MSU Moorhead says "The Time is Now"

I credit the Fargo Forum's Eric Peterson for guessing correctly but...

According to MSUM AD Peters, MSU Moorhead is pushing towards starting up a DI Men's and Women's Hockey program and has just under half of the money raised to start it up (They say they have $15 million of the required $37 million). They have been exploring starting up DI hockey since 2009.

It's interesting to me that they are exploring this given the state of affairs in Minnesota education financially. The hockey program already has no plans to be funded institutionally, which means it has to be funded privately. How do they plan to raise and maintain such a commitment? Will the WCHA be willing to take on this type of a risky partnership? What if MSU Moorhead decides to go for the program and ends up not being able to get the $37 million? Or worse, what if they manage to successfully start up the program and then run out of funds within the first 5 years of their existence?

To make matters more complicated, there's NCAA Legislation (2010-100) that may not even allow MSU Moorhead to even compete in the manner in which they do. Here is the Proposal 2010-100 (which, by the way, passed legislation and is now set to become NCAA Policy):

In August 2007, the Board placed a four-year moratorium on consideration of new members that expires in August 2011 when the legislation would take effect, if it is adopted. The moratorium was prompted by the presidents’ view that the division should assess the impact of membership migration and develop updated expectations and requirements for membership.

The Leadership Council constructed the new standards were constructed over a period of 18 months. The recommendations include:

• A requirement that all new Division I members first spend at least five years as active members in Division II.
• New Division I members must have a bona fide offer of membership from a Division I multisport voting conference.
• A four-year reclassification process would be created for new members.
• An application fee would be established commensurate with the estimated annual average value of direct benefits of Division I membership through distributions and championships (approximately $1.3 million currently).
• No school subject to a historically based penalty under the Academic Performance Program would be elected to active membership.
• Preliminary certification would be required in the first year of reclassification, and a full compliance review would be required before election to active membership.
• New members would be eligible for revenue distributions related to sport sponsorship and grants-in-aid after three years as an active member. Institutions would qualify immediately for Student-Athlete Opportunity, Special Assistance and Academic Enhancement Funds, as well as basketball grant funds as determined by its conference.
• The practice of allowing schools to sponsor a single sport in a different division would be eliminated, except in sports where no championship is conducted in its division. Divisions II and III schools currently taking advantage of this opportunity would not affected unless they fail to conduct the sport in Division I for any ensuing year.
• The Administration Cabinet would be responsible for review of the reclassification process and appropriate benchmarks.
• The Board would vote to elect institutions to active membership (not the Leadership Council).

Leadership Council members believe – and Board members agree – that the recommendations consider a variety of factors, including allowing student-athletes access to championships (by requiring five years of Division II membership before reclassifying) and protecting the Division I “brand” (by requiring compliance with some Division I standards earlier in the reclassification process and tying the application fee to benefits derived from membership).

I bolded the important part of the proposal. What this means is that, though SCSU, MTU, and MSUM fall under the same situation (Hockey is their only DI sport), they've been a part of a DI conference since 2009-2010 (before that, but that's the line stated in the proposal). MSU Moorhead will not have had such a history. So the question is, if they do decide to go DI in hockey, how do they do it? They will have to act faster, unless I misinterpret the moratorium placed in 2007, than the 3 months their AD has defined.

In the end, it might've been better for a school like Concordia College of Moorhead to jump to DI because they've already established a DIII hockey team. But they're not interested, or haven't shown that they were anyhow.

Who knows what they'll do and if they'd be even allowed to do it. Throw in the finances and I feel that this is very much a long shot.

Brad Malone is the WCHA WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for Dec. 14, 2010

The Pony Express delivered. Brad Malone had a good week on the score sheet and in the face-off circle and was rewarded for his good play by receiving the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week.

WCHA.COM ---University of North Dakota center iceman Brad Malone, who propelled his team to a pair of come-from-behind conference road victories at Minnesota State last weekend and into first place in the league race, has been named the Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for Dec. 14, 2010.

