WCHA Bound???

[Falcon Fanatic]

Interesting comments from Christopher and Bergeron in this Q & A from John Wagner's Falcon Fodder blog:
http://toledoblade.typepad.com/falconfodder/

[falconfan1]

Falcon Fanatic- interesting comments from both Coach and the AD. When we decide to move, we will move in the direction best for us and then play to win. Exactly what you would expect from us. Whether it is the now apparently very very likely merger opportunity West or the possible East idea, we will be competing for a championship. And we will play others right here in our back yard from the Big Ten. And unless I miss something, it looks like the Michigan clubs from CCHA/WCHGA will be right in there forming an Ohio/Mich core. Even WMU with their amazing record of championship play over......the last fifteen minutes looks like they may be there.

Interesting opportunity. And I am glad we as the founding member of the CCHA did not turn our back on others, kept communications up and worked with otherschools. And we will have plenty of people to play. The folks who did not choose to make those calls to Coach (as he states) and our AD and work things out for the good of the game first and for themselves next can play......somebody else.

The heck with 'em. We don't need to call them either.

I guess it is possible to spin something negatively (a few posts have worked to figure out how to do it), but it looks to me like we have a decent solution ahead of us if the merger is our choice.

I also agree with those posts from sbkbghockey, rood and joehockey- right there with you folks. When we WIN, our fans in the area will watch the team play and cheer like crazy whether we are playing St Cloud State or Michigan. They will be there. And I hope they are there this year too. Support BG hockey now.

Go Falcons!

[Sub-Zero]

This is great. The two key themes for Christopher - "I am not sure...." and "I wish...". These are the last words you want to hear from your AD when one of your programs is in crisis mode. GC, your job is to be sure on the best path and be able to read the landscape to proactively address whatever negatives might exist about our program. Your job is to be on the inside of the hockey power brokers, not the outside. Your job is to detect these trends early and react quickly with proposals that can best position our future. Your job is to be our AD, not a glorified reporter about what everyone else is doing. Instead, we let others make the decisions and we live with whatever scraps are left over.

[pdt1081]

This is great. The two key themes for Christopher - "I am not sure...." and "I wish...". These are the last words you want to hear from your AD when one of your programs is in crisis mode.

Who's in crisis mode? Seriously. We now have 30 days to make a decision. If we can't come up with a better solution before then, accept the invite.

From the comments made in the article, there's no doubt in my mind just WHO Coach Bergeron is referring to about not calling him. Shows a lot about that particular person's character.

As for other options, chew on this:
1) BGSU
2) WMU
3) UAH
4) Robert Morris
5) Niagara
6) Mercyhurst
7) Canisius
8) Adrian (Mr Fogarty, will you please join us)

Auto-bid, decent travel, simple playoffs,room for more non conference games (a 6 team league needs to fill a schedule somehow), room for expansion. Even if Adrian doesn't make the jump it's still a very workable situation.

[Flipper]

In the business world, people often use terms like "think" and "hope" to express their feelings during periods of uncertainty....

pdt...I don't tsee what that league offers us or WMU other than a ton of wins over lackluster opposition...

[pdt1081]

pdt...I don't tsee what that league offers us or WMU other than a ton of wins over lackluster opposition...

Which means we should get the auto-bid every year. Wins mean butts in the seats ($$$). Playing in the NCAA (national exposure, scouts) every year is your recruiting. Hot goalie, couple lucky bounces and your playing for the whole thing, year in, year out. How does the school lose?

[Drago]

Winning will ultimately determine what happens...I still think we are a long way off from being an even consistently average program...make no mistake about it every program that will be in the new WCHA has been significantly better than us other than Michigan Tech. We got real lucky to get invited, if we improve we got a chance to make this work.....I do agree though with whoever brought up home attendence. That if we don't win, no one is going to show up to see St. Cloud, Minnesota State, etc. I still say were about 8 years from being a factor for a league title in this new league.

[Flipper]

pdt...I know we've struggled a ton the last 15 years...but we're better than that.

[orangeandbrown]

John Wagner at The Blade talks about the situation. He talked to Christopher and Bergeron, and they say we are "tracking" toward joining the merged WCHA. My person opinion is that this always was the best case scenario for BG once the CCHA was clearly falling apart. I don't think it is good for us to be in the NCHC, and I think the eastern option with even lesser known schools was far less attractive, competitively and to our fan base.

Remember....competition makes you better. So, if this plays out, I think that Falcon hockey fans should count themselves as having dodged a bullet.

Another point. In the interview, Christopher says that he expects the Big 10 teams to follow the football and basketball trend, which will mean playing many fewer games outside their own buildings. FWIW.

http://t.co/5uVG39L

[rood]

Which means we should get the auto-bid every year. Wins mean butts in the seats ($$$). Playing in the NCAA (national exposure, scouts) every year is your recruiting. Hot goalie, couple lucky bounces and your playing for the whole thing, year in, year out. How does the school lose?

