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Here are two articles from the Bemidji Pioneer, that sum up what is/is not happening in the CHA right now, as well as information regarding Bob Peters:

The most promising quote out of both articles: "A straw poll was held during the coaches meetings, according to CHA commissioner R.H. “Bob” Peters, asking those in attendance if the CHA AQ should be retained. There was a favorable response nearly across the board to do so, Peters reported."

As you read, we basically find out that we must wait until the meetings in June, a decision is expected to be made on the fate of the CHA's auto-bid for next season. Current expectation (from article number 2) "The hunch here is the committee will approve retaining the CHA AQ for one season only. It will then be up to those in power of the men’s college hockey world to decide the fate of the CHA and its four remaining schools — Bemidji State, Niagara, Robert Morris and Alabama-Huntsville."

Keeping the Auto-bid alive, brings great promise and hope to the CHA community of teams, as well as its fans. Everyone is well aware of the difficulty that would be brought if the Auto-bid is lost, not for good, but for at least the season in which it involves.

I personally believe that the structure that is currently in place, level of coaching and teams, will bring a positive resolution to the four teams of the CHA. The most positive effect currently happening, is that of the four teams still in the conference, none of them are making an attempt to jump out. Four strong teams working together leads to great hope for expansion in the CHA.

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"Peters steps down as CHA commissioner
John J. McRae
Bemidji Pioneer - 05/02/2008
DETROIT — R.H. “Bob” Peters, who has served as College Hockey America Commissioner for the past seven years, has announced his retirement effective June 30.

“I’m at that age,” Peters said. “There was 41 years as a coach, then seven as a commissioner. It’s been a delightful experience — the toughest jobs I’ve ever loved. I’m now ready to gracefully hang up my skates for the last time.”

His time as commissioner of the fledgling league was full of activity as some teams terminated their programs (Findlay, Wayne State), others started up (Robert Morris and Syracuse on the women’s side). In addition it was a long process for the CHA to obtain the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament, Peters said. In addition, the league hosted the 2007 Frozen Four with the St. Louis Sports Commission.

Over the years the league has seen several players move on to the professional hockey ranks and the teams as a whole have become very competitive against the best teams in the nation.

“That’s a real tribute the coaches and the players they’ve been able to recruit,” Peters said. “Across the board all the other conferences have respect for the CHA and the quality of the teams. Again that’s a real tribute to the CHA coaches.”

Future of the CHA

Now down to four teams, the CHA has been working on plans for assimilation into one of the established conferences to ensure future stability.

“We’re thinking there may be some movement in that direction by the latter part of June,” Peters reported. “That’s the target date.

“The CHA will operate next year with four teams (Bemidji State, Niagara, Robert Morris and Alabama-Huntsville) on an 18-game schedule. Each of the teams will play each other six times.”

Will the automatic qualifier (AQ) to the NCAA Tournament be retained?

“The AQ will be decided in a June meeting of the NCAA Championships Committee,” Peters reported. “They have the ultimate authority to award the AQ — it’s a process they go through every year.”

A straw poll was held among those attending the annual spring college hockey coaches meetings in Florida, asking if the AQ should be retained by the CHA. Peters said the result of the informal vote among the coaches — representing the other five conferences in college hockey — was “favorable to the CHA retaining the AQ.”

Having a four-team conference receive an automatic qualifier would not be the optimal situation.

However, Peters said such a plan could be acceptable for one year with assimilation or expansion of some sort taking place the following year. “That way six AQ’s could be retained,” he said.

“It’s critical that the CHA stay in existence,” Peters reported. “Any new teams starting programs need a place to go. In the other five conferences there are three with 10 teams and two with 12 teams, with 10 being seen as the best situation with which to work.

“The ECAC, with 12, makes it work because the teams are within relatively close proximity and they use a system with travel partners. The CCHA has made it work with 12, with some challenges, but I don’t believe people want to go beyond that.”

As an “emerging” sport, college hockey can’t put itself into a position to lose any more teams, according to Peters.

“Over the last 20 to 25 years men’s college hockey has lost 11 teams with two others being close to being terminated,” Peters said.

“We don’t want to go in that direction — we need to have a place for everybody.”

