Sports

Two WCHA teams left behind quickly supported league

Minnesota State University Mankato and Bemidji State issued statements backing the WCHA soon after five teams announced their intentions to leave in mid-July.

By Roman Augustoviz

July 23, 2011 at 2:03PM

This has been a hectic summer for college hockey -- and those who cover the sport. On July 13, the biggest upheaval came. Five WCHA teams and Miami announced they would form the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).

I'm someone who keep e-mails for a while if they look important. Here are several from earlier this month that are interesting and I want to share with you.

STRONG SUPPORT FOR WCHA

A slightly edited MSU Mankato news release from July 15:

"While the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is going through this period of transition, we remain committed to this league that has long held a place amongst the elite in NCAA Division I ice hockey." said Kevin Buisman, MSU Director of Athletics.

"Undoubtedly, as we move forward, one of the unknowns is the final make-up of the league's eventual membership portfolio. Immediate expansion to a minimum of six teams was critical, as it stabilizes the situation, especially relative to NCAA postseason participation. As we continue to progress, it is very likely the league will work to identify additional programs that fit the profile as prospective members."

The WCHA, home to a record 37 national championships teams since it's founding in 1951, will continue to operate as a 12-team conference for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

"One of the keys for us as a program will be the ability to consistently schedule many of the traditional rivals that we have enjoyed competing against the past 12 years as members of the WCHA," Buisman said. "We fully understand the importance of providing quality competition for our student-athletes, our fans, our alumni and the rest of our stakeholders. And to that end, we are proactively reaching out to to pursue future scheduling relationships with a number of very familiar opponents. We are extremely optimistic that these changes will bring about a number of exciting scheduling opportunities."

Minnesota State has had hockey since 1969-70 and before reaffiliating to NCAA Division I in 1992-93, spent 27 years as members of Division II and III.

Comments: The WCHA quickly finding a sixth team for the 2013-14 season -- Northern Michigan -- was critical to keeping the remaining five together. The Mavericks also hope to play the Gophers and some of their other traditional rivals once they leave the WCHA.

BEMIDJI STATE USED TO HOCKEY CHANGES

A slightly edited Bemidji State release from July 13:

"This is certainly a time of transition for the WCHA and for all of college hockey," BSU Athletic Director Dr. Rick Goeb said. "As a member of the WCHA, Bemidji State has and will be an active participant
in that transition.

"Future expansion of the WCHA is eminent, and the league expects to be making announcements in that regard shortly. The schools committed to securing the future of the WCHA beyond the 2013-14 season will be meeting later this week to solidify that future, and to ensure the WCHA's member teams and any teams that may join us in the future
are able to compete at college hockey's highest level."

BSU has developed rivalries with many of the departing teams in recent years, but Dr. Goeb is confident that traditional opponents will not change.

"While some of our closest geographic rivals will no longer be a part of our conference schedule, we expect our rivalries with these programs to continue long into the future," he said. "We are very close to solidifying agreements to keep Division I programs, like Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota, as regular non-conference opponents. These agreements ensure there will be very little change to the quality of Bemidji State's schedules moving forward. As always, we will continue to provide our fans with the greatest experience in college hockey."

Bemidji State has had four conference affiliations through its rise through the NAIA, NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III ranks. Each change has provided BSU with a venue to expand its tradition-rich program and showcase its
student-athletes. The constant through these transitions has been success. The Beavers have claimed 22 conference titles, 13 national championships and participated in the NCAA Division I Tournament four times since 2005, including a magical run to the 2009 Frozen Four.

The Beavers, who recently completed their inaugural season in the WCHA with an overall record of 15-18-5 and a 8-15-5 mark in league play, finished 10th in the Association's standings and capped the season with a trip to the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul.

Comments: Poor Bemidji State. The Beavers build a new arena and are the town is so excited to join the WCHA after years of knocking on the door. Then, after their first season as a member, the league falls apart. Seven members announce their intentions to leave before the 2013-14 season.

Bemidji State has played teams such as North Dakota and UMD in nonconference games and hopes to continue to do so. If the NCHC remains a six-team league, it should be easy for the Beavers to schedule those teams. Even if the NCHC expands to eight teams, it still seems doable some years. Although then NCHC will be playing 28 conference games and only have six nonconference games.