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.