Nebraska-Omaha head coach Mike Kemp spoke Alaska's hockey luncheon this afternoon, and had some interesting things to say about some future conference realignment.
Incidentally, the Mavericks lost 2-0 to Alaska tonight, and had to wear Fairbanks Ice Dogs jerseys, because United Airways lost their jerseys while rerouting the Mavericks a couple times turning their trip to Fairbanks into a 24-hour journey.
Anyway, Kemp said that Nebraska-Omaha had been approached by the WCHA about the possibility of applying to join the conference, but made it pretty clear that UNO had no interest in switching conferences.
One of the big reasons why is that even though the WCHA may have more traditional hockey powers, Nebraska is football territory and names like Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State are going to resonate more with local fans than a school like Denver or North Dakota. Even MAC schools like Western Michigan, Miami, and Bowling Green carry more cachet than some of the D-II football schools in Minnesota.
Kemp did mention the advantage of being able to bus to most games in the WCHA--and I'm sure avoiding the air looked especially tempting after the fiasco getting up to Fairbanks--but also said that the CCHA has been good to UNO, and they have no interest in moving.
So UNO is out in terms of a 12th WCHA team, but Kemp did mention, however, that Northern Michigan has been approached by the WCHA about potentially joining the conference as well. Would they be interested? I'm not sure.
Still, it probably has to be considered a good sign for Bemidji State that the WCHA is at least looking to add a 12th team. Twelve teams would help out with scheduling a little bit, because it would allow the league to use a "cluster" format like the CCHA has the past couple of years. Scheduling with 11 teams would still be workable though. In any case, things this summer could be very interesting as some major changes could be coming.
Showing posts with label bemidji state. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bemidji state. Show all posts
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Step 1 for Bemidji
The ten teams in the WCHA today voted to lift the WCHA's moratorium on league expansion.
This was the first step towards getting Bemidji State out of the dying CHA and into the WCHA. Now that the expansion moratorium has been lifted, teams can apply for conference membership until March 31st of this year, and a final vote will take place during this spring at the conference coaches' meeting.
The Bemidji Pioneer ran an editorial on BSU's credentials.
This was the first step towards getting Bemidji State out of the dying CHA and into the WCHA. Now that the expansion moratorium has been lifted, teams can apply for conference membership until March 31st of this year, and a final vote will take place during this spring at the conference coaches' meeting.
The Bemidji Pioneer ran an editorial on BSU's credentials.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Minnesota Arenas Funded
Today was a pretty big day for most of the college hockey programs in the state of Minnesota. Governor Tim Pawlenty agreed to the state's bonding bill, albeit after line-item vetoing a little over $200 million.
The good news is that many of the projects important to college hockey fans in the state were not affected by the vetoes.
Perhaps the most critical project to be funded was the Bemidji Regional Events Center, which will be the new home of Bemidji State's hockey team. If they can fill that new arena somewhat consistently, I think it's very likely that they'll become a member of the WCHA some day. Without the new arena, BSU probably would have had to drop their program.
Minnesota-Duluth will also finally get their new arena. The city of Duluth voted to raise the sales tax in the city to help fund the arena, only to have the state's funding fail to come through. They'll finally get that funding, and what should be a beautiful new arena. Kevin Pates of the Duluth-News Tribune has more.
St. Cloud State also got a little over $6 million for renovations to the National Hockey Center. St. Cloud's politicians deserve a lot of credit for this, since this seemed like one of the less essential projects on there, and easiest to cut. You can't blame St. Cloud for trying though, and good for them for getting the money.
Crookston, Minnesota will also be getting a new arena which will be used by the local college, high school, and youth program.
One casualty to the line-item veto was $975,000 for planning for a new women's hockey rink/practice facility for Minnesota State Mankato. It's certainly a disappointing development for the one Division I program in the state of Minnesota that didn't receive state money to build their arena, and doesn't receive state money to cover operating costs in the buildings they play in.
Pawlenty also vetoed $1.4 million for the National Sports Center in Blaine, home of the Schwan Super Rink.
Overall, it was a great day for hockey in Minnesota, and most specifically, a great day for the people of Bemidji and Duluth. Once we get into the offseason, I'll take a little closer look at some of these impressive projects.
The good news is that many of the projects important to college hockey fans in the state were not affected by the vetoes.
Perhaps the most critical project to be funded was the Bemidji Regional Events Center, which will be the new home of Bemidji State's hockey team. If they can fill that new arena somewhat consistently, I think it's very likely that they'll become a member of the WCHA some day. Without the new arena, BSU probably would have had to drop their program.
