First off, a correction to yesterday's post: A reader commented that Wohlberg actually missed the USA camp, and that's backed up by him not being listed on the stat sheet from the three intrasquad scrimmages. So, assuming he was injured, I guess there's still a chance we could be without him at the GLI. I have to believe he's the type of guy USA would want on the WJC team, especially after the year he had last year.
Now on to the surprising news of the day: The CCHA has denied Alabama-Huntsville's application for membership in the league. As the linked article points out, I'm not sure the CCHA's reasoning holds water. The Chargers have a 6,600 seat arena, and Huntsville is no further than Omaha was. I'd love to know what the true story is....and what the plan is moving forward. It's hard to believe the conference would be happy sticking with 11 teams.
Hopefully UAH can find a spot in one of the other conferences. I really hate the thought of another NCAA program folding, especially when there's a spot open in one of the major conferences. I had assumed that UAH to the CCHA was a forgone conclusion after UNO announced they were WCHA-bound. Sticking with 11 doesn't make much sense....
....Unless the conference knows something we don't about the future of the Bowling Green program and they didn't want to go up to 12 only to be back down to 11 a year later. But BGSU just got $4 million for arena improvements, so that doesn't make much sense either. No matter what it's going to be a sad day for college hockey if the UAH program ultimately folds because the CCHA didn't make the decision to save them. We don't need this sport to shrink.....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
not a lot of logic in this move by the ccha. have there been anymore discussions of a flagship school adding D1 hockey recently?
if BG did get 4M for the arena, i'd be shocked if they collapsed. the league has supported start up teams in the past (UNO) and supporting geographically isolated programs w/ membership (UA).
This does smell fishy, but this isn't to say that a program like LSSU, Ferris or WMU may be in trouble also. In a way I can see why the CCHA doesn't want to take on another small, geographically fringe, struggling hockey program- it already has enough of those. It is producing a great deal of bad will and animosity (especially from the WCHA crowd)on various websites. They act as if their charity act for BSU and then poaching UNO was done out of the best interests of hockey and not for their own interests. Bastages.
In the end, I guess the question begs whether UAH's addition would strengthen or weaken an already average conference. The CCHA thinks that it would not be any better than they would be with their existing members.
I know that it won't happen anytime soon, but I'm of of those people who support a Big Ten hockey conference: we'd get national exposure/respect, a good television deal, and in the long run, strengthen the conference even if programs would have to be doormats for years.
The CCHA could have the smaller schools (don't get me wrong, they love their hockey, they're competitive), but we could form a Big Ten with Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and if they go D1 anytime soon, Penn State and Illinois (I've heard those rumors for a while.) We'd need two more schools, we could get it done. Maybe it could also force Notre Dame to join the Big Ten in football and basketball?
I just think it would be in the best interest of everyone.
penn shtate? (i can dream)
To say we're floored is the understatement of this young century. I think the entire hockey nation is. At least those that aren't diluting themselves into thinking this is a good thing, that is.
We aren't going down without dropping the gloves though. We're starting an effort to do as much as possible as fans of the Chargers and college hockey as a whole to save this program. For now everything is on facebook as this is obviously a very young effort, but we are going to take this as far as we possibly can. We appreciate all the help that we can get.
You can either search on facebook for "Save UAH Hockey" or you can follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-UAH-Hockey/124898983296
Thanks!
There is a rumor floating around that Jim Roque, LSSU coach, is saying that UAH will eventually be admitted into the league. A decision on BGSU will be made by the end of september.
Penn State is the logical choice, but there are other club teams that have varsity aspirations. EMU? Syracuse? Wayne State making a comeback?
(although, given that their website disappeared lately, one has to wonder about the future of the Syracuse team)
Post a Comment