NCHC working diligently with the Target Center

One of the concerns for the NCHC going forward is the Target Center being a basketball facility, and that the ice has been poor in the Target center in the past. Well, it looks like the NCHC leadership is cognisant of these concerns and appears to working on this.

Bruce Ciskie, the radio voice of UMD Bulldogs, interview Jim Scherr Commissioner of the NCHC.

On Target Center and the planning for next year's inaugural NCHC Tournament:

"The arena and their leadership has been fantastic in working with us. As everyone knows, they haven't traditionally hosted a lot of hockey events. We're working very close with them and their operations staff on making sure that all the equipment is upgraded, and the quality of ice, and the quality of the venue, and everything that goes into it to making sure it's an incredible experience for our teams and is on par with the very best in the country.

"So we're working very diligently with Target Center on that, and they've been great to work with. That's number one, making sure for the teams that the locker rooms and the ice and the ice access and conditions for play are great.

"Second, is we want to fill the house. We want to make sure that our teams are playing in front of a strong crowd. The XCel Center and the WCHA and the Final Five have done great, and we'll have some strong competition every other year from the Big Ten. Filling the house is a big priority, so we're working with them on the right promotions for the tournament."

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.