Defenseman Thomas Welsh de-commits from Penn State

I reached out to Mike Welsh a person that I had interviewed via email last September when his son Thomas committed to play hockey at Penn State. Thomas has since de-committed from PSU. I again, had a conversation with Mike Via email.

It’s nice to talk to you again Mike.  It’s been almost a year since we last chatted.

Q: Your son Thomas Welsh who is a highly sought after recruit recently de-committed from Penn State University this past week and I was wondering if NCAA Hockey is still in the future for Thomas? 

Mike Welsh: Having Thomas gain the experience academically and by continuing his development in hockey by being at an NCAA Division 1 school, was the driving force on why he left Canada before his minor midget draft year.  We felt that if Thomas was in the USA at a prep school that this would send a very clear message to the NCAA that this is a "kid" that really wants to play school hockey.

Decommitting was not something that Thomas – nor us as a family every considered once a decision with PSU was made.   We as a family took our time when we decided on PSU.   As we have stated before Div 1 hockey has so much to offer....  However, one cannot deny the CHL has many benefits as well, its an individual decision that families must make.  Either option can by the right choice.

Q: Was the scandal at Penn State University a factor in the decision to de-commit Penn State University?

Mike Welsh: Absolutely not, PSU University is a very fine institution.

Q: If he’s still considering College Hockey are there any particular schools that he might be interested in? 

Mike Welsh: Thomas will need to explore his options and will have to make a decision based upon due diligence.

Q: I read on a blog that your son’s rights were trade from Sarnia to Mississauga. Is the CHL still an option as well?

Mike Welsh: Thomas was initially drafted by Sarnia in 2011 but was recently traded to the Steelheads this spring (2012).  There has been some discussion with the Steelheads but that is as far as it goes.  Thomas will need to explore other DIv 1 schools.

Q: Has Thomas looked into any schools out west or are there any schools that have shown an interest as well?

Mike Welsh:  The recruiting process for Thomas will need to be "restarted", when he committed to PSU for 2013, he sent a message to other schools that this was his choice.    He will need to restart this process.   The NCAA has particular rules on recruiting and those rules need to be adhered to so that the eligibility for a player remains intact.

Q: I see that Thomas is playing with the OJHL's Georgetown Raiders…

Mike Welsh:  Thomas is playing for the Georgetown Raider Jr A team this year.  It was a family decision for him to return due to some health issues with me.  He recently played in the Team Canada East Evaluation Camp and in the Burlington Cougar Tournament and I provided a link for you.  [click to view]

This is from the Thank You Terry PSU Blog.

 2013 defense commit Thomas Welsh was at a Team Canada East selection camp over the weekend as part of the buildup to choosing who will wear the maple leaf at the World Junior A Challenge in November. Welsh received sound marks for his performance from at least one scout, as he ultimately seeks to join PSU freshmen Curtis Loik and Luke Juha in earning a WJAC gold medal.

So all's great, right? Wrong.

[Mississauga Steelheads GM James] Boyd was there not only scouting the talent. But also his talent. D-Man Thomas Welsh. 95 birthday.

The Steelheads acquired Welsh's draft rights from Sarnia (who initially selected the Toronto native in the fifth round in 2011) back on June 1st. So it certainly seems as if all signs point to the OHL club making a strong push for a guy who qualifies as one of Guy Gadowsky's better recruits to date.

For now, the plan is for Welsh to join the OJHL's Georgetown Raiders this season after playing previously for New England prep powerhouse Salisbury School. But stay tuned.

FBI and U.S. Postal inspectors probing whether disgraced former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky was involved in a pedophile ring

The Sicatoka posted a link to this article over on Sioux Sports.

It looks like the hits and more bad news keeps coming for the Nitany Lions and if this story ends up being true this is not very good news for Penn State University. Going forward - it will be interesting to see what other revelations come out from this investigation.

It's mind boggling to me that this stuff could go on for so long and was covered up by power people connected to the PSU athletic department and it took so long for this information to come out.

Dick Weiss, New York Daily News --- The FBI and U.S. Postal inspectors are investigating whether disgraced former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky was involved in a pedophile ring involving men connected to the university, a new report charges.

A source tells Radaronline.com that investigators are looking into an allegation that Sandusky and “a prominent Penn State booster” were involved in “illegal behavior with young boys.”