A 6-2, 212-pound senior from Miramichi, New Brunswick, Malone led all players with four points and a +4 plus/minus rating in UND's sweep over the host Mavericks, which enabled the Sioux to take over first place in the race for the WCHA regular season title and MacNaughton Cup. In a 4-3 victory last Friday (Dec. 10), Malone matched his career high with three assists, setting up three straight UND goals after his team trailed 2-0. Then last Sunday afternoon (Dec. 12) and with the Sioux trailing 2-1 in the second period, he capped another rally by scoring the game-winning goal at 14:47 to complete the sweep. Malone also earned a +3 in Sunday's game and was named the No. 1 star. In addition to his four points, Malone also won 56.8% (25-of44) of his face-offs in the series.

WCHA Preview Part III

We are going to delve now into the top half of the league. As I get closer to #1, the tougher it goes to determine who will finish where. For example, I'm pretty certain of UAA finishing dead last. However, I'm not certain where any of the top 6 will finish. As usual, the top 5 will be very tightly packed in terms of talent. It would not surprise me at all if my top 6 looks completely different than reality even by week 3 of the season.

University of Minnesota Golden Gophers
2009-2010 Overall Record: 18-19-2 WCHA Record: 12-14-2 (6-5-0 NC Record)

Key Losses: Jordan Schroeder, Nick Leddy, Jay Barriball, Mike Carman, Ryan Flynn, Tony Lucia
Key Returnees: Jacob Cepis, Alex Kangas, Aaron Ness, Cade Fairchild
Key Rookies: Nick Bjugstad, Erik Haula, Max Gardiner(?)

Let's face it, 4 or 5 years ago, if you said Minnesota will end up barely in the top half of the league and have 2 or 3 straight poor seasons where they miss the NCAA playoffs and one where they didn't even make the Final Five, I'd've called you just another blind homer. Well, it's a reality. The Gophers enter into this season facing arguably the most important season in Coach Lucia's career. This season could be it for Lucia in Minnesota if he doesn't produce. And it is a shame, because his biggest fault is his blind loyalty to John Hill. Hill's incompetence is going to cost Lucia his job this year because I don't see the Gophers any higher than #5 with their current defense.

The Gophers, in my view, have been a finesse/puck possession styled team. They're not overly physical. They rely upon forechecking, outlet passing, a dynamic transition game in the neutral zone, and special teams. I argue that they are still a very good passing team. They're still pretty good at finishing if given the opportunity. However, their Team Defense and their Special Teams (especially their PK unit) is a train wreck. They are easily taken off of their game and that often results in goaltender Alex Kangas being left hung out to dry.

Alex Kangas' stats aren't good or great, and they're not accurate as to how well or poorly he's actually played in his time with the U. Kangas is probably the most consistent player the Gophers have. He's actually pretty good. I consider him to be better than just about every goaltender the Gophers have had since Weber left. In fact, though he's a work in progress, Kent Patterson has the potential to pick up the mantle left by Kangas (Kangas is a senior this year) with little drop. However, no one will notice given how, again, atrocious Minnesota is in their own zone.

They added Cepis mid season and he gave them a boost, thanks to an incredible knack for Cepis to manipulate the shoddy officiating the WCHA offers through the use of acting. Like Roe and Earl before that, Cepis has enough talent to be able to succeed without diving, but he chooses again and again to flop to the ice. Too bad. On a positive note, he finished runner up last season in the Louganis Freestyle Diving (Frozen Water Division) Award to SCSU's Garrett Roe. This year, I'm sure he'll use his first full year's eligibility in Minneapolis to pressure Roe to bring the Trophy to Dinkytown.

I don't see there being a lot of room in the upper echelon for the Gophers in their current configuration. Losing Schroeder was expected, but losing Leddy was a big hit. All Eyes will be on DU and UW's goaltending situations (DU's got a new goaltender and UW's goaltender is almost Carey Price-like in terms of Achilles' Heel). If DU falters and UW is exposed (which I predict they will be), Minnesota could finish as high as tied for 4th! Most likely though, they'll finish 6th.

(?) - I heard Max Gardiner is coming in for the departed Nick Leddy, but Heisenberg still lists him as coming in 2011.

