Sounds good to me.  I think folks are underestimating non-conference play,
such as Air Force-Army which might be a more powerful drawing card since it
would not be just another conference game.  The MN-WI rivalry might be
similar.  Is WN a better fit for CCHA with OSU, MSU, MI and other big ten
teams?  So, my suggestion is leaving MTU with WCHA and moving WI to CCHA.
The key here is to realize that a few recurring non-conference matches may
be more valuable than having it within the conference.
-----Original Message-----
From: Rowe, Thomas <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, April 02, 2009 1:55 PM
Subject: Geographic alignment


OK, OK - all smoke.  You are never going to get serious league realignment
because folks like their traditional rivalries.  What would the world of
hockey be without Wisconsin v. Minnesota (UMTC)?  But if the CHA is going to
disappear and those teams have to go someplace, maybe some minor realignment
becomes possible?

Note first that the East has it cozy.  Density of teams, short travel
distances - it really doesn't make much sense to try to divvy them up
differently.  Second, Alabama is an outlier and you really can't do much
about that.  Likewise, the two Alaska teams are forever isolated.
Interestingly, especially when you consider great circle routes, travel
distances to and from them don't change much regardless of which conference
they belong to so it doesn't make any sense to do something with them.  But
why should Air Force be in the ATL conference other than that's where a
traditional rival (Army) is?  Geographically it doesn't make much sense.
That's the most obvious move to me.  So here is what I think:

Start with the 5 big conferences as they currently exist and make these
changes:

ATL loses Air Force but adds Niagra, Robert Morris and Alabama.  That brings
them to 12 teams.

CCHA loses UN-Omaha but adds Michigan Tech.  For MTU this adds travel time
for league play, but UN-O saves more than MTU loses.  OTOH, this isn't
necessary so is the least important change proposed.

WCHA loses MTU, but adds Air Force, BSU, and UNO.

With or without the UNO-MTU switch, this yields 4 leagues of 12 teams (HE is
unaffected) and may be the best we can do geographically.  Of course,
convincing folks to make these changes is another problem, but can anyone
suggest a better realignment?

Tom Rowe