WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conference

[MavHockey14]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

Former NMU G Mathias Israelsson has enrolled at Minnesota State as a grad transfer.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

So I'm thinking this morning about what WCHA teams generally want. They fall into the following categories:

A, Holding on and trying to figure out what kind of a future that their program has: UAA, UAF, UAH, LSSU
B, Lamenting past heights but trying to figure out how to punch up again as a smaller school (i.e., we need a top-six NHL forward again): BSU, FSU
C, Enjoying being a big fish in a small pond while they look to improve their national profile: BGSU, MTU, NMU
D, Waiting on the NCHC to get back to them: MSU

Those categories are in increasing levels of strength. I'd put BG in that highest class, but they don't want to be in the NCHC for travel purposes. I almost created a fifth group, "Waiting for massive realignment to renew the CCHA".

Based on that, who wants what out of any realignment?

A: They run the risk of truly getting screwed. Western realignment last time came down the way that it did because the incumbents wanted to keep the small, far-flung UA* schools in business. Frankly, all three have had their very existences threatened, and LSSU somehow has a smaller budget than even all of these (probably in part because 1/3 of their road trips are in-state). They just want to stay in the game.

B: They are in a better place, of course, but they risk getting pushed to the rubbish bin.

C: Do they have the profile to be up with Mankato? Part of that is going to be a function of geography. If a nouveau CCHA came along that didn't have Bi6 schools in it but did return the old actors and pull in MTU as well, isn't that a pretty decent league and better than what the WCHA is now if you don't keep all of A (like, taking UAF back)?

D: They're the shark circling the WCHA aquarium, chewing up teams for victories and wanting to be in a bigger, cleaner tank.

The reason to ask that is this: I'm not sure how realignment happens, but it could get ugly. The only school that leaves might be the Mavericks, but they'll have the money to pay the escape penalty. If much else happens — like recreating the CCHA — the WCHA as we know it wouldn't exist, and if you're a team in A, that fact makes you very nervous.

GFM

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

Is Bowling Pins really, "improving their national profile"? Or any of those institutions, for that matter?

 

[joecct]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

When push comes to shove
WCHA 3.0 will be all teams west of Michigan plus one AK school.
CCHA 2.0 will be all teams east of Wisconsin plus one AK school.

B1G and USAFA unchanged.

It saves money and restores old rivalries which should help put fannies in the seats.

 

[davyd83]

I like the 19th because it reduces the penalty for an ejection and helps team that take a game ending injury.

I’m with you. I’ve seen too many games where a player gets a game or even a 10, and a couple guys get nicked up and all of a sudden you’re at 14 or 15 healthy skaters. Especially when you have some players who are playing through an injury, then the fatigue factor really becomes an issue.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

When push comes to shove
WCHA 3.0 will be all teams west of Michigan plus one AK school.
CCHA 2.0 will be all teams east of Wisconsin plus one AK school.

B1G and USAFA unchanged.

It saves money and restores old rivalries which should help put fannies in the seats.

What assurances do you have that UA* will be involved? That sorting involves some level of benevolence.

GFM

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

When push comes to shove... WCHA 3.0 will be all teams west of Michigan plus one AK school.
B1G and USAFA unchanged.

I see zero chance of this happening. The "separatists" have made it clear they have no interest in ever going to Alaska, Alabama, the UP, Northern "lower Michigan" or anywhere else they deem to beneath the stature of their programs. There is no way they would be able to put their egos aside and get back the former WCHA members any time in the near future. It would be like admitting they were wrong. The nacho teams will end up in a conference with Harvard, ASU, Puerto Rico and Oregon before they hop back into bed with MTU, Bemidji, NMU, Ferris, etc.

There is a better chance of the WCHA splitting and maybe picking up 1 or 2 more teams from somewhere else if teams are that concerned about geography (which I honestly don't think they are). Maybe a couple teams might have real money concerns, but I think for the 57 or so D-I teams, the cost of playing D-I hockey is what it is and they are not going to join/create a new conference to save $15,000 a year in travel costs. Raise ticket prices $1 each - problem solved.