In addition, Postal Inspectors have been looking into whether Sandusky shared child pornography with others, CBS News has reported.

Analyzing a computer seized from Sandusky, investigators are also looking into whether he sent “seductive letters” across state lines for sexual purposes.

Some of the letters may have been sent to his sexual abuse victims. The investigation is being carried out by the Postal Inspection Service office in Harrisburg, Pa., and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Judgement day for Penn State

What I have read today - the sanctions that Penn State University is going to experience - is going to be more punitive than if the Penn State University football program had suffered the death penalty.

I am not sure how that is possible? According to all of the reports, "Unprecedented," said one NCAA source. "This is just unprecedented."

So just what is it that we will see tomorrow in the way of punishment that is so unprecedented? It will be something we have never seen before.

If there is no death penalty for Penn State University - what penalty would be unprecedented that we have never seen anything like it before? There are some that aren't happy about the NCAA deciding to punish Penn State without even so much as a hearing and it appears that Mark Emmert was the lone arbiter on this mater as well. Some are going to ask as well - what actual NCAA violation was violated?

(ESPN.com) --- NCAA president Mark Emmert has decided to punish Penn State with severe penalties likely to include a significant loss of scholarships and loss of multiple bowls, a source close to the decision told ESPN's Joe Schad on Sunday morning.

But Penn State will not receive the so-called "death penalty" that would have suspended the program for at least one year, the source said.

The penalties, however, are considered to be so harsh that the death penalty may have been preferable, the source said.

The NCAA will announce "corrective and punitive measures" for Penn State on Monday morning, it said in a statement Sunday. Emmert will reveal the sanctions at 9 a.m. ET in Indianapolis at the organization's headquarters along with Ed Ray, the chairman of the NCAA's executive committee, and Oregon State's president, the news release said.

It is expected the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and/or the NCAA Executive Committee has granted Emmert the authority to punish through nontraditional methods, the source told Schad.

This begs the question - what stops the NCAA to just punishing schools without so much of a hearing? Who is the arbiter? Who decides the punishment? Where is the due process? I have no problem with the NCAA giving something in the way of punishment to Penn State - however - do they not have the benefit of at least being heard?

According to Rival.com Penn State is going to have 10-plus [scholarships stripped] for four years or five years - plus a multi year bowl ban.

Sifting through the debris of the PSU child abuse scandal…

I have spent the weekend reading about the Penn State University child abuse scandal and the more I read, the angrier I have become.

In a nut shell - power PSU administrators and an iconic football coach - covered up a grotesque, disgusting sexual abuse scandal for 14 years. This is really really nothing more than a sad and depressing case, that will plague Penn State University for a very long time.

The people that stepped forward were thrown under the bus and shunned publicly. In this case it would appear that the football program appears to have run the univeristy - when there was evidence of wrong doing - these same powerful people from the athletic department covered this disgusting scandal up and swept it under the rug.

Why? Because these same selfish people cared more about the football program and it's image than the health and welfare of young boys. I can tell you one thing, I wouldn't send my child to this school.

For 14 years they were silent and complicit in Sandusky's sexual abuse. For 14 years Paterno, President Graham Spanier, Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President Gary Schultz could have picked up the phone to call the cops and tell what they knew about Sandusky sexually assaulting young boys. But they didn't. All they cared about was negative attention and how it might reflect on the program and the university.[CNN Opinion]

There is no way anyone can defend this mess, this is totally unacceptable and there is no way anyone can defend this or sugar coat this. You can put chocolate sprinkles and frosting on a turd but in the end it's still a turd.

Earlier this week I said that the NCAA should throw the book at PSU, but after thinking about it what could they do about it. There also may not be any NCAA response to this mess/scandal.

That's the sad part is; I begrudgingly believe the Sicatoka might be right - there might not be anything that the NCAA can do about this, because it would be outside of their scope of control – as disgusting as this is, this would appear to be a criminal issue and maybe not worthy of a single NCAA sanctions. Sicatoka said recently in the comments of another blog post“…until the events can be shown to have violated some NCAA rule (lack of institutional control, maybe?) I don't see where the NCAA has any jurisdiction in this matter.

Going forward I think the first thing the University should have done to begin the healing process is tear down the statue Joe Paterno, unfortunately, that's not going to happen either or at least for now.

