Friday, August 26, 2011

Alaska, Ferris State and Lake Superior State accept WCHA membership invitations

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Less than 24 hours after receiving formal invitations to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), the University
of Alaska Fairbanks, Ferris State University and Lake Superior State University have made their intentions known. All three teams have
accepted membership offers and will join the Association beginning with the 2013-14 season.

The announcement is a product of a series of discussions between representatives of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and
WCHA, including an Aug. 23 meeting in Chicago. The two leagues also agreed to continue to hold regular talks to address topics such as
by-laws, scheduling, tournament scenarios, finances and additional membership.

Thursday (Aug. 25), the Association extended invitations to the five remaining CCHA member institutions, on behalf of the six member teams
that would have comprised WCHA membership following the 2012-13 season. The WCHA-member presidents set a 30-day response time
line for acceptance for membership.

“This is an outstanding day for Ferris State Bulldog hockey and college hockey in general. The uncertainty of the past five months has caused
some genuine angst and instability on hockey playing campuses across the country,” Ferris State Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger said.
“Through the vision, leadership and cooperative spirit of the institutions in these two tradition-rich conferences there is a renewed sense of
stability, excitement and a new direction for hockey programs in both the CCHA and WCHA.”

“The WCHA provides a unified group of schools that are committed to Division I hockey. Membership in this conference will provide advantages
for both our fans and our student-athletes,” Alaska Fairbanks Head Coach Dallas Ferguson said, noting that he is thankful the Nanooks
now have a clear path forward for the coming years.

“This will be a great step for our program – to find a league with teams that are similar to ours,” Lake Superior State Director of Athletics
Kris Dunbar said. “We will be in a conference with similar schools and good hockey traditions. This should be appealing to fans, alumni and
recruits. Our fans will continue to see good college hockey played in Taffy Abel Arena for years to come.”

Alaska Fairbanks, Ferris State and Lake Superior State join University of Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State University, Michigan Technological
University, Minnesota State University, Mankato, St. Cloud State University and Northern Michigan University, which accepted an offer to join the WCHA beginning in 2013-14 on July 20, as member institutions of the WCHA beginning in 2013-14.

Bowling Green State University and Western Michigan University have not formally responded to the invitation.

No comments:

Post a Comment