freernnur5

August 25th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^

Well its not dead yet...they received invitations to go join the WCHA. However them not joining seems to be a pointless move. So dying yes, but not yet dead.

Jesus Quintana

August 25th, 2011 at 5:21 PM ^

I am still concerned about Alabama-Huntsville. With their budget they will not last much longer as a D1 independent. Secondly, Mercyhurst Robert Morris, Niagra, and Canisus are looking to escape from Atlantic Hockey, which has a 12 scholarships limit lower than the NCAA 18 scholarships limit. 

Volverine

August 25th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^

I think a lot of people saw this coming. Hopefully the programs can continue in the WCHA because there is no way they could have carried the CCHA on their own.

JClay

August 25th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^

As much as certain people hyped the B1G Ten Hockey conferences formation, it was undoubtedly a bad thing for college hockey as a whole. Mathematically, certain teams are simply going to be left out of conference reformation and close up shop. Even schools that get absorbed into other conferences (Western, for example) are going to face economic crisis not having the same number of home games against the NDs and Michigans of the world.

joeyb

August 25th, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^

That's only one aspect of it. Another is that teams that play against B1G teams will get television exposure they wouldn't get in the past. The same might be said of the other new conference if ESPN or another network decide to pick up those games. That will give college hockey a big boost in viewership and interest, which will probably help spur more schools to create hockey programs. Obviously, certain schools will hurt in the meantime, but it's not all doom and gloom.

Jesus Quintana

August 25th, 2011 at 5:30 PM ^

The only college hockey at the Joe in the near future will most likely be the GLI and the last Michigan/MSU game of the season. The WCHA tourney will most likely be at the Xcel Center for the WCHA Final Five. I think I remember the B1G saying the hockey tourney will be at the United Center (or I could be just speculating). 

Honestly, since I live in Ann Arbor I would love for games to be at the Joe. It will just suck to drive 4 hours for the conference finals now. Oh well. 

Rabbit21

August 25th, 2011 at 5:30 PM ^

Glad that the programs that had been left out in the realignment were able to form some kind of viable conference.  I think they have a definite shot at staying going concerns this way.

JCV16

August 25th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^

We had some great times. 

 

I think this is probably the best outcome under the circumstances, though.  Some things now make sense geographically (both Alaska schools in one conference, for example), and with guaranteed games against B1G schools and others, they'll be ok financially. 

bklein09

August 25th, 2011 at 5:46 PM ^

Can someone do a breakdown of what all the conferences will look like if these teams accept the invitation?

With all the stuff going down the past 6 months, I get dazed and confused as to how it will all shake down.

smwilliams

August 25th, 2011 at 8:58 PM ^

Atlantic Hockey (12)

Remains the same.

Big Ten (6)

Michigan/Michigan St/Minnesota/Ohio St/Penn St/Wisconsin

ECAC (12)

Remains the same.

Hockey East (10)

Remains the same (possibly plus ND)

NCHC (8)

Colorado College/Denver/Miami/UMD/UNO/UND (probably plus ND/Western)

WCHA (9)

Alaska-Anchorage/UAF/Bemidji/BGSU/Ferris St/Lake Superior/Michigan Tech/Minnesota St/St. Cloud State

Left out in the cold

Alabama-Huntsville/Northern

Steenie

August 25th, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^

These schools may not be perrenial powerhouses, but each has a storied tradition and there are a couple a national championships among these schools.  To compare these hockey programs to the CUSA would be an insult.  Im glad they were picked up by a major conference and I hope to see these teams at Yost for many years to come!  The new WCHA will not be a pushover conference come tourney time!

Vasav

August 26th, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^

While C-USA is now "just another mid-major" in football, for a long time it was like what the Mountain West was so recently - a strong mid-major, just one step removed from the big boys. I still think of them that way, what with Tulane and ECU holding it down. And to me, the new WCHA is this - a strong college hockey conference. Maybe not a powerhouse, but a strong conference nonetheless.