Jan. 28 — Sources within Atlantic Hockey have confirmed to USCHO.com that Niagara and Robert Morris will join the league as full members beginning with the 2010-2011 season. The schools will be affiliate members of Atlantic Hockey next season, using league officiating crews.
An official announcement from the league detailing the decision will be released within the next few days.
This development will mean the dissolution of College Hockey America, which had been reduced to four teams — Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State, Niagara and Robert Morris — after Wayne State dropped hockey last season. The WCHA last week lifted its moratorium on expansion, paving the way for Bemidji State to apply for membership.
Atlantic Hockey had previously voted to increase its scholarship limit from 11 to 12 starting next season. Robert Morris is below that limit, but Niagara has 18 scholarships, the maximum allowed by the NCAA. Niagara will have to eliminate six scholarships by the 2010-2011 season to comply.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Domino's are falling.
Well it's now official. Atlantic Hockey Approves Expansion: Niagara and Robert Morris To Join Affiliate Members Next Season; Full Members in 2010-11. There are now two division one college hockey teams that are without a home, UAH and BSU. It will be interesting to see if both of these two teams end up in the WCHA or will the league poach a team from the CCHA. I would love to see NMU end up in the WCHA then UAH moving to the CCHA. If the WCHA couldn’t get a CCHA team to move I wonder if the WCHA would take both CHA schools.
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Alabama-Huntsville in the WCHA? Say it ain't so, Goon!!! I don't know about you but that would be a joke I think.
ReplyDeleteWould love (maybe love's to strong of a word...would really like) to see UNO and BSU in the WCHA. Omaha's always a fun road trip.
ReplyDeleteUNO already said they would not want to come to the WCHA, so I don't think they are an option. Northern Michigan had been mentioned as well, that would not bee too bad. BSU and NMU would be some good additions.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see where they go. I have been told by a credible hockey mind that the rink in Huntsville is better than a lot of CCHA and AHA rinks. Not all that far from the CCHA teams,
ReplyDeletePersonally I holding out hope for NMU. I heard a couple of time from different people and on a pod cast that MTU approached them about joining the WCHA.