In less than two weeks, the final CCHA season will begin. I know some of you will be glad to see it go, others not so much. I, for one, wish it was sticking around. I will miss the annual match ups with Michigan, Michigan State, ND, Miami, Ohio State, and WMU. I’ve known about the CCHA since the late 70s and have followed it off and on since then, even when NMU was in the WCHA for a time.
I know NMU was the first CCHA team to play in a National Championship game back in 1980 losing to NoDak 5 – 2. The players: Bill Joyce, Steve Weeks, Mike Milke, Tom Laidlaw, Don Waddell, Steve Bozek, Jeff Pyle, and current NMU coaches Walt and John Kyle among others, coached by Rick Comley. It was a great team in only its fourth year of existence. I had played high school hockey (not very well) and couldn’t believe how good those guys were. That was a fun year and Lakeview Arena was packed all the time. Those years showed me how good college hockey was and what a competitive league the CCHA would become. Even if there have always been the dominant teams (you know who I’m talking about) on any given night the others might turn the table.
I haven’t been a real close observer of the CCHA like many of you probably have, so I was wondering if any of you would like to share stories of classic CCHA games, playoffs, championships, players, coaches, etc.
So, goodbye CCHA, but before it ends, I think we're in for an exciting, hard fought final season.
I know NMU was the first CCHA team to play in a National Championship game back in 1980 losing to NoDak 5 – 2. The players: Bill Joyce, Steve Weeks, Mike Milke, Tom Laidlaw, Don Waddell, Steve Bozek, Jeff Pyle, and current NMU coaches Walt and John Kyle among others, coached by Rick Comley. It was a great team in only its fourth year of existence. I had played high school hockey (not very well) and couldn’t believe how good those guys were. That was a fun year and Lakeview Arena was packed all the time. Those years showed me how good college hockey was and what a competitive league the CCHA would become. Even if there have always been the dominant teams (you know who I’m talking about) on any given night the others might turn the table.
I haven’t been a real close observer of the CCHA like many of you probably have, so I was wondering if any of you would like to share stories of classic CCHA games, playoffs, championships, players, coaches, etc.
So, goodbye CCHA, but before it ends, I think we're in for an exciting, hard fought final season.