Oakland U adding D-1 hockey program

[gmartin]

Oakland U is going D-1 or that's the rumors on the radio. Announcement suppose to be made this week. Building a brand new ice arena on campus. Just deciding on what conference. The WCHA makes the most sense. Any thoughts. Only 75 min drive. Would be our closest game other than UM.

[Critical Thinker]

Oakland is just the second school to have its feasibility study sponsored by the NHL, the first being Illinois. They have a looong way to go before anything happens.

[mbenecke]

Would be interesting for sure. I'm all for having more geographical opponents. Who doesn't love a good road trip?!

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

How about a reformed CCHA starting with BG, Ferris, OU. Add in any 3 (or more) out of LSSU, NMU, Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara, RMU to get to 6 (I left out Tech as they were original WCHA but maybe there's interest). Conference championship weekend at the Huntington Center.

We're smack dab in the middle geographically. The question is would the AHC teams trade travel to MA and CO for a couple of trips to Yooperland.

[BGDrew]

How about a reformed CCHA starting with BG, Ferris, OU. Add in any 3 (or more) out of LSSU, NMU, Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara, RMU to get to 6 (I left out Tech as they were original WCHA but maybe there's interest). Conference championship weekend at the Huntington Center.

We're smack dab in the middle geographically. The question is would the AHC teams trade travel to MA and CO for a couple of trips to Yooperland.

If you take away BG, Ferris State, Lake Superior, and one of the other UP schools that’s the end of the WCHA.
Minnesota State is leaving on the next realignment train, and that would take the league under the six schools required for an NCAA auto-bid.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

How about a reformed CCHA starting with BG, Ferris, OU. Add in any 3 (or more) out of LSSU, NMU, Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara, RMU to get to 6 (I left out Tech as they were original WCHA but maybe there's interest). Conference championship weekend at the Huntington Center.

We're smack dab in the middle geographically. The question is would the AHC teams trade travel to MA and CO for a couple of trips to Yooperland.

If you take away BG, Ferris State, Lake Superior, and one of the other UP schools that’s the end of the WCHA.
Minnesota State is leaving on the next realignment train, and that would take the league under the six schools required for an NCAA auto-bid.

I don't disagree. But I'm not sure NMU would be that interested. Hence the look toward the east to round out the conference. Not sure the AHC teams would be interested either though the travek would be easier for them.

[Schadenfreude]

How about a reformed CCHA starting with BG, Ferris, OU. Add in any 3 (or more) out of LSSU, NMU, Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara, RMU to get to 6 (I left out Tech as they were original WCHA but maybe there's interest). Conference championship weekend at the Huntington Center.

We're smack dab in the middle geographically. The question is would the AHC teams trade travel to MA and CO for a couple of trips to Yooperland.

I was thinking much the same. Oakland would be a natural for the WCHA, and they would certainly make the dream of reviving the CCHA a bit more viable.

I'd also add RIT to your list of potential candidates.