The way pair wise rankings work for NCAA bids the only team getting in from that list is the league champion/autobid. Lucky bounces go both ways and that would be enough to keep a good team out of the tournament.

[BGWriter]

I don't know every team that will remain in the "new" WCHA if BG decides to join -- but is it possible to create two divisions in the league so that travel is less of an issue? Put the Michigan teams and BG in one division and the Minnesota schools and Alaska in another. Then have rotating crossover games to fill out the schedule, with a playoff that includes division winners and runners up (if you want only 4) or go to third place finishers if you want more.

[sbkbghockey]

I don't know every team that will remain in the "new" WCHA if BG decides to join -- but is it possible to create two divisions in the league so that travel is less of an issue? Put the Michigan teams and BG in one division and the Minnesota schools and Alaska in another. Then have rotating crossover games to fill out the schedule, with a playoff that includes division winners and runners up (if you want only 4) or go to third place finishers if you want more.

IF Everyone accepts the bid an East and West Division is possible. 5 team West and 6 in the east, also Minnesota State University Moorhead has expressed serious interest in adding men's and women's hockey and joining the WCHA, they'd become the sixth team in the WCHA West Division.

Alaska Achorage
Alaska Fairbanks
Bemidji State
St. Cloud State
Minnesota State, Mankato

Bowling Green
Ferris State
Lake Superior State
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan
Western Michigan

[Falcon Fanatic]

Falcon Fanatic- interesting comments from both Coach and the AD. When we decide to move, we will move in the direction best for us and then play to win. Exactly what you would expect from us. Whether it is the now apparently very very likely merger opportunity West or the possible East idea, we will be competing for a championship. And we will play others right here in our back yard from the Big Ten. And unless I miss something, it looks like the Michigan clubs from CCHA/WCHGA will be right in there forming an Ohio/Mich core. Even WMU with their amazing record of championship play over......the last fifteen minutes looks like they may be there.

Interesting opportunity. And I am glad we as the founding member of the CCHA did not turn our back on others, kept communications up and worked with otherschools. And we will have plenty of people to play. The folks who did not choose to make those calls to Coach (as he states) and our AD and work things out for the good of the game first and for themselves next can play......somebody else.

The heck with 'em. We don't need to call them either.

I guess it is possible to spin something negatively (a few posts have worked to figure out how to do it), but it looks to me like we have a decent solution ahead of us if the merger is our choice.

I also agree with those posts from sbkbghockey, rood and joehockey- right there with you folks. When we WIN, our fans in the area will watch the team play and cheer like crazy whether we are playing St Cloud State or Michigan. They will be there. And I hope they are there this year too. Support BG hockey now.

Go Falcons!

Laughed out loud at your comment about Western! So true!!
And, you're right about NOT calling a certain team to play! I hope they don't answer the phone when THEY call us...because they will!! They will want "bus-ride" games because they will get tired of "plane trip" games that eat through their budget quickly!!

[Falcon Fanatic]

From the comments made in the article, there's no doubt in my mind just WHO Coach Bergeron is referring to about not calling him. Shows a lot about that particular person's character.

+1 That would be his LACK of character....not that I felt he ever had much to begin with...

GO FALCON HOCKEY!!
PUCK DROPS IN 36 DAYS!!

[falconfan1]

falconfanatic, we have a couple years to move up in the CCHA and then move on to a new place somewhere. And win there. It will be very very tough, but we'll do it. And when we do, we will have done it the right way- the way you would expect and want BGSU to do things. In a classy way remembering our roots and those who helped us along the way. Remembering our history and those players, coaches and fans who helped us over the years. It's a little like BG football. We are doing it the right way- not the overnight way. Not the "whywestern" way.

We aren't FORTUNATE to get invited. That is completely wrong. We have earned the right over the past 35 years to be here. Period. They WANT us in their league.

Yeah, we were a little down. Folks who couldn't find our phone number were nearly gone twice and saved by a big donor. Congrats- glad for ya. But watch out because we're coming back. Don't know the year but we are coming. Meanwhile, don't call us. And we won't call you.

The Eastern option is interesting too. But you have to also analyze things in terms of down the road. Are some of those eastern schools fully committed and in and can they support 18 scholarships and etc? While it remains an option, I do understand why we are examining the WCHA opportunity so closely. Divisions might help travel cost, but we'll make it.

Bring it on baby. I'm ready for everybody from St Cloud to Ferris to that big non league weekend with, say, Mich in BG Fri and at MSU on Sat.

Shoot we even are getting a new parking lot. Thank goodness.

Go Falcons!