Despite shakeup, WCHA shows signs of life as legit conference (CBS Interactive U-WIRE)
July 27, 2011
The landscape has shifted greatly in college hockey, and the U. Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves are right in the center of the chaos.
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), a league in which the ‘Wolves have played in since 1993, is now back to six teams after the formal introduction of former WCHA member Northern Michigan. The Wildcats, who currently play in the Central Collegiate Hockey Conference, will rejoin the league they left back in 1997 come the 2013-14 season.
The addition of NMU gives hope to the league after it was dealt a huge curveball just a few weeks ago.
An announcement that five WCHA teams would leave the conference and shake the very foundations of what many consider to be the most successful league, both financially and in terms of championships, in all of college hockey.
Joining a new “super-conference” would be North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, Denver, and Colorado College. These teams, along with Miami-Ohio from the CCHA, will all be a part of the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The early implications are that perhaps even more teams from either the WCHA or CCHA may be offered a spot in this new league, as it further expands.
The formation of the NCHC was perhaps a response to an earlier announcement of the new Big-10 Hockey conference, something that was foreseen and is nothing new to the Seawolves or college hockey world.
“I don’t think (the NCHC) happens if the Big-10 doesn’t come about,” said Dr. Steve Cobb, UAA’s Athletic Director. “They’re related, but the Big-10 is not the root of the problem. I think a couple of schools were hurt that the Big-10 didn’t offer them affiliate membership because over the years they insinuated they might to a few other programs (in the WCHA).”
This new Big-10 league will begin play in 2013-14 season would take WCHA members Wisconsin and Minnesota, CCHA members Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State from their respective conferences and put them with a newly formed Penn State hockey program to form a six-team conference.
This left the WCHA with only UAA, Minnesota State, Bemidji State, St. Cloud State, and Michigan Tech to carry on the conference banner.
So with seven teams overall leaving the WCHA, UAA and its remaining conference foes quickly had to set on-ice differences and hatred towards one another, in order to keep the league afloat.
A meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota beginning on July 15, brought up just about everything the remaining WCHA members would have to address immediately, including officials, non-conference scheduling and league reorganization.
“(The meetings) were a little frustrating, a little productive, a little maddening, and a lot of emotion,” Dr. Cobb said. “Overall, it was a good meeting and we’re moving in a proper direction.”
However, the biggest issue going forward would being getting the league back to six teams to protect its ability to operate and gain an automatic bid to the NCAA Postseason for its conference winner.
“I think the WCHA will remain strong and search for members that will maintain that strength,” said UAA Head Coach Dave Shyiak.
The answer came in the form of UNM, which just happened to be Shyiak’s alma mater and where he began his collegiate coaching career.
Now that the five remaining teams had answered the seven-team contraction with a bit of expansion of their own in UNM, the league may have a few more tricks up its sleeve in the coming weeks.
Several schools have been thrown around in terms of who the WCHA will look to offer membership, to get the league to eight teams, however, there are two that are awfully intriguing to UAA in particular.
“No question, UAF would be our first choice as it makes sense for us,” Dr. Cobb said. “Also, I would like the Air Force Academy to join. We’ve had such a great relationship with them over the years and it’s a first class operation.”
Other names that have come up include other CCHA members, such as Western Michigan, Ferris State, and Lake Superior State.
The WCHA is very set on getting their numbers to eight and representatives from each school have agreed to have a conference call every week until they reach that goal.
Another thing that remains to be answered is how the league will operate behind closed doors for the next two seasons. Seeing as how the new conferences don’t go into effect until 2013, the elephant in the room will be ever present when representatives from all the current 12 teams are together in the same room.
“Obviously, there’s going to be tension,” Dr. Cobb said. “There are some people who’ve had awfully long relationships damaged. You try not to take things personally but we’re all human. Hopefully what’s done is done and we can set aside emotions and do business.”
“I do think that games are going to get a bit more edgy though.”