Predicted Finish: 6th

University of Wisconsin Badgers

2009-2010 Overall Record: 28-11-4 WCHA Record: 17-8-3 (11-3-1 NC Record)

Key Losses: Blake Geoffrion, Michael Davies, Ryan McDonaugh, Derek Stepan, Brendan Smith, Cody Goloubef

Key Returners: Jake Gardiner, Craig Smith, John Ramage, Jordy Murray, Scott Gudmanson
Key Recruits: Jason Clark, Frank Simonelli, Chase Drake, Mark Zengerle

Truth be told, this team succeeded far beyond what I thought was possible last season and this season they'll be woefully exposed. Why? Gone is their defensive team that was just as good if not better than the defensive crews I watched dominate for the Sioux in the days of Matt Greene and the NC winning Sioux in 2000. They were simply stifling. Now they're pros. And the Badger faithful should worry. No, they'll not be cellar dwellers. Mike Eaves is too good a head coach to allow them to fall that far. However, they will be forced to revert back to the Badgers of the early 2000s: boring, trap/lock based, insomnia-curing hockey. Why? Because Scott Amundson is NOT Bernd Bruckler or Brian Elliott. In fact, he's, at best, mediocre. And when you don't have that team D ahead of you, all you're left is: exposed.

The Badgers went a long way last season, but they will not see the same success this year. They'll surprise a few and they may return to the NCAAs, but they won't win it all.

Predicted Finish: 5th

Denver University Pioneers
2009-2010 Overall Record: 27-10-4 WCHA Record: 19-5-4 (8-5-0 NC Record)

Key Losses: Marc Cheverie, Joe Colborne, Rhett Rakshani, Tyler Ruegsegger, Patrick Wiercioch
Key Returners: Adam Murray, Matt Donovan, Anthony Maiani, William Wrenn, Drew Shore, Kyle Ostrow
Key Recruits: Sam Brittain, Beau Bennett, Nick Shore, Jason Zucker

Interesting this: Denver loses as much talent, including arguably the best goaltender in the NCAA last season and I have them finishing ahead of the returning DI Hockey runner ups. Why? Because defensively, Denver is still more sound than Wisconsin. Adam Murray and Sam Brittain have more potential than Gudmanson and Bennett. And Gwozdecky, as deplorable he is to Sioux fans, always seems to get the most out of his players.

Sam Brittain has turned heads both in juniors and at the Combine. He's a big guy at 6'3" 190: something you usually use to describe defensemen. Beau Bennett seems to have an innate ability to score. I don't think DU is going to have much trouble in scoring and in Team D. The major question marks this season lies in consistency and goaltending. Murray looked shakey in spot duty last year, but this year is always different. Not every goaltender can tear the league apart like Cheverie did over his 2 years and 1 game he played in Colorado.

DU is going to beatable this year, but it won't be a cakewalk.

Predicted Finish: 4th

WCHA Preview Part II

Here's the second installment of the Preview. Sorry it's been so long. Today we will be previewing UNO, BSU, and CC.

University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks

2009 - 2010 Overall Record: 20-16-6 Conference Record (CCHA): 13-12-3 (7-4-3 NC record)

Key Losses: Nick Fanto, Jeric Agosta, Eddie Del Grosso
Key Returners: Matt Ambroz, Terry Broadhurst, John Faulkner, John Kemp, Joey Martin, Eric Olimb, Rich Purslow
Key Recruits: Matt White, Tony Turgeon, Brock Montpetit

A newcomer to the WCHA, one might claim that a team would go down before it goes up. To be sure, UNO will not be competing for the McNaughton it is inaugural year in the WCHA, but it won't be playing the McNaughton winner in the WCHA Play In game either. They come to the WCHA after finishing in the middle of the CCHA. However, I feel that they could probably have finished higher if it weren't for some bad luck and inconsistency in net.

They join the WCHA with one of the, if not THE, best coaching trios in the WCHA in Dean Blais, Mike Hastings, and Mike Guentzel. So, if they do finish in the bottom half of the WCHA this year, and history repeats itself with Blais, UNO won't stay there long. They also boast a very nice arena, despite it not being a truly hockey dedicated facility in the Qwest Center.

