges also allowed to join as adjunct members. But realistically, pigs will fly before any of that happens.
It not that these two Service academies are somehow welded together. They'd both be fine playing in separate leagues (as they do in other sports) so long as they had the flexibility to schedule each other in out-of-conference games. The primary reason they're both in Atlantic Hockey is comfort level with the conference's overall values and approach. Neither has designs on a national championship so they're both content to play at the Atlantic Hockey competitive level with occasional marquee matchups against national "brands".
I feel so bad for the two Alaska fan bases, both of which are passionate about hockey in general and their teams in particular. But geographical, logistical, and fiscal realities are conspiring to make D1 college hockey in Alaska untenable. There might be some hope if some sort of west coast conference could be formed around Washington and Washington State, with some of the British Columbia colleges also allowed to join as adjunct members. But realistically, pigs will fly before any of that happens.
It not that these two Service academies are somehow welded together. They'd both be fine playing in separate leagues (as they do in other sports) so long as they had the flexibility to schedule each other in out-of-conference games. The primary reason they're both in Atlantic Hockey is comfort level with the conference's overall values and approach. Neither has designs on a national championship so they're both content to play at the Atlantic Hockey competitive level with occasional marquee matchups against national "brands".
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First Time Long Time
Rebuilding
Doubt the NCHC changes its own bylaws.
Re: New WCHA is dead
Air Force left their former conference in hockey years ago to specifically be in the same conference as Army. Then Wayne State folded, and this whole mess of realignment began.
Air Force left their former conference in hockey years ago to specifically be in the same conference as Army. Then Wayne State folded, and this whole mess of realignment began.
bronconick
Yep, still here
Re: New WCHA is dead
Why would Western and Miami leave the NCHC for travel reasons and go to a league that adds Arizona State?
Why would Western and Miami leave the NCHC for travel reasons and go to a league that adds Arizona State?
Is that the vibe in Minnesota? As a D3 hockey fan on the outside it seems that the WIAC would be a good fit for them. WIAC hockey needs one more member to gain AQ status and their football league is arguably the best in NCAA D3. Football and hockey are likely the two signature programs at St Thomas, and the WIAC has publicly stated that it is open to non-Wisconsin state schools as full-time members.
The WIAC has also added Northland as a hockey member for ‘19-‘20.
If Mankato or ASU had the chance to join the NCHC if they bought out Miami and WMU’s obligations, do you think they wouldn’t? Just not sure if the travel benefits would outweigh the level of competition. WMU I have felt like for years has been one tournament appearance away from hurting some feelings in the NCAAs
I know you know **** well that’s not going to happen. As much as I rag on them, I do believe Minnesota’s hands were mostly tied. I don’t think Wisconsin is having a bad time in the new league, and I’m sure likely having to switch to a conference like Big 12 would have negatives outweighing any gains from rejoining NCHC
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First Time Long Time
Rebuilding
ASU may have the money for that. I highly doubt Kato does.
I also don't think the league would change the bylaws. The team leaving has to pay and give 2 years notice or the buyout goes up.
The NCHC may expand...but Miami and Western are stuck.
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