WCHA third place game to remain.

This is some good news; the third place game of the Final Five will remain for the forseeable future. Personally, I think this is a very good thing for college hockey fans. I love the final Five because it give you a chance to see other teams from the WCHA and it gives you five games in three days.

The WCHA has two more years on its contract with the Xcel. ”Next year already, we will begin the process of renegotiating the contract,” McLeod said.

One topic brought up at the postgame press conference after the third-place game was whether to keep playing it.

There is no third-place game in several of the conference tournaments. This year Wisconsin’s 4-1 victory over North Dakota in that game almost was enough to get the Badgers in the NCAA tournament. They just missed being the last at-large team, edged out by Ohio State.

McLeod said the third-place game is going to remain for the forseeable future.

“We’ve debated it since the get-go, whether it hurts or helps more,” McLeod said. “I don’t have the answer. It almost got Wisconsin in. It’s always something we talk about. Let’s be honest, there’s a financial factor, so it depends on whether you talk to coaches or athletic directors.”

North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said his team didn’t need to play in third-place game this year. The Sioux were already assured a spot in the NCAA tournament. In other years, when his team needed an extra win, Hakstol said, he might want another game. (read the rest of the article here)