WMU defeated former CCHA rival BG today 1 - 0 in Toledo at the Huntington Center. With BG now in the WCHA and WMU in the NCHC, it was the second of two meetings this season. Broncos won both.

Glad that both schools want to keep playing each other.

Sure wish Miami, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green were in the same league.

(12-30-2015 10:01 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  Sure wish Miami, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green were in the same league.

As the only sport where I actually cheer for my alma mater (as opposed to just when they are playing my brother's Bobcats), so do I. I expect most WMU supporters would as well.

I suspect that if Western Michigan and Miami were interested, the CCHA could be put back together again (without the Big Ten teams, of course). Maybe something like:

Alabama-Huntsville
Bowling Green
Ferris State
Lake Superior State
Miami
Western Michigan
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan
Robert Morris

Travel costs would sure be lower.

(01-03-2016 12:14 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  I suspect that if Western Michigan and Miami were interested, the CCHA could be put back together again (without the Big Ten teams, of course). Maybe something like:

Alabama-Huntsville
Bowling Green
Ferris State
Lake Superior State
Miami
Western Michigan
Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan
Robert Morris

Travel costs would sure be lower.

If Buffalo or Oakland go DI, or even Syracuse, would expect this league to form:

Ferris St
Mercyhurst
Robert Morris
Canisius
Niagara
Buffalo
Bowling Green
Ala-Huntsville

The yupers are too remote.

If Notre Dame decides to go to the NCHC, Bowling Green will come along. The NCHC might add Ariz St and UNLV, so a MidAmErica division would make travel easier.

Arizona State will go to the Big Ten as an associate member like Johns Hopkins Lacrosse

(01-03-2016 08:00 PM)NoDak Wrote:  If Notre Dame decides to go to the NCHC, Bowling Green will come along.

This is the scenario I find to be most likely. I really think BG and ND end up in the NCHC.

From a program standpoint, I've always supported WMU's decision to pursue NCHC membership. It's a top notch league.

But my overall interest in college hockey has struggled since the breakup of the CCHA. It's just been harder for me to get as "up" for Colorado College, Duluth and St. Cloud as I was for BGSU, NMU, Ferris, etc., and the Big Ten squads. Regardless of strength.

(01-03-2016 08:00 PM)NoDak Wrote:  If Buffalo or Oakland go DI, or even Syracuse, would expect this league to form:

Ferris St
Mercyhurst
Robert Morris
Canisius
Niagara
Buffalo
Bowling Green
Ala-Huntsville

That would be a fun league.

(01-05-2016 08:11 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  From a program standpoint, I've always supported WMU's decision to pursue NCHC membership. It's a top notch league.

But my overall interest in college hockey has struggled since the breakup of the CCHA. It's just been harder for me to get as "up" for Colorado College, Duluth and St. Cloud as I was for BGSU, NMU, Ferris, etc., and the Big Ten squads. Regardless of strength.

It just seems like a lot of travel for what you all are getting out of it. I can see why West Virginia is in the Big 12 -- but Western Michigan and Miami in the NCHC feels a bit more like Northern Illinois in the Big West or Louisiana Tech in the WAC. I realize it's a good league, but so much travel.

I miss the old CCHA.

(01-05-2016 12:08 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(01-05-2016 08:11 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  From a program standpoint, I've always supported WMU's decision to pursue NCHC membership. It's a top notch league.

But my overall interest in college hockey has struggled since the breakup of the CCHA. It's just been harder for me to get as "up" for Colorado College, Duluth and St. Cloud as I was for BGSU, NMU, Ferris, etc., and the Big Ten squads. Regardless of strength.

It just seems like a lot of travel for what you all are getting out of it. I can see why West Virginia is in the Big 12 -- but Western Michigan and Miami in the NCHC feels a bit more like Northern Illinois in the Big West or Louisiana Tech in the WAC. I realize it's a good league, but so much travel.

I miss the old CCHA.

I preferred the CCHA too, but the CCHA is gone. The NCHC is not really THAT much more travel than the current WCHA is, especially because you have alaska.

I agree with MoTown on this...it was also great playing (and beating!) B10 programs in the old CCHA which I really miss. Our all time record against OSU was awesome!

Doesn't being in separate leagues give them a better opportunity for each getting an NCAA Bid. Could get 2 or 3 in the 16 team Championship final since they are in different conferences

Miami beats BG tonight after we get a goal with 2 seconds to go in regulation.

nicely done!

I certainly enjoyed the old CCHA more than the more powerful new NCHC (6 of the 8 teams played in in the 16 team NCAA tourney last year. However, that option was taken from us. The CCHA without Michigan, MSU OSU, and Notre Dame was not very attractive. I would love to have BG and Notre Dame enter the NCHC and give us a strong midwestern contingent. That would make it much better for us. Teams like Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud are powerful hockey programs, but nobody really cares about those schools. We have been playing them home and home for a couple of years and I still don't even know their nicknames. Now I really was into the BG game last night, that is a team that I enjoy playing, a real rivalry where I have friends and aquaintances who went to BG and follow the hockey team. We will talk about the game. That does not happen with any of our league opponents.

(01-17-2016 11:12 PM)DICK Wrote:  I certainly enjoyed the old CCHA more than the more powerful new NCHC (6 of the 8 teams played in in the 16 team NCAA tourney last year. However, that option was taken from us. The CCHA without Michigan, MSU OSU, and Notre Dame was not very attractive. I would love to have BG and Notre Dame enter the NCHC and give us a strong midwestern contingent. That would make it much better for us. Teams like Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud are powerful hockey programs, but nobody really cares about those schools. We have been playing them home and home for a couple of years and I still don't even know their nicknames. Now I really was into the BG game last night, that is a team that I enjoy playing, a real rivalry where I have friends and aquaintances who went to BG and follow the hockey team. We will talk about the game. That does not happen with any of our league opponents.

I miss the old CCHA, too.

Arizona State is going to field Division I hockey and Nevada-Las Vegas is making serious noises about it. On the realignment board, a North Dakota fan proposed this set up for the NCAC:

East - Western Michigan, Notre Dame, Bowling Green, Miami
Central - Minnesota-Duluth, St. Cloud State, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota
West - Denver, Colorado College, Arizona State, Nevada-Las Vegas

That would be one sweet East Division. Much like the old days, really.

Does anyone have any idea what Notre Dame is thinking?