Image via WikipediaYesterday we found out that the WCHA had extended invitations to the 5 CCHA schools (LSSU, FSU, WMU, BGSU and UAF) to join the WCHA. Today it was announced that LSSU, UAF and FSU have accepted bids to join the WCHA for the 2013-2014 season. WMU, BGSU have also been given invitations to join the WCHA but have yet to accept invitations.It has been rumored that both schools are weighing their options and that BGSU, WMU might be trying to get into the newly formed NCHC. It's been kind of difficult to gauge what BGSU is going to do but this blog post on Falcon Fodder by John Wagner might shed some light on the situation or maybe not.
Western Michigan University had said in the past that the school was waiting to see what the conference the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was going to join before they made an a decision, now according to their athletic director Kathy Beauregard WMU is going do what is best for WMU.
Western Michigan’s Director of Athletics said Friday the school is no longer waiting for Notre Dame to decide first on a future conference affiliation.Two former CCHA schools must improve arenas
“We did that at the time for all the right reasons because we certainly do care about them being a partner with us in the CCHA,” Beauregard said of her prior statements about being committed to trying to follow Notre Dame wherever the Irish end up. “Right now, it’s time for us to make the best decision for Western Michigan University. [David Drew, Mlive.com]
The WCHA has requested that LSSU and FSU make improvement to their hockey arenas according to Matt Wellens of the Mining Journal and apparently both teams have agreed to upgrade their facilities.
According to NMU President Less Wong, the WCHA did request that LSSU and Ferris upgrade their arenas - Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie and Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids - and both athletic departments agreed to make improvements.Who's the "Boss"
When news of the formation of the new NCHC broke there was a lot of discussion about the commissioner of the WCHA Bruce McLeod and there were a few teams in the current WCHA that said they have a problem and or issues with the WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod. With those teams gone; going forward it would appear as if the much maligned WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod is going to survive at least for now as the commissioner of the WCHA. I found this statement by WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod in the St. Cloud Times article by Mick Hatten to be very interesting, it's almost in your face, reading this newspaper article, there is no question who is driving this expansion.
On Thursday, McLeod clarified why Tuesday’s meeting wasn’t about a merger.Personally, I think in 2013-2014 the WCHA needs to start fresh with a new face at the helm of the WCHA, I would suggest that the WCHA look at former UND head coach and USHL Commissioner Gino Gaspini, whose currently serving as a special adviser for SCSU athletics for SCSU President Earl H. Potter II.
“This is really an invitation to join the WCHA, and there’s a real difference there,” McLeod said. “There’s a lot of sensitives to it on both sides of the fence.
“We’re going to be called the WCHA, and this is not some kind of merger.”
So going forward here is what the new WCHA will look like "so far" for the 2013-2014 season.
SCSU
BSU
UAA
UAF
LSSU
NMU
FSU
MTU
MSU-M
