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The new WCHA teams just embarrassed themselves out of the NCAA tournament, but WMU should still have joined the new WCHA, right?

I hope your idiocy doesn't extend to the bench.

We do NOT want to go into the WCHA. 3 years ago, I argued for that in the MLIVE forums. But, having seen the quality of the NCHC I want to stay in that conference. We skate week in, week out with the BEST teams in the nation. That's the only way you'll raise the level of your program.

Brovol has low standards for our program. He just wants to make the tourney while the rest of us want to compete for, and win, a national title.

(03-29-2015 10:42 AM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  We do NOT want to go into the WCHA. 3 years ago, I argued for that in the MLIVE forums. But, having seen the quality of the NCHC I want to stay in that conference. We skate week in, week out with the BEST teams in the nation. That's the only way you'll raise the level of your program.

The biggest NCHC asset for the Bronco program is recruiting and this year worked out like the league founders had hoped. Good players want to play against the best players/teams as these top end players aspire to move on to the next level. To move on to the next level you must "prove it" and what better way to prove it, as night in and night out you have the opportunity to face the best players in college hockey. No doubt the NCHC this year showed they were the toughest/deepest conference fielding 6 of 8 teams into the NCAA tournament and 2 advancing to the final four

Not everyone will get the opportunity to play for blue chip national programs like North Dakota or DU. But the next best thing is facing these programs in conference play year in and year out, with the opportunity to stick it in their face

Bronco future looks to be very bright, despite some fans near sited optics

(03-30-2015 09:49 AM)BroncoFever Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 10:42 AM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  We do NOT want to go into the WCHA. 3 years ago, I argued for that in the MLIVE forums. But, having seen the quality of the NCHC I want to stay in that conference. We skate week in, week out with the BEST teams in the nation. That's the only way you'll raise the level of your program.

The biggest NCHC asset for the Bronco program is recruiting and this year worked out like the league founders had hoped. Good players want to play against the best players/teams as these top end players aspire to move on to the next level. To move on to the next level you must "prove it" and what better way to prove it, as night in and night out you have the opportunity to face the best players in college hockey. No doubt the NCHC this year showed they were the toughest/deepest conference fielding 6 of 8 teams into the NCAA tournament and 2 advancing to the final four

Not everyone will get the opportunity to play for blue chip national programs like North Dakota or DU. But the next best thing is facing these programs in conference play year in and year out, with the opportunity to stick it in their face

Bronco future looks to be very bright, despite some fans near sited optics

Still to be seen if our being in the NCHC has improved recruiting for WMU.

(03-30-2015 02:07 PM)DudeReally Wrote:  

(03-30-2015 09:49 AM)BroncoFever Wrote:  

(03-29-2015 10:42 AM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  We do NOT want to go into the WCHA. 3 years ago, I argued for that in the MLIVE forums. But, having seen the quality of the NCHC I want to stay in that conference. We skate week in, week out with the BEST teams in the nation. That's the only way you'll raise the level of your program.

The biggest NCHC asset for the Bronco program is recruiting and this year worked out like the league founders had hoped. Good players want to play against the best players/teams as these top end players aspire to move on to the next level. To move on to the next level you must "prove it" and what better way to prove it, as night in and night out you have the opportunity to face the best players in college hockey. No doubt the NCHC this year showed they were the toughest/deepest conference fielding 6 of 8 teams into the NCAA tournament and 2 advancing to the final four

Not everyone will get the opportunity to play for blue chip national programs like North Dakota or DU. But the next best thing is facing these programs in conference play year in and year out, with the opportunity to stick it in their face

Bronco future looks to be very bright, despite some fans near sited optics

Still to be seen if our being in the NCHC has improved recruiting for WMU.

I'm assuming the staff is currently working on recruits for the 17/18 season, leveraging this years NCHC success story as a recruiting point of difference

(03-29-2015 02:25 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  Brovol has low standards for our program. He just wants to make the tourney while the rest of us want to compete for, and win, a national title.

Regarding the conference preference debate, Brovol could still ultimately be proven right. I think it's going to take at least 10-15 years, though, before we have a fair and definitive answer one way or the other.

I do agree with the idea, though, that demonstrating an ability to win NCAA tournament games once we get there (as opposed to just being happy to be there and getting bounced in the first round) should ultimately be an important part of the equation. In the two seasons since conference realignment, NCHC teams have a total of 10 NCAA tournament wins (and counting). WCHA teams have won just one NCAA game in the past two seasons (Ferris' opening-round victory last season).

Do you think the conferences will look the same in 10-15 years? I don't, but to what extent, I'm not sure.

(03-31-2015 01:05 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  Do you think the conferences will look the same in 10-15 years? I don't, but to what extent, I'm not sure.

Neither conference will probably look the same in, say, a decade. I could see the NCHC expanding at some point, and while I'm not singling out any particular school, it wouldn't shock me if a WCHA member either leaves the league and/or drops hockey at some point.

My main point in offering the 10-15 year timeframe (it could be less) is that I don't think either side of the argument will be able to fairly say "I told you so" within, say, the next year or two. It's going to take a number of years to see how it all plays out.

(03-31-2015 11:25 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(03-31-2015 01:05 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  Do you think the conferences will look the same in 10-15 years? I don't, but to what extent, I'm not sure.

Neither conference will probably look the same in, say, a decade. I could see the NCHC expanding at some point, and while I'm not singling out any particular school, it wouldn't shock me if a WCHA member either leaves the league and/or drops hockey at some point.

I think Fenton is trying to work out the TV deal conflicts which allow Notre Dame to be added to the NCHC fold sometime in the very near future.

I also could see them adding a WCHA school after adding the Irish for an 8 team conference, though in wouldn't be necessary as the NCHC is already operating with a un-balanced schedule

Not sure about the rumored possible addition of Arizona and if they would even be a good fit for the NCHC. Then again, look at where PSU is now in only 2 years, which makes you wonder about the possibilities

I assume that you mean Arizona State. I suspect that there may be interest in getting them into the NCHC. They'd be a bear to recruit against, given the hot coeds walking around campus, something sure to be highlighted by current players during recruit campus visits.

I wouldn't be surprised to see, at some point, BG get an invite to the NCHC. Of course, their program needs to continue its renaissance for that to happen. It would be nice to see 3 MAC schools and former CCHA rivals all in the conference.

I'm not sure how I feel about about Notre Dame getting another invite. They are over-rated every year based on name alone - well that, and the coach's resume. However, should they come in, it would mean yet another former rival is in our league. However, that exclusive Notre Dame contract with NBC may be a sticking point. I don't see ND giving that up, even for just one sport. They have the best deal possible - their own national network.

I'm less sure what may happen with the WCHA. But I'd say it is probably a given that some changes will occur. Hard to guess what they may be right now, for either league.

It's a bit too early to tell right now with Arizona State. Most of the speculation is that they'll join the NCHC or the Big 11 as an "affiliate member" (similar to Johns Hopkins in men's lacrosse). The WCHA has also reportedly been involved but very few people see a P5 school seriously considering joining that conference.

I think the one of the biggest considerations for ASU is the PAC-12 Network. They're going to want their games on the channel; so the NCHC would likely have to adjust how they handle individual team's TV rights if they wish to secure their first P5 school. I'm not sure how the Big 11 would handle TV rights, but they have a long-standing relationship with the PAC-12, and with BTN already in place the PAC-12 Network wouldn't create a competitive advantage for ASU compared to the rest of the conference.