CCHA shuns the University of Alabama at Huntsville

Earlier this week, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced that it had denied the University of Alabama at Huntsville’s application to become a member of the conference in men’s ice hockey. The addition would have been welcome news to Nashville Predator fans, as they would have had a convenient way to see Predator prospects of the CCHA member institutions in action just a short drive down I-65 from Music City.

From the conference’s brief release:

"The league completed its due diligence of the application for membership submitted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville with careful consideration and discussion of various issues," stated CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos. "At this time we have chosen to maintain our membership at its current level."

Unless the CCHA adds another school, it will be left with eleven teams following this season, as the University of Nebraska at Omaha will switch to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association beginning in 2010-2011.

The brevity of the conference’s release can only lead to speculation as to why they denied UAH’s application, leaving an odd number of teams in the CCHA. Obviously, there are many more questions than are answers.

Were they put off by UAH’s poor performance on the ice? They were 5-20-5 last season.

Is the CCHA courting another school in another conference to round out its ranks? That doesn’t appear to be the case right now, but there is always that chance.

Does the only hockey school south of the Mason-Dixon Line make for too expensive travel for the member schools? This could be a distinct possibility with tight budgets to consider. Most of the CCHA member institutions are in the upper Midwest. Though one, the University of Alaska at Fairbanks is quite the journey from Huntsville – 3,240 miles, one way.

Only the CCHA decision makers know the real story.

In a nicely penned piece, Inside College Hockey’s Mike Eidelbes hypothesizes that the Chargers may eventually be added to the CCHA mix once Bowling Green State University irons out its considerable financial issues that could threaten the future of the Falcon’s program.

UAH’s reacted with obvious disappointment to the news. From the school’s release:

“We are certainly disappointed in the decision and feel like our program has a lot to offer to any league,” noted UAH director of athletics Jim Harris. “We are going to have a cooling off period and then look at other options that are available to us and then move forward.”

“Many people have put a lot of work into trying to make this happen; from all of the Chargers past and present through to Dr. Williams and the leaders in the city of Huntsville,” noted Charger head coach Danton Cole. “I do not know what the future holds for the program, but we will be looking at our options and move forward in the best interest of the university.”

Following this season, UAH will be a team without a conference. They currently compete in the College Hockey America conference, but the upcoming season will be the CHA’s last. Three of the conference’s four teams will be leaving for other conferences following the 2009-2010 campaign. Niagara and Robert Morris are moving to Atlantic Hockey, and Bemidji State will join the WCHA.

With the addition of Niagara and Robert Morris, Atlantic Hockey will have twelve teams. The WCHA will also have 12 teams when UNO and Bemidji State move into the conference. The other conferences with men’s hockey, Hockey East and the ECAC also have even numbers of teams with ten and 12 respectively.

Without a conference affiliation, it is highly unlikely that the UAH program could survive. They certainly are not at the same level as Notre Dame is in football. This upcoming season will be the 25th anniversary of varsity hockey in Huntsville; hopefully, it will