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Anyone think the answer to getting Bemidji in might be getting rid of the lowly Seawolves.

If the only thing you're looking at is how good the team is then UAA stays and Tech goes. For travel reasons, Tech stays UAA goes in a scenario where the WCHA drops a team to pick up Bemidji

Alaska Anchorage has been in the WCHA for around 15 years and are yet to have a record over .500. Soooo I would say both performance and location would factor in here. MTU at least has had past success, they just happen to be having a really tough year(s)

I can't find a current notation of this. Is there still a waiver on the # of games allowed if you go to Alaska?
The basketball people were trying to get rid of this a few years ago because Duke was always at the Great Alaska Shootout. I found lots of opinions but not official documentation.

not going to happen, if anything is going to change, bemidji state and nebraska omaha are both going to get added to it

Both the Alaska programs are in a bind because of recruiting and travel costs. I've seen the Gophers in Anchorage, and it was a 4 hour flight FROM SEATTLE. It can't be cheap to fly there for a weekend. I would guess they would like to add Bemidji and one other...Northern Mich again? at the expense of UAA. I read that UNO is happy where they are, BSU wants to join the bigs.

Most hockey conferences are getting 12 members now. I would propose swapping Michigan Tech with Alaska (from the CCHA). Then all Alaska teams would be where they belong in the WESTERN Collegiate Hockey Association and a Michigan Tech team that belongs with other Michigan schools.

Michigan Tech is the trustee of the MacNaughton Cup for the WCHA regular season winner, so we'd need a new trophy.

A western division of the WCHA could have Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota and Bemidji State.

An eastern division could have Minnesota, UMD, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Wisconsin, and (how about) Ohio State (which is already in the WCHA in women's hockey, along with Bemidji State). No other CCHA hockey schools have a women's program so it would be a perfect fit.

I know the Alaska schools usually suck, but where else can you put 'em? Just my two cents.

teko11 wrote:Anyone think the answer to getting Bemidji in might be getting rid of the lowly Seawolves.

The Lowly seawolves? You put the Seawolves in the same confrence as bemidji and they do just as good or better and get a free ride to the NCAA tournament. I would like to see the Beavers in the WCHA to because it just makes sense, but dont think that there any better than what you call the lowly seawolves.. The Seawolves took 7 of 8 points from UMD this year whom is going to the NCAA tournament and also UMD sweept Bemidji.

sparty wrote:Most hockey conferences are getting 12 members now. I would propose swapping Michigan Tech with Alaska (from the CCHA). Then all Alaska teams would be where they belong in the WESTERN Collegiate Hockey Association and a Michigan Tech team that belongs with other Michigan schools.

Michigan Tech is the trustee of the MacNaughton Cup for the WCHA regular season winner, so we'd need a new trophy.

A western division of the WCHA could have Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota and Bemidji State.

An eastern division could have Minnesota, UMD, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Wisconsin, and (how about) Ohio State (which is already in the WCHA in women's hockey, along with Bemidji State). No other CCHA hockey schools have a women's program so it would be a perfect fit.

I know the Alaska schools usually suck, but where else can you put 'em? Just my two cents.

I like your thinking. I did up something like this last year.
As for the CHA. Robert Morris, Huntsville, and Niagara can go to the AHA. We still need to find Air Force and Nebraska-Omaha a home.
I'm thinking the WCHA should look something like this...
Air Force
Bemidji State
Colorado College
Denver
Minnesota
Minnesota-Duluth
Minnesota State
Nebraska-Omaha
North Dakota
St. Cloud State
Wisconsin

I know it's 11, but what's the difference between 10 and 11, really? 6-11, 7-10, 8-9 play-in series'. Tech and UAA can join the CCHA. I realize that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's the right thing to do I think.
AFA, CC, and Denver make sense to be together in the same conference. And UNO geographically makes sense.

MNHockey75 wrote:

sparty wrote:Most hockey conferences are getting 12 members now. I would propose swapping Michigan Tech with Alaska (from the CCHA). Then all Alaska teams would be where they belong in the WESTERN Collegiate Hockey Association and a Michigan Tech team that belongs with other Michigan schools.

