Experts: Answer my dumb question.

[Schadenfreude]

Why is Nebraska-Omaha in the CCHA?

Wouldn't it make some sense for Nebraska-Omaha to switch leagues with Michigan Tech?

[Tech83]

Add UAF to that question, but I would assume it would require quite a shuffling of the other conferences.

The question maybe - Who places who in what conference when someone decides they want to have a Div. 1 hockey program? It seems the Alabama teams would be a better fit, geographically speaking, for the CCHA than Nebraska - O and Alaska - F.

[Schadenfreude]

The Alaska-Fairbanks thing I sort of understand.

If Fairbanks and Anchorage both played in the WCHA, every WCHA team would have to travel up to Alaska every year. That would be very expensive.

Also, I think the CCHA teams who play at Alaska-Fairbanks get to schedule extra games because of the enormous expense of flying up there. That's a decent benefit.

I'm not as sure why we have Nebraska-Omaha though. It's a decent-sized market and they have strong attendance -- but I can't believe any of that helps cover the travel costs. It isn't like college hockey is inking multimillion dollar telvision deals.

[SaxyIrishTenor]

It isn't like college hockey is inking multimillion dollar telvision deals.

Thats too bad. They should be.

[Falcon Fanatic]

Why is Nebraska-Omaha in the CCHA?

Wouldn't it make some sense for Nebraska-Omaha to switch leagues with Michigan Tech?

We wondered the same thing when they joined the league, that and UAF. I think both UAF and UAA should be independents, but they probably couldn't get teams to come up there very often. By being in a league, teams HAVE to travel there. Thank goodness, UAF comes here next week and NOT the other way around. I hate having DUH mavs in our league. They should be in the WCHA. It makes a lot more sense and we wouldn't have to put up with their ignorant fans (...ok, mostly just AJ, but that's another flaming thread )

GO FALCONS!!
SWEEP THE NANOOKS!!
GO TO THE JOE!!!

[bgbill]

NC$$ hockey teams pretty much have to join a conference to have any hope of getting in the NC$$ tournament.
I don't know if UNO tried to get in the WCHA, which would make the most sense, but I do know that they blew the CCHA away with their presentation to join the CCHA. Omaha has a great market base, and lots of corporate underwriting. They had a fine arena at the old Civic Center, and now with Qwest, a completely up-to-date facility. My initial feeling, after attending BG's first game there, was that it isn't what I consider to be college hockey, but I know our players really get a kick out of playing in a rink that's more like the pros (when pros played hockey).
It's truly amazing the constant support they get; their pre-game luncheons, with Q&A from their coach and that weekend's opponent's coach, are bigger in attendance than our annual banquet. Gotta give Omaha credit for doing more with their college hockey business than Columbus and tOSU has done. Certainly there are a lot of clueless people who go to the Mavs games more as a social event, but they're going. And there are enough true hockey fans in Omaha who understand the game, follow it religiously/fanatically, and appreciate what it's added to their lives.
Those of us who get upset by what may be posted on message boards these days don't get it. It's all entertainment.
btw, I met AJ this year. I don't think he's short, but we were introduced to each other by MavRick. Anyone standing by MavRick looks like an extra in one of the Tinytown flicks.

[Falcon Fanatic]

Those of us who get upset by what may be posted on message boards these days don't get it. It's all entertainment.

Are you talking about us...or AJ?
(probably BOTH!)

GO ICERS!!
SWEEP THE NANOOKS!!
ROAD TO THE JOE STARTS IN BG!!

[pdt1081]

We wondered the same thing when they joined the league, that and UAF. I think both UAF and UAA should be independents, but they probably couldn't get teams to come up there very often. By being in a league, teams HAVE to travel there.

Games played at UAF and UAA are used by teams for exemption purposes. By playing in Alaska, teams are allowed to schedule two extra games a year. (There's a long list of rules that go along with exemptions that I don't know 100%.) If I'm not mistaken, UAF pays for the travel of league teams that must play there. It is part of their membership requirements.

As for UNO, they are not a bad fit in the CCHA. Yes, they are a long trip and we may not like them, but they are competitive in the CCHA. If they were in the WCHA, they would not be finishing where they are in the standings. Once they develop a major presence in the CCHA year in and year out, I could see serious talks about them switching places with MTU. But, until then, it will not happen.

Whatever you do, don't go to uscho.com and start this thread. Just do a search over there sometime and you will find out why.

[Schadenfreude]

Whatever you do, don't go to uscho.com and start this thread. Just do a search over there sometime and you will find out why.

That's why I posted here.

[Freddie]

Michigan Tech was (briefly) a CCHA member back in the early 80's, but chose to return to the WCHA because it was a better geographical fit for them. The UP...especially the western UP is much more closely aligned (both geographically and socially) to Wisconsin and Minnesota than to Michigan. Heck, they really don't even consider themselves part of Michigan at all...them Youpers are a differant sort alltogether.

UNO applied for membership in the WCHA and was turned away, as was Bemedji State. The WCHA refuses to allow the league to expand beyond 10 teams...they want to leave plenty of room for non-conference games on their schedules.

