More on re-alignment.

This story by Mike Chambers started a avalanche of speculation and more is starting to come out on this story. It will be interesting to see how this story plays out. First, everyone must know there are two kinds of conversations, there is the front stage and the back stage. The front stage takes place in the newspapers and during the radio interviews, this is the information that can be released. Then there is the back stages, this is the discussion that takes place behind the scenes, the fans aren't privy to this discussion.

I believe some where between these two stories is "the TRUTH" or should we say reality. Like I said before I can see realignment coming eventually, much like the shootout.

DULUTH, Minn. – If an expansion moratorium is lifted in the men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association in January, it could be Bemidji State’s first step toward joining the league.

League commissioner Bruce McLeod confirmed Tuesday that the WCHA executive committee will decide next week if a vote to repeal the existing moratorium should be taken during the NCAA Convention on Jan. 14-17 in Washington, D.C. A simple favorable majority of the 10 league schools would rescind the ban on expansion, which has been in effect for 10 years. That would allow prospective members to make presentations at the WCHA’s annual meeting in May in Marco Island, Fla.

First off, the league members have to go to Marco Island, Florida to make a decision. What can't they do it in Denver or Minneapolis? Looks like Money isn't much of a problem when you living in the WCHA eh?

“We’d like to give Bemidji State a definitive answer, yes or no, about the possibility of joining our league,” McLeod said from his Denver office. “It would be in their best interest to know our intentions so they can make plans for their future.”

The Bemidji State women’s team is already a member of the women’s WCHA.

Bemidji State has never made a formal men’s application to the WCHA because of the moratorium, although the league reached a scheduling agreement with the school in January. The agreement guarantees Bemidji State 12 games with WCHA schools beginning in 2010-11, but the Beavers may be a team without a conference by then.

“Our ultimate goal is to be in the WCHA,” Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore said. “With our present league down to four teams, going to the WCHA would be a logical step for us. It would be good timing. [College Hockey America] might only have one more season as a league after this year.”

If the WCHA lifts its moratorium, the opportunity to join the league may be invitation only, said McLeod, and it’s possible Bemidji State would be the only school on the invitation list. Bemidji State has done relatively well against the WCHA, going 11-24-1, including losses to Wisconsin and Denver in the first round of the Division I playoffs.

College Hockey America lost Air Force to the 10-team Atlantic Hockey conference in 2006-07, while league member Wayne (Mich.) State dropped its program in March.