Around the WCHA: NHL Draft & Expansion

Been awhile since I've done one of these. I was bored so I took a look at the NHL Draft from a WCHA prospective. 25 current or future WCHA players were drafted. Out of 210 that isn't too bad.

minnesota and St. Cloud led the way, each having 6 players drafted. The highlights for minnesota were Nick Leddy who somehow went to the Wild over Jordan Schroeder who was then stolen (figuratively speaking) by Vancouver a few picks later. Nashville also grabbed a steal in the 2nd round w/ Zach Budish. Saw him at the HS Elite League last year; he's a beast. In the short term I wish all three, well anyone wearing the ugly 'm' for that matter, the worst.

St. Cloud had a lot of mid-round picks. MN HS's all-time scoring leader Ben Hanowski was the first Huskie taken in the 3rd round, and he was later joined by Mike Lee who is going to be a good goalie for the Huskies. He might actually be deserving of accolades unlike Bobby Geoffert.

Duluth, North Dakota and Denver all had three picks. Duluth had the highest pick of those schools w/ late 1st rounder Dylan Olsen. He was considering UW before choosing to play at the DUMP. Didn't have room; rather have McD, Goloubef, Smith and Gardiner back then a freshman from Jr A. DU had back to back picks in William Wrenn and Drew Shore in the 2nd round, both products of the US NTDP. Many people had Shore as a late 1st rounder in mock drafts, and he adds to DU's talent ladened forward corp next season. North Dakota had some late round picks.

Unless this is your first day reading the blog or you have been on vacation, UW had two players selected. Troy Hesketh (3rd round to Edmonton) and Craig Smith (4th round to Nashville). Scroll down if you want to learn more.

Not to be missed, Colorado College and Alaska Anchorage each had a recruit drafted. CC might have a problem as 1st rounder John Moore is still undecided on where he will be next season, CC or OHL.

Michigan Tech didn't have any selections...and no players were selected from Mankato since their freshman regularly are well beyond their draft age, and no one respects a Purple Cow.


Lastly, in case you forgot, the WCHA is expanding to 12 teams in 2010/11 w/ the addition of Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha. Over at Goon's World, Goon has been all over this, and has some good links in case you are interested. One talks about the prestige of the WCHA, and the other is a linkorama.

10 + 2 = 12

USCHO is reporting (through a source in Duluth) that the WCHA is expected to vote on and admit Nebraska Omaha and Bemidji State today. Existing school reps will be voting by teleconference this afternoon, and there is a press conference scheduled for 5 PM.

It appears expansion will take place starting in 2010/11 so Bemidji avoids a season as an independent. So enjoy the last 10 team WCHA season coming up. Afterward, the Badgers will only see 3 teams twice a season, I'd assume one of them will continue to be the gophers.

Edit: Well it is official, the vote is in and BSU and UNO will start play in the WCHA during the 2010/11 season. Damn, the list of opposing arenas to visit only gets bigger. Here is a link to the official release.

As gbpuckfan mentioned in the comments, this is for the GOOD of college hockey, and that is important IMO. Huntsville is the only piece left, and the CCHA has an opening, buck up and let them in.

WCHA Expansion Vote coming

The vote to expand the WCHA and who those teams will be could come as early as next week. It appears an informal vote will come first, which makes sense. The obvious frontrunners are Bemidji State and w/ the hiring of Dean Blais, Nebraska Omaha, though rumblings of Alaska Fairbanks being the 12th team exist if UNO is rejected or stays in the CCHA.

Bruce McLeod, WCHA Commish, actually made some sane statements about Bemidji.

"If the league had their druthers, we might stay at 10," McLeod said. "We're making money on the tournament, there's record attendances every year, and things are good.

"But when you throw in the obligations of college hockey in the big picture and the demise of the College Hockey Association, we've gotta try to do something. We can't let (Bemidji) fold the tent."

Lastly, Andy Baggot should read the following:

Driving the expansion is Bemidji State, which will have to play next season as an independent -- never an easy thing in the relatively small world of NCAA Division I hockey, where there are 58 teams. Independents historically have a difficult time putting together a quality schedule and winning bids to the NCAA tournament.

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out, but I think we'll know soon who Wisconsin's new WCHA foes will be, and when they will join the conference.

Could the WCHA be going to 12?

Today Nebraska-Omaha hired former Sioux and Fargo Force (USHL) coach Dean Blais to take over as the head coach of their program replacing the only coach in school history Mike Kemp who moved into administration.

Thanks to Goon's World for the link, over on Let's Play Hockey they are reporting that as part of his deal to accept the offer UNO agrees to join the WCHA and leave the very watered down CCHA. This could be the 12th team the WCHA is looking for in accepting Bemidji State as the 11th team and keep the conference at an even number.

A few days ago there was talk that Alaska Fairbanks was interested in being the 12th team. In a 12 team WCHA, two teams would have to make double the trips to Alaska each year. This could be done as a back to back weekend thing, which would be ideal for fans if it were in the summer when Alaska is worth visiting. I'm not sure why the CCHA schools would want to give up the exemption to traveling to Alaska.

If UAF joined the WCHA, the CCHA would have no leg to stand on for not allowing Huntsville to join. Even if UNO joined, the travel time to Hunstville would be simiar for most schools compared to traveling to Omaha.

Overall, I'm in favor of a 12 team WCHA mainly for the point I brought up earlier in week that college hockey is a small community and if the powers that be don't bend and give in a little, two teams WILL go by the way side, which doesn't help anyone.

Should be interesting to see how all this pans out in the coming months. It appears the WCHA will go to 12 teams in 2011/12.