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Some of the reasons why behind the “super league”
July 10th, 2011, 9:02 am · 22 Comments · posted by jpaisley
Why did all this “super league” stuff happen? Here’s my best guess and opinion.
The formation of the Big 10 in 2013-14and Minnesota and Wisconsin’s departure, obviously, is behind it.
The changing voting dynamics in the WCHA membership had the smaller schools — by this I mean the ones with smaller athletic budgets that do not appear to be as financially committed to hockey as its No. 1 sport — numbering five in a 10-team league.
The five leaving the WCHA all have that large budget commitment and/or reputation in common.
That logjam and dissatisfaction with WCHA leaders’ efforts to get a league-wide TV deal were two big reasons.
A “WCHA network” was always brought up at league meetings, but you try to get CBS College Sports to go to Houghton or Anchorage. The Big Ten Network did not have such a concern with its six schools.
And falling behind in the TV world would have hindered a status quo WCHA’s recruiting efforts.
The new league is reportedly courting NBC’s Versus which has a 10-year deal with the NHL and may be looking to expand its hockey programming into the college ranks. North Dakota already has a good regional deal while Denver has Root Sports and CC has a relationship with CBS College Sports.
CBS-CS had said they were hoping to expand their college hockey programming this season. It’s unclear if a TV deal will help the “super league” schools’ finances much without seeing all the budgets, but certainly that has to be a concern for a program willing to invest in the first place.
Why now? Do you remember how college football reacted to the Pac 12 and Big 10 moves? Good or bad, it’s the way of the college sports world now.
Whether it was panic or proactive, it’s better for all involved and affected that it happened now than next summer. Those feeling jilted have time to adjust and may have just gotten the kick in the butt they needed.
Now if just some of those hurt feelings would fade …
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About this blog …
Brian Gomez was born and raised in Tempe, Ariz. He graduated from Arizona State
University in 2005, then began working as a sportswriter for The Colorado
Springs Gazette. He's the Colorado College hockey beat writer and Olympics
reporter, having covered the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2010 Vancouver Games.
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I’m very very excited!
Every weekend is going to be TOP college hockey.
And as for the other teams, now a Minnesota State or an Alaska-Anchorage has a chance to win a conference tournament and make the NCAA’s. They will never beat all of CC, DU, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
I don’t think future WCHA should join with CCHA, they should add Air Force and be a 6 team conference, maybe add another team or two. But the smaller the conference, the better chance to win title and make NCAA’s.
As for the new SUPER CONFERENCE. Just awesome!!! And I hope Notre Dame jumps on board at some point as well.
Go Tigers!!! Congratulations to Ken Ralph, Scott Owens and others involved for keeping CC Hockey at THE HIGHEST LEVEL!
You beat me to my next post. That does become a possibility for Air Force and the other mid-majors but I think a 10-team WCHA/CCHA hybrid remains their top choice. We’ll see.
I actually see Huntsville joining the WCHA as the most likely scenario. They are without a conference and the WCHA foot print fits Huntsville better than the CCHA. AFA will probably stay in the AHA because of it’s success in league play and the rivalry with Army.
So, how about AFA and Alabama joining the remaining WCHA teams minus Mich Tech which joins the remaining CCHA teams including nearby rival Northern Mich? This also keeps the Alaska schools in separate leagues so that opponents don’t need to travel there twice each year.
WCHA: AFA, Alabama, Anchorage, St. Cloud, Minn St, Bemidji
CCHA: Mich Tech, N. Mich, Lake Superior, Fairbanks, Ferris, Bowling Green
Also, the only way this new “super league” looks complete is if Notre Dame and W. Mich join. 8 powerhouse teams looks great. As a fan, I like that in an 8 team league, you get to see every team every year.
I’m buying CC season tickets.
DU, North Dakota, Nebraska, Duluth, Miami and maybe Notre Dame at the World Arena every season – and no more Michigan Tech, Bemidji or Alaska, I can’t wait!
This is like having Texas, Oklahoma, USC, Notre Dame, Alabama and Florida in the same football conference – wow, wow, wow!
And for Air Force to be in left over WCHA teams would be nice.
Would be great to see more CC games on TV, especially the road games. To have a Super Conference game-of-the-week would be super cool. I can see it now, I’m at the world arena watching CC play Notre Dame and during the intermission I’m enjoying a beer on the concourse and watching North Dakota play Miami on national tv and then on Root get to watch DU play Duluth. Awesome!
And I bet the new Super Conference will get a non-conference scheduling deal with the Big 10. So we can see Minnesota and Michigan play CC one season at The World Arena. Then Wisconsin and Ohio State the next and then Penn State and Michigan State the next. Unbelievably awesome!