Ryan

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

I see zero chance of this happening. The "separatists" have made it clear they have no interest in ever going to Alaska, Alabama, the UP, Northern "lower Michigan" or anywhere else they deem to beneath the stature of their programs. There is no way they would be able to put their egos aside and get back the former WCHA members any time in the near future. It would be like admitting they were wrong. The nacho teams will end up in a conference with Harvard, ASU, Puerto Rico and Oregon before they hop back into bed with MTU, Bemidji, NMU, Ferris, etc.

There is a better chance of the WCHA splitting and maybe picking up 1 or 2 more teams from somewhere else if teams are that concerned about geography (which I honestly don't think they are). Maybe a couple teams might have real money concerns, but I think for the 57 or so D-I teams, the cost of playing D-I hockey is what it is and they are not going to join/create a new conference to save $15,000 a year in travel costs. Raise ticket prices $1 each - problem solved.

Ryan

it makes some sense to believe that WMU and Miami will be let out with MSU and ASU replacing them...which could leave two 6 team conferences...
BSU, MTU, NMU, LSSU, UAH, UAA?
FSU, WMU, BGSU, Miami, UAF, RMU?

I don't know, that doesn't work out that well I guess. It will never happen but it'd be nice if the western schools that need to fly everywhere anyone would join together...but I don't see CC, DU, or UNO wanting to be with ASU, UAA, UAF for any length of time.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

it makes some sense to believe that WMU and Miami will be let out with MSU and ASU replacing them...which could leave two 6 team conferences...
BSU, MTU, NMU, LSSU, UAH, UAA?
FSU, WMU, BGSU, Miami, UAF, RMU?

I don't know, that doesn't work out that well I guess. It will never happen but it'd be nice if the western schools that need to fly everywhere anyone would join together...but I don't see CC, DU, or UNO wanting to be with ASU, UAA, UAF for any length of time.

You'd be far better off as treating it as a two-division, 12-team conference, given that four teams are at least mildly shaky. (I mean, I think that UAH is on solid footing, but we're not rolling around in cash or anything.)

I've put some thought into this, but I haven't put it together...

GFM

 

[manurespreader]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

You'd be far better off as treating it as a two-division, 12-team conference, given that four teams are at least mildly shaky. (I mean, I think that UAH is on solid footing, but we're not rolling around in cash or anything.)

I've put some thought into this, but I haven't put it together...

GFM

Honestly, there are too many unknowns at this point to come up with any suggested change that might improve things.. Other teams not in the mix might show up, some teams might close hockey altogether, etc. The timing right now to me is suspect and I don't think anything is going to happen for a while. But.. given that travel is the biggest issue, teams that are close might want to be at least talking. Such as maybe UMD and MTU/NMU. In fact might it make sense to trade UMD for Mankato? even up?
To me you have a serious problem with travel and with the team's other prejudices, it makes solutions very difficult.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

Honestly, there are too many unknowns at this point to come up with any suggested change that might improve things.. Other teams not in the mix might show up, some teams might close hockey altogether, etc. The timing right now to me is suspect and I don't think anything is going to happen for a while. But.. given that travel is the biggest issue, teams that are close might want to be at least talking. Such as maybe UMD and MTU/NMU. In fact might it make sense to trade UMD for Mankato? even up?
To me you have a serious problem with travel and with the team's other prejudices, it makes solutions very difficult.

Sure, but it's late June, and it's time to be silly. I think that you can come up with a number of reasonable scenarios based on what move starts the ball rolling.

GFM

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

Honestly, there are too many unknowns at this point to come up with any suggested change that might improve things.. Other teams not in the mix might show up, some teams might close hockey altogether, etc. The timing right now to me is suspect and I don't think anything is going to happen for a while. But.. given that travel is the biggest issue, teams that are close might want to be at least talking. Such as maybe UMD and MTU/NMU. In fact might it make sense to trade UMD for Mankato? even up?
To me you have a serious problem with travel and with the team's other prejudices, it makes solutions very difficult.

Why would UMD even consider anything like that? They just won the National Championship, their 2nd in the last like 8 years, and they did it while in the toughest conference in the country, but yet would be ok giving up the situation that just paved the way for them to their 2nd championship?