Don Van Natta Jr. , ESPN.com --- The embattled members of Penn State's Board of Trustees quietly have decided to leave Joe Paterno's statue standing -- at least for now and, some hope, forever, according to sources with firsthand knowledge of the trustees' private discussions this week. The trustees' reluctance to remove the statue is motivated, in part, by a desire not to offend alumni and students who adore the late coach despite the damning findings of his role in the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse cover-up detailed in the Freeh report, the sources said. Some trustees also said in interviews they want to resist being pressured by the media into a sudden decision about such an emotionally charged issue.

I would love to see PSU take that statue of Joe Paterno and smash it into a thousand pieces and then melt it down into a molten blob.  In my opinion, from now on when Penn State will be for the crimes of Jerry Sandusky and how he sodomized young boys for 14 years in the showers of Penn State University athletic buildings and when he was caught the university swept it under the rug and covered it up - these people should also go to jail for a very long time because they are just culpable as well in this matter. I hope the victims sue Penn State into the ground.

Time for the NCAA to throw the book at PSU football

Getty Images

The results of the PSU sex abuse scandal were made public today – just like many of us expected – PSU officials to include former head football coach Joe Paterno covered up these heinous and disgusting vile acts for over 14 year period, there is no excuse for this felonious criminal behavior, none.

PSU officials have known since 1998 that Jerry Sandusky was a sexual predator and was abusing young boys on the grounds of Penn State University, yet they covered these crimes up. This is unacceptable! The Penn State officials that covered up these crimes are also culpable for the heinous acts that were committed against the victims of Jerry Sandusky.

There is no way of sugar coating this - this is a horrible disgusting scandal cannot go unpunished – the NCAA has to respond to this, if the NCAA fails to respond to this in an acceptable manner they have no credibility what-so-ever. The NCAA needs to come down hard on the PSU football team - the "death penalty" for the PSU football team would be a good start.

State College, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Penn State's most powerful leaders showed "total and consistent disregard" for victims of child sex abuse and failed to protect children, according to the findings of a long-awaited internal review over how the university handled a scandal involving its former defensive coordinator. In fact, the report says several former officials "empowered" Jerry Sandusky to continue his abuse, and investigators say legendary head football coach Joe Paterno could have stopped the attacks had he done more. Read the report here (PDF)

I read a good number of the Freeh report until I couldn’t stomach any more of it - I hope Jerry Sandusky rots in hell. There are a few items in this report that I found to be really egregious. The University knew about this as early as 1998.

Investigators found that even before May 1998, "several staff members and football coaches regularly observed Sandusky showering with young boys," but "none of the individuals interviewed notified their superiors of this behavior," according to the report.

It also found that university police "and the Department of Public Welfare responded promptly to the report by a young boy's mother of a possible sexual assault by Sandusky" in 1998, and top university officials were "kept informed of the investigation.

In what universe is an adult male showering with a young boy to be considered to be normal behavior – that should have been the last incident in this story not the beginning of a long line of abusive incidents. Again, there is not excuse to these incidents - none - the victims of Jerry Sandusky will suffer the effects of their abuse for the rest of their lives.

Another thing that I find disgusting is on Page 62 of the Free Report it states.

On Friday February 9, 2011, University graduate assistant Michael McQueary observed Sandusky involved in a sexual activity with a boy in the coach’s shower room in the University Lasch Building. McQueary met with and reported the incident to Paterno on Saturday, February 10, 2001. Paterno did not immediately report what McQueary told him, explaining that he didn’t not want to interfere with anyone’s weekend.

Wait, What? Didn’t want to interfere with anyone’s weekend, you’ve got to be kidding me. I had to read this twice because I couldn't believe that Paterno could be so callus, the health and safety of the children victimized are way more important than some university suit's weekend being interrupted because one of their assistant football coaches was a sexual predator and had perpetrated a felonious crime against a minor child. This is nothing but arrogance of an out of control football coach and staff.

Finally, They should take the statue that stands outside of Beaver Stadium and smash it into a thousand pieces melt it down and sell the rubble as scraps, because the actions of a few bad apples in  have tarnished the reputation for Penn State for a very long time.

The ball is in PSU’s court, the rest of the world is waiting for you to make the proper and right move.

Does Penn State belong in the Big Ten?

The Face of Pervert

I found this article while reading the Thank You Terry Hockey Biog. Can you imagine If the Big Ten decided that they no longer could tolerate the scandal at Penn State?