Problem is, Omaha isn't exactly a hockey hotbed despite boasting a nice hockey history (Hockey legend Gordy Howe began his pro career in Omaha) and a quality USHL team that has produced UND players Brett Bruneteau and Danny Kristo (among others).

However, they do have some quality players coming in to play with USHL Player of the Year Matt White on campus right now. John Faulkner can be a great netminder provided he can find consistency. He'll need it with a lot of untested players behind him in Bengstrom and Taffe. This is a team of lunch pail type players. They're not going to be flashy. They will be playing vintage Dean Blais hockey. That means they won't be a cakewalk. And I think they have a possibility of surprising quite a few.

Predicted Finish: Hard to say, but without any clear cut power and inconsistent goaltending, I'm putting them 9th. However, they could finish as high as 6th (ahead of BSU, CC, and even UMN).

Bemidji State University Beavers

Overall Record: 23-10-4 CHA Conference Record: 14-3-1 (9-7-3 NC Record)

Key Losses: Tyler Lehrke, Kyle Hardwick, Chris McKelvie
Key Returners: Matt Read, Brad Hunt, Dan Bakala, Mathieu Dugas, Jordan George
Key Recruits: Radislav Illo, Drew Fisher

The biggest news about BSU is that they come to the WCHA with having two NCAA Tourney visits in the last 2 years, including one trip to the Frozen Four under their belts. They've only put 2 goaltenders in the NHL in the last 3 years as well (Matt Climie and Matt Dalton). Funny you don't hear that much about a team coming from a "throw away" league such as the CHA. They also come to the WCHA with a Hobey Candidate in Matt Read.

Bemidji isn't top heavy, but they are kings at strategy and experience. They were dominant in the CHA and was decent in non conference play. However, the 9-7-3 record gives a good indicator of where to expect BSU this season, as they don't lose a whole lot in talent due to the pros or graduation. They have a real dynamic recruit coming into Bemidji in Radislav Illo. They also have experience coming into a depth/grinder position in Drew Fisher. Couple that with a couple of Swedish defensemen and some wingers from the NAHL (Ladd and Jubinville) and possibly USHL forward Matt Cain.

I expect that they'll more than likely be right in the mix in the middle of the WCHA pack. Tom Serratore is an excellent coach. If Chay Genoway doesn't get the Hobey, I'd love to see Matt Read get it. Like UNO, BSU's playing style is very complimentary to the WCHA and they should fit right in. However, whether they have a big future or not is up in the air. They did briefly get a big time recruit in Franko but he bolted for a career in the WHL.

Time will tell.

Predicted Finish: 8th (could be as high as 6th and as low as 9th)

Colorado College Tigers

Overall Record: 19-17-3 WCHA Record: 12-13-3 (7-4-0 NC Record)

Key Losses: Nate Prosser, Mike Testuide, Addison DeBoer, Brian McMillin, Bill Sweatt
Key Returners: Joe Howe, Rylan Schwartz, Andrew Hamberg
Key Recruits: Jaden Schwartz, Dakota Eveland, Eamon McDermott

This team lives and dies by Joe Howe. So when the freshman goaltender started out on fire, life was good. However, Joe Howe succumbed to the biggest problem freshmen goaltenders face: they're freshmen. He cooled off and so did the Tigers.

The Tigers bring in Eveland and Schwartz hoping to bring scoring to the team, but this team will need everyone to step up. There was even message board scuttlebutt (which means it's hardly worth mentioning) that Scotty Owens could be on the hot seat if things don't improve.

Unfortunately, the WCHA is again deep this year and there's not much room for CC to go up unless Joe Howe can pull a Marc Cheverie or Peter Mannino and simply be unbeatable for the majority of the season. I don't see them having enough of a team depth in scoring to be able to crack the top 5.

Predicted Finish: 7th

Next: UMN, UW, and DU

WCHA Season Preview Intro & Part I (RW77)

The 2010-11 DI Season is Coming!

