At 6:43 PM 4/4/96, "Larry Haag, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester,
NY" <ha wrote:
>There is an article on the USA Today web page saying that Nebraska-Omaha has
>received approval from the NC$$ to begin a Div. I men's hockey program starting
>in Sept. 1997 and that they have applied to the WCHA for membership.
 
Thanks for the news, Larry.  I had put this in the category of "believe it
when I see it", but apparently it will happen.  It's always exciting when
DivI hockey expands into a new area.
 
Does anyone know anything about Nebraska-Omaha?  Do they have a web site?
I believe they are a Division II school.  They have usually had a pretty
good softball team.  Merrimack defeated them on route to winning the 1994
NCAA Division II championship.
 
Omaha could be a good place for college hockey to grow.  The Omaha Lancers
have had success in the USHL, which sends many players to the NCAA.  It
will be interesting to see if they are able to land any of the Lancers'
players.
 
>It also says that they do not currently have a hockey team at any of the three
>NC$$ levels.  Do they have a club team?  Has any other school jumped from
>club status (or nothing) to Div. I and been at all successful?
 
I'm wondering if UNO's application to the WCHA means they want to begin
their program as a member of the league.  Would the WCHA accept them right
away, or would they want UNO to spend a year or more as an Independent
first?
 
I can't think of a recent program that moved to DivI and immediately joined
a league.  UMass went from club to DivI in 1993, but they spent a year as
an Independent playing mostly DivII-III games before joining HE in 1994.
I'd think that it would be difficult to start a program and move
immediately into a conference, whoever you are.
 
This will be a story to follow as it develops.
 
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                   [log in to unmask]            *HMM* 11/13/93
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