Minnesota-Duluth will also finally get their new arena. The city of Duluth voted to raise the sales tax in the city to help fund the arena, only to have the state's funding fail to come through. They'll finally get that funding, and what should be a beautiful new arena. Kevin Pates of the Duluth-News Tribune has more.
St. Cloud State also got a little over $6 million for renovations to the National Hockey Center. St. Cloud's politicians deserve a lot of credit for this, since this seemed like one of the less essential projects on there, and easiest to cut. You can't blame St. Cloud for trying though, and good for them for getting the money.
Crookston, Minnesota will also be getting a new arena which will be used by the local college, high school, and youth program.
One casualty to the line-item veto was $975,000 for planning for a new women's hockey rink/practice facility for Minnesota State Mankato. It's certainly a disappointing development for the one Division I program in the state of Minnesota that didn't receive state money to build their arena, and doesn't receive state money to cover operating costs in the buildings they play in.
Pawlenty also vetoed $1.4 million for the National Sports Center in Blaine, home of the Schwan Super Rink.
Overall, it was a great day for hockey in Minnesota, and most specifically, a great day for the people of Bemidji and Duluth. Once we get into the offseason, I'll take a little closer look at some of these impressive projects.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Ruff to Bemidji
Rochester, Minnesota native and former Southern Minnesota Express forward Jamie Ruff has committed to Bemidji for this fall.
Ruff isn't a very big forward, but a very fast skater and hard worker that should do well with the Beavers.
Ruff isn't a very big forward, but a very fast skater and hard worker that should do well with the Beavers.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Sorry Bemidji
The WCHA has decided not to expand their conference, meaning Bemidji State will likely soon find themselves without a conference to play in once the CHA collapses, and could force BSU to drop their hockey program.
There have been critics that said Bemidji's program would be in dire financial straits with or without the WCHA, but my question is, why not at least give them the opportunity to fail? Maybe they wouldn't be able to make it in the WCHA, but they're almost guaranteed to die without any conference to play in.
And what's the argument for not letting them into the league? It ruins the 8 years of tradition built up by having the same 10 teams in the league? It makes an already unbalanced league schedule slightly less balanced? The real answer is most likely that the other teams in the league don't want to split the revenue from the Final Five another way.
The Beavers have more than proven themselves as a capable team. They've competed extremely well against the WCHA over the past couple years, despite having CHA-level resources. Playing in the WCHA would make the program even stronger. Yes, Bemidji still has issues, like the lack of a WCHA-level arena, but that could be solved by making their league membership, and cut of the league revenue conditional until they get a new arena.
It's really a disappointing decision from the WCHA. Having an extra 18 scholarships/26 roster spots for D-I college hockey players is never a bad thing, and this decision puts that severly in jeopardy.
There have been critics that said Bemidji's program would be in dire financial straits with or without the WCHA, but my question is, why not at least give them the opportunity to fail? Maybe they wouldn't be able to make it in the WCHA, but they're almost guaranteed to die without any conference to play in.
And what's the argument for not letting them into the league? It ruins the 8 years of tradition built up by having the same 10 teams in the league? It makes an already unbalanced league schedule slightly less balanced? The real answer is most likely that the other teams in the league don't want to split the revenue from the Final Five another way.
The Beavers have more than proven themselves as a capable team. They've competed extremely well against the WCHA over the past couple years, despite having CHA-level resources. Playing in the WCHA would make the program even stronger. Yes, Bemidji still has issues, like the lack of a WCHA-level arena, but that could be solved by making their league membership, and cut of the league revenue conditional until they get a new arena.
It's really a disappointing decision from the WCHA. Having an extra 18 scholarships/26 roster spots for D-I college hockey players is never a bad thing, and this decision puts that severly in jeopardy.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Bemidji and the WCHA
This isn't exactly ground-breaking news, but the Bemidji Press wrote an article saying Bemidji State will be forced to drop hockey if they aren't accepted into the WCHA by May 2008.
The CHA won't be around much longer, and if those teams can't find a conference, they will all likely be forced to disband. Hopefully the WCHA finds a way to allow Bemidji into the conference. They're a strong program, that is centrally located within the conference, and have proven on numerous occasions that they can compete with other WCHA programs. It would be a shame to let a team like that just fade away. It would also take away 18 scholarships from potential college hockey players(Yes, they currently give out less, but I'm guessing a full allotment would be a condition on joining the league). Compared to the alternative of maintaining the integrity of an artificially created 10 team cap, it seems like a no-brainer to let the Beavers into the league.
For what it's worth, it sounds like the WCHA will probably be open to helping out Bemidji. WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod was on Fox Sports North last weekend, and mentioned that there at least basic discussions going on about whether or not the WCHA would want to expand to 11 or 12 teams, if they expanded. It's a small step in the right direction, given that the WCHA's party line for a long time has been "we're not at all interested in expanding past 10 teams".
