A little out-dated (Jan 18) BSU Press Release
With news that Bemidji State has reached an agreement to play 12 (6 home, 6 away) "non-conference" games with the WCHA, starting in 2010-2011 (teams like Colorado College, North Dakota, Denver and Wisconsin to name a few), this news comes as a surprise since BSU was not granted entry to the WCHA when they attempted to contact them after Air Force left for the Alantic Hockey Conference in 2006.
Change so far: (none)
This could be the best news that the CHA and the remaining four teams have heard in some time (Wayne State Men's program will no longer exist after this year). A few weeks ago, when Robert Morris University was holding a press conference and based on their unwillingness to release any information prior to the announcement, it had been assumed by many, that the RMU Men's program had found a new conference to play in starting next season. Unfortunately, we are still waiting to see or hear what will happen. The only thing I have heard, may be just as much as anyone else, when I sat down with RMU's Head Coach Derek Schooley early in the 07-08 season and asked him what might happen, and he only responded "Don't worry, we will be fine." Nothing has changed since then either. With that said, having one of the top conferences in the nation agreeing to play a strong team, who might become an independent real soon, is good news for RMU, Alabama-Huntsville and Niagara.
There are about three possibilities that could happen for the four remaining teams:
1) Find a new conference to play in
2) Become an independent
3) Drop to Division III
If choice #1 doesn't happen for any of these teams, at least for RMU and Alab-Hunts, they would be crippled. Niagara and Bemidji could possibly survive on their own as independents, especially if Bemidji will be guaranteed 12 games vs the WCHA.
Positive Outlook:
The best way to look at this news of the WCHA gearing up for games with Bemidji is that if the CHA could stay together with four teams, loose it's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, the programs could survive if they can also find their own agreements to play competitive teams or conferences for the next few years, until a decision is made about the CHA.
A strong possibility would be to grab two or more Division III teams to add to the CHA (would could explain why things have been so quiet). If you wish to look at teams with great history and great records in Division III, look at the Norwich Cadets who are located in Northfield Vermont, playing in the ECAC conference. Under Head Coach Mike McShane, the Cadets have gone 276-79-13, in 13 seasons. That's pretty damn good if I say so myself. This season alone, the Cadets have posted a 18-5 record. Statistically, they have two guys who could match up pretty well in CHA play:
| Name, Yr | GP | G | A | Pts. | Pt/GP | PIM | GW | PP | SH |
| Nikita Kashirsky, F, Jr | 22 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 1.4091 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| DJ Fimiani, F, So | 22 | 5 | 25 | 30 | 1.3636 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
For that second magical team to join the CHA, how about another team from the ECAC, the Babson Beavers out of Wellesley, Massachusetts. The Beavers are 15-5-3 this season under four year Head Coach, Jamie Rice (70-30-7). The Beavers have a pretty well spread offensive attack, with 5 players with 20 points or more:
| Name, Yr | GP | G | A | Pts. | Pt/GP | PIM | GW | PP | SH |
| Pat McLaughlin, F, Jr | 23 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 1.0000 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Jason Schneider, F, So | 23 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 1.0000 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mike Venit, F, Sr | 23 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 0.9565 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Shane Farrell, F, So | 22 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 1.0000 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Brad Baldelli, F, Jr | 23 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 0.9130 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
The Beavers goaltending is another to look at:
| Name, Yr | GP | W | L | T | GA | MIN | GAA | SH | SV | SV% |
| Skylar Nipps, Jr | 23 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 55 | 1349 | 2.4469 | 0 | 489 | .899 |
Let's hope that something can be done with the CHA, it is a strong conference, that has the opportunity to get stronger and more competitive.