Tuesday, July 19, 2011

WCHA commish has no guarantees for MSU Moorhead

Western Collegiate Hockey Association logoImage via WikipediaBut of course!!! Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way but wouldn't it be better for McLeod to encourage MSU-M? Don't the powers that be want more teams in college hockey?
Ryan S. Clark, Forum Communications — If one thing has held true in college hockey lately, there are no guarantees.

That is the point Western Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner Bruce McLeod made Monday in regards to Minnesota State Moorhead’s attempt at starting a Division I ice hockey program.

“It is really tough to make a commitment … and if I could tell Moorhead in three years you’ll be in the WCHA I would, but in these circumstances, I cannot even come close to that,” McLeod said. “I cannot make promises, but at the same time I’d love to encourage that the Fargo-Moorhead area is really fine.”

McLeod used the WCHA as a prism to explain college hockey’s changing landscape with newly formed conferences coming into play — leaving current conferences to form a new shape.

Schools like MSUM could play a role if it is able to raise the money needed to fund a program.

MSUM officials said last Friday the school is hoping to raise $22 million in a self-imposed three-month window to fund Division I hockey for both men and women. The feeling has been for some time that if MSUM added hockey, its preferred destination would be the WCHA.

McLeod said he hasn’t been in contact with MSUM officials lately.

“We’ve had some contact via email,” he said. “And some direct phone calls, but I cannot tell you when but it has been a few months ago.”
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