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Sources: UND will leave WCHA for new league

...At least five other teams will join UND in this league: Denver, Colorado College, Nebraska-Omaha, Minnesota-Duluth and Miami (Ohio).

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For those that are fans of college hockey, this is huge news for the landscape of the sport. After the B1G Mistake of barry alvarez and wisconsin developing a conference for B1G teams due to Penn State adding hockey (and money), the best hockey league in the nation (WCHA) is on the clear path to being dissolved. Not only is the WCHA clearly affected, the CCHA is now in trouble with Miami leaving and also having UM, MSU and OSU leave for the 2013-2014 season.

This is just another example of money and greed ruining the traditions of college hockey

Well, the Big Ten Hockey Conference is old news. That was put out MONTHS ago.

But UND and their compatriots starting this other venture IS news. This post could be motivated out of anti-UND spite, but there IS an argument for tradition, I'll grant that. I'm not sure what the connection to the new Big Ten is, other than a similar start date, though.

SuperHornet wrote:Well, the Big Ten Hockey Conference is old news. That was put out MONTHS ago.

But UND and their compatriots starting this other venture IS news. This post could be motivated out of anti-UND spite, but there IS an argument for tradition, I'll grant that. I'm not sure what the connection to the new Big Ten is, other than a similar start date, though.

The connection is that without the Big 10 starting a Hockey conference, this doesn't happen.

SuperHornet wrote:Well, the Big Ten Hockey Conference is old news. That was put out MONTHS ago.

But UND and their compatriots starting this other venture IS news. This post could be motivated out of anti-UND spite, but there IS an argument for tradition, I'll grant that. I'm not sure what the connection to the new Big Ten is, other than a similar start date, though

try reading a little more into it and you'll see what dback saw in my post. The only connection is to the B1G hockey conference and without the BTHC then none of this would be happening

NDSUFREAK wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:Well, the Big Ten Hockey Conference is old news. That was put out MONTHS ago.

But UND and their compatriots starting this other venture IS news. This post could be motivated out of anti-UND spite, but there IS an argument for tradition, I'll grant that. I'm not sure what the connection to the new Big Ten is, other than a similar start date, though

try reading a little more into it and you'll see what dback saw in my post. The only connection is to the B1G hockey conference and without the BTHC then none of this would be happening

I've said it in every thread SH posts in, and I'll continue to say it.

Don't try to use reason, logic, rational discussion, etc... with SH. SH lives in SH's own little fantasy world and that is it.

dbackjon wrote:

SuperHornet wrote:Well, the Big Ten Hockey Conference is old news. That was put out MONTHS ago.

But UND and their compatriots starting this other venture IS news. This post could be motivated out of anti-UND spite, but there IS an argument for tradition, I'll grant that. I'm not sure what the connection to the new Big Ten is, other than a similar start date, though.

The connection is that without the Big 10 starting a Hockey conference, this doesn't happen.

This is fine. No need for the others to repeat.

The rest of you can go jump in a lake.

SuperHornet wrote:

dbackjon wrote:

The connection is that without the Big 10 starting a Hockey conference, this doesn't happen.

This is fine. No need for the others to repeat.

The rest of you can go jump in a lake.

I'm more than willing to go jump in a lake! It's pretty warm here so the water will feel nice.

Big 10 hockey makes perfect sense.

play off the rivalries that exist in other sports... it's good for college hockey.

as for UND - this makes sense for them - bring along UMD and a few of the other big names (like CC) and form a new conference with the best of what is left of the CCHA (Notre Dame, Miami maybe Western Michigan or Air Force)

Good for UND. Maybe now they won't be burnt out in the playoffs.

Willie wrote:Good for UND. Maybe now they won't be burnt out in the playoffs.

much like the Big East in hoops - the WCHA regular season is a meat grinder... hell - the Final Five is often more compelling than the Frozen Four many years...

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Big 10 hockey makes perfect sense.

play off the rivalries that exist in other sports... it's good for college hockey.

as for UND - this makes sense for them - bring along UMD and a few of the other big names (like CC) and form a new conference with the best of what is left of the CCHA (Notre Dame, Miami maybe Western Michigan or Air Force)

I really don't think notre dame would join a conference with those teams just because lack of name recoginition across the country. They could easily be in Hockey East since they will be looking for teams too but I don't think the powers that be at ND care at all about those smaller schools and that they are "too big and mighty" to associate with them. Call me crazy but that's my thinking. Wouldn't surprise me coming from them.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

Willie wrote:Good for UND. Maybe now they won't be burnt out in the playoffs.

much like the Big East in hoops - the WCHA regular season is a meat grinder... hell - the Final Five is often more compelling than the Frozen Four many years...

Exactly. They are always a solid team, but play so many tough games, it has to be hell on the morale.

NDSUFREAK wrote:I really don't think notre dame would join a conference with those teams just because lack of name recoginition across the country. They could easily be in Hockey East since they will be looking for teams too but I don't think the powers that be at ND care at all about those smaller schools and that they are "too big and mighty" to associate with them. Call me crazy but that's my thinking. Wouldn't surprise me coming from them.

Also think Notre Dame is holding alot of cards here, but I don't think the Hockey East alternative is a slam dunk either. The only "like" school to the Irish in either conference is Boston College. Denver, North Dakota, and CC carry as much or more "name recognition" in college hockey as do BC, BU, Maine, or UNH.

