What happens to UAH

Terrible news has come out of the world of college hockey. The University of Alabama-Huntsville has been denied admission to the CCHA. This follows on the heels of the dissolution of the CHA after too many members folded or left for another conference. Niagara and Robert Morris have found homes in Atlantic Hockey and Bemdji State has found a home in the WCHA. It would have made perfect sense for the CCHA to welcome in UAH especially since they are losing Nebraska-Omaha as part of the WCHA expansion. But it is not to be.

One has to imagine that increased travel expenses is probably the biggest issue that prompted the league to deny UAH. If UAH was allowed in then the CCHA would have two of the extremes in road games with one of the teams farthest north in Alaska Fairbanks and the team that is the farthest south in UAH. Should UAH fold, the CCHA will still be able to boast the team that is the farthest south in Miami University (surprising but true).

Travel expenses aside this was a move that made sense for the CCHA and the world of D-I hockey. Without membership, UAH will more than likely fold. This reduces the number of teams in D-I. By losing a league, the NCAA is already contemplating reducing the tournament field back to 12. As the past two tournaments have shown, some of these last four teams in have the mettle to make waves in the tourney with Notre Dame (a #4 seed) making it to the finals in 2008.

Aside from that, the CCHA now has the logistical question of what to do with an 11 team league and schedule. A 12 team league works much better and you can even have all 12 participate in the post-season which keeps up fan interest and revenue. Plus, with a team in a place like Alabama it brings the sport to new areas of the country and hopefully stirs a little interest that maybe leads to more bigger schools forming D-I programs.

I don't know what motivated the CCHA to deny UAH. Maybe it was the travel, maybe its an elitist attitude that a team like UAH could not compete on a nightly basis with the teams of the CCHA. But as we have seen countless times before in other sports in other places, sometimes all one needs is a chance and they will rise to the occasion. Here's hoping that UAH finds a home and that D-I hockey does not lose another program.