Yup, Season ONE of the 12 team WCHA is just around the corner, and despite the filth that is the NCAA and the Nickname issue, I'm getting excited (add to that that the NFL season is around the corner and the Cubs have once again crapped out and renewed all the haters' claims that they really are baseball's professional punch line organization)!

The season brings old challenges and new challenges and I plan to outline the new challenges and what the league brings to the table this year in my own way as well as briefly (I promise) review the old challenges. This will be done in several parts as this would surely make an unbelievably long blog post and one that I don't have the time to dedicate to writing all in one go. I plan to review a new and old challenge as well as 2-3 teams per blog post until I've run out of challenges this season faces and have previewed all 12 WCHA teams. I will not be spending any time talking about the latest nonsense regarding the BTHC or Major Juniors.

Hopefully this will be well received and I will make this a yearly occurrence.

And So It Begins

The first thing I'll hit on is the age old challenge regarding Obstruction. A few years back, the NCAA issued a crackdown on Obstruction, including what the WCHA fans call "Clutch and Grab Hockey." The result was the same as any other crackdown issued by the NCAA: Unconcern, overzealous implementation, Gradual Indifference, and finally bogus exclamation of resolution.

The WCHA almost seemingly didn't care about this, as McLeod stooge Greg Shepherd (then only a part time Head of Officiating) only half heartedly implemented his interpretation of the rules. This resulted into penalties being called every 30 seconds or so. However, as the season progressed, the penalty calling decreased and clutch and grab returned gradually, this time more adapted to make it not so overt. Inevitably, Shepherd was asked to report the progress the WCHA has made on the crackdown on obstruction and he said that the teams were very sharp and fast to learn to the point that clutch and grab practically didn't occur any longer.

Don't worry folks, you'll sense a theme here. Today, the old challenge is to engage in the up tempo style that many of the WCHA teams employ (such as UMN, SCSU, UND, and as of late UW) with a seemingly non existent Clutch and Grab mentality blinding the FOUR officials on the ice.

Teams to Preview: Michigan Tech University, University of Alaska-Anchorage, MSU Mankato

Michigan Tech University (MTU)

WCHA Record last year: 4-24-0 Overall Record: 5-30-1 (1-6-1 in Non-conference Play)

Key Losses: Malcolm Gwilliam, Drew Dobson
Key Returnees: Kevin Genoe, Jordan Baker, Brett Olson, Deron Cousins, Josh Robinson
Key Recruits: Brad Stebner, Daniel Holmberg, Dennis Rix

My Take: Well.... if you are a betting man, avoid Tech. They have some gems, but none of them produce offensively. Mainly, their top player is Kevin Genoe, a goaltender who is only a sophomore this year. Josh Robinson is also returning, and he is my sleeper on this team. I've always thought pretty highly of Tech's goaltending since watching Cam Ellsworth play way back in my on campus days. Unfortunately, they can't get offensive help. Dennis Rix comes into Houghton with a pretty good offensive output all things considered last season with Grande Prairie of the AJHL. Daniel Holmberg is a BIG Swede center who could possibly fill a role as big bodied finisher, but who knows how Europeans convert their game to the NCAA way. They do get leadership back in Baker and Olson.

Remember: Most NCAA student athletes go pro in something other than sports. Watch Tech players become good pros in other areas than hockey as soon as their eligibility is up.

Predicted Outcome: 11th

University of Alaska-Anchorage (UAA)

2009-10 WCHA Record: 9-17-2 Overall Record: 11-23-2 (Non-conference Record: 2-6-0)

Key Losses: Lee Baldwin, Bryce Christianson, Jon Olthuis, Nils Backstrom, Kevin Clark, Jared Tuton, Josh Lunden
Key Returnees: Curtis Leinweber, Tommy Grant, Daniel Naslund, Kane Lafranchise, Luka Vidmar
Key Recruits: Rob Gunderson (G), Chris Kamal (G), pretty much all forwards

This team is much similar to MTU...except the defections have begun and it's hurt them as only one defection was to the pros (Baldwin) and the other was seemingly discontent. However, when the discontentment involves a player that could have been... no, essentially WOULD HAVE BEEN the #1 goaltender coming into this season and couple that with the graduation of the only other goaltender on UAA that has even ONE NCAA DI game under his belt.... This can't be good.

