St. Thomas to the NCHC?

[Schadenfreude]

That seems to be the theory here.

https://twitter.com/CollConsulting/stat ... 23331?s=20

If the Summit League made hockey a conference sport, that would provide St. Thomas a fast path to the NCHC, more or less. St. Thomas is already in the Summit along with Denver, North Dakota, and Nebraska-Omaha.

Would Miami finally move to the CCHA in this scenario, or would they stick with the NCHC/Summit, which would likely want a 10th school (Arizona State? Minnesota State?)

It's interesting to think about.

I realize this account doesn't have many followers, but one of them is the BGSU athletics Twitter account.

[jpfalcon09]

That seems to be the theory here.

https://twitter.com/CollConsulting/stat ... 23331?s=20

If the Summit League made hockey a conference sport, that would provide St. Thomas a fast path to the NCHC, more or less. St. Thomas is already in the Summit along with Denver, North Dakota, and Nebraska-Omaha.

Would Miami finally move to the CCHA in this scenario, or would they stick with the NCHC/Summit, which would likely want a 10th school (Arizona State? Minnesota State?)

It's interesting to think about.

I realize this account doesn't have many followers, but one of them is the BGSU athletics Twitter account.

If I'm reading this right, it would mean the Summit League would establish it's own hockey conference and the NCHC would be absorbed.

Summit League would consist of:

NoDak
Denver
Nebraska-Omaha
St. Thomas
Colorado College
Miami
WMU
St. Cloud
Minn-Duluth

Lindenwood is already an affiliate member of the Summit League. I doubt they would be added though with their hockey program still in infancy. Arizona State would make sense. This could open the door for WMU and Miami to jump ship, as you mentioned Schad. Definitely something to watch.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Western leaving would be a surprise to me. My predictions in order of likelihood with the Tommies included in every scenario:

Scenario 1: I just can't wrap my head around North Dakota and Denver signing off on this. This is another rumor, it's not happening.
Scenario 2: ASU in - 10 league members
Scenario 3: Miami State out - 8 league members

This is where it starts getting weird.

Scenario 3: ASU in, Lindenwood in, Miami State out - 10 league members (Lindenwood is an affiliate in soccer and swimming)
Scenario 4: ASU in, Miami State out, Western out - 8 league members
Scenario 5: What's the point, if it gets this far something nuked college hockey and all bets are off

[pdt1081]

Western leaving would be a surprise to me. My predictions in order of likelihood with the Tommies included in every scenario:

Scenario 1: I just can't wrap my head around North Dakota and Denver signing off on this. This is another rumor, it's not happening.
Scenario 2: ASU in - 10 league members
Scenario 3: Miami State out - 8 league members

This is where it starts getting weird.

Scenario 3: ASU in, Lindenwood in, Miami State out - 10 league members (Lindenwood is an affiliate in soccer and swimming)
Scenario 4: ASU in, Miami State out, Western out - 8 league members
Scenario 5: What's the point, if it gets this far something nuked college hockey and all bets are off

You're forgetting the MAC sponsoring hockey and adding affiliate members..... oh wait, where have I heard all of that before?

[TommyG]

The summit league sees the attendance and fan following of the USHL teams in that region and thinks it is worth investigating. I could see NDSU possibly being able to afford it because they have a very strong donor base who may be willing to start a program.
Outside of that, the majority of those summit league schools can barely support the sports they have. I don’t see anyone else adding hockey without a major donor who really wants it.

BG needs to be focusing on finding a way to win. That is the only way they are going to attract skill players and have a chance at being a factor nationally. QPac just showed you can do it…they did it with a lot clogging the neutral zone mixed with strong goaltending and shut down probably the 2 best offensive teams in college hockey not to mention a decent OSU team.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Atlantic Hockey is merging with College Hockey America after next season to form one entity. Curious to see if this ends up being the landing spot for the Lindenwood men's team since their women's team is already apart of it

https://atlantichockeyonline.com/news/2 ... zZhNxJ49Yo

[Schadenfreude]

The Grand Forks Herald is reporting that Arizona State will soon be applying to the NCHC to become a ninth member.

I'd like to think this would drive Miami to the CCHA, but maybe not?

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports ... h-the-nchc

[Bgsu2016]

The Grand Forks Herald is reporting that Arizona State will soon be applying to the NCHC to become a ninth member.

I'd like to think this would drive Miami to the CCHA, but maybe not?

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports ... h-the-nchc

I think Miami getting their ass kicked every weekend would drive them to the CCHA. They had a historic run and thought it would last. It didn’t and now they’re just a doormat