Michigan Tech is the trustee of the MacNaughton Cup for the WCHA regular season winner, so we'd need a new trophy.

A western division of the WCHA could have Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota and Bemidji State.

An eastern division could have Minnesota, UMD, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Wisconsin, and (how about) Ohio State (which is already in the WCHA in women's hockey, along with Bemidji State). No other CCHA hockey schools have a women's program so it would be a perfect fit.

I know the Alaska schools usually suck, but where else can you put 'em? Just my two cents.

I like your thinking. I did up something like this last year.
As for the CHA. Robert Morris, Huntsville, and Niagara can go to the AHA. We still need to find Air Force and Nebraska-Omaha a home.
I'm thinking the WCHA should look something like this...
Air Force
Bemidji State
Colorado College
Denver
Minnesota
Minnesota-Duluth
Minnesota State
Nebraska-Omaha
North Dakota
St. Cloud State
Wisconsin

I know it's 11, but what's the difference between 10 and 11, really? 6-11, 7-10, 8-9 play-in series'. Tech and UAA can join the CCHA. I realize that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's the right thing to do I think.
AFA, CC, and Denver make sense to be together in the same conference. And UNO geographically makes sense.

11 teams makes it unbelievably tough to make a schedule that works on a cycle, like the schedule the WCHA currently uses. The WCHA commish said last week at the Final Five that they have worked on 11 team schedules, and nothing really works out. If the WCHA is going to expand, I bet they add two more. Bring in Air Force and Bemidji State.

Lucia4President wrote:

MNHockey75 wrote:

sparty wrote:Most hockey conferences are getting 12 members now. I would propose swapping Michigan Tech with Alaska (from the CCHA). Then all Alaska teams would be where they belong in the WESTERN Collegiate Hockey Association and a Michigan Tech team that belongs with other Michigan schools.

Michigan Tech is the trustee of the MacNaughton Cup for the WCHA regular season winner, so we'd need a new trophy.

A western division of the WCHA could have Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota and Bemidji State.

An eastern division could have Minnesota, UMD, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Wisconsin, and (how about) Ohio State (which is already in the WCHA in women's hockey, along with Bemidji State). No other CCHA hockey schools have a women's program so it would be a perfect fit.

I know the Alaska schools usually suck, but where else can you put 'em? Just my two cents.

I like your thinking. I did up something like this last year.
As for the CHA. Robert Morris, Huntsville, and Niagara can go to the AHA. We still need to find Air Force and Nebraska-Omaha a home.
I'm thinking the WCHA should look something like this...
Air Force
Bemidji State
Colorado College
Denver
Minnesota
Minnesota-Duluth
Minnesota State
Nebraska-Omaha
North Dakota
St. Cloud State
Wisconsin

I know it's 11, but what's the difference between 10 and 11, really? 6-11, 7-10, 8-9 play-in series'. Tech and UAA can join the CCHA. I realize that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's the right thing to do I think.
AFA, CC, and Denver make sense to be together in the same conference. And UNO geographically makes sense.

11 teams makes it unbelievably tough to make a schedule that works on a cycle, like the schedule the WCHA currently uses. The WCHA commish said last week at the Final Five that they have worked on 11 team schedules, and nothing really works out. If the WCHA is going to expand, I bet they add two more. Bring in Air Force and Bemidji State.

I like the idea of adding AFA and BSU, heck if they get a gimme to the NCAA they may as well earn it. If they brought in UNO then it may be easy to get a two division conference with the Denver/Omaha/Alaska schools on one side and the cluster MN/WI/ND on the other. To be fair there should be some splitting of travel costs as the west group would have much higher expenses.

sparty wrote:Most hockey conferences are getting 12 members now. I would propose swapping Michigan Tech with Alaska (from the CCHA). Then all Alaska teams would be where they belong in the WESTERN Collegiate Hockey Association and a Michigan Tech team that belongs with other Michigan schools.

