UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

[UAHStatman]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Reading the title of this thread, I think someone out west needs to tell Geoff, "You're welcome."

Now I just wonder if the dust will settle as fast as it's been whipped up.

 

[MikeAnderson]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

It's really hard for me to stay excited about this sport considering that once again we will have a major conference realignment and, more than likely, once again, UAH will be left out of the whole picture, and, once again, not a single **** will be given.

Hard to hang out with people who simply don't want you around...

 

[tnlong]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

... Hard to hang out with people who simply don't want you around...

What we're seeing is that the Alaskas, Mich. Tech., Lake Superior State, Northern Mich., Ferris State, and Bemidji could just as easily fall into that category. I would think that Minn. St. and S't Cloud St. would be as valuable as Western Mich. though. That's why UAH could help craft another new conference to their liking if they had anyone with the energy and ability to make it happen. The resulting WCHA is only a marginally good option for UAH, while the resulting CCHA is a relatively poor option. I'd like to see the Nashville Predators host the A.D.'s from Bowling Green, RIT, Minn. St., S't Cloud St, and the former CHA schools for discussions on the subject. Following-up on the fairly successful first step last year, a UAH/Predators partnership should be pursued aggressively by UAH.

 

[UAHStatman]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

It's really hard for me to stay excited about this sport considering that once again we will have a major conference realignment and, more than likely, once again, UAH will be left out of the whole picture, and, once again, not a single **** will be given.

Hard to hang out with people who simply don't want you around...

We'll see...I was a bit pessimistic simply because there weren't any doors to be found (let alone open), but that was before the fracturing of the WCHA and the further fracturing of the CCHA. I think the remaining teams will need numbers, and that's where we come in. So I'm optimistic now.

Now if it doesn't happen...well, I'm not going to think about that right now.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Now that the BHHC has been announced, see what you can do to get into the WCHA and get them up to autobid status.

 

[UAHStatman]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Now that the BHHC has been announced, see what you can do to get into the WCHA and get them up to autobid status.

According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, the remaining CCHA schools had a call and would like to set up a meeting with the remaining WCHA schools. I'm really hoping we get in on that action.

http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_...change-forces-CCHA-call?instance=local_sports

 

[Hammer]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Interesting proposal on making the best of a less-than-ideal situation, but what about Bowling Green? They'd have to be included and one of your East schools left out -- unless the league can manage to have 13, which could be messy.

13 doesn't look as bad to me. You play the other 12 teams twice for a 24 game conference slate. Now, scheduling that, given that someone always is either on a bye or on a non-con weekend, that's a different issue.

And I hope that UAH gets in on this as well. If one team drops hockey, that might set off a reaction that none of us want, either.

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Can't remember where I have seen parts of this, but adding a couple of my own thoughts to it. Not ideal, but a possible way to stick it to the "big boys" a little bit, if I understand the NCAA rules correctly......

Somehow, the "Leftover Teams" can get to 12 and form two, six team leagues under the CCHA and WCHA brands (not divisions under one league, the NCAA would only issue one autobid then). That way the two leagues would keep the automatic bid given to those two leagues, while, according to NCAA rules, the Big Ten Hocley League and the Yet To Be Named Super League would have to wait two years to get their autobids due to forming new leagues. Then, when the dust settles and IF the NCAA stays at a 16 team tournament, two at large bids are taken from the "big boys" by having two leagues.

WCHA:
Alaska-Anchorage (Keep the two game Alaska exemption)
Bemidji State
St. Cloud State
MSU-Mankato
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan

CCHA:
Alaska-Fairbanks (keep the two game Alaska exemption)
Lake Superior State
Ferris State
Western Michigan (if they don't end up in the Super League)
Bowling Green
Alabama-Huntsville (outlier, I know, but a home is needed)

If Western Michigan goes to the Super League or Bowling Green (or anyone else) ends up folding, maybe look at Atlantic Hockey for Niagara, Robert Morris or Mercyhurst in the CCHA. One could also move Lake Superior to the WCHA (All UP Teams together) and find another team or two to put in the CCHA.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Can't remember where I have seen parts of this, but adding a couple of my own thoughts to it. Not ideal, but a possible way to stick it to the "big boys" a little bit, if I understand the NCAA rules correctly......

Somehow, the "Leftover Teams" can get to 12 and form two, six team leagues under the CCHA and WCHA brands (not divisions under one league, the NCAA would only issue one autobid then). That way the two leagues would keep the automatic bid given to those two leagues, while, according to NCAA rules, the Big Ten Hocley League and the Yet To Be Named Super League would have to wait two years to get their autobids due to forming new leagues. Then, when the dust settles and IF the NCAA stays at a 16 team tournament, two at large bids are taken from the "big boys" by having two leagues.

WCHA:
Alaska-Anchorage (Keep the two game Alaska exemption)
Bemidji State
St. Cloud State
MSU-Mankato
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan

CCHA:
Alaska-Fairbanks (keep the two game Alaska exemption)
Lake Superior State
Ferris State
Western Michigan (if they don't end up in the Super League)
Bowling Green
Alabama-Huntsville (outlier, I know, but a home is needed)

If Western Michigan goes to the Super League or Bowling Green (or anyone else) ends up folding, maybe look at Atlantic Hockey for Niagara, Robert Morris or Mercyhurst in the CCHA. One could also move Lake Superior to the WCHA (All UP Teams together) and find another team or two to put in the CCHA.

