I will grant you that the B1G took some big schools away but it should not have changed the overall structure of those two leagues. With 7 schools leaving the WCHA (which feels more like former schools from the CCHA) and leaving Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Huntsville to fend for themselves... I'm sorta wondering why both leagues have a come to Jesus moment and go back to bus leagues with good rivalries.
The WCHA based around Minnesota (Colorado College, Denver, Omaha, North Dakota, Duluth, St. Cloud, MSU Mankato, Bemidji)
The CCHA based around Michigan (Miami, Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Ferris State, Lake Superior, Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech) plus Robert Morris and/or maybe Mercyhurst to get 8 or 9 teams in the league.

Here's the thing. The NCHC loses practically nothing with Miami and Western Michigan except two long Roadies. They have been rather pedestrian since the league was formed and doubly so for Miami who was a national power when the league came to be.

Both leagues (but especially the CCHA) will save a massive amount of cash by being able to bus to opponents which may help the slightly smaller budget schools in the league.

The only real change would be Mankato and Bemidji for Miami and Western Michigan. The NCHC probably won't want to change their name but that's just semantics. The league is basically the WCHA less Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Last thoughts. The CCHA suffered far more with the loss of Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, & The Ohio State University but there is still a lot of good hockey played in Michigan and the surrounding areas. The Big Ten schools aren't coming back but leagues where teams and fans can go to 4 or 5 away games within 4 hours drive makes for an intimate league with a fun conference tournament.

Appreciate your perspective on what's going on in college hockey.

I just don't know how Arizona State could not be in the same conference as Air Force, Colorado College and Denver.

(07-01-2019 11:20 PM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  Appreciate your perspective on what's going on in college hockey.

I just don't know how Arizona State could not be in the same conference as Air Force, Colorado College and Denver.

Should things turn more geography focused in the future all of those schools sound like NCHC schools. 2 are already there. Arizona State will have the budget and facilities to compete with anyone so they seem like an easy fit. The biggest question would be about Air Force' s status or if they will even get an invite.