Does Penn State belong in the Big Ten?

The Big Ten’s Council of Presidents voted in 1990 to “integrate Pennsylvania State University” into the conference. PSU began athletic competition in the league in 1993, making the Nittany Lions full-blown competitive members for 19 years.

Though full details aren’t available, the emails released so far and other investigations indicate Paterno and the school’s president, vice president and athletic director learned of Sandusky’s perversion as early as 1998.

In other words, *for at least 74 percent of the time that Penn State has been in the Big Ten Conference, four of the most powerful figures on campus allegedly chose to focus on protecting their institution and positions of authority at the expense of children already abused — with more victims to come because of their inaction.

Is that how the Big Ten does business? And is that the kind of operation the Big Ten wants to associate itself with?

Those are brutally hard questions. But the discussion needs to happen, and at a level far beyond athletics.

The history of major schools getting kicked out of conferences is short.

* This is the sentence that makes my blood boil – Penn State knew – that’s unacceptable.

If the Big Ten decided that they no longer wanted Penn State in their Conference – would cause great turmoil – especially after all of the dominos had already fallen in re-alignment.

In my opinion, Jerry Sandusky is a disgusting P.O.S and deserves to rot in hell for the rest of his life for what he has done to defenseless children. There is no excuse for what Sandusky has done – no matter how you look at it the guy is pure evil.

Going forward, how does Penn State make it right? Is there any chance the Big Ten kicks Penn State out of the Big Ten Conference? What should happen to Penn State? What is a just and right punishment?

In Conclusion; People (Staff, student and visitors) have the right to feel safe on America’s college campuses, what has happened at Penn State is unacceptable especially if they covered it up and kicked it under the rug. Penn State needs to pay some kind of a price for the sins of their football program – but what is an acceptable penalty? Does Penn State deserve to have the book thrown at them? Are NCAA sanctions up to a death penalty an acceptable punishment? What do you think?

Pegula drew violations as gas driller

Hum! Here is an interesting read about the Terry Pegula the money man behind PSU's hockey program and their new "Pegula Ice Arena" as well as the guy that is trying to buy the Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo News ---- In the course of making his fortune, the Florida billionaire negotiating to buy the Buffalo Sabres contributed heavily to politicians in a position to advance his business interests and established a less-than-stellar track record in the environmentally dicey business of drilling for natural gas, The Buffalo News has found.

A News review of compliance records found East Resources, the company Terrence M. Pegula sold last summer for $4.7 billion, had a middling record of complying with environmental regulations in Pennsylvania, his base of operations. The company last year paid the largest regulatory fine in its history and was involved in a spill of toxic wastewater that resulted in the first quarantine of cattle in the history of natural gas drilling in the state.

Cady: Too early to tell how PSU program might affect CCHA

Here is an interesting idea thrown out there by Miami University senior associate athletics director Steve Cady. I kind of like this idea myself, It would be a scheduling nightmare, but it would be doable.

Daytondailynews.com -- Which begs the obvious question: After that, which conference will Penn State join?

“It’s certainly going to create speculation,” Cady said. “The good thing is that there is going to be three years to figure it out.”

He doesn’t like to speculate, even a little bit, but when asked about the possibility of Penn State joining fellow Big Ten Conference teams Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association — the Big Ten doesn’t have a hockey conference, yet — he was only a little hopeful.

“Yes, it would be tremendous for the CCHA,” Cady said of the conference in which Miami competes. “I don’t know if that’s going to happen.

“If you look at the history of the Big Ten once they get six teams (in any NCAA sport), they try to bring those six teams under their Big Ten umbrella,” he explained.

There are a couple other possibilities.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, another major hockey conference which has two Big Ten schools, Minnesota and Wisconsin, could merge with the CCHA into a mega-conference and bring all the Big Ten schools together.

One thing that I have seen mentioned on the internet is that you could combine the teams into a "SUPER" conference and then you could have four six team divisions.

A few more links - PSU adds hockey...

After reading this it would appear that Red Berenson has his head screwed on right. I would imagine that Red is right there probably are a few teams that don’t want to leave the WCHA or CCHA.

Ann Arbor.COM-- Michigan coach Red Berenson said Friday afternoon that although Penn State's financial commitment to hockey is a "huge step in the right direction for any more future growth in college hockey" having the Nittany Lions join one conference over another doesn't make a difference to him.

