In addition to setting up the infrastructure of the new league, speculation remains about the league possibly adding an eighth member to even out potential schedules. College Hockey News and Analysis | SB Nation College Hockey The new league will begin play in October of 2021. When the previous incarnation of the CCHA resolved, Bowling Green retained the name rights. SB Nation College Hockey Today, it was announced that the league will be reestablished and branded as the Central Collegiate Hockey … What’s old is new again and we look forward to refreshing the brand and identity to fully capture the energy and passion of the institutions it represents.”In June, the seven programs – all part of the WCHA – announced a joint exploration into a new college hockey conference.“It’s been inspiring to lead this group as it is comprised of institutions rich in history and tradition, with a strong commitment to academic and athletic excellence,” Kurtz said. Last June, seven WCHA schools announced the exploration of a new Division I men’s hockey conference that will begin play in the 2021-2022 season. They’ll be the third team in Minnesota in the new league, joining Bemidji State and Minnesota State. from the old league.In a statement, former St. But eight years after the league dissolved, the name at least, will make a return.On Tuesday, it was announced that the new league being formed by seven members of the current WCHA—Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Minnesota State, and Northern Michigan—would inherit the CCHA name. The lead, it would seem, to take that eighth slot, would be St. Thomas University, which is currently litigating to gain an exemption from the NCAA allowing them to move directly from Division III to Division I. “The name conveys the current geographic alignment of our members and the CCHA brand has a tremendous amount of equity and goodwill associated with it. The name conveys the current geographic alignment of our members and the CCHA brand has a tremendous amount of equity and goodwill associated with it. Today, the seven college hockey programs that declared an exploration into a new college hockey conference over the summer made a new announcement – they have a name and it’s a rather familiar one.Michigan-based schools Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan, as well as Bemidji State, Bowling Green and Minnesota State University, Mankato will be playing in a new-look Central Collegiate Hockey Association in the 2021-22 NCAA season.“After extensive discussion and significant due diligence, it made sense to everyone involved to move in this direction,” said Dr. Morris Kurtz, the consultant guiding the seven programs through the conference creation process, in a press release. The CCHA was a natural fit on the ice for the Tommies, who will be the 62nd team in NCAA Division I men’s hockey. Cloud State athletic director Morris Kurtz, who leads the consulting firm heading the seven schools’ transition into the new league said: “After extensive discussion and significant due diligence, it made sense to everyone involved to move in this direction. “That process will create some momentum for us as we begin the commissioner search process. They’ll be the third team in Minnesota in the new league, joining Bemidji State and Minnesota State. We will find the right person and have them ready to start leading this group by July 1.”The previous CCHA, which operated from 1971 to 2013, disbanded during the college hockey realignment that resulted from the creation of the Big Ten hockey conference and the NCHC.At the time of its folding, the CCHA had Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan, Bowling Green, along with Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Miami and Alaska Fairbanks.Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame are now with the Big Ten, while Western Michigan and Miami joined the NCHC.Alaska Fairbanks joined the WCHA alongside the other displaced CCHA programs; Fairbanks, Alaska Anchorage and Alabama Huntsville are the current WCHA programs that were not part of this summer’s joint exploration into a new conference.Welcome to MiHockey, your source for all things hockey in Michigan.