> You can bet the two Alaska schools would probably love that idea. A
> guaranteed Denver-CC or UMTC-UWM (Minnesota-Wisconsin) matchup!
> Cha-ching! 

Interesting idea...

The advantages for the WCHA:
    - an already established rivalry
    - instead of paying someone to join the league, Alaska would
      probably have enough incentive already (but they'd have to
      continue to pick up their share of the "alaska" costs?)

Disadvantages for the WCHA:
    - The whole travel thing

I think the travel hit can be mitigated -- in many (but probably not all
the cases) a team could take a 10-day trip to Alaska and play two
weekends in a row on the road -- possibly even a "short" week -- Sat-Sun
and then Fri-Sat?  It isn't perfect, but it makes it more reasonable for
some of the teams. The Two alaska teams each get one less road trip to
the lower 48, and an in-league rivalry. 

But, just to throw a monkey wrench out there: why a 12-team league? 

One scenario for a 12-team league is two six-team divisions (makes more
sense than a schedule that balances every 5 years). Why not two six-team
leagues with an interlocking schedule? That gets two teams auto bids in
the NCAA instead of 12 teams slugging it out for one auto bid...

    --david