LSJ.COM --- Depending on which hockey source you talk to, Penn State will have a varsity hockey team by 2014, and the Nittany Lions' presence could turn the college world as we know it upside down. Penn State has a sole donor ready to ante up $80 million for a 6,800-seat arena.It seems like we have heard about the Big Ten Hockey Conference forever. Personally; I am tired of hearing about it, time to put up or shut up. This was one reasons UNO gave for wanting to move to the WCHA; in case there ever was a Big Ten Hockey Conference, UNO felt at least they would be in a viable hockey conference. More than likely the WCHA could stand on it's own without Wisconsin and Minnesota. The CCHA minus Michigan and Michigan State isn't that attractive, you would have Miami and Notre Dame.
For sure there will be a six-team Big Ten league at that point. What is unknown is what will happen to the CCHA and WCHA. The NCAA has restricted regular season schedules to 36 games and most believe that number will not increase.
Can Big Ten schools also play for other league titles? Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State are in the CCHA could come in as the 12th member. Minnesota and Wisconsin are in the WCHA. So, are enough games available to determine two titles? No one knows at this point but many are convinced Penn State will add Division I hockey. I don't see how the CCHA can flourish without a Big Ten presence and what happens with Notre Dame? The school will soon complete a gorgeous 5,400-seat arena and needs quality teams to help fill it for home games. Would Notre Dame remain in a CCHA without a Big Ten presence? Stay tuned.
I believe that College hockey is eventually going to have to discuss these issues. To the self serving narcissists that think College hockey is all about the Big Ten Schools are wrong; the Big Ten Schools are just one piece of a very big puzzle but not an end all to be all.
One option I could see is the Big Ten schools playing all of their non-conference games against the Big Ten Schools. Wisconsin and Minnesota already play Michigan and Michigan State so they could just have their show case tourney on steroids during non conference play.
Also, while I think that Damien Cox is a great NHL beat writer who's beat covers the Toronto Maple Leafs he should stick to covering the Maple Leafs.
Penn St. is starting a program in September 2011, Indiana University is considering doing the same and there’s hope that some of the 421 U.S. colleges that have club teams in the American College Hockey Association may consider converting those to full-scholarship, Division I programs.Penn State is "talking" about starting a college hockey program, there is a big difference between starting a hockey program and talking about having one.
