WCHA announcement

[gmartin]

Another thought. Do you think this tournament change will also be a deciding factor on teams thinking about realignment. If you think you have a team that will challenge for the #1 seed, playing at home for the playoffs, would some schools consider that option over realigning to a new conference. Some schools may look at playing championship game on its own rink as a better fit than playing on a neutral site.

[Archer]

If I remember correctly, "back in the day", the CCHA tournament was hosted by the top seeded team with all four teams at that site for the weekend.

The tournament was first held in 1972, the first year of conference play. It was held at The Arena in St. Louis, Missouri from 1972–77. From 1978–81, the CCHA Tournament was held at the rink of the higher seed. Starting in 1982, the CCHA Tournament first round was held at the rink of the higher seed with Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan hosting the CCHA Tournament semifinals and finals.

[jpfalcon09]

A few other conferences have a similar format. I know Hockey East follows a comparable playoff format but their championship game is held in Boston for obvious reasons. This format simply makes sense for the fact that the WCHA members are so spread out that figuring out a neutral site to meet everyone's liking would be too difficult.

[bgbill]

I remember the days of 2-game total goals.
No, thank you.

[rood]

WIAC (Division 3) does a two game playoff series before the (single game) league championship and they are weird as hell. If you get two wins or a win and a tie, you win the series. If you split the games, you play a 20 minute "mini-game" to determine the winner. I assume they go to sudden death if that ends up in a tie.

[It's the Journey...]

You mean no more "Final Five?" Oh darn..... now we won't sound like a copy of the Big10(14).....

Seriously, this is a great format and rewards having a great regular season. I hear talk of conference realignment again, but as of now, we are in the WCHA. Winning the 2017 regular season AND tournament titles should be our only concern now.

[BG84]

I just hope the conference schedule is announced. I need to get in the TSA line now for a flight to Alaska.

LOL!

[BG84]

This change sort of says the WCHA is pathetic, except that playing the semis and finals in a 3/4-empty arena is more pathetic than acknowledging reality and playing at campus sites.

[jpfalcon09]

This change sort of says the WCHA is pathetic, except that playing the semis and finals in a 3/4-empty arena is more pathetic than acknowledging reality and playing at campus sites.

The member schools are too far spread out to have a neutral site make sense. They should've gone to this format after re-alignment happened instead of living under the lie that the "Final Five" was going to be a profitable proposition after losing half of the conference's schools to the NCHC.

As for the WCHA being pathetic, I think that's a bit harsh. 2015-16 was disappointing without a doubt but there's no arguing the league was one of the top three in 2014-15 by having three schools ranked, the #1 team in the country and narrowly missing sending three teams to the NCAA tournament. Is the conference a long-term solution for BG hockey? Not really, but it is what it is and will allow the program to regain its footing until someone else comes calling.

[Schadenfreude]

This change sort of says the WCHA is pathetic, except that playing the semis and finals in a 3/4-empty arena is more pathetic than acknowledging reality and playing at campus sites.

The member schools are too far spread out to have a neutral site make sense.

Unlike the MAC, Conference USA, the American Athletic, and the Mountain West all hold their football championships at the stadium of a member school rather than a neutral site. This doesn't mean these other conferences are all pathetic; it just means they are far flung.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Big Ten appears set to do that same thing

http://www.startribune.com/big-ten-hock ... 380295071/" target="_blank

[bgbill]

Big Ten appears set to do that same thing

http://www.startribune.com/big-ten-hock ... 380295071/" target="_blank

Lots of luck, tosu.

[BG84]

Big Ten appears set to do that same thing

http://www.startribune.com/big-ten-hock ... 380295071/" target="_blank

Shoot, I thought about the B1G but didn't have any facts. Also,I was too lazy to find attendance facts.

[It's the Journey...]

Wow, those are some upset Minnesota fans........

[apollo]

This change sort of says the WCHA is pathetic, except that playing the semis and finals in a 3/4-empty arena is more pathetic than acknowledging reality and playing at campus sites.

The member schools are too far spread out to have a neutral site make sense. They should've gone to this format after re-alignment happened instead of living under the lie that the "Final Five" was going to be a profitable proposition after losing half of the conference's schools to the NCHC.

As for the WCHA being pathetic, I think that's a bit harsh. 2015-16 was disappointing without a doubt but there's no arguing the league was one of the top three in 2014-15 by having three schools ranked, the #1 team in the country and narrowly missing sending three teams to the NCAA tournament. Is the conference a long-term solution for BG hockey? Not really, but it is what it is and will allow the program to regain its footing until someone else comes calling.

No one else is going to the come calling...BG is in the WCHA unless there is massive realignment involving 10-20 schools.