Peters pointed to burgeoning numbers of registered youth hockey players across the country as a major factor in having a conference where growth could occur.

“There are players from 29 states on college hockey rosters now,” Peters said. “The challenge in the future will be to provide an opportunity to play for the large number of American-born players coming up through the ranks.”

If no assimilation of the CHA takes place and no new teams are added, having the four remaining CHA teams play as independents would be “a humungous task,” Peters reported. “Teams could do for one, two or even three years if there was a solution in sight. If not, it would be extremely difficult.

‘We have to do everything possible to avoid any further loss of teams.

“I truly believe in my heart there’s so much more growth that can take place. We have to have the foresight to consider what things will look like in 15 or 20 years.”

For the upcoming 2008-09 season, Ed McLaughlin, Niagara University Director of Athletics, will serve as CHA interim commissioner.

“Coach Peters is one of the pillars of college hockey and a hall of fame human being,” said McLaughlin, chair of the CHA Men’s Executive Committee. “I feel blessed to have worked with him over the last two years and we owe him a debt of gratitude, within our conference and across the sport.

“This season will be one of transition for the CHA,” added McLaughlin. “We will continue the hard work we have done throughout the last two years to stabilize ourselves while maintaining our commitment to the student-athlete experience. I am excited about the challenge.”

The CHA Women’s Conference recently completed its sixth year and will have five member schools competing in 2008-09 with the recent addition of Syracuse University. Mercyhurst College Director of Athletics Craig Barnett, chair of the CHA Women’s Executive Committee, will serve as interim commissioner.

Niagara is a charter member of the women’s league along with Mercyhurst and Wayne State. Robert Morris joined the conference for the 2005-06 campaign with Syracuse becoming the fifth member this fall."

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Column: Serratore believes answers coming
John J. McRae
Bemidji Pioneer - 05/02/2008
The way things look now, the future of the College Hockey America and its four remaining teams is solid through the 2008-09 season.

As expected there was no earth shattering news coming out of the annual college hockey coaches meetings recently completed in Florida. No news concerning assimilation of the CHA into one of the other five major college hockey conferences or the addition of any new teams was forthcoming.

Not that any major news was expected, it’s just not the way things work. Anytime a major initiative faces any program that has its roots in the world of university academia, wheels turn slowly.

It may not be the optimal situation for people who are used to solving problems quickly — like those involved in the business world. But again, that’s simply the way things are when colleges and universities are involved.

In the meantime, it appears a solid effort is being made for the four-team CHA to retain its automatic qualifier (AQ) into the NCAA Tournament. A straw poll was held during the coaches meetings, according to CHA commissioner R.H. “Bob” Peters, asking those in attendance if the CHA AQ should be retained. There was a favorable response nearly across the board to do so, Peters reported.

But it must be stressed the vote was a straw poll only.

The AQ status for the upcoming season is ultimately up to the NCAA Championships Committee – made up of coaches and athletic directors — which will meet in early June.

The hunch here is the committee will approve retaining the CHA AQ for one season only. It will then be up to those in power of the men’s college hockey world to decide the fate of the CHA and its four remaining schools — Bemidji State, Niagara, Robert Morris and Alabama-Huntsville.

No AQ means the four CHA teams would have virtually no chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament, a factor that would make an already difficult situation to attract top players even more difficult. No viable conference would also force the four teams to play an independent schedule, a nearly impossible situation.

BSU head coach Tom Serratore said that two teams — BSU and Niagara — have expressed interest in holding the CHA Tournament next season a decision should come within the next two weeks. With that decision made focus will center on the future of the CHA beyond 2008-09.

“I believe the wheels will really start spinning, now that the situation has reached a crisis mode,” Serratore said. “There will be a lot of action in the next six months, I believe. People realize there’s a dilemma and there’s a lot of concern across the board — not just for Bemidji State, but the other three teams as well.

“I am confident the commissioners (of the six men’s hockey conferences) will come up with a workable solution.”

Serratore said he fielded many questions during the coaches meetings concerning the new Bemidji Regional Events Center. “If we do things right,” he said, “this could end up being one of the top five rinks in the country. The BREC could very well end up being a major asset not just for Bemidji and the region, but the entire state.

“All of college hockey is very excited to see what the final product will be.”