Michigan Tech is the trustee of the MacNaughton Cup for the WCHA regular season winner, so we'd need a new trophy.

A western division of the WCHA could have Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota and Bemidji State.

An eastern division could have Minnesota, UMD, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Wisconsin, and (how about) Ohio State (which is already in the WCHA in women's hockey, along with Bemidji State). No other CCHA hockey schools have a women's program so it would be a perfect fit.

I know the Alaska schools usually suck, but where else can you put 'em? Just my two cents.

Oddly... I really like this.

I would make a change though. Instead of Ohio State (doubt we'd get them), get Air Force or Nebraska-Omaha. Put either of those teams in your west division and put Bemidji in the east.

Tough thing would be limiting the times that UofMN & UND play since they have a great rivalry. I'm assuming you'd play 2 series (home & home) w/ your own division and 1 series w/ the teams from the other division. That's the only gripe I have with it, otherwise it looks sweet.

EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:

sparty wrote:Most hockey conferences are getting 12 members now. I would propose swapping Michigan Tech with Alaska (from the CCHA). Then all Alaska teams would be where they belong in the WESTERN Collegiate Hockey Association and a Michigan Tech team that belongs with other Michigan schools.

Michigan Tech is the trustee of the MacNaughton Cup for the WCHA regular season winner, so we'd need a new trophy.

A western division of the WCHA could have Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota and Bemidji State.

An eastern division could have Minnesota, UMD, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Wisconsin, and (how about) Ohio State (which is already in the WCHA in women's hockey, along with Bemidji State). No other CCHA hockey schools have a women's program so it would be a perfect fit.

I know the Alaska schools usually suck, but where else can you put 'em? Just my two cents.

Oddly... I really like this.

I would make a change though. Instead of Ohio State (doubt we'd get them), get Air Force or Nebraska-Omaha. Put either of those teams in your west division and put Bemidji in the east.

Tough thing would be limiting the times that UofMN & UND play since they have a great rivalry. I'm assuming you'd play 2 series (home & home) w/ your own division and 1 series w/ the teams from the other division. That's the only gripe I have with it, otherwise it looks sweet.

The only reason why I wouldn't choose Air Force or Omaha-Nebraska is because I wouldn't want to further weaken the historically best conference in college hockey with other mediocre regional teams (like the Alaska teams). Air Force has a rivalry with Army in Atlantic Hockey. Nebraska-Omaha could match up with Alabama-Huntsville in the CCHA.

I know the Minnesota/North Dakota rivalry would take a hit, but geez, Minnesota has a rivalry with everyone. Adding a Big Ten school like Ohio State to the WCHA (which is already a member in women's) would increase the prestige of the conference.

Therefore, a 12-member CCHA would look like this:

(North) Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State, Ferris State, Michigan, Michigan State

(South) Western Michigan, Notre Dame, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), Nebraska-Omaha, Alabama-Huntsville.

Only thing is that Alaska wasn't 1/2 bad this year in the CCHA finishing 4th and ahead of Ohio State. I do know what you are saying, but somebody has to finish last and I don't think it will hinder the conference much.

UNO has already stated they won't be leaving the CCHA. Even though travel would be better for them since most teams in the WCHA are closer, they don't feel they would draw as well since people from Nebraska come to see big time football schools such as Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State.

huville wrote:UNO has already stated they won't be leaving the CCHA. Even though travel would be better for them since most teams in the WCHA are closer, they don't feel they would draw as well since people from Nebraska come to see big time football schools such as Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State.

I also believe that AFA has publicly stated that they will stay with the other military academies. (Naval is rumored to be looking at going D1 in the future) The strongest rumor I've heard is that Northern Michigan might come to the WCHA with BSU as that would put MTU with them in the same conference. That gives the WCHA an even number, will allow Alabama to come into the CCHA and the world is spinning the right direction again.

Tabling the addition of anyone else right now, I thought I read that adding Bemidji actually rounded out the numbers and made scheduling easier. Obviously, if you add an extra someone needs to go. With everyone so concerned with cost, I just don't know how you justify keeping the Seawolves, especially when they really don't add anything.