WCHA invites remaining CCHA teams to merge

The WCHA on Thursday announced that it has invited the "leftover" CCHA teams to join it for the 2013-14 season. Read the press release here. Schools invited include Alaska, Lake Superior State, Ferris State, Western Michigan and Bowling Green. Those schools have 30 days to decide.

Northern Michigan has already agreed to join the WCHA that year — after the Big Ten and National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams form. If all five teams agree to go to the WCHA, the conference will have 11 teams.

Minnesota State president Richard Davenport was quoted extensively in the press release, saying:

"On behalf of those presidents who remain committed to the WCHA in 2013-14 and beyond, I am excited to announce that we have unanimously voted to invite these five CCHA members to join our conference. These schools bring a proud history and tradition with them from the CCHA that will only serve to enhance the already strong reputation of the WCHA.
"We are committed to creating stability for the conference and believe by inviting these institutions we will create one of the strongest conferences in the nation. This is one of the main reasons presidents voted today to invite CCHA member institutions to join our conference. Also, as presidents, we are committed to providing the best college hockey opportunities in the country for our student-athletes."

Some reports have suggested that Alaska, Lake Superior and Ferris State will accept invitations. Western Michigan has hinted that it would like to do what Notre Dame does (Notre Dame was not part of the invite; it appears headed to the NCHC or Hockey East).