Berenson expects a lot of speculation to take place over the next four years, but he doesn't think the answer is breaking up existing leagues with long-standing traditions.

"I don't think teams are anxious to leave their own conference and abandon them and start a new conference," Berenson said. "I don't think anyone wants to see a league take a hit."

Since when is Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Hershey considered hockey hotbeds? Michigan, Minnesota and Massachusetts are considered hockey hotbeds with thriving youth hockey programs. Some of the stuff I have read surrounding the Penn State University announcement recently is absolutely ridiculous.

The Daily Collegian-- The Big Ten released a statement saying a decision on the formation of a Big Ten hockey conference will not be made without significant discussion.

As far as appointing a head coach, Curley said he would begin reviewing candidates within the next year.

Commenting on the speculation, Curley said he had preliminary talks with the five Big Ten schools who currently offer Big Ten hockey and they agreed to begin discussions about a possible conference at the October Big Ten meetings.

While the decision hasn’t been made yet, Curley does anticipate the varsity teams to go by the university’s signature name, the Nittany Lions, rather than their current name, the Icers.

The next step the university will take is appointing an architect for the construction of the state-of-the-art facility. The new facility has not been named yet but Curley said he plans to sit down and talk with the Pegulas about a possible title within the next three-six months.

Curley also believes the teams will be financially self-sustaining, citing the university’s majority population from hockey hotbeds including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Hershey.

Besides collegiate hockey, Curley said the new rink could also be used for figure skating and NHL exhibition games, as well as for concerts and other university events.

Again the move the UNO Mavericks is looking better and better all of the time for the UNO hockey program.

Omaha World-Herald --- With speculation swirling of another conference shakeup down the road, the Mavs' move to the WCHA might've happened at an ideal time. Penn State just announced that it will begin playing Division I men's hockey in 2012-13, making the formation of a long-rumored Big Ten hockey conference a strong possibility.

But even if Minnesota and Wisconsin eventually depart the WCHA, UNO still will be aligned with North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College, St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth. The introduction of Big Ten hockey would seemingly have a far more negative impact on the Mavs' old conference, with the CCHA waving goodbye to high-profile programs Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and possibly even Notre Dame.

In the here and now, it's a certainty that the puck will drop on a new season in October, and UNO will get after the goal of making it to the WCHA Final Five. The league's showcase event — now featuring a six-team format — happens in March at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

When it comes to positioning the Mavs for WCHA success, it's hard to imagine a better power structure for the program.

Ah the speculation, why not a team in Iowa City as well?

Goal Gophers -- Two other Big Ten teams have made inquiries about doing the same, But Paul Kelly, executive director of College Hockey, Inc., the education and marketing arm of NCAA hockey, isn't saying which teams.

One team supposedly in the mix is Illinois.

Makes sense if someone is looking at the top club teams. The Illini have played in the ACHA national tournament in 13 of the past 15 years and have made the semifinals seven times. Illinois won the national title in 2005.

So are the Illini a Division I prospect? Publicly, no.

Icers react to D-1 move

Here is what the head coach of the Penn State University Icers had to say on PSU going Division I in college hockey. I would imagine that Icer head coach Scott Balboni will be out of a job when PSU goes looking for a high profile head coach to run their upstart program. Of course Balboni is interested in the position, it's going to be a very good paying job, I am sure in the $200,000.00 - $300,000.00 dollar range.

The Daily Collegian --- Current Icers head coach Scott Balboni said he definitely would throw his name into the coaching search if he was asked.

Athletic Director Tim Curley said the university will initiate its search for a coach in the next 6-9 months.

“It’s a dream job,” Balboni said. “It’s going to be the premiere job in the country and that’s something that I would consider.”

As far as the current state of the men’s club teams, the Icers and Ice Lions, Curley said Friday his tentative plan is to have a club hockey team that plays on a lower level, as long as there is interest from the students.

Since this means there are only two remaining seasons for the Icers at the Division I club level, Balboni said the Icers are even more determined to leave a lasting impression on the ACHA and Division I club.

“We want to go out on top and win back-to-back national championships,” Balboni said. “That’s what we’re shooting for.”

Penn State Joins College Hockey - Links

Today was a historic day in the college hockey world as Penn State University announced that they are going to start a Division I hockey program for the 2012-2013 season.

Penn State to play Division I hockey [Read article]

That could create a domino effect for college hockey throughout the Midwest.