Junior practice goaltender Dusan Sidor (0 games entering his 3rd year in Anchorage) is joined by AJHL graduate Rob Gunderson and NAHLer Chris Kamal to vie for the starting position. Lookie at all that inexperience. This question mark is simply too GIGANTIC to even consider putting this team in any role in the WCHA other than spoiler/ruiner of PWR... if they manage to win. There's even a significant chance that they'll lose to whichever CIAU college they are playing this year.

The saddest thing is their Head Coach Dave Shyiak. I really don't think he's that bad of a coach. He's no Serratore or whoever it was that coached RIT, but UAA has the misfortune of being, well, UAA. Recruiting to Anchorage is very nearly impossible. And that means that UAA is doomed to be a virtual cellar dweller in the talent-heavy WCHA.

Predicted Outcome: 12th

Minnesota State University at Mankato (MSUM)

2009-10 WCHA Outcome: 9-17-2 Overall Record: 16-20-3 (Non-conference Play: 7-3-1)

Key Losses: Geoff Irwin, Kael Mouillerat, Kevin Murdock, Zach Harrison, Tyler Pitlick
Key Returners: Michael Dorr, Phil Cook, Andrew Sackrison, Ben Youds, Ryan Galiardi, Channing Boe

The Mavericks aren't the worst team in the league. They're just not talented enough to hang with the top pack. Add into that their historical penchant for rather...ahm...unethical standards of play and it's hard to get excited about the Mavs unless you are a diehard fan...which means you are a current or former student at Mankato.

They have some talent. Phil Cook and Austin Lee were ok. Andrew Sackrison, Galiardi, Dorr, and Youds have talent... they just can't seem to put it all together. They had the future in hand with Kevin Murdock and Tyler Pitlick but they bolted for greener pastures (Major juniors for Pitlick and the USHL for Murdock). It's too bad. That being said, of the bottom three, MSUM can best act as the best spoiler and can steal some games against the top of the league on any given night.

They give UND fits in Mankato, even when UND gets the win. That being said.... They'll fight with UNO and BSU for the top 10. In the end, I think Blais and the experience of the Beavers will be too much.

Predicted Finish: 10th

Poll Monday

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[January 18, 2010]

1 Denver (39) 14-5-3 989 1
2 Miami (11) 15-4-5 957 2
3 Wisconsin 13-6-3 863 3
4 Minnesota-Duluth 16-7-1 795 10
5 North Dakota 12-7-5 654 4
6 Yale 10-4-3 651 5
7 Colorado College 13-8-3 641 8
8 Ferris State 16-6-2 633 6
9 Cornell 9-4-3 573 9
10 Michigan State 15-7-4 563 7
11 Boston College 12-6-2 554 12
12 St. Cloud State 14-7-3 523 14
13 Union 13-4-5 485 13
14 Bemidji State 15-5-2 435 11
15 Massachusetts 14-8-0 310 19
16 New Hampshire 10-7-4 220 20
17 Vermont 11-7-2 185 18
18 Lake Superior 14-8-4 118 NR
19 Mass.-Lowell 12-9-2 97 15
20 Maine 11-9-2 83 16
Others Receiving Votes: Michigan 52, Quinnipiac 47, Minnesota 30, Alaska 20, Notre Dame 19, St. Lawrence 2, RIT 1

--------------

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Jan. 18, 2010]
1 Denver (24) 14-5-3 500 1
2 Miami University (Ohio) (10) 15-4-5 483 2
3 Wisconsin 13-6-3 420 3
4 Minnesota Duluth 16-7-1 361 10
5 Yale 10-4-3 304 5
6 North Dakota 12-7-5 295 4
7 Cornell 9-4-3 263 8
8 Colorado College 13-8-3 249 9
9 Ferris State 16-6-2 237 7
10 Boston College 12-6-2 232 12
11 Michigan State 15-7-4 214 6
12 St. Cloud State 14-7-3 173 15
13 Union College 13-4-5 158 13
14 Bemidji State 15-5-2 90 11
15 Massachusetts 14-8-0 58 NR
Others receiving votes: University of New Hampshire, 35; University of Massachusetts Lowell, 3; University of Vermont, 3; University of Alaska, 2.

