Nebraska-Omaha left CCHA for WCHA
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=541173&cmpid=rss-snow
Nebraska-Omaha and Bemidji State will become the 11th and 12th members of the WCHA.
My initial thought is that this is smart and proactive move by Nebraska and it opens the door for Penn State to join the CCHA. I'm sure this is going to open up more discussion about the possible Big Ten Hockey Conference but I'll let others speculate about that.
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:31 AM ^
how many teams does this bring the CCHA down to now?
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:32 AM ^
I thought someone like a coach or AD confirmed that there will be a Big Ten conference. Perhaps I'm wrong.
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^
I think Alvarez said this would happen around 2015.
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^
they have left the ccha for the wcha. this weekend games are non-conference games, and red wants to will them to help with the rpi thingy.
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
Right on. This was news to me and the way the article is framed I thought this was a developing story. And I didn't recall anything about N-O when Penn State made its announcement.
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^
Um, that was announced more than a year ago.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/hockey/2009-06-29-wcha-expansion_N.htm
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^
The CCHA turned down Alabama-Huntsville as the 12th member of the conference as a replacement for UNO in order to save room for Penn State in hopes that Penn State's addition to the conference would stem the tide of a Big Ten Hockey Conference and not carry a death knell for some smaller programs around the country.
October 22nd, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
The Big Ten hockey conference concept is leaving the station, full speed ahead. This may not bode well for the small schools in the ccha -- Ferris, Lake St, etc.
October 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^
but that was the reason Huntsville didn't get in. Hope. It may be blind and it may be foolhardy, but it's still the only hope they had to fight against the inevitable.
October 22nd, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
When there is a B10 Hockey Conference, you can all but guarantee there will be mandatory games between old CCHA member schools. The last thing any of the AD's of the current CCHA schools want is for the smaller schools to die on the vine when the B10 conference is formed. Lake State and Northern have a pretty decent history of success in hockey. Miami and ND might be big enough now to carry the leftovers, but not without the games against UM, MSU, Minny, etc.
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:41 AM ^
"Now feel the power of a fully operational Big Ten Network!"
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^
It's a trap!
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
October 22nd, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
Penn State is converting their club program to Division 1. Once this happens, it is almost guaranteed that they will become the newest member of the CCHA replacing Nebraska-Omaha.
October 22nd, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
To the contrary, it is almost guaranteed that Penn State will never apply for membership in the CCHA. They will play as independents for a couple of years and then will join a Big Ten Hockey Conference.
They have announced that they will play as an independent in their dinky 1300-seat hockey rink in 2012/13 and 2013/14. Their new arena will be completed for the 2014/15 season, and this is the likely first year for the Big Ten Hockey Conference.
October 22nd, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
First off, UNO was known to be leaving the CCHA many moons ago - this did not just happen. I believe it was known over a year ago, as Summer of 2009 is when Alabama-Huntsville applied for CCHA admission, when the CHA was doomed. UAH, is now I believe the only independent in College Hockey. Penn State's addition was all in the works and as a posted mentioned, they will be an indy as well for their first 2 years. I do agree the Penn State will eventually join for Big Ten Hockey. The beauty they have is their non-conference games vs. BC / BU / Maine, UNH, would be good ones (or at least on paper).
UNO ended UM's dreams last year of an at large bid to the NCAAs, and this should be a good series. UM needs to protect their home ice where we are.... wait for it... winless in 2010 (0-0-1). Remember, UNO did just go to Minneasota and sweep the Golden Rodents last weekend.
Go Blue and Go Red!
October 22nd, 2010 at 6:08 PM ^
MAN LANDS ON MOON