June 26, 2009
WCHA Expansion Vote Forthcoming Today
Indications Are That Bemidji State, Nebraska-Omaha Will be Admitted
by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor
WCHA athletic directors and faculty athletic representatives will re-convene via conference call today to take an official vote on whether Nebraska-Omaha will be admitted to the league, according to sources.
This comes after days of internal discussions, and discussions with UNO, over the terms of the entrance into the league. This is believed to revolve around the entrance fee, and the share of playoff revenue.
The league has also scheduled a 5 p.m. (CT) media conference call, where expansion will be publicly discussed. And there are indications that the votes are there, and Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha will be formally admitted today. Eight of 10 WCHA members must give approval for the vote to pass.
The WCHA's focus right now is squarely on Nebraska-Omaha, and not Alaska-Fairbanks, because of the higher potential for revenue that UNO can bring in.
UNO athletic director Trev Alberts has played things fairly close to the vest, repeating that UNO hasn't formally applied to the WCHA. But he has acknowledged that, if the terms are right, then it would be something that could appeal to UNO.
Sources indicate that UNO's interest is more definite than that, and if the terms are agreed upon, and the athletic directors vote in favor today, that Nebraska-Omaha is ready to make the jump.
The WCHA's interest in Nebraska-Omaha was necessitated by its interest in Bemidji State. BSU is without a home after next season because the CHA is disbanding. Saving that program -- for the good of all of college hockey -- meant finding BSU a home. WCHA schools were willing to take BSU on, only if the league could find a 12th team.
Since then, and particularly after UNO filled holes with a new AD, Alberts, and new head coach, Dean Blais, the WCHA has been aggressive in its pursuit of UNO.
A move by UNO would leave the CCHA with a hole, which could be filled by Alabama-Huntsville -- a program in just as desperate a situation as Bemidji State. What at one point seemed like a longshot for UAH, has turned quite viable. UAH has officially applied for entrance, and two weeks ago, CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos made an official site visit to the school's campus.
geogopherJun 26 2009, 11:59 am
I met the commissioner during his UAH campus visit, at that time when I expressed emotion about UAH joining the conference, the UAH athletics director rushed over to me and gave a confident indication that YES UAH would be joining the CCHA! Tom was very nice and signed for an autograph and everything remained very upbeat... Seems all signs point to yes!
boom boomJun 26 2009, 2:49 pm
Finally. Now Mr. Wodon will have to stop bashing the Beavers chances of joining the WCHA...
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