Being in a 7 or 8 team "newborn" conference would give Notre Dame far more scheduling flexibility and a better opportunity to develop and continue rivalries with Big 10 hockey schools that will also be looking for OOC games. I bet they'd rather have Michigan or Wisconsin in their barn regularly for OOC games than they would Lowell or Vermont for league play.

It's not called Hockey Least for nothin' ya know............

Also, I would have liked to have seen Air Force included in the new league rather than UMD assuming Western Michigan and Notre Dame do join up. By no means a power program, but name recognition, DI status, and western based. With no more Final Five, the Denver area is probably a front runner for a league tournament. Having 3 Colorado teams would do alot to make the new tourney successful.

St Cloud, Minnesota St and Bemidji St are left looking

You would think they would be great for reducing travel cost for UMD and UND.

Gil Dobie wrote:St Cloud, Minnesota St and Bemidji St are left looking

You would think they would be great for reducing travel cost for UMD and UND.

Yes, but the point of the new conference is for schools that place a major emphasis on hockey to be aligned with each other. With UMTC and Wisco leaving the WCHA, one could argue that the "have-nots" in the conference would be perilously close to outnumbering the "haves".

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference is born.

Founding members....

Colorado College
University of Denver
Miami University
University of Minnesota-Duluth
University of Nebraska-Omaha
North Dakota

Hopefully Notre Dame and Western Michigan in the coming months.

Go Mavs

GeauxSioux wrote:The National Collegiate Hockey Conference is born.

Founding members....

Colorado College
University of Denver
Miami University
University of Minnesota-Duluth
University of Nebraska-Omaha
North Dakota

Hopefully Notre Dame and Western Michigan in the coming months.

Really? One thing I was looking for was a more original name...but good for them. It'll be a great battle between them and the B1G conference when the time comes.

Western Michigan will more than likely join I would assume but Notre Dame...still don't know about them. Can't see them joining.

It's already being dubbed The National (for those who aren't keen on National Collegiate Hockey Conference).

From what I've read in numerous places, Western Michigan would get in only if Notre Dame does. As for Notre Dame, they are deciding between The National and Hockey East. Minnesota coach Don Lucia's son is being recruited by Notre Dame and said....

"I've talked to Notre Dame and they've told me they are probably going to move into that super conference," Mario Lucia told the Star-Tribune.

At the announcement yesterday, UND AD Faison said that the name National was chosen for a reason. Evidently they envision this conference stretching further that it currently does, with Miami and Denver as the current East and West ends, respectively.

I sure hope for very strong rivalries between B1G and "The National". As much as I HATE the B1G conference and the change, I'm sure it'll get better and won't be as bad as people have claimed it will be. Anyone who can make it out alive will for sure be strong national championship favorites.

NDSUFREAK wrote:I sure hope for very strong rivalries between B1G and "The National". As much as I HATE the B1G conference and the change, I'm sure it'll get better and won't be as bad as people have claimed it will be. Anyone who can make it out alive will for sure be strong national championship favorites.

The conference shift will end Minnesota-UND in hockey however... without the conference requirement - Minnesota has a rules that do not permit it to play against teams on the "hostile and abusive" list. (not intended to start a "fighting sioux" thing - just stating facts)

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

NDSUFREAK wrote:I sure hope for very strong rivalries between B1G and "The National". As much as I HATE the B1G conference and the change, I'm sure it'll get better and won't be as bad as people have claimed it will be. Anyone who can make it out alive will for sure be strong national championship favorites.

The conference shift will end Minnesota-UND in hockey however... without the conference requirement - Minnesota has a rules that do not permit it to play against teams on the "hostile and abusive" list. (not intended to start a "fighting sioux" thing - just stating facts)

True, they do have that rule, but the new conferences don't start until 2013. Hopefully, by that time the name/logo will be retired and UND can move forward with scheduling Minnesota and Wisconsin. Those are some great rivalries that I would not want to see go away. i remember when I was in college in the early 80's leaving the bars to go stand in line at the Winter Sports Building (the old Ralph) for playoff tickets against Wisconsin.

GeauxSioux wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:
The conference shift will end Minnesota-UND in hockey however... without the conference requirement - Minnesota has a rules that do not permit it to play against teams on the "hostile and abusive" list. (not intended to start a "fighting sioux" thing - just stating facts)

True, they do have that rule, but the new conferences don't start until 2013. Hopefully, by that time the name/logo will be retired and UND can move forward with scheduling Minnesota and Wisconsin. Those are some great rivalries that I would not want to see go away. i remember when I was in college in the early 80's leaving the bars to go stand in line at the Winter Sports Building (the old Ralph) for playoff tickets against Wisconsin.

while I'd hope you are right - I would have thought the same thing 10 years ago about 2003... if there's one thing this debacle is - it is protracted.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

NDSUFREAK wrote:I sure hope for very strong rivalries between B1G and "The National". As much as I HATE the B1G conference and the change, I'm sure it'll get better and won't be as bad as people have claimed it will be. Anyone who can make it out alive will for sure be strong national championship favorites.

The conference shift will end Minnesota-UND in hockey however... without the conference requirement - Minnesota has a rules that do not permit it to play against teams on the "hostile and abusive" list. (not intended to start a "fighting sioux" thing - just stating facts)

like geauxsioux stated, get rid of the name and that all goes away and by the way things look that will be the case. Once the name is taken care of, OOC games will be a huge need for both conferences.