Well I'm back from a great trip to the Cape and what can I say, those Boston area people know how to party! But even through all the fun I still kept one eye on what was going on back in the Midwest and in particular watching another team from the CCHA jump to the WCHA. Ferris State became the third team to do so. It really is a no brainer and evidence to that is how quickly they made the decision.
The WCHA now has 9 teams and with Western Michigan and Bowling Green still out there, look destined to have a solid 10 team conference. Yes they are all small schools, but instead of looking at it as poor us, this should be looked at as on opportunity. An opportunity to win championships, make NCAA tournaments and bring banners and trophy's back to their universities. Aside from St. Cloud, none of the other 8 members has made strides to become a premier team in college hockey. With this door opening, it gives these schools a chance to start fresh and build a new legacy.
Alaska-Anch, Alaska-Fair, Minnesota State, Michigan Tech, St. Cloud, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan, and Bemidji State. Any of those jump off the page at you when you think of consistent championship contenders? It's not to say that many of them haven't had there moments. Ferris State won a CCHA Championship behind Chris Kunitz in the early 2000's. Northern Michigan won a national championship in the early 90's. But to say that any of these Universities has put any kind of consistent run together is reaching way outside the box.
That is why I go back to the word opportunity. Michigan, Michigan State, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and many others our no longer in your way to compete for a championship. You are on a level playing field with all the teams in your conference. Recruiting, facilities and money are all pretty much on a flat line when it come to these 9 schools. They should all be salivating at the prospect of when they go out to recruit a kid that they can sell the fact that they will be competing for a championship year in and year out. It would seem to me as a former player and competitor, that having a chance to win would be a good selling point. Yes it's college and you want to have fun and enjoy the whole experience. But for any hockey player playing high school or junior hockey and is battling for a scholarship. Your hunger is to win and compete at a high level and these schools will have an opportunity to sell that without any hesitation.
I have been reading a lot of people's comments over the change to the Big Ten Conference and how it would be a negative and how it hurts the overall landscape of college hockey. I have already made the point about how it gives these schools more opportunities to win championships. But those people would also argue that not playing against the BIG name schools would hurt their revenue and in that case hurt building the program. To those people I say, do the math. The Big Ten will only consist of 6 teams in which they will play 20 conference games per season, leaving 12 to 14 non conference games.
That leaves the likes of Minnesota wanting to make long term non conference deals with Minnesota State and St. Cloud. Michigan State wanting to lock up non conference match ups with Ferris State and Northern Michigan. While the Big Ten is excited to create new rivalries within the conference. They don't want to lose the great rivalries they have built over the years. Having played in the great rivalry between Ohio State and Miami, I know the importance the schools hold to that and will make sure it stays intact.
So, everybody take a deep breath, sit back and relax. College hockey is on the rise. Big schools, small schools and everybody in between. New rivalries, new conferences and a whole lot of excitement. Are you people still having doubts?
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