Earlier in April, we told you about the potential problems in the future of the Bemidji State men's hockey program. While they were about to play in the Frozen Four for the first time in their history, Bemidji was facing the possible dissolution of the program.With College Hockey America set to go away after the 2009-2010 season, the Beavers need a new home to realistically remain intact. Their best option, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, still hasn't admitted the school.
While meetings Monday and Tuesday in Florida did lead to some progress, the Bemidji program is still waiting for clearance to join what is arguably the most prestigious college hockey league in the country.
The WCHA did not act on BSU's application Tuesday, choosing instead to investigate the possibility of adding a 12th team to the league. According to the press release, Bemidji's presentation to the league was well-received, and their application will remain open.
The Commissioner's office, in conjunction with the league's structure committee, will head up the expansion effort with the goal of identifying potential member teams as soon as possible. The earliest the WCHA would be able to integrate new teams into the men's league would be for the 2011-2012 season based on current contractual obligations.During a conference call Tuesday afternoon, league commissioner Bruce McLeod made it clear that Bemidji's application was not an issue.
"Our issue was more with the number," McLeod said. "We've been through quite a few things the last six months, trying to work through the number of 11 or 12 (total teams in the league). I think you have to read between the lines a bit that the issue for us is to get to 12."
When asked about taking Bemidji in for an 11-team league and then hoping for a 12th team to gain membership soon after, McLeod shot it down.
"That's not a real good business plan," he said.
McLeod also set a goal of "mid-summer rather than next spring" in finishing the process of searching for that so-far-elusive 12th team.
How will the league go about finding that 12th team? McLeod said it's a delicate issue, and he was not planning on breaking any ethical rules in doing so. In other words, any team that may be a candidate would need to contact the WCHA before the WCHA would contact them.
Who would it be?
"I'm not going to talk specificially," McLeod said, "but we probably know who some of those potential candidates are."
He wouldn't say, but the top candidates are likely Nebraska-Omaha and Northern Michigan, both based in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. McLeod said Alabama-Huntsville, set to also be orphaned by the demise of the CHA, is not high on the league's list of candidates, nor have they applied to the WCHA (they do have an application in for CCHA membership).
As for Bemidji State, they appear prepared to show some patience in the matter.
"We've waited ten years. What's another six months," quipped veteran head coach Tom Serratore. He noted that - while it's undesirable - the Beavers were okay with playing the 2010-2011 season as an independent, which for now appears to be a certainty.
