USCHO.com is reporting that Wayne State will drop their hockey program following the completion of this season.
The news isn't much of a shock. Wayne State's program had been on shaky ground for quite some time. It's almost a surprise that they've lasted this long being an inner-city commuter college with no on-campus rink and very little fanbase.
Wayne State had applied to join the CCHA on a near annual basis, but was never accepted, mainly due to the fact that they had very little to offer the league. It's another nail in the coffin for Wayne State's conference, College Hockey America. This makes it even more important that Bemidji State be allowed into the WCHA, because they will have to drop their program without a conference to play in.
With one fewer college hockey program out there, the 16-team NCAA tournament could be a thing of the past. Currently, over 25% of the teams in the NCAA make the national tournament. The NCAA could bump the tournament back down to 12 teams to make the tournament a little more selective.
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12 comments:
That's too bad. RIP Wayne State hockey. And thanks for that game against Colorado College a few years ago, which was WAY more entertaining than it should've been. I've always respected the program after that one.
Sad day for college hockey
With a son in Canada trying to get a scholarship - sad day indeed!
I do have to say that the whole WSU philosophy just wasn't a good one. Playing many miles from campus without a true home rink just did not allow for them to develop loyal fans.
Hopefully, college hockey will step up and help the remaining CHA teams...
What ever happened to Syracuse getting a team?
A good replacement I would think( so long as they have a venue).
ANY shuffling involving the confrences to accomodate the CHA teams will lead to a Big 10 schedule outside of the CCHA and WCHA reg season. MN and Wisc dont need anyone, and will be happy to give up some h and h conference games to get h and h with MSU, Mich and OSU.ditto for the CCHA schools..
Title IX happened to Syracuse. The Women's team will start first and as far I have read Men's Hockey will hopefully be added at a later date. But there has been no commitment to a Men's team.
It amazes me that everyone in college hockey talks about saving these CHA programs by absorbing them into their conferences, but when it's time to actually absorb one of those teams they shut the door and say "not us, someone else will have to make the sacrifice." The powers that be in college hockey need to find a real solution this time around or we're going to lose more quality programs in the years to come.
anony 10:03PM has it about right. Before the WCHA absorbs another little fish (or two to keep a balanced number of teams) with crap facilities and no interest to their fan bases, you are just as likely to see the Big 10 schools consolidate leaving a much bigger mess (bith are not happening). Where is the real money in college hockey? For the most part the Big10 programs. Why would the WCHA add a little fish to split the pie even further with when the little fish will add little to the pie for the forseeable future? Bemidji is not the WCHA's problem to fix at the expense of weakening itself.
It always cracks me up when people want the "powers that be in college hockey" to jump into action. Who are these Powers That Be you speak of?
Is Don Lucia or Jack Parker supposed to jump into action to save a program that drew less people than an average sized wedding.
I think that this decision puts that decision back with the WCHA to reconsider expansion. It's clear that BSU (and who ever joined with them) would have to make cocessions in terms of the sharing of tournament revenue.
If anything I think that the sticking point in terms of adding BSU would be what other team would join with them because an 11 team league is stupid and I can't see ANY support for adding UAH. It would be a question of if UNO or NMU can be convinced to leave the CCHA. (and either UAH or Niagara can take that slot).
Still lots of questions, but I think that the potential loss of 4 NCAA spots might be enough to get the WCHA and CCHA team to take some action.
Does anyone think that USA Hockey should have a role/responsibility in helping along colleges with legitimate chances of having a team?
In regards to Wayne State, maybe it was just not going to work.
I can not wait until the NCAA reduces the tournament to 12 teams. THen the big conferences will be crying over the fact that the 2nd / 3rd place conference teams did not get in.
Those four extra teams in the tourney are why the big conferences need to step up....and yes, if Div 1 loses two or three more teams (in addition to WSU), a reduction in teams in the tourney will happen. The money argument won't fly, one bowl game brings in more revenue than the entire NCAA D1 tournament!
So, the question should be, does the WCHA have less money per team for only getting one/two teams in the tourney and splitting it among 10 teams or do they get more per team by getting 3/4 and splitting it 11 ways (last I checked, 2/10 < 4/11).
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