Both the CCHA and the WCHA benefit from having an Alaska based team in their ranks, as the NCAA allows a special exemption for games played up there. That exemption allows teams from both conferences to get an additional two games on their schedule every other year.

[Schadenfreude]

Michigan Tech was (briefly) a CCHA member back in the early 80's, but chose to return to the WCHA because it was a better geographical fit for them. The UP...especially the western UP is much more closely aligned (both geographically and socially) to Wisconsin and Minnesota than to Michigan. Heck, they really don't even consider themselves part of Michigan at all...them Youpers are a differant sort alltogether.

UNO applied for membership in the WCHA and was turned away, as was Bemedji State. The WCHA refuses to allow the league to expand beyond 10 teams...they want to leave plenty of room for non-conference games on their schedules.

That's what I was looking for. Thanks for that post.

I guess I figured with Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State already in the CCHA, Michigan Tech might want to come over, too. But maybe not.

[jimmyomaha]

after getting slapped around by Makato last weekend (they are in 8th place in the WCHA) I don't know if that would be a good thing from a competition standpoint. We have natural geographic rivalries in that league along with MSU-Mankato, UM-Duluth, St. Cloud, and North Dakota are all in our D2 conference in every other sport. It makes sense and I, for one, hope one day we move to that league. It is a far better conference. I think the brass in Omaha were just giddy about having the names in the CCHA, Michigan, Mich St., Ohio St., Notre Dame, and yes D1 schools in other sports, like BG and. W. Mich. I think that UNO and Michigan Tech should swap. That way each conference would have an Alaska team and be more geographically sound. UNO has developed a place in the CCHA but belongs in the WCHA,

[Falcon Fanatic]

after getting slapped around by Makato last weekend (they are in 8th place in the WCHA) I don't know if that would be a good thing from a competition standpoint. We have natural geographic rivalries in that league along with MSU-Mankato, UM-Duluth, St. Cloud, and North Dakota are all in our D2 conference in every other sport. It makes sense and I, for one, hope one day we move to that league. It is a far better conference. I think the brass in Omaha were just giddy about having the names in the CCHA, Michigan, Mich St., Ohio St., Notre Dame, and yes D1 schools in other sports, like BG and. W. Mich. I think that UNO and Michigan Tech should swap. That way each conference would have an Alaska team and be more geographically sound. UNO has developed a place in the CCHA but belongs in the WCHA,

Everything you said makes a lot of sense. Hope the higher ups get a clue and some day make that switch, as it really does seem like the right thing to do for both leagues.

Good luck in your post season play!

GO FALCONS!!
SWEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!

[Schadenfreude]

after getting slapped around by Makato last weekend (they are in 8th place in the WCHA) I don't know if that would be a good thing from a competition standpoint. We have natural geographic rivalries in that league along with MSU-Mankato, UM-Duluth, St. Cloud, and North Dakota are all in our D2 conference in every other sport. It makes sense and I, for one, hope one day we move to that league. It is a far better conference. I think the brass in Omaha were just giddy about having the names in the CCHA, Michigan, Mich St., Ohio St., Notre Dame, and yes D1 schools in other sports, like BG and. W. Mich. I think that UNO and Michigan Tech should swap. That way each conference would have an Alaska team and be more geographically sound. UNO has developed a place in the CCHA but belongs in the WCHA,

Everything you said makes a lot of sense. Hope the higher ups get a clue and some day make that switch, as it really does seem like the right thing to do for both leagues.

Good luck in your post season play!

GO FALCONS!!
SWEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!

Except... while the WCHA clearly looks substantially stronger right now, these things come in phases. The CCHA is one of the top four leagues, and has been since since expansion in the early 1980s. We may be back on top as a league as soon as next year.

[Falcon Fanatic]

after getting slapped around by Makato last weekend (they are in 8th place in the WCHA) I don't know if that would be a good thing from a competition standpoint. We have natural geographic rivalries in that league along with MSU-Mankato, UM-Duluth, St. Cloud, and North Dakota are all in our D2 conference in every other sport. It makes sense and I, for one, hope one day we move to that league. It is a far better conference. I think the brass in Omaha were just giddy about having the names in the CCHA, Michigan, Mich St., Ohio St., Notre Dame, and yes D1 schools in other sports, like BG and. W. Mich. I think that UNO and Michigan Tech should swap. That way each conference would have an Alaska team and be more geographically sound. UNO has developed a place in the CCHA but belongs in the WCHA,

Everything you said makes a lot of sense. Hope the higher ups get a clue and some day make that switch, as it really does seem like the right thing to do for both leagues.

Good luck in your post season play!

GO FALCONS!!
SWEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!

Except... while the WCHA clearly looks substantially stronger right now, these things come in phases. The CCHA is one of the top four leagues, and has been since since expansion in the early 1980s. We may be back on top as a league as soon as next year.

I agree that we will be a stronger league soon, but do think that, geographically, switching UNO and Mich Tech would make sense. The ones that may disagree would be the players, as it would mean another long bus ride to upper Michigan, whereas, Duh mavs are a plane trip! Doesn't matter what we think though, I doubt if the leagues will change much for quite a long time.

GO ICERS!!
SWEEP THE NANOOOOOOKS!!