WCHA Bound???

[psc2009]

Here's an updated story with info on some of the CCHA teams. Both Alaska and LSSU have accepted the WCHA spots. WMU is still on the fence. So, right now, the CCHA has 2-4 teams depending on how you want to count WMU and Notre Dame. Bowling Green's hand is almost forced at this point.

http://themacdaily.com/index.php?news&nid=728

[rood]

I think the travel costs will balance out. The conference schedule will involve more travel but if you play the Big 10 and Miami for non-conference games instead of going to Connecticut, Boston, RPI, etc. the overall travel will be about the same.

Edit to add:

600 miles to Clarkson, 600 miles to RPI, 700 miles to Connecticut.

[OSUFALCON]

Seems to be the only move without going the independent route. With the Michigan schools this is the best fit. I think ND goes to Hockey East and maybe Western MI goes with us to WCHA.

[joehockey]

I think people are missing the point here. THIS is the only opportunity(that we know of right now) that will allow BG to stay relevant! The WCHA will still be a good hockey conference with numerous strong programs that can compete with the best and if BG is able to climb to the top of the conference it wont matter what schools are coming through the BG ice arena. The travel is not ideal, we get it, but you don't think that's been discussed and looked at? Let's be serious people, I'm sure this topic has been discussed and examined thoroughly. Did the CCHA just let Fairbanks into the league without resolving any travel issues with other conference members? If the WCHA and CCHA schools thought it was going to be such a hinderence this deal wouldn't be going down....and don't be so quick to diss the WCHA schools! Michigan Tech use to be a power house in the 70's just like BG was in the 80's and Northern Michigan has just as many National Championships as we do. St. Cloud is an excellence program and so is Bimidji. Correct me if I'm wrong but two years ago the team went to Mankato State and got smoked both games and that was a "weak" WCHA team.....people need to finally stop pretending like BG hockey is up high on some pedastle (sp?). Unless Hockey East comes calling in the next few days or something major shakes out, welcome to the WCHA people! We can all second guess and complain but it's about time we realize our fate and Let's make the best of it!

[factman]

I am not saying that we have a lot of choices, but I CAN see this hurting the WHOLE athletic department with increased expenses and less revenue. I don't see 3-4000 for a
Bemidji (sp) when they come to BG!

[joehockey]

Factman, that is a legitimate concern and could prove to be a major hurdle in the future but for now you have to believe any conference amalgomation discussions had travel compensation, revenue sharing parameters, etc. set in them? Don't you? This whole argument of people won't come to watch Bimidji or MSU or whatever team is still bogus to me....Michigan sells out when BGSU comes to the rink and we'r no big draw anymore. Yost is sold out because the hockey program is a winner! Put a winning product on the ice/field/court/pitch and the fans will come back! It's been proven in other sporting leagues all over the world. It can work in BG too!

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Ferris, Lake, and Fairbanks have all accepted the invites to join the WCHA

http://www.miningjournal.net/page/conte ... l?nav=5010

Western has not made a decision yet, but they are now saying they are no longer committed to following Notre Dame to wherever the Irish end up going conference wise

http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/ ... o_lon.html

[BGFan]

Factman, that is a legitimate concern and could prove to be a major hurdle in the future but for now you have to believe any conference amalgomation discussions had travel compensation, revenue sharing parameters, etc. set in them? Don't you? This whole argument of people won't come to watch Bimidji or MSU or whatever team is still bogus to me....Michigan sells out when BGSU comes to the rink and we'r no big draw anymore. Yost is sold out because the hockey program is a winner! Put a winning product on the ice/field/court/pitch and the fans will come back! It's been proven in other sporting leagues all over the world. It can work in BG too!

Agree 100%. When we were at the top in the 80's it didn't matter who we were playing, the place was sold out.

[sbkbghockey]

This is essentially a WCHA CCHA merger and if the CCHA can't survive on its own, this is the best scenario. Travel to the remaining WCHA schools won't be as bad as it sounds, since the NCHC takes the Colorado outliers and North Dakota. Michigan Tech has already been a geographic rival with the UP CCHA teams. WCHA has a solid media presence on Fox Sports North, although that predominantly through Minnesota Hockey, but with Minne going to the Big Ten and Big Ten Network hopefully the WCHA continues a media deal with the Fox Sports North.

The WCHA teams are much more competitive and draw much better than those Atlantic Hockey teams that the CCHA met with. Niagara and Mercyhurst facilities are probably the best, Robert Morris plays in a small 1,000 seat rec-style looking rink, and Canisius shares a facility with Buffalo State (DIII). WCHA has higher facility standards which are and have been a recuriting advantage for many of the schools. Plus BG to the WCHA opens up deeper recruiting in the upper midwest (MN) and we all know a lot of good hockey players come from there.

[Flipper]

This is probably our best option....

[sbkbghockey]

This is probably our best option....

That’s basically it! The CCHA and WCHA have been some of the top hockey conferences, it will be interesting to see what happens after the realignment but certainly a CCHA-WCHA stabilizes the remaining teams. I'm still not convinced the NCHC will last long term and those schools may be back in the New WCHA. The WCHA is pretty much our only viable option. Atlantic Hockey is a good league but will never be competitive in the National Tournament with the lower scholarships, small facilities, and some programs, like UCONN, that just don’t seem to care.

I hope BG makes an announcement soon, especially with some schools accepting the WCHA invite. We need to board the lifeboat with LSSU and Alaska before the CCHA goes down.

[Sub-Zero]

This is beyond depressing. I wish we had pulled the plug when GC was covertly trying to kill the program. We could at least route the funds to fball and bball. Thanks GC for your great leadership here. BG is the only program that rewards such incompetence with continued employment.

[Flipper]

I'm sorry...what in this scenario is GC's fault or doing?

[falconfan1999]

I wonder if the other Atlantic teams could join too and then geographically divide that conference so as to lessen travel expenses?

[rood]

Flipper, don't feed the trolls.