Analysis: Color me surprised. It would appear that the Pollsters have to be taking the loss of Chay Genoway and Brett Hextall injuries into account in their rankings because I honestly believe that UND is really probably about a 10th ranked team and not a 5th or 6th ranked team nationally. Cornell and Yale ranked high again. It will be fun watching one EZAC team make it into the NCAA tourney and watching them go out in their first game, again.

UNO and BSU to the WCHA for the 2010-2011 season.

The BSU Beavers and the UNO Mavericks will be joining the WCHA for the 2010-2011 season. This is a good day for college hockey and it will help save the BSU Beavers that needed a conference to survive, they now are a member of the WCHA. Now it would seem logical if the UAH Chargers were admitted to the CCHA. I think it is in the best interest of college hockey for UAH to be admitted to the CCHA.

MADISON, Wis. – In what will rank among the most significant days in the storied, 58-year history of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the membership today voted to admit both Bemidji State University and the University of Nebraska Omaha into the Association family beginning with the 2010-11 season. This marks the first expansion of the WCHA since Minnesota State University, Mankato was admitted as a 10th member for the 1999-2000 season and eighth time overall the league has expanded since it’s founding in 1951.

The admission of Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha will bring the league membership to 12 teams. The current 10-team membership of the men’s WCHA is comprised of University of Alaska Anchorage, Colorado College, University of Denver, Michigan Technological University, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and University of Wisconsin.

“I am extremely pleased to announce that the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is expanding to twelve teams,” said WCHA Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod. “With the addition of Bemidji State University and the University of Nebraska Omaha the WCHA solidifies and positions itself to maintain and expand upon the excellence that is the WCHA.

“This is certainly a defining moment for the WCHA and we are proud to add Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha to our already strong organization.

“This is a happy and proud day for me,” continued McLeod. “I’m happy because I think this is such a win-win circumstance for the WCHA, our new members and collegiate hockey in general. I could not be more proud of the way our WCHA members have handled this very complex circumstance and have been able to look beyond their own backyard and do what is best for college hockey and the WCHA.

“The WCHA is proud of what they’ve put together in 58 years (2009-10 will be the league’s 58th season) and I think this day will go down as a watershed day. I fully anticipate what we’ve done today will make us even better. I’m excited about the future and can’t wait to get going.”

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is home to a collegiate record 36 national championship teams since it’s founding in 1951, a record 13 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Winners, some 400 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League and some 725 NHL Draftees, more than 150 alums who have played on various Olympic hockey teams, and more than 40 players and coaches who have been part of Stanley Cup (NHL) winning clubs. In addition, the WCHA has drawn in excess of 1,500,000 fans in each of the past seven seasons and in excess of 1,000,00 for 16 consecutive years and annually conducts one of college hockey’s premier post-season tournaments – the Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five held annually at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The Final Five drew 82,065 fans this past March.

“The pieces are all falling into place for Bemidji State hockey,” stated BSU Director of Athletics Dr. Rick Goeb. “Beginning with the efforts to elevate our hockey programs to the NCAA Division I level and having the women’s program join the WCHA over 10 years ago, to our partnership with the city to see a world-class venue like the Bemidji Regional Event Center come to fruition, and now the men’s hockey program being approved for membership into the elite conference in all of college hockey.
“We want to thank the city of Bemidji, our dedicated fans and the student body who have supported Bemidji State hockey. These outstanding hockey fans and partnerships have made membership into the WCHA a reality.”

Said Bemidji State men’s hockey coach Tom Serratore, who took his team to the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in April of this year, “This is a great day for the Beavers.“

“First, I want to thank the WCHA for this opportunity. It is truly an honor to be a part of the greatest hockey conference at the Division I level and we feel privileged to come along side the other Division I hockey programs in the state of Minnesota as members of the WCHA.

“Beaver Hockey reaches far beyond this campus so that makes today’s announcement a dream come true for our alumni, many in the community and many in the region. This is a proud day for all involved with Bemidji State.”

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