College Hockey:
Bowling Green to make decision on WCHA by Oct. 7

USCHO Staff Report • Sept. 23, 2011

Bowling Green’s deadline for deciding on whether it will join the WCHA has been extended to Oct. 7.

The original deadline was Sept. 22 after BGSU was one of five CCHA schools invited to join the WCHA on Aug. 25.

“We continue to assess our options for hockey conference affiliation and expect to wrap up details within the next couple of weeks,” BGSU athletic director Greg Christopher said in a statement. “Our dialogue with other schools and the WCHA is ongoing. We appreciate the WCHA’s patience as we work through internal and external conversations. With the movement this week, the dynamic has changed. This is an important decision for BGSU and we owe it to our program and institution to do our due diligence.”

The extension has fueled speculation from the Sentinel-Tribune in Bowling Green that Atlantic Hockey members Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara and Robert Morris are being considered for WCHA membership. The article also says Air Force, another Atlantic Hockey member, might consider a move to the WCHA.

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JamesDee
The four or five AHA teams added to the WCHA makes sense with Bowling Green.
Then I will see Mankato and Bemdji joining the NCHC, if these teams join the WCHA.
- BulldogFan
  Guys….come on, BSU and Mankato have zero chance of being asked to join the NCHC. The National either adds Notre Dame and goes to nine or maybe adds Bowling Green if they want 10 (very doubtful). As far as Bowling Green talking to the 4 AHA schools and Buffalo (as has been reported) this suggests that they would form a conference with those teams and maybe throw in UAH. The four AHA schools won’t join the WCHA as they don’t want to make any trips to Alaska it seems that was pretty clear a few months ago.
  - Anonymous
    The point about the NCHC adding BSU and Kato to be the “WCHA” with Miami and Western was rhetorical in reply to JamesDee.
    True. BSU and Mankato – highly unlikely to be invited to the NCHC. A few AHA schools being part of the future WCHA. Not likely. Private eastern schools. The travel would kill them. AirForce – outside chance maybe – they’re the only ones who don’t have a travel issue. Let’s hope not anyway. If they do we’re all in trouble :> BGSU is 50/50 NCHC/WCHA.
    As everyone says – depends on ND.
    - Fan Man
      I would have to agree with Beaver on that one boys! 50/50 is the only logical explanation… Hopeing for more or less is just not reasonable at this time. Funny how everyone stresses this issue so much when it is 2 years away. At the same time tho, this will change college hockey. For better or nay I say worse….
Anonymous
If Bemidji and Mankato join the NCHC then the WCHA could just as well remained as is and added Miami and Western to replace MN and WI when the BTHC forms.
BGSU wants more time to get a straight answer or some sense of direction from NotreDame – sorry if I’m stating the obvious.
- Joe C
  The issue Bowling Green has in waiting for Notre Dame to make a decision is that Notre Dame does not have to make a decision for 2 years. If football makes a decision and joins a conference, Notre Dame will either be part of BTHC (which I see as highly unlikely) or part of HE/NCHC is part of ACC or independent. I am not sure which is Notre Dame’s preference between HE/NCHC, since travel is not much, given how spread out NCHC is.
  If Notre Dame joins ACC, the entire sports department travel will be east coast, just the way it is now in Big East for all non-football sports, along with all the alumni in Northeast Corridor.
FalconFan
Bowling Green and Notre Dame need to be in the Big 10 for hockey. They’re D1 schools with good tradition and right in the middle for travel purposes. BG may struggle in the league for a while, but being in the Big 10 would certainly help their recruiting. Come on Big 10…you know 6 teams don’t make a league!
- B.D.
  There is no value in it for the Big Ten to invite BGSU, and to do so will violate the core principle of why they are standing up the first place.
  - Ring_of_Fire
    Agreed. No slight intended against BGSU, but it is NOT a Big Ten school.
- Bob
  BG to the Big 10? Thank you for the tremendous laugh!
JamesDee
Bowling Green is trying to form their own league with the 4AHA teams, RIT and Air Force said no, and Buffalo who is trying to start a D1 team.
I believe Bowling Green is getting desperate. They may fold after this all done and not join the WCHA.
Bowling Green would have a hard time in the current WCHA setup.
They may be forced to fold along with UAH Chargers.
- Yooper
  Your right. BGU, with their recent financial crisis, would be crazy to join a league (WCHA) which would include travel to Alaska. It would be tough enough to travel to Bemidji. A far better solution is to group with teams from the east, with the truth be told are better match-ups competitively, and include UAH in the group. BGU to UAH is not that formidable a journey. It would also be fairly difficult for NMU, Bemidji, MTU etc. to go to BGU when they already
  have UAA and UAF to deal with. These teams don’t have a boatload of money either. And what a relief it would be for UAH.
  - JamesDee
    The new WCHA needs a Division one team in the league to get a vote.
    It is going to be either one or both Bowling Green and Air Force.
  - JamesDee
    Bowling Green joining the NCHC with WMU and Miami makes the most sense but like back in 1971 BG was ejected to join the WCHA back then, too.

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