Wither, WCHA?

If July 11, 2011 was the end of the WCHA as we knew it (that was when the formation of the NCHC was first announced), June 28, 2019 might mark the beginning of the end of the WCHA altogether.

A group of seven WCHA teams, including Minnesota State, are exploring forming a new, "elite hockey conference" that would begin play in 2021-22, according to a press release sent out by athletics consultant Morris Kurtz, the former St. Cloud State athletic director.

Minnesota State, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan are the teams, which means they are planning to move on without Alaska, Alaska Anchorage and Alabama Huntsville.

The wheels are clearly in motion on this, as, according to the press release, all seven schools have "submitted formal Letters of Notice to the confernece office, initiating the withdrawal process in accordance with WCHA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws." The schools intend to play in the league this coming season and in 2020-21.

In a statement issued by the WCHA, commissioner Bill Robertson said: “While this news is disappointing, the WCHA will work to assure that any members that do withdraw do so in accordance with WCHA Bylaws.”

The press release, which came out around 3:30 p.m. CDT Friday, refers all inquires to Kurtz and said the seven institutions' representatives, including presidents, ADs and coaches, would not be commenting.

The release said the seven schools "are like-minded in their goals and aspirations for the potential new league with a focus on improving regional alignment and the overall student-athlete experience while building natural rivalries within a more compact geographic footprint."

The seven schools are located in Minnesota, Michigan and Ohio. The Alaskas and UAH are the conference's geographic outliers. Also, the Alaskas have major financial issues, made worse today by a $130 million cut to the university system's budget in a governor's veto. Huntsville, meanwhile, is without an AD after E.J. Brophy was reassigned to a new position earlier this month.

The new league also would "establish itself as an elite hockey conference that would have the highest standards for overall competitiveness and rigorous non-conference scheduling, along with a level of institutional investment that demonstrates significant commitment to their hockey programs and facilities, while also establishing relationships with corporate partners and others that create a high degree of visibility and positive media exposure for the league."

Sounds a lot like what we heard when the NCHC schools left the WCHA and CCHA to form a new conference in reaction to the formation of the Big Ten. Those conferences began play in 2013, as did the new WCHA.

I have more thoughts on this but am on vacation right now, so keep checking the blog throughout the next week.

WCHA names new women's commissioner

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association looked to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference to find its next women's commissioner.

Jennifer Flowers was named WCHA vice president and women's commissioner on Monday. Flowers has been the NSIC's assistant commissioner for membership services since August of 2016. She will be the WCHA's fourth women's commissioner.

Northern Sun members Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth all have WCHA women's programs.

Flowers, who will begin her WCHA duties in July, replaces Katie Million, who was with the conference for three years before recently taking a job with USA Hockey.

“Jennifer stood out among an outstanding group of finalists," Mavericks coach John Harrington, a member of the selection committee, said in a league press release. "Her previous experience in administration with coaches, athletic directors and faculty representatives shows she can build relationships and involve key stakeholders in the decision-making process. Her vision to continually address and improve the student-athlete experience in the WCHA is important as we move forward under her leadership.”

During her time at the NSIC, Flowers spearheaded a committee that created the league’s first transgender student-athlete participation guidelines and coordinated the launch of the league’s SAAC Cup, which was designed to encourage engagement of campus student-athlete advisory councils. She also developed and implemented the NSIC Women’s Coaches Symposium in 2017, which has since been rebranded the NSIC Women’s Leadership Symposium.

Besides her NSIC duties, Flowers, serves on the NCAA women’s volleyball rules committee, is the co-chair of the Minnesota Coalition for Women in Athletic Leadership and serves as a mentor in the Women Leaders in College Sports mentoring program.

From 2012 to 2015, Flowers worked as an associate athletic director and senior woman administrator in the second of two stints at Winona State. She was also an assistant women’s basketball and volleyball coach at Simpson College in 2005-06.