If I remember correctly, I believe that the Alaska colleges joined their respective conferences in 93-94 season. Both had been independents since the demise of the GWHC after the 87-88 season.


----- Original Message ----
From: SCSU <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1:43:59 PM
Subject: Re: Alaska now was UAF

David is right about the travel. St. Cloud always goes to Seattle first and
then to Anchorage (Minneapolis/St. Paul and Seattle are Northwest hubs). The
financial terms were that the Alaska schools would pay for ALL of the others
teams transportation fees. There was a time limit on that payment, so I do
not know if it is still in place. UAF and UAA have been members of CCHA and
WCHA for quite some time now, but neither has been close to making any noise
in the conference playoffs. However, UAA has produced some darn good goalies
over the past decade or so.

Nathan Hampton 


On 11/28/06 11:32 AM, "David Parter" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>> So, could someone please remind why "UAF" or "Alaska" resides in the CCHA
>> (Central Collegiate Hockey Association, right?)
> 
> The two Alaska teams were out in the cold (no pun intended) without
> league affiliations. Remaining "independent" was not viable -- they could
> not get enough games scheduled, and other issues.
> 
> The WCHA and CCHA, for the good of college hockey, each took one Alaska
> team. Neither wanted both teams, due to the travel burden (and probably
> other factors). They made a deal that involved money and other
> considerations (this is big-time college athletics -- nothing is
> simple).
> 
> While great circle routes are interesting, and useful if you can fly
> them, as far as I know the teams travelling to Alaska (and presumably
> the Alaska teams travelling to play on the road) fly commercial when
> they can, so they have to take whatever routes they can get. I don't
> remember the exact route (there was some offhand mention of it in the
> paper) but when Wisconsin when to Anchorage this fall, I think they flew
> via Minneapolis and Seattle. It makes for a long trip.
> 
> Other teams have joined or been accepted in leagues that don't make
> "geographic sense" for other reasons. Each situation has its own issues.
> 
>    --david





 
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