Both the CCHA and WCHA have expressed interest in adding Penn State.

"They are a very attractive choice -- very attractive," CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said earlier this month, according to the Detroit News. "They're in a different market than we're in, more and more U.S. players are on college rosters, and there's tremendous growth of the sport in Pennsylvania."

The addition of men's and women's ice hockey will increase the number of sports at Penn State to 31, one of the largest athletic programs in the country among BCS schools.

Curley said the new hockey facility is scheduled to be built by spring 2014, just west of the Jordan Center, home to the university's basketball teams. The arena will include two ice sheets, and university leaders hope to attract NHL and minor-league exhibition hockey games.

I guess I didn’t realize that the WCHA was interested in adding Penn State to the mix?

It’s Officially Official: Penn State Hockey Goes D-1 [Read article]

The new, state of the art. $75 million arena, is expected to be completed by 2013 and funded exclusively by private donations.

It will include two ice sheets and other features that will allow it to be used for a broad range of campus and community activities, from commencement ceremonies to kinesiology classes to public skating sessions and camps for youth. The facility will provide new training and performance opportunities for Penn State’s popular and successful figure skating club and for the University’s women’s ice hockey team. It also will offer ice time to recreational and high school hockey programs, as well as intramural and local speed skating and broomball clubs. The state-of-the-art arena will be able to host events such as professional ice shows and National Hockey League and American Hockey League exhibition games, generating tourism and other economic impacts in the region.

Penn State starting NCAA hockey program[Read article]

Penn State hockey fans can thank Terry and Kim Pegula, who donated US$88 million — the largest private gift in Penn State history — to fund a new multi-purpose arena and help upgrade the men's program. The athletic department will fund, or seek other private donations, for the women's program.

"So maybe someday in these hills of Pennsylvania, we're going to find a Pennsylvania (Sidney) Crosby," Terry Pegula said at a trustees meeting Friday morning, referring to the Pittsburgh Penguins' star. "Hopefully, he'll play hockey for Penn State, and I think that's awesome."

Players like Sidney Crosby don't grow on trees and the Penn State University will have to establish a recruiting a niche and it’s going to be harder than it looks. There are some good programs already pounding the turf to compete for top recruits.

Penn State's addition leads to Big Ten hockey speculation [Read article]

CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos issued a statement on behalf of his membership, welcoming Penn State into "the college hockey family" and saying the league will support the Nittany Lions' transition to Division I over the next few seasons.

Anastos did not mention speculation about what league Penn State might join but did say the CCHA will continue to exist for a long time.

"The CCHA's formation 40 years ago was based on the development of emerging programs and, as we set our sights on our next 40 years, we look forward to working with programs such as Penn State and, hopefully, others, in providing leadership that will increase the profile of college hockey and foster continued growth."

College hockey: Penn State to add Division I team [Read Article]

Five other Big Ten schools play Division I hockey, but there is no Big Ten hockey league.

Minnesota and Wisconsin play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, and Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

"We're all well aware of the ramifications ... of having a sixth Big Ten hockey school, and what that means for a lot of us," WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod told insidecollegehockey.com, which reported Penn State's plans.

Leave it to the WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod to offer steady leadership with his inspiring and witty comments. I am not so sure McLeod is the best person to lead the WCHA through this transition (if there is one).

Penn State University will add varsity men's and women's hockey starting in 2012 [Read Article]

The Straight Edge: Penn State Div I program strengthens NCAA landscape [Read Article]

The nuts and bolts are still being worked out, but the Nittany Lions will likely begin their Division I life as an independent before joining up with a power conference. Geographically, the CCHA makes the most sense, but the major rumblings involved in this story is how a Big Ten Conference – featuring Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Minnesota – could now be formed. The Big Ten cable TV network is a huge cash cow and Big Ten hockey would bolster the schedule.

“The biggest thing any network wants is inventory,” said one insider. “College basketball usually runs Thursday and Saturday, so Friday nights are open. And Penn State comes in with half a million living alumni.”

That’s a lot of potential hockey fans tuning in, especially when the fans already have a hate-on for the Ohio States and Michigans thanks to football and basketball rivalries.