It's either that or some crazy set-up involving one 12 team conference. Or one 11 team conference, if everyone feels like screwing UAH again.

Other possibility is that they successfully lobby some more schools to go D-I. Which is a lot of effort to go through just to screw UAH.

 

[davyd83]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Can't remember where I have seen parts of this, but adding a couple of my own thoughts to it. Not ideal, but a possible way to stick it to the "big boys" a little bit, if I understand the NCAA rules correctly......

Somehow, the "Leftover Teams" can get to 12 and form two, six team leagues under the CCHA and WCHA brands (not divisions under one league, the NCAA would only issue one autobid then). That way the two leagues would keep the automatic bid given to those two leagues, while, according to NCAA rules, the Big Ten Hocley League and the Yet To Be Named Super League would have to wait two years to get their autobids due to forming new leagues. Then, when the dust settles and IF the NCAA stays at a 16 team tournament, two at large bids are taken from the "big boys" by having two leagues.

WCHA:
Alaska-Anchorage (Keep the two game Alaska exemption)
Bemidji State
St. Cloud State
MSU-Mankato
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan

CCHA:
Alaska-Fairbanks (keep the two game Alaska exemption)
Lake Superior State
Ferris State
Western Michigan (if they don't end up in the Super League)
Bowling Green
Alabama-Huntsville (outlier, I know, but a home is needed)

If Western Michigan goes to the Super League or Bowling Green (or anyone else) ends up folding, maybe look at Atlantic Hockey for Niagara, Robert Morris or Mercyhurst in the CCHA. One could also move Lake Superior to the WCHA (All UP Teams together) and find another team or two to put in the CCHA.

Why do people keep referring to a fold by Bowling Green? Last year the school made a major commitment to the program and to upgrade the arena.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Why do people keep referring to a fold by Bowling Green? Last year the school made a major commitment to the program and to upgrade the arena.

They're the most recent example of a team that came this close to folding and didn't. A few years ago, everyone would be referring to Ferris State over and over again. There's enough reason to be suspicious about the long term prospects of ANY of the smaller CCHA schools, to be honest.

 

[RMUColonials]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

If Western Michigan goes to the Super League or Bowling Green (or anyone else) ends up folding, maybe look at Atlantic Hockey for Niagara, Robert Morris or Mercyhurst in the CCHA. One could also move Lake Superior to the WCHA (All UP Teams together) and find another team or two to put in the CCHA.

I would think they would start with the western AHA teams first, rather than reaching for the "outlier" in UAH.

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

I would think they would start with the western AHA teams first, rather than reaching for the "outlier" in UAH.

Just trying to get everyone a home and keep both the CCHA and WCHA at the mandated six team minimum. That way the two auto bids stay out of the at large pool.

 

[tnlong]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

I would think they would start with the western AHA teams first, rather than reaching for the "outlier" in UAH.

That's why it's essential for UAH to be aggressive and try to take the lead in forming a new conference. Who really wants the cost/time/hassle of traveling to Alaska at all? Bemidji MN and the Upper Peninsula schools aren't much better. UAH should try to switch the discussion from "why UAH?" to "why either AK?" The Alaskas can survive as independents with the "moneyed" teams willing to visit them for the extra games. Bemidji, Mich. Tech., Lake Sup., N. Mich., Mankato, and St. Cloud are simply a common sense conference. UAH, Bowling Green, Niagara, Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, RIT, and/or Western Michigan would make a nice little conference. However, the WCHA would be well-served by having UAH lined-up on Wed. as their sixth team since the CCHA will still technically have seven teams at that time.
http://www.uscho.com/2011/07/09/sch...eam-league-news-conference-set-for-wednesday/

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Northern Michigan just came out today that they will be joining the WCHA.

Or rather, I should say it has been leaked......

 

[UAHStatman]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Northern Michigan just came out today that they will be joining the WCHA.

Or rather, I should say it has been leaked......

Apparently Alaska may make the switch as well, although I'd like more than one sentence in College Hockey News to go on for that. But if Alaska switches, the CCHA in 2013 would be down to three teams (assuming Notre Dame and Western Michigan bolt). I would think the CCHA would have to add UAH AND 2-3 AHA teams just to continue existing.


I never would have thought that two years after the CCHA rejected our application for membership that the league could be extinct before our program.

 

[Hammer]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

They're the most recent example of a team that came this close to folding and didn't. A few years ago, everyone would be referring to Ferris State over and over again. There's enough reason to be suspicious about the long term prospects of ANY of the smaller CCHA schools, to be honest.

Ferris had our big scare in the spring of 1992, and we were this close to going bye-bye for good. We may very well be having an even bigger scare between now and 2015. I think we're in big trouble.

