While we are talking about the BTHC

While we are on the subject of the BTHC here are a couple of articles that I have found that might be of interest to some. There is a big unknown out there hanging over everyone’s head, there is a lot of variables that I believe haven’t been thought out. This could have a devastating effect on college hockey. When the BTHC come on line you will probably see the WCHA go after Notre Dame and Miami as well.

news.cincinnati.com ---- Currently, three Big Ten schools compete in the CCHA: Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. Two, Minnesota and Wisconsin, compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Miami athletic director Brad Bates said Friday he didn’t have any inside word on whether or when the Big Ten hockey league might become a reality.

Given Miami’s high profile in college hockey – the RedHawks have played in back-to-back Frozen Fours – he expects the RedHawks program to not only survive such a thing if it were to happen, but to thrive from it. Miami routinely has standing-room only crowds at 3,200-seat Steve Cady Arena.

“We’ve been very proactive in our talks about it, and we’ll (weigh it) as to how it affects college hockey in general, our league and (Miami),” Bates said.

An Associated Press report this week speculated whether the CCHA’s smaller programs might be “crushed by the Big Ten’s power” if that conference began playing league hockey.

Hockey is expensive, and schools like Lake Superior State in the CCHA are buoyed by big draws like Michigan, the AP said.

This is actually a news story that I am surprised isn't getting more play or exposure. This could speed up the shake up of college hockey. It's worth a read as well.

www.collegian.psu.edu ---- Happy Valley may become Hockey Valley even sooner than expected.

The Pegula Ice Arena is now projected to open in the fall of 2013 rather than in the spring of 2014, said Associate Athletic Director for Ice Arena Operations and the Director of the Ice Arena and Hockey Campaign Joe Battista.

With that news, Battista said Penn State is now projected to begin Division I conference play in 2013-14, a full season earlier. It has yet to be decided whether a Big Ten conference will be created, or if Penn State will join one of the existing Western Collegiate Hockey Association or Central Collegiate Hockey Association conferences.

The men’s and women’s D-I hockey programs are set to begin play in 2012-13 and will spend the first season as an independent, playing in the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

“We’re pleased with the progress we’re making on the design and the schedule,” Battista said Friday. “A lot of work has gone into this by a lot of people.”

Battista said a meeting held Saturday between himself, Penn State donors Terry and Kim Pegula, Penn State President Graham Spanier, Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and others could produce more even more news.

“The meeting between everyone was to talk about arena bowl configuration, number of seats and number of suites,” Battista said. “Those official numbers could be released as soon as Monday.”

So will Notre Dame blink this time?

According to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette the Big Ten has extended Notre Dame an invitation to join the league, it will be interesting to see if Notre Dame says yes this time. Notre Dame has refused the Big Ten on numerous occasions. If Notre Dame left the CCHA it could have devastating effect on the CCHA because it would leave the CCHA with one attractive draw, Miami.

FortWayne.com ---- Paul Kelly, president of College Hockey Inc., said Tuesday the Big Ten Conference has asked Notre Dame if it's interested in joining a new hockey conference.

"The invitation has been extended," said Kelly, whose year-old company is working with the NCAA to increase the profile of college hockey.

"But as I understand it," he added, "the Big Ten's rule is that if you come in for one sport, you come in for all of them, and NotreDame is interested in keeping its independence in football."

That seems to indicate the Big Ten is not interested in adding satellite members to a new hockey conference.

The last major independent in college football, NotreDame is a member of the Big East for most of its other sports, though the hockey team is a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

Kelly also said Tuesday other Big Ten schools are interested in adding Division I college hockey, though it's an expensive proposition. Penn State recently announced its intention to add Division I men's and women's hockey, a move made possible by a record-breaking $88 million donation from a wealthy alumnus.

Minnesota spends a little more than $1.4 million a year to maintain its men's program, and $655,000 on its women's program.

"Adding Division I hockey is a complex issue," Kelly said, "but there are some schools that would be interested in joining a league with the other Big Ten schools and a school like NotreDame."

Big Ten schools Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are CCHA members. Penn State athletics director Tim Curley said he would like his team to have a conference affiliation by the 2014-15 season. [another link to the story]