Penn State entry paves way for Big Ten hockey conference

My only comment is that Barry Alvarez should stick to football because he is a hockey illiterate. This is what happens when you let football guys run NCAA Division I Hockey.

Madison.COM --- When news of Penn State’s initiative broke earlier this month, CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos made it known that his Midwest-based league would love to accommodate the Nittany Lions. Instead, the CCHA figures to soon lose three of its most well-known programs.

During WCHA meetings held last week in Minneapolis, UW men’s coach Mike Eaves said there was “some angst” among his peers regarding the topic of a Big Ten presence in college hockey.

Eaves declined to get into specifics of what WCHA officials discussed about future developments. League commissioner Bruce McLeod said he’s aware of the situation at Penn State, but is waiting to hear more details Friday before offering his thoughts.

“There are a whole bunch of possibilities,” Eaves said. “I think we’re going to find out together what’s going to happen.”

With Penn State soon to be on board as the 59th Division I program, Alvarez was asked what road blocks stood in the way of the Big Ten creating a new college hockey brand.

“I don’t know,” he said. “You need six teams in the league. We will have six. They do govern us, the Big Ten. I don’t anticipate much of a hurdle other than getting out of your respective conferences.”

Alvarez said Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has spoken in the past of making men’s hockey a programming staple on the Big Ten Network. That notion will take a huge step forward Friday.

“We’ve talked about a Big Ten Conference for hockey,” Alvarez said. “I think that would be very appealing.”