(02-22-2019 09:17 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Canadian or foreign schools can not join DI right now. Only DII schools can. Simon Fraser could start hockey and move to the WCHA now, and compete as a DI school in that sport. There is no regulation preventing that.

I wonder if allowing Simon Fraser to go d2 was a "trial balloon": try it for awhile and see how it goes, how does it work having players cross an international border, etc. There is nothing magical about d1 except more scholarships and more requirements. Maybe Simon Fraser has been an NCAA experiment. There is a rule right now that says a Canadian school can't go d1. But rules can be changed.

That's an interesting idea about hockey. From what I can tell, Canadian university hockey teams are not as strong as American: not as well funded, etc. The really good Canadian hockey talent either plays in Canadian junior leagues or comes to the US to play college. Maybe that is ultimately why SF wanted to join the NCAA. Currently they have a club hockey team. I found this on their website:

The SFU Men’s Hockey program originally competed in the late 60’s and early 70’s, but was resurrected in 2004 with the goal of one day recruiting top college athletes and providing another alternative for the many local athletes that travel to the United States to compete and go to school.

Maybe the door isn't completely shut on Simon Fraser if the WAC advocates to get the rule changed that currently prevents a Canadian school from being d1. It seems like Simon Fraser would be must about the perfect school to open that door.