CCHA says yes to Nebraska-Omaha

Last Wednesday, the CCHA made consideration a reality by accepting Nebraska-Omaha as its 12th member, effective the 1999-2000 season.

STEVE HOULTON/The Omaha Gateway Nebraska-Omaha forward Derek Reynolds takes a faceoff in a game 3-2 loss to Manitoba. The Mavericks won't be playing Manitoba for much longer - in the 1999-2000 season, they'll be joining the CCHA.

"It's terrific," CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said. "It's a good fit for the CCHA and Nebraska-Omaha. They have a very committed program - they're committed to being successful."

The expansion evens out the number of teams in the conference and will likely cause the conference to go to a divisional system to avoid scheduling problems.

"There was even talk to add divisions this year," Michigan assistant hockey coach Mel Pearson said. "I definitely see it as going that way. (The schedule) won't be balanced, and that'll be a concern, but I think that's the direction the conference is going."

Pearson suggested a Michigan division, with the six in-state teams, and a non-Michigan division, but that would split up rivalries like Michigan-Ohio State.

The CCHA first considered expansion several months ago, and then-commissioner Bill Beagan set up a five-person expansion committee to look into it. The committee was to consider expansion in general, not specific schools. The committee recommended expansion before Nebraska-Omaha, which just completed its first season as a varsity team, even approached the CCHA.

"The process usually has three steps - the application, due diligence and a vote," Anastos said. "Since due diligence was completed before UNO even applied, it sped up the whole process."

By the time Nebraska-Omaha approached the CCHA, Beagan had already announced his retirement, and he introduced Anastos to the Nebraska-Omaha staff at the CCHA Championships in March at Joe Louis Arena.

The school made a formal presentation, along with Niagara, at the CCHA coaches meetings in Naples, Fla., and impressed the coaches.

"Once they made the presentation, the decision was pretty easy," Pearson said. "They have a great facility and they drew so well. The dollars staggered a lot of people, and it was presented in a very professional manner."

Last Wednesday, the athletic directors of the member schools took a vote on a conference call. While Anastos said the vote was not unanimous, the support for the expansion was "overwhelming."

Pearson said it was the business side quick and painless.

"They're one of the few teams in the league actually making money," Pearson said. "They're drawing well and the program is healthy and stable.

"There's no reason for that to change. There's not that much else to do in Omaha."

The CCHA was not Nebraska-Omaha's first choice. Compared to the WCHA, the CCHA makes little sense for the team from a geographical standpoint. Travel will be difficult for some schools, especially the ones in Michigan's upper peninsula.

But the WCHA put a moratorium on expansion earlier this year, saying it was not interested in any new teams.

The CCHA took a different approach, and the conference still might not be done.

"The CCHA has always been a progressive group," Pearson said. "There may even be more expansion. The conference has to decide how many teams it wants."

Niagara has already shown interest and made a presentation to the CCHA, and Pearson said Oakland and Wayne State may be going varsity soon.

The immediate concern for the Mavericks is whether or not they'll be able to compete in the CCHA. Last season, the Mavericks put together a 12-18-3 record playing a schedule against mostly independent teams andsome affiliated ones, including NCAA-Tournament qualifier Princeton.

"It's a decent record for their first year varsity," Pearson said. "I think they have a chance to be middle of the pack."

Against affiliated teams, the Mavericks only victory came in a 4-3 victory over Maine.

06-29-98