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.

Fighting Sioux to play Miami RedHawks. (edited)

According to post from a fan on MiamiHawk talk.com the Miami RedHawks are coming to UND to play a in Thanksgiving Weekend Showcase. This means that the RedHawks will play one game against the Fighting Sioux Hockey team next thanksgiving weekend. I am excited that I will finally get to see the Fighting Sioux beat the RedHawks in REA. Maybe the swoonskies from SCSU can finally beat the RedHawks.

Bringing this thread back to hockey scheduling....

At the Red & White Club luncheon yesterday, Coach Blasi again explained the out of conference plans. He mentioned the Thanksgiving trip to North Dakota, hosting St. Cloud, going to New Hampshire, and playing home and home with Robert Morris, with the game in the Burgh to be the one game RMU annually plays at Mellon Arena. It would be after Christmas some time. He made it sound like all of that will take place next season. He's mentioned all of this before, including the return trips with those schools, except the only 'news' to me was the mention of RMU. I'm not sure how it works with the number of O-O-C games available.

Merrimack Warriors coming to the REA.

Mike McMahon from the Warriorrinkrat.com and of the Bruins Hockey Blog has given me a heads up about a rumor that the Merrimack Warriors of the Hockey East are going to be opening the 2009-2010 season at the REA.