Dennis,thanks for the posts.

ESPN reprint of Wire story with comments from Hockey East Commish who says that UConn may be invited to his league in June.Link at http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... -expansion

More of the same -

Vote to allow UConn into Hockey East in June....

http://www.unionleader.com/article/2012 ... /705209934

http://www.bcinterruption.com/2012/5/10 ... notre-dame

If it ends up being UConn to Hockey East and UA-Huntsville to Atlantic Hockey, it would make for 3 conferences of 12 generally in the Eastern US, enough for at least 4 conferences if schools wanted to go that direction in the future.

I am curious, are there limits to how many times college hockey teams can schedule out of conference opponents? Could they do an OOC home-and-home?

I ask because when I worked a seasonal job in Vermont last summer, I asked someone who the biggest rival was for U of Vermont hockey and he quickly responded Dartmouth (just over the Vermont border in Hanover, NH). They both used to be in ECAC Hockey, but UVM has since moved on to Hockey East and they seem unlikely to be in the same conference again for a long time.

I have heard AD's in several conferences comment that they would like 8-10 OOC games, if the conference footprint overlaps that of another where there are several
inter-conference rivals.

I'm fairly certain the 2 Alaska schools played each other home and away, when in separate conferences (now with both in WCHA, not an issue...)

Tute79 and Dafoeberezin,thanks for the posts.

Blog article with update on WCHA/UAH situation at http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com ... ting-notes

CHN article reporting that Hockey East voted today to accept UConn as a league member.A formal announcement may come this Friday at the earliest but more likely will be next week.Link at http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2 ... accept.php

Release from UConn site announcing UConn to Hockey East with formal announcement presser scheduled for Noon on June 29,2012.Link at http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-ho ... 12aac.html

I think Hockey East really strengthened itself with this expansion.

This will give them the flagship school in 5 of the 6 New England States (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT),
the flagship of Catholicism (Notre Dame), and some other excellent Hockey schools, namely National Champion BC, and perrenial toughie BU.

Yeah, Connecticut isn't at that level yet, but they are a state-supported school, and the sitting governor has been personally involved,
and (at last for the remainder of his term) will see to it that UConn gets the needed resources to pull this off.
I personally think they were the top choice for #12, because of this potential.

It seems the last remaining piec of the realignment shuffle will be for UA-Huntsville to pursue the new opening in Atlantic Hockey.
They are probably filing the paperwork as we speak. I wish them well. I think the AHA would be a proper fit for them.

Tute79,thanks for the post.

Article from UConn site reporting on yesterday's UConn/Hockey East presser/party at http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-ho ... 12aab.html

Article out of Marquette reporting that UAH will be making a pitch to the WCHA tomorrow in Dallas regarding joining as member #10.Link at http://www.miningjournal.net/page/conte ... to---.html

Article out of Huntsville reporting that UAH has accepted a WCHA invite and will FINALLY have a conference home after the demise of the CHA.Link at http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013 ... _join.html

Thanks, Freaked for staying on top of this.

Yes, now all 59 teams have a home.
After all the hand-wringing about "the death of college hockey", the realignment has resulted in some broken rivalries, but some improvements as well.

Geographically, (I always come back ot that), really only 3 noticeable oddities:
Air Force (in Atlantic Hockey), Alabama-Hunstville (in WCHA), and Notre Dame (in Hockey East).
I would switch the first 2, and save a ton of travel.
Air Force sought to join AHA for competitive reasons, but I think with WCHA being (all but Bowling Green) D-2 schools, the talent level there might not be as imposing as it once was.
Atlantic Hockey are evidently a bunch of jerks for refusing Alabama-Huntsville (apparently based on geography).
Yeah, it would have been a plane flight, but much closer for thsoe schools than trips to Colorado Springs.

Both Alaska schools are now together in WCHA. How stupid was it not to have that before ? One trip hits both Anchorage & Fairbanks.
Bruce McLeod (Commissioner of WCHA) deserves kudos for for not cherry-picking the CCHA refugees and taking in all the schools to avoid a chaotic situation.

The only western schools in the WCHA are the ones in Alaska - why not take the more appropriate CCHA name?

If a truly western league ever forms, it would probably be under the MPSF banner anyway, unless if another multi-sport conference gets enough if its members to add the sport.

Congrats to UAH Hockey! With wveryone in a conference home the schools can get down to some other real business...
Now the Hockey schools need to band together and get MORE schools involved in the sport. 59 schools is NOT enough to maintain a competative envrionment. They need to convince other universities with great club programs to buck up and join varsity level hockey...(I wouldn't minds seeing Mizzou having Varsity Hockey...)

SBJ article discussing PSU hockey finances at http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Jour ... ockey.aspx