The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

[bueller]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

Van Andel Arena's website does have a picture & link of the WCHA Final Five rotating on its banner marquee of upcoming events. But overall Van Andel doesn't seem to push college hockey very hard. The NCAA Regionals that I went to there in the past were grossly under attended.

That's an understatement. I worked the one in 2007 and it might have been half full with Michigan State and Notre Dame there.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

Would be interesting to see from a travel perspective. But two D1 schools swapped for two D2 schools? Not going to happen.

Yeah, that's not like-minded. At that point, the NCHC schools are largely the old WCHA schools, and the nWCHA schools are generally more CCHA.

What have you heard?

All I've heard is that proposed swap. It would make the WCHA an i-75 league with an Alaska problem, and it would make NCHC a Minnesota league with a Colorado problem.

GFM

 

[gfmorris]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

I want to be very, very clear: this did not come to me from the UAH Hockey office.

GFM

 

[Pink Pony]

And just how do you do that without having the UP teams play an unbalanced number of games at those schools?

Send two schools at any given year.

 

[Biddco]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

Yeah, that's not like-minded. At that point, the NCHC schools are largely the old WCHA schools, and the nWCHA schools are generally more CCHA.



All I've heard is that proposed swap. It would make the WCHA an i-75 league with an Alaska problem, and it would make NCHC a Minnesota league with a Colorado problem.

GFM

People think (heard Mike Hastings talk about it on Beyond the Pond) that league movement is not done. Wonder if he was believing that because he's gotten wind of that idea. Or hell even put that idea out there.

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

So with rumors of NCHC travel woes mounting, I've heard an interesting idea: Bemidji and Mankato swapped for Western and Miami. That would be ... interesting. Thoughts?

GFM

Travel woes? What is that? Are they complaining its too expensive or too time consuming?

If so, didn't that occur to them when they started this venture?

 

[Biddco]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

Travel woes? What is that? Are they complaining its too expensive or too time consuming?

If so, didn't that occur to them when they started this venture?

Maybe Miami misses the CCHA days

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

So with rumors of NCHC travel woes mounting, I've heard an interesting idea: Bemidji and Mankato swapped for Western and Miami. That would be ... interesting. Thoughts?

GFM

Hmmm, interesting..... I have not heard anything like that. Part of me would like it (closer road games**), but I would hate to lose that conference rivalry with UAH. Non-conference games just don't seem to hold the same venom that conference games do.

**Heck, I live closer to St. Cloud than Bemidji, but I have told myself I would never set foot into the Concrete Center again after the way their fans treated a friend of mine's kids who were under 10 at the time and there to cheer for the Beavers. And it wasn't just the students, it was some older folks as well......

 

[davyd83]

Send two schools at any given year.

Those big Ten schools won't do even swaps. End of story.

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

So with rumors of NCHC travel woes mounting, I've heard an interesting idea: Bemidji and Mankato swapped for Western and Miami. That would be ... interesting. Thoughts?

GFM

This... would not surprise me. And, it would put the MAC schools together in the same conference. So much for the NCHC being "like minded..." *edit* My long term fear would be the MAC schools taking Ferris and some NY/Penn AHA schools and making a new CCHA (remember, BGSU retains the rights to the CCHA).

Not to mention would WMU and Miami really want 2 trips to alaska?

Given the new rules of the UA* schools cut a check for the difference of the furthest non UA* trip, it might be a better deal for WMU and Miami than their current NCHC arrangements.

 

[aparch]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

If so, didn't that occur to them when they started this venture?

I think they're still awaiting the bags of cash that UND and DU promised they could print by forming their super conference.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

This... would not surprise me. And, it would put the MAC schools together in the same conference. So much for the NCHC being "like minded..." *edit* My long term fear would be the MAC schools taking Ferris and some NY/Penn AHA schools and making a new CCHA (remember, BGSU retains the rights to the CCHA).

Given the new rules of the UA* schools cut a check for the difference of the furthest non UA* trip, it might be a better deal for WMU and Miami than their current NCHC arrangements.

I very much agree, although I really doubt that there's any traction to peeling off Niagara, Canisius, Robert Morris, and RIT off from Atlantic Hockey. Those schools might like to be in that league, but I don't know what motivation there would be other than travel. Quality of play would be pretty meh. Also, that probably kills Atlantic Hockey and a number of schools' programs with it.

GFM

 

[MaizeRage]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

I very much agree, although I really doubt that there's any traction to peeling off Niagara, Canisius, Robert Morris, and RIT off from Atlantic Hockey. Those schools might like to be in that league, but I don't know what motivation there would be other than travel.

A full 18 scholarships would be the biggest enticement. It's probably no coincidence Atlantic Hockey voted to raise their limit up to 13 full scholarships next year, and 14 the following year to keep those schools happy.

 

[Pink Pony]

This... would not surprise me. And, it would put the MAC schools together in the same conference. So much for the NCHC being "like minded..." *edit* My long term fear would be the MAC schools taking Ferris and some NY/Penn AHA schools and making a new CCHA (remember, BGSU retains the rights to the CCHA.

The CCHA could be brought back to life.

 

[alger wetmore]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

What am I missing here? Why did WMU and Miami join the NCHC in the first place? Wasn't it for better competition? Sure, there was added travel expenses, but probably not much more than those Alaska and U.P. trips. combined. WMU hockey attendance is much better than basketball, so I think the athletic dept. was serious about putting a very competitive hockey team on the ice.

 

[davyd83]

What am I missing here? Why did WMU and Miami join the NCHC in the first place? Wasn't it for better competition? Sure, there was added travel expenses, but probably not much more than those Alaska and U.P. trips. combined. WMU hockey attendance is much better than basketball, so I think the athletic dept. was serious about putting a very competitive hockey team on the ice.

Alaska trips cost Miami & Western next to nothing plus they got those games exempt from the scheduling count. One trip paid for to Alaska vs paying for flights to Grand Forks, Denver & CC, big difference. .

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: The New WCHA IV (2013-14): Unlocked and Cocked

Alaska trips cost Miami & Western next to nothing plus they got those games exempt from the scheduling count. One trip paid for to Alaska vs paying for flights to Grand Forks, Denver & CC, big difference. .

if it's not a problem why are most WCHA teams complaining?

 

[davyd83]

if it's not a problem why are most WCHA teams complaining?

You would have to listen to their specific complaints for those answers. And how many of those complaints are attributable to coaches. ADs or players. Those are the ones that actually matter. My best guess is that most teams (5 of the other 8 in most years) now have to make two Alaska trips a year instead of 2 every three years. Yes I know the Alaska schools do it five to six times for conference games, but do you think they'd do it if there were schools in Seattle, Portland, Vancouver and Kamloops they could travel to instead of Michigan and Minnesota?

 

[uaafanblog]

if it's not a problem why are most WCHA teams complaining?

Ignorance?

 

[MavHockey14]

So with rumors of NCHC travel woes mounting, I've heard an interesting idea: Bemidji and Mankato swapped for Western and Miami. That would be ... interesting. Thoughts?

GFM

I like it for the old 'tradition' i was accustomed to with the other MN teams, CO teams, and UND.

I don't like it because I'm starting to really like the nWCHA.