Minor clarification. Arizona, ASU, Oklahoma, and Central Oklahoma were already ACHA D1. They were all independent. They are too far west to join an existing league since that would be killer travel if it had to be a regular thing.
This will be the first year that Colorado and CSU move up from D2 to D1. As a result all 6 teams formed a league to get an autobid to the ACHA tournament.
Good move for ACHA to get a little more stability out west, but it doesn't affect any NCAA aspirations that either are or aren't there already.
UAH Chargers played as a club team before going Division one.