What a Twist.... Maybe (RW77)

I just read on Bruce Ciskie's blog about another possibility begin BGSU's foot-dragging: They're trying to start up a league of their own. You can read the article here.

BGSU was given an extension on its 30-day deadline and claims that, per USCHO, they will announce their intentions by Friday, October 7th. If an extension were that easy to come by, why have the deadline in the first place? Oh well.

In any case, the article cites that BGSU officials met with, or invited, 6 AHA schools: Air Force, RIT, Canisius, Niagara, Mercyhurst, and Robert Morris. RIT apparently declined as being not interested. Air Force officials did not attend the meetings.

The reason for the meetings? The possibility of forming their own league. The impetus behind this comes at an interesting rumor and potential new program: University 'at' Buffalo (I guess the official name is The State University at Buffalo). The teams mentioned all have similarly sized arenas to each other and Buffalo is a MAC Conference member (MAC in all sports but hockey). Buffalo currently has a Club hockey team with a 1400 seat arena close to campus.

The rumor could be legit, especially since the start up costs for Buffalo would be comparatively cheaper than other programs rumored to being courted for DI hockey based upon most of the other prospective members arenas being similarly sized.

What IS NOT mentioned is that this new conference would be simply stupidity incarnate if there is no Autobid attached to it. That being said, I'm sure that DI hockey is looking excitedly at having a SECOND AHA conference.

HOWEVER: This idea does pose some interesting solutions to problems. I already mentioned the stadium thing. Similar to the exposure the NCHC gets with WMU in their conference, this new conference would get exposure from the BGSU market AND (potentially) Buffalo should they decide to join. Also, the members listed are all geographically reasonably close together. Bruce mentions that BGSU to Buffalo is a lengthy 300 mile bus trip. This is FAR more appealing to BGSU than a trip or two to Alaska.

I also think this would be another ideal potential conference for UAH. Unfortunately, the big issue is the same as if UAH were to join the NCHC or WCHA: Travel costs. There is a real possibility that UAH would have to do something similar to what UAA does: Subsidize travel. This new alleged conference would feature BGSU as the shortest distance from UAH at 500 miles. That's about a 7 hour plus bus ride.

However, I think UAH would be wise to consider this conference if it becomes a reality simply because it will be cheaper than the WCHA (two Alaska trips on top of their geographically inconvenient locale).

Any which way you cut it, if UAH doesn't find a conference within the next, say, 12 months, I'd say 2013 comes around and UAH is back in Club hockey.

BGSU AD Christopher not surprised by the formation of new league

According to John Wagner of the Falcon Fodder, BGSU AD Greg Christopher was not surprised about the new Division I hockey conference formation.

John Wagner; Falcon Fodder --- BGSU athletic director Greg Christopher said he wasn’t surprised by the formation of the new league, which also is expected to include Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota.

“I had heard rumblings about a new conference almost immediately after the Big Ten announcement,” he said. “I’m disappointed some schools have left college hockey in such a fragile state that other schools may be forced to drop hockey or won’t have a place to play in the future.”

While it’s unclear what league Bowling Green eventually will call home, Christopher said the school’s commitment to the program won’t change.

Here is the question I wish someone would ask; why is it that some athletic directors and commissioners of the various schools/leagues that "were not" in the mix to be in the new College Hockey Super League knew the league was a possibility, whiles others did not? Do these people not spend any time on their computers at work or at home? Seriously!!! I think we have a communication problem in Division I hockey or at least a disconnect.