At the other end of the spectrum, it is unclear exactly how each of the departing schools will go about their business in their remaining time. Ken Ralph, the Director of Athletics at Colorado College, thinks that when the puck is dropped, fans will continue to see the top-notch hockey they’re accustomed to.
“I think you will see the play on the ice and don’t think anyone will notice much of a difference,” said Ralph. “The WCHA will still be the best conference in college hockey for the next two years.”
Interestingly enough, Ralph may be one of the only people who can see both si
des of this realignment. Though he is the Director of Athletics for CC, he also is a UAA alumnus and even is a member of the Seawolf Athletic Hall of Fame, after winning five NCAA Division II All-American awards in swimming as a Seawolf.
“I have a very strong passion for my alma mater, I am a Seawolf,” Ralph said. “The thought of not being with UAA (in the WCHA) tugged at me personally.
Ralph also believes that despite the departure of the traditional powers in the WCHA, life will go on for those remaining behind.
“The WCHA is proven to be a remarkably resilient conference and organization,” Ralph said. “I think the WCHA is going to find a way to reinvent itself and the teams in the league are actually going to get better.”
One thing that can be guaranteed by both sides: games are going to be injected with a bit more nastiness to them.
“I think there will be new incentives and locker room talks will get even more interesting,” Ralph said.
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Former NHL coach Andy Murray hired by Western Mich
July 26, 2011
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP)—Former NHL coach Andy Murray has been hired byWestern Michigan.
The school says Murray signed a five-year contract to coach the Broncos. Hewon 333 games in 10 seasons in the NHL—six with the Los Angeles Kings and fourwith the St. Louis Blues.
Murray is the Kings’ career leader in wins with 215. The Blues fired Murrayin January 2010.
Murray’s best playoff run came in 2001, when the Kings beat Detroit in thefirst round before losing to Colorado in seven games.
Western Michigan reached the NCAA tournament last season for the first timesince 1996. Coach Jeff Blashill was then hired to be an assistant for theDetroit Red Wings.
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WCHA holdovers support adding Northern Michigan
July 15, 2011
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)—The five teams left in the Western Collegiate HockeyAssociation following a major shake-up are moving to have Northern Michiganrejoin the league in two years.
The WCHA announced Friday that leaders of the holdover schools “aresupportive” of Northern Michigan’s entrance into the conference for the 2013-14season. Officials from Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech, MinnesotaState of Mankato and St. Cloud State met Friday in St. Paul to address theirfuture. Formal approval of Northern Michigan’s application for membership willoccur next week, the WCHA said.
Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakotaunveiled this week their plan to create the new National Collegiate HockeyConference in two years, with Miami of Ohio leaving the Central CollegiateHockey Association to join them. Minnesota and Wisconsin also will leave theWCHA then for the Big Ten’s new hockey league, with Michigan, Michigan State andOhio State coming from the CCHA with the new program at Penn State. Notre Dameis also considering leaving the CCHA for another league.
Northern Michigan played in the WCHA from 1984-97, before rejoining theCCHA. The Wildcats were both regular-season and postseason champions in the WCHAbefore winning the NCAA championship in 1991. They also won the WCHA tournamentin 1989 and 1992.
The university’s board of trustees endorsed Thursday the administration’srecommendation that the Wildcats pursue membership in the WCHA.
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WCHA holdovers in favor of adding N. Michigan
July 15, 2011
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)—The five teams left in the Western Collegiate HockeyAssociation after a major defection have invited Northern Michigan to join theleague in two years.
The WCHA announced Friday that leaders of the holdover schools “aresupportive” of Northern Michigan’s entrance into the conference for the 2013-14season. Officials from Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech, MinnesotaState at Mankato and St. Cloud State met Friday in St. Paul, Minn., to addresstheir future.
Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakotasaid this week they will join the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference intwo years. Minnesota and Wisconsin will also leave the WCHA then for the BigTen’s new hockey league.
The WCHA says formal approval of Northern Michigan’s application formembership will occur next week.
