The six schools involved in a new conference have confirmed their intentions in a news release issued Saturday.
Colorado College, Denver, Miami, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota will form the new conference starting in the 2013-14 season, the same time that the Big Ten will form a six-team league.
“We understand and appreciate the widespread interest in developments relating to the formation of the new hockey conference,” the release, issued in the names of the schools’ six athletic directors, said. “More information will be provided about the initiatives that have been undertaken, as well as the next steps involved, at a news conference in Colorado Springs this Wednesday, July 13. Our programs look forward to continued associations with our current leagues, the WCHA and CCHA, for the next two seasons.”
Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota will leave the WCHA, while Miami will depart from the CCHA. Minnesota and Wisconsin are also leaving the WCHA for the Big Ten, where they will join Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State from the CCHA. Penn State is starting a new program in 2012 and will be the Big Ten’s sixth team.
The full press release from the six schools in the new conference follows:
A Joint Statement from: Peg Bradley-Doppes, Director of Athletics, University of Denver; Ken Ralph, Director of Athletics, Colorado College; Brad Bates, Director of Athletics, Miami University; Bob Nielson, Director of Athletics, University of Minnesota Duluth; Trev Alberts, Director of Athletics, University of Nebraska Omaha; Brian Faison, Director of Athletics, University of North Dakota
We are pleased to announce that six top NCAA Division I ice hockey programs will become founding members of a newly formed hockey conference, which will begin competition for the 2013-14 season. The six institutions are Colorado College, University of Denver, Miami University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska Omaha and University of North Dakota.
We understand and appreciate the widespread interest in developments relating to the formation of the new hockey conference. More information will be provided about the initiatives that have been undertaken, as well as the next steps involved, at a news conference in Colorado Springs this Wednesday, July 13. Our programs look forward to continued associations with our current leagues, the WCHA and CCHA, for the next two seasons.
Additional information about Wednesday’s news conference will be forthcoming in the next few days. There will be no further comment from athletic directors, coaches or other officials from any of the institutions until Wednesday’s news conference.