The talk about 12 teams is interesting, because as of right now, there doesn't seem to be a potential 12th team anywhere on the horizon. The WCHA could absorb a western CCHA team like UNO, or there's even the outside possibility of the University of British Columbia being allowed into the NCAA and joining the WCHA.
Air Force is a geographical fit, but I don't seem them fitting into the WCHA. First, AFA is interested in playing in a conference with Army. Second, travel costs aren't as big a concern for them since flying in cheaper for them. Third, I don't see a service academy being able to compete in a league where every other team is drawing future NHL talent.
Hopefully the WCHA can get something worked out this summer. May 2008 may seem like a long time, but that is only 15 months to come up with a solution.
The CHA won't be around much longer, and if those teams can't find a conference, they will all likely be forced to disband. Hopefully the WCHA finds a way to allow Bemidji into the conference. They're a strong program, that is centrally located within the conference, and have proven on numerous occasions that they can compete with other WCHA programs. It would be a shame to let a team like that just fade away. It would also take away 18 scholarships from potential college hockey players(Yes, they currently give out less, but I'm guessing a full allotment would be a condition on joining the league). Compared to the alternative of maintaining the integrity of an artificially created 10 team cap, it seems like a no-brainer to let the Beavers into the league.
For what it's worth, it sounds like the WCHA will probably be open to helping out Bemidji. WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod was on Fox Sports North last weekend, and mentioned that there at least basic discussions going on about whether or not the WCHA would want to expand to 11 or 12 teams, if they expanded. It's a small step in the right direction, given that the WCHA's party line for a long time has been "we're not at all interested in expanding past 10 teams".
The talk about 12 teams is interesting, because as of right now, there doesn't seem to be a potential 12th team anywhere on the horizon. The WCHA could absorb a western CCHA team like UNO, or there's even the outside possibility of the University of British Columbia being allowed into the NCAA and joining the WCHA.
Air Force is a geographical fit, but I don't seem them fitting into the WCHA. First, AFA is interested in playing in a conference with Army. Second, travel costs aren't as big a concern for them since flying in cheaper for them. Third, I don't see a service academy being able to compete in a league where every other team is drawing future NHL talent.
Hopefully the WCHA can get something worked out this summer. May 2008 may seem like a long time, but that is only 15 months to come up with a solution.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Congrats Bemidji!
I know it's not officially over until the end of the season, but I'd like to be the first the congratulate the Bemidji State Beavers on winning the 2006-2007 DQ Cup. Since the results this year are being tallied based on winning percentage rather than points, so with a perfect 1.000 winning percentage, and no more games against teams from Minnesota, Bemidji has built an insurmountable lead.
For those that aren't familiar with the DQ Cup, it was a competition created two years ago to honor the top college hockey team in Minnesota, by keeping track of every intra-Minnesota game played. Now technically, Bemidji was unfairly excluded from this competition, but I say if the goal is to honor the best college team in Minnesota, why exclude anybody?
Bemidji went a perfect 4-0 in psuedo-DQ Cup competition, sweeping Minnesota State in Mankato, and then sweeping a home and home series against Minnesota-Duluth, including a thrilling three goal comeback at the DECC on Saturday. The Beavers also won 2 of their 4 games in overtime.
So congratulations Bemidji. The coldness and creamy deliciousness you showed in dispatching your fellow Minnesotans was exactly what people want in a hockey team, or a Blizzard. You may not win this beautiful trophy that you can hide in the corner of your building at the State Fair, but next time I eat a vanilla/chocolate soft-serve swirl cone, which probably won't be for months, it will be in your honor.
For those that aren't familiar with the DQ Cup, it was a competition created two years ago to honor the top college hockey team in Minnesota, by keeping track of every intra-Minnesota game played. Now technically, Bemidji was unfairly excluded from this competition, but I say if the goal is to honor the best college team in Minnesota, why exclude anybody?
Bemidji went a perfect 4-0 in psuedo-DQ Cup competition, sweeping Minnesota State in Mankato, and then sweeping a home and home series against Minnesota-Duluth, including a thrilling three goal comeback at the DECC on Saturday. The Beavers also won 2 of their 4 games in overtime.
So congratulations Bemidji. The coldness and creamy deliciousness you showed in dispatching your fellow Minnesotans was exactly what people want in a hockey team, or a Blizzard. You may not win this beautiful trophy that you can hide in the corner of your building at the State Fair, but next time I eat a vanilla/chocolate soft-serve swirl cone, which probably won't be for months, it will be in your honor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