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Powerhouse programs form new college hockey league
July 13, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)—NCAA champion Minnesota Duluth and five othertop hockey programs will make up the new National Collegiate Hockey Conferenceat the start of the 2013-14 season, the schools announced Wednesday.
Minnesota Duluth, Colorado College, Denver, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakotaof the Western Collegiate Hockey Association will join current CentralCollegiate Hockey Association member Miami of Ohio in the new league.
The upstart conference hopes to also add Notre Dame, but an agreement withthe Fighting Irish hasn’t been made yet.
“Notre Dame is in conversations with us,” North Dakota athletic directorBrian Faison said. “They’re certainly a program that meets our core values ofour conference and we have an interest in them, but we’ll continue to exploreother options.”
The conference laid out its immediate priorities, which include hiring acommissioner and adding other schools.
“I don’t think there’s a magic number. It still needs to be discussed,”Minnesota Duluth coach Scott Sandelin said of how many teams would eventuallymake up the conference.
“We all feel there are going to be other expressions of interest,”Colorado College athletic director Ken Ralph said. “I don’t think you’ll see usstay at six. We’ll grow to seven, maybe eight.”
The landscape of college hockey changed this year when the Big Ten announceda plan to form a hockey conference in two seasons.
The new Big Ten hockey league will take Minnesota and Wisconsin from the50-year-old WCHA to play with Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State of theCCHA and the startup program at Penn State. That shake up led to the formationof the NCHC.
“Talks of Big Ten hockey go back 15 years,” Denver athletic director PegBradley-Doppes said. “When Big Ten hockey was formed, it created a tippingpoint. That tipping point created more discussions.”
The WCHA will have only five teams remaining when the National CollegiateHockey Conference begins—Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech,Minnesota State in Mankato and St. Cloud State.
“Obviously, it’s a tough day for the WCHA and a sad one for me personally,and it’s one that is not easy to put into perspective,” WCHA commissioner BruceMcLeod said in a statement. “We wish everyone well, but make no mistake, theWestern Collegiate Hockey Association is not going away.
“The league will proudly mark its 60th season this fall and we willcontinue to operate as a full-fledged association and continue to do business.”
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference boasts a strong contingent ofteams. In the past 12 seasons the schools account for 14 Frozen Four appearancesand four national championships. Besides Minnesota Duluth’s title this spring,Denver won back-to-back titles in 2004-05, and North Dakota won the championshipin 2000.
All six teams in the new conference competed in the NCAA tournament thisyear.
“This type of conference, where you have the best playing each other everyweekend starting in October is a daunting task,” Denver coach George Gwozdeckysaid. “We want to play the best. We understand it’s going to be difficult.”
The competitiveness of the teams was a big draw for Nebraska-Omaha.
“We’ve made a huge commitment to hockey,” athletic director Trev Albertssaid. “This is exactly what we envisioned two and a half years ago, aligningwith programs that have really competed at the highest level of hockey.”
Keeping rivalries intact was also important to Denver and Colorado College,which are located 75 miles apart.
“For our fan bases and college hockey on the front range, it was importantto keep us together,” Ralph said. “It’s a happening event and we wanted tomake sure it continued.”
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6 schools plan to form new college hockey league
July 9, 2011
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)—Six of the top college hockey programs plan to form a newleague in 2013-14, so another conference shakeup appears likely.
The schools involved issued a joint statement Saturday confirming theirplans to form a new conference. Rumors about the move were reported earlier thisweek.
Colorado College, Denver, reigning NCAA champion Minnesota Duluth,Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota will all leave the Western Collegiate HockeyAssociation to create the new conference. They’ll be joined by current CentralCollegiate Hockey Association member Miami of Ohio.
The schools said details of the new league will be provided at a newsconference in Colorado Springs on Wednesday.
The landscape of college hockey was already significantly altered this yearwhen the Big Ten announced a plan to form a hockey conference in two seasons.
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