There has, of course, been worry about what taking the five best teams from the CCHA and WCHA would do to the college hockey landscape, but I think adding a conference will help. As it is now, Alabama-Huntsville is looking for a home and Bemidji State jumped through hoops to get into the WCHA. And with RIT’s miracle run to the Frozen Four (with Bemidji State preceding them the year prior), it’s obvious smaller schools can have an impact when given the chance. Kelly agrees with that sentiment.

“I think they’ll come together,” he said. “College coaches don’t want to see the loss of programs.”

Wherever the Nittany Lions end up, they’ll likely get knocked around the first year or so, but progress won’t take long.

“They’re going to have a natural flow of highly-skilled players into their program,” Kelly said. “Penn State will have an immediate crop of kids who want to play there.

Penn State To Add Division 1 Hockey [Read Article]

Penn State to add varsity hockey – Minneapolis Star Tribune

Penn State To Add Men's, Women's Hockey - [Read Article]

Penn State's hockey program jumps to Division 1-A, could lead to Big Ten hockey conference [Read Article]

Michigan coach Red Berenson said Friday afternoon that although Penn State's financial commitment to hockey is a "huge step in the right direction for any more future growth in college hockey" having the Nittany Lions join one conference over another doesn't make a difference to him.

Berenson expects a lot of speculation to take place over the next four years, but he doesn't think the answer is breaking up existing leagues with long-standing traditions.

"I don't think teams are anxious to leave their own conference and abandon them and start a new conference," Berenson said. "I don't think anyone wants to see a league take a hit.

A voice of calm from the Michigan head coach. I have to say Red that I agree.

Big Ten Statement on Penn State's Plans to Establish NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Programs

Here is the official statement. I can't believe they are going to wait two season before they start their hockey team.

Sept. 17, 2010

The Big Ten Conference released the following statement today regarding Penn State’s plans to establish NCAA Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey programs.

The Big Ten Conference is excited about Penn State’s recent announcement regarding the establishment of NCAA Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey programs set to begin competition in the 2012-13 academic year. Our institutions have longstanding relationships with Division I, Division II, and Division III college hockey programs that have benefitted both our institutions and the entire national hockey community.

For many years, we have had five institutions sponsoring Division I men’s ice hockey programs – Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Big Ten rules allow for a championship whenever there are six institutions sponsoring a program in any given sport. This leads to the presumption that there will be a Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Championship at some point in the future. A decision of that nature, however, cannot be made without a significant amount of discussion both internally with conference chancellors, presidents, administrators and coaches, and externally with the hockey community as a whole. Whatever we do, we will communicate in a respectful and responsible way as we endeavor to balance all of the unique interests in play.

We congratulate Penn State and wish them well as they continue to provide the most broad-based opportunities possible for their student-athletes.

If Penn State adds hockey, six-team Big Ten could arise

Adam Wodon from the College Hockey News has confirmed that Penn State University is going to form a Division I Hockey team and that the announcement will be made this Friday.

Pioneer Press -- WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod said he is waiting to hear from Penn State, and subsequently the Big Ten, before making any detailed comments.

"Having said that," he added, "we're well aware of developing circumstances at Penn State, and we've definitely done our homework regarding several scenarios that could play out."

Creating a Big Ten men's hockey conference would give the fledgling Big Ten Network some live programming on Friday nights, when men's basketball teams typically don't play.

"That's some major programming on Friday nights," Lucia said.

The WCHA is getting ready to play its first season with 12 teams, having just added Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha to a roster that includes the Gophers, Badgers, Minnesota-Duluth, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State Mankato, North Dakota, Colorado College, Denver, Alaska Anchorage and Michigan Tech.

The conference boasted more than 1.5 million in attendance last season, and had the top three home attendance marks in the nation — Wisconsin (15,048 per game), North Dakota (11,654) and Minnesota (10,107).

Minnesota, with enrollment of 51,659, and Wisconsin (42,099) are the league's largest schools and have 11 national titles between them, but Denver (7), North Dakota (7), Michigan Tech (3) and Colorado College (2) also have won NCAA championships.

"The WCHA brand is very strong. People in hockey know we're a strong league," UMD athletics director Bob Nielson said. "At the same time, you never want to lose a rivalry because of the interest it generates."

Don Lucia’s comment about the television programming for Friday nights is a bit of a head scratcher. Seriously! What is stopping the Big Ten now? All the BTN has to do is start showing hockey on Friday’s, what is preventing them from showing hockey now? Why do they need a league to show BTHC hockey on Friday night?