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UND's New Hockey Conference


Cratter

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Per Andy Baggot

One of the biggest questions has to do with how the proud and powerful WCHA allowed this to happen. Why would these premier members abruptly abandon a recognized 12-team brand to begin anew?

A college hockey source may have provided it Wednesday morning a couple hours before the presidents, athletic directors and coaches from the six schools took questions.

The source said that officials at Denver and North Dakota strongly questioned the direction of the WCHA during the annual American Hockey Coaches Association convention in Florida in May. There was sentiment to force long-time commissioner Bruce McLeod to step down, but the source said that while people from multiple schools inched up to that line, "no one crossed it.''

When the notion came up of schools possibly seceding from the WCHA instead, it was met with the threat of six-figure fines per institution.

Obviously, that didn't go over very well.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/sports/blog/article_90edb5f8-ad6b-11e0-ae67-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1S0XVEVfF

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Andy Baggot is a pretty sound resource and if he's willing to put it out there.

The source said that officials at Denver and North Dakota strongly questioned the direction of the WCHA during the annual American Hockey Coaches Association convention in Florida in May. There was sentiment to force long-time commissioner Bruce McLeod to step down, but the source said that while people from multiple schools inched up to that line, "no one crossed it.''

What's the deal there? Why is anyone afraid of McLeod? Does he have photos of the SCSU doggy "gettin' busy" with the MSUM bull?

Or is everyone afraid of being on the wrong side of one of his league decisions that leave teams, fans, coaches, administrators and the media all asking ... "What the ..."

When the notion came up of schools possibly seceding from the WCHA instead, it was met with the threat of six-figure fines per institution.

Fines? FINES? For discussing it? Uh, every conference agreement has "out" clauses in it. Two, no five, no a total of SEVEN current WCHA members are exercising the "out".

Fine that Bruce.

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Andy Baggot is a pretty sound resource and if he's willing to put it out there.

What's the deal there? Why is anyone afraid of McLeod? Does he have photos of the SCSU doggy "gettin' busy" with the MSUM bull?

Or is everyone afraid of being on the wrong side of one of his league decisions that leave teams, fans, coaches, administrators and the media all asking ... "What the ..."

If it is true then I am glad UND got out of the WCHA then. If the other schools were not willing to vote out an inept commissioner, then I'm glad we left.

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Someone already has updated Wikipedia with National Collegiate Hockey Conference

To go along with that, here are the current social media links for the NCHC

Official Facebook Page

Official Twitter Page

According to the Matt on the FightingSioux.com chat, the domain for the new website has been purchased, but is not yet live. A logo will be forthcoming as well.

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I am excited abut this move but I have to agree with Mr. Dilks here.

I can't really take seriously anything said by any WCHA blogger right now because they are going to try to pick apart anything they can from here on out.

This conference is in its infant...no actually its prenatal stage and there are a million and one details to work through, so as of now it will appear to be thrown together until details get worked out. They could have waited another month or two and put on a grander entrance and had more of the details ironed out, but instead they did the right thing and announced who they are and what they know at this time to keep people informed.

It was an introduction, it wasn't a bylaws session.

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I can't really take seriously anything said by any WCHA blogger right now because they are going to try to pick apart anything they can from here on out.

This conference is in its infant...no actually its prenatal stage and there are a million and one details to work through, so as of now it will appear to be thrown together until details get worked out. They could have waited another month or two and put on a grander entrance and had more of the details ironed out, but instead they did the right thing and announced who they are and what they know at this time to keep people informed.

It was an introduction, it wasn't a bylaws session.

One of the major points in the press conference was that four teams are looking at getting into the new league.

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Via Bruce Ciskie on Twitter - Tidbits from conference call with Faison

UND AD Brian Faison says there wasn't really a tipping point where the school decided to leave the WCHA.

Asked about WCHA leadership, Faison says there was talk at the spring meetings, but that was it.

He says there was a motion on the floor about fining schools that talked about leaving the WCHA, but it was taken off the floor.

Faison says the new league needs to search for a commissioner, complete non-profit certification, lots of business-oriented stuff.

Also says they are looking at potential new members. Did not offer specifics on that, obviously.

Faison denies report that Boston College and Boston University were extended invites.

Said they will begin work immediately on developing media platforms.

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Per Hajdu there is no logo yet.

That is correct. A logo has not yet been created, because the programs will want to have a commissioner in place before determining a precise branding strategy. The league logo, obviously, would be a key component of that branding.

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