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

Why would UMD even consider anything like that? They just won the National Championship, their 2nd in the last like 8 years, and they did it while in the toughest conference in the country, but yet would be ok giving up the situation that just paved the way for them to their 2nd championship?

agreed, UMD isn't leaving NCHC...the BSU/MSUM swap for WMU/Miami is what makes the most sense, but I could also see the ultimate change being:

NCHC: +ASU/MSUM -WMU/Miami
WCHA: +WMU/Miami - MSUM, UAA/UA_ merge

I just don't see how the Alaska schools can continue separate long term and both succeed.

 

[beaverhockeyfan]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

agreed, UMD isn't leaving NCHC...the BSU/MSUM swap for WMU/Miami is what makes the most sense, but I could also see the ultimate change being:

NCHC: +ASU/MSUM -WMU/Miami
WCHA: +WMU/Miami - MSUM, UAA/UA_ merge

I just don't see how the Alaska schools can continue separate long term and both succeed.

As much as I hate to say it, I could see that being a death blow to Bemidji....... Trading their only in state conference foe for a flight to southwestern Ohio and a bus trip to Western Michigan doesn't bode well. And Miami and Western probably would draw less in Bemidji then Mankato does.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

As much as I hate to say it, I could see that being a death blow to Bemidji....... Trading their only in state conference foe for a flight to southwestern Ohio and a bus trip to Western Michigan doesn't bode well. And Miami and Western probably would draw less in Bemidji then Mankato does.

I suppose thats possible but your NC should be great...its hard to be the outsider in any conference...I don't think MTU really wants to be in a conference where Miami/Western are swapped for BSU/MSU. much like what I just said, it would probably make MTU one of the more attractive NC opponents for NCHC teams but I would be upset because my closest guaranteed trip would become Houghton.

 

[Squarebanks]

agreed, UMD isn't leaving NCHC...the BSU/MSUM swap for WMU/Miami is what makes the most sense, but I could also see the ultimate change being:

NCHC: +ASU/MSUM -WMU/Miami
WCHA: +WMU/Miami - MSUM, UAA/UA_ merge

I just don't see how the Alaska schools can continue separate long term and both succeed.

Sigh. The NCAA shot down the merger fiasco, which was a terrible idea to begin with.

 

[davyd83]

agreed, UMD isn't leaving NCHC...the BSU/MSUM swap for WMU/Miami is what makes the most sense, but I could also see the ultimate change being:

NCHC: +ASU/MSUM -WMU/Miami
WCHA: +WMU/Miami - MSUM, UAA/UA_ merge

I just don't see how the Alaska schools can continue separate long term and both succeed.

There is no feasible way for UAF & UAA to merge. It’s one or the other.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

Sigh. The NCAA shot down the merger fiasco, which was a terrible idea to begin with.

There is no feasible way for UAF & UAA to merge. It’s one or the other.

Call it whatever you want...its hard on the WCHA to be stuck traveling to UAH, UAF and UAA. I don't want to hear any complaining from the Alaska folks. It's a fact of life.

 

[Squarebanks]

Call it whatever you want...its hard on the WCHA to be stuck traveling to UAH, UAF and UAA. I don't want to hear any complaining from the Alaska folks. It's a fact of life.

You’re the one doing the complaining.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

Here's a radical, radical proposal that would never get out:

If two or more teams are more than N miles from the geographic center of the league, up to two (2) games played against that team's conference are exempted. Call it the Imputed Alaska Exemption.

Consider: every WCHA team, because they're willing to take on the two far-flung Alaska schools, are allowed to schedule two more non-conference games. BGSU could have another two freebies to keep some of its in-state / old CCHA rivalries in place. MSU and BSU can work to schedule more games against in-state teams. The Michigan schools could try to get MSU-EL and UM to schedule them (maybe Merle remembers the Mackinac). Huntsville could ... well, we could start back with the Nashville series.

Word it right and you could get four games exempted if ASU came on board and then get the IAE applied to UA3 and ASU for four games.

GFM <— either hasn't had enough or too much coffee this morning.