It’s not likely that Air Force would join this league. Serratore has basically said that they are happy in the AHA. They would have a hard time competing in the Super League since they generally can’t recruit the top-level hockey players.
Air Force would Never even be invited in the “Super League”.
I meant Air Force could join WCHA in 2-years when its Alaska, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State, St Cloud and Bemidji – the left overs.
But you’re right Air Force likes even easier competition versus Bentley, AIC, Sacred Heart and Canisius.
My mistake Mike…. You’re right that there is an outside shot of Air Force joining the new WCHA but most likely they will stay put.
Steve and Mike you’re both correct. Air Force plays big time football, but hockey come on, no shot being invited to new super conference, Air Force would get killed every weekend……Now whether they elect to go to new 2 year from now “weaker” WCHA or stay with weak Eastern schools we’ll find out…….In this town you go to Air Force Football games in the Fall and then enjoy CC Hockey in the Winter. Air Force Hockey is only good for $2 tickets and free concession nights when CC’s not at world arena.
On any given night Air Force can compete with the big boys in hockey but the AHA is definitely a good fit for them given their recruting difficulties. Any player with thoughts of being in the NHL would never go to Air Force. The Falcons wouldn’t gain anything from leaving the AHA given their success in that conference the past few years.
Steve, AF can compete on “a given night”, but you must admit the grind of playing CC one weekend, DU the next, North Dakota the next, Duluth the next, Nebraska-Omaha the next, Miami the next – would be way too much for AF Hockey to handle. Would be LUCKY to go 2-9-1 in those games. And the injuries could be awful to AF. And without Serratore as coach, would be lucky to go 1-11……but you’re right AF can always compete and win the AHA. Most those programs are non-scholarship and AF technically the entire team is on scholarship. And the Academy is starting to let guys go pro and be in the Air Guard, etc. if they wish. True an AF Hockey player playing in the NHL in the near future is a dream, but guys are starting to play in the minors. Similar to AF basketball players in Europe, etc. is a reality.
Awesome what Clahoun has done for Falcon Football, but in hockey season this is a Tiger town…..and honestly should be.
[...] For some additional info and insight in to the new “College Hockey Super Conference”, check out The Colorado Springs Gazette’s Colorado College hockey blog. [Eye of the Tiger Post 1 / Eye of the Tiger Post 2] [...]
It looks likely Tech will stay in new-look WCHA with Northern Michigan reportedly in talks along with Alaska-Fairbanks.
I’m curious to see if RIT, Robert Morris and Niagara are approached by the CCHA. Those programs may want to take a step up in scholarships and are more in the geographic footprint of the CCHA.
Thanks for the update Joe!
I am so excited for CC. What a super conference. Big Time!
In terms of Air Force. Will be very interesting if upper level AHA teams leave for CCHA, what happens to Air Force??? Air Force may need to go to CCHA or WCHA because they have to. The left over non/low scholarship AHA teams don’t like competing with Air Force. I could see AHA becoming an 8-team conference without Air Force. The new-look WCHA and CCHA conferences would love to have Air Force, but the road to the NCAA Tournament will be much more difficult for the Falcons. No more beating Sacred Heart, Robert Morris and RIT to get there. Now would have to beat Alaska, Minnesota State and St. Cloud potentially, a step up in competition for sure.
I’m also glad that all the teams are finding their place. Don’t want anyone to drop college hockey. Having 8-team conferences actually creates more automatic qualifiers and more chances for the St. Clouds and Ferris States of the world. Maybe the NCAA Tourney becomes a 20-team tourney in the future.
Again, CC Hockey in this Super Conference is awesome. Couldn’t ask for anything more for the Tiger program
I wonder what the chances are of the Falcons joining the ECAC. If I’m not mistaken, AF is already an ECAC lacrosse member. I think Air Force would be more competitive in the ECAC than the WCHA or CCHA; just look at the Yale upset last season…
With the super league, I find the rumors of BC or/and BU being asked to join real interesting. That would make this league the first real national league in college hockey. That would spread the exposure of all the programs to both coasts on a regular basis. I really hope Notre Dame joins and BC gives it a long look.
BC and BU to new super league. That would be incredibly great!
Personally I think Notre Dame joins and that’s it, 7 team super league. Then they can schedule non-conference games vs. Big 10, BC, BU, St. Cloud, Minnesota State, Western Michigan….
[...] to the Big 10, they still had 10 teams and a scheduling agreement to still play the Big 10ers. (I think this article hits the nail on the head) Hopefully that will come out soon, though I doubt it will be today since the new league [...]
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