The Great West Hockey Conference existed for three seasons from
1985-86 through 1987-88.  It was the "fifth" DivI conference during
that time, although it did not draw an automatic bid to the DivI
tourney.
 
The GWHC began with four teams in 1985-86: Alaska-Anchorage,
Alaska-Fairbanks, Northern Arizona, and US International (in San
Diego, the last DivI team from California).  Teams played each
opponent four times - two home, two away - for a total of 12 GWHC
games.
 
After NAU dropped hockey in 1986, the league continued with the
remaining three members for the next two seasons.  In 1986-87, each
team played each of the other two *eight* times, but this decreased to
four each in 1987-88.
 
After the 1987-88 season, USIU's athletic department went bankrupt and
I believe they dropped all sports, including hockey.  I don't know
what their status is now in other sports or if they have a club hockey
team.
 
Some of the more well-known players who competed in the GWHC were:
 
Bob Beers, Northern Arizona (transferred to Maine)
Tony Couture, USIU (transferred to North Dakota)
Mike Peluso, UAA
Shawn Chambers, UAF
Keith Street, UAF
 
Street still ranks as one of the greatest players in UAF history and
was the GWHC MVP in its final season with 37-46--83 in 31 games.
 
As was mentioned, Brad Buetow coached USIU during that time and went on
to coach Colorado College.  Brush Christiansen was the head coach of
UAA back then, too.  UAF was led by Ric Schafer until 1987, when he
left for Notre Dame and was succeeded by Don Lucia, now head coach at
CC.  NAU's head coach was John Mason, about whom I do not know
anything else.
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                                            [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93