Also, I am surprised that UAH hasn't at least put in an application to the WCHA, who knows maybe they will today. You have to wonder if UAH will apply later if their quest to get into the CCHA isn't successful. Holding pattern probably, it's a horrible time to get everyone focusing on conference expansion when there are still teams playing in college hockey. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and where the domino's fall.
Bemidji State is sole WCHA applicant The Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s window for accepting new applicants will close today, and Bemidji State is the only school that has applied.
The Beavers are desperate to find a league, because their current home of College Hockey America will be down to two teams after next season and will disband. Sustaining a college hockey program without a conference would be nearly impossible.
Bemidji State seems to be a natural fit for the WCHA because of its close proximity to the other schools, but the WCHA has 10 teams and an odd number would present scheduling issues.
“It is problematic,” WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said of the possibility of an 11-team league. “And if we end up with 11, the Association will have to make a decision on the pros and cons of an 11-team league.”
McLeod and UND faculty representative Sue Jeno will make a site visit to Bemidji State on Friday on behalf of the league. BSU officials will then present their case for admission to every WCHA school during April’s American Hockey Coaches’ Association meetings in Florida.
The faculty representatives of the 10 memberschools could vote (eight of 10 votes are needed for acceptance) on whether to allow Bemidji State at that time, but there’s a strong possibility that they won’t.
Muddy waters
“There are a few things going on that have kind of muddied the water in Division I a little bit,” McLeod said. “There are all kinds of scenarios out there. There could be a domino effect if things happen in other places.”
McLeod said he couldn’t elaborate on the other behind-the-scenes happenings around the country.
“I can’t talk about individual schools and what’s going on,” he said. “But there are some circumstances that could affect things.”
Here is an interesting article from the University Chronicle Student newspaper. I thought this statement was kind of funny.
Speaking of 11th member, if Bemidji State were to join the WCHA, then the conference faces a numbers problem that would have to change with addition or subtraction. And neither are feasible options.
Kyle's suggestion is to bring in Nebraska-Omaha, which makes sense geographically. But would the WCHA want to bring in a lower-tier member of the CCHA, and a team that cannot fill 50 percent of their arena?
Plus, UNO head coach Mike Kemp said as recently as January 2009 that the Mavericks are not interested in joining the WCHA.