 

[wsp67326]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

I have this sneaking suspicion that there is much more to occur with all these realignments, and not just in terms of the western teams. Considering that now two conferences of a total of anywhere from 12 to 14 teams will have access to two auto-bids, AND they will most likely have the best inroads to at-large bids, I can't see the eastern hockey powers letting that be. I know stability seems to be the key, but the "haves" will want more (hence the two new conferences, duh)(money makes the world go 'round). Thus, I would not be surprised to see the Ivy League separate into its own 6-team conference (finally) (a 12-team ECAC is a bit much now, in other words, to get the most bang from whatever buck the Ivies have sought, particularly in the post-season). From there, wouldn't be surprised to see BU, BC, Maine, Vermont, UNH, and Northeastern leave for their own 6-team conference. The rest would (for the most part) make geographic sense with a split of conferences having natural rivalries and would create 9 auto bids. It might even give rise to growth in the tournament with 11 at-large bids (say a 4 v. 5 play-in for each regional?). Anyway, just a pipe dream (and obviously speculation), but with the movement so far, it seems to me that fewer teams in conferences is the wave of the future to best ensure auto-bids are spaced more evenly (well as best they can) and thus to ensure maximum bucks for every school.

It would look like this, in my deranged mind:

Hockey East 1: Hockey East 2:
BU UMass
BC Providence
Maine Merrimack
Vermont Mass-Lowell
Northeastern Quinnipiac
New Hampshire Connecticut

Ivy: New York:
Brown Clarkson
Dartmouth St. Lawrence
Yale RPI
Cornell Colgate
Harvard Union
Princeton Niagara

Atlantic: Central:
AIC UAH
Bentley Robert Morris
RIT Ferris State
Air Force Bowling Green
Army Lake Superior State
Sacred Heart Mercyhurst
Holy Cross Western Michigan
Canisius

Big 10: Hockey West:
Ohio State Denver
Michigan State North Dakota
Michigan Miami
Wisconsin Nebraska-Omaha
Minnesota Minnesota-Duluth
Penn State Colorado College
Notre Dame
WCHA:
Alaska
Alaska-Fairbanks
St. Cloud State
Mankato
Northern Michigan
Michigan Tech
Bemidji State

(I really don't have too much time on my hands...)

 

[hattrick16]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

Ferris had our big scare in the spring of 1992, and we were this close to going bye-bye for good. We may very well be having an even bigger scare between now and 2015. I think we're in big trouble.

yeah...

 

[UAHStatman]

Re: UAH Hockey 2011-12: Will Someone Break the Conference Logjam? Thanks.

I have this sneaking suspicion that there is much more to occur with all these realignments, and not just in terms of the western teams. Considering that now two conferences of a total of anywhere from 12 to 14 teams will have access to two auto-bids, AND they will most likely have the best inroads to at-large bids, I can't see the eastern hockey powers letting that be. I know stability seems to be the key, but the "haves" will want more (hence the two new conferences, duh)(money makes the world go 'round). Thus, I would not be surprised to see the Ivy League separate into its own 6-team conference (finally) (a 12-team ECAC is a bit much now, in other words, to get the most bang from whatever buck the Ivies have sought, particularly in the post-season). From there, wouldn't be surprised to see BU, BC, Maine, Vermont, UNH, and Northeastern leave for their own 6-team conference. The rest would (for the most part) make geographic sense with a split of conferences having natural rivalries and would create 9 auto bids. It might even give rise to growth in the tournament with 11 at-large bids (say a 4 v. 5 play-in for each regional?). Anyway, just a pipe dream (and obviously speculation), but with the movement so far, it seems to me that fewer teams in conferences is the wave of the future to best ensure auto-bids are spaced more evenly (well as best they can) and thus to ensure maximum bucks for every school.

It would look like this, in my deranged mind:

Hockey East 1: Hockey East 2:
BU UMass
BC Providence
Maine Merrimack
Vermont Mass-Lowell
Northeastern Quinnipiac
New Hampshire Connecticut

Ivy: New York:
Brown Clarkson
Dartmouth St. Lawrence
Yale RPI
Cornell Colgate
Harvard Union
Princeton Niagara

Atlantic: Central:
AIC UAH
Bentley Robert Morris
RIT Ferris State
Air Force Bowling Green
Army Lake Superior State
Sacred Heart Mercyhurst
Holy Cross Western Michigan
Canisius

Big 10: Hockey West:
Ohio State Denver
Michigan State North Dakota
Michigan Miami
Wisconsin Nebraska-Omaha
Minnesota Minnesota-Duluth
Penn State Colorado College
Notre Dame
WCHA:
Alaska
Alaska-Fairbanks
St. Cloud State
Mankato
Northern Michigan
Michigan Tech
Bemidji State

(I really don't have too much time on my hands...)

Fun as this may be, my mind is still trying to grasp with what's happening in the west to even consider its effects on the east. It's becoming very difficult to come up with theoretical scenarios when reality seems to change every day. It's like southern meterologists trying to predict the movement and accumulation totals of a snowstorm.

I do think "Hockey West" is probably the best "serious" possible name for the breakaways' conference I have heard. It's also the only serious possible name I've heard.