From this week's COLLEGE HOCKEY JOURNAL...
 
NANOOKS MAKE PITCH TO JOIN WCHA
by Doug Hill
 
  Spurned by the CCHA in its effort to further affiliate itself with that
conference, the University of Alaska Fairbanks might now to turn the WCHA in
an attempt to gain full membership in a college hockey league.
  Trying to foster discussion, and possibly plant a seed, Nanook head coach
Dave Laurion and UAF Faceoff Club president Scott Roselius recently sent a
detailed proposal to WCHA commissioner Otto Breitenbach, CCHA commissioner
Bill Beagan, and all WCHA and CCHA coaches and athletic directors.
  UAF's proposal brings the Nanooks and Mankato State (or another school)
into the WCHA together bringing the league's membership to 12.
  Within the four-page proposal, UAF details how the league would be split
into three four-team divisions (North, Central and West); how teams would
play 28 league games (14 home, 14 away), including four against each
divisional rival and two against all other schools; and how teams would be
grouped in pairs as travel partners (UAF-UAA, Wisconsin-Minnesota, etc.).
 It even includes a complete 28-game league schedule.
  "It's just some food for thought," Laurion said.  "This is just another
scenario for people to think about.  By sending this out now, it will allow
coaches and athletic staffs a chance to look it over prior to the NCAA
meetings (in San Antonio in January)."
  The proposal makes some interesting points:
  +One of the chief reasons critics oppose admitting UAF into a league is
the travel.  Under this plan, however, schools outside the West Division
would make only one trip to Alaska per season.  Teams would also either have
a bye week or a home series the week following their trip north.
  +Financially, this plan might actually save money for some schools because
the Alaska schools pay for the air fare for visiting teams.
  There would only be one trip to Colorado for schools outside of the West
Division, as well as only one trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for teams
outside the North Division.
  Additionally, the reduction in conference games would free teams to
schedule another non-league home game to bolster revenues from ticket sales.
  +Though a minor part of the proposal, UAF also makes a point of noting
that teams would not only be competing for an overall conference title, but
also for divisional titles, thus giving all teams something to play for late
in the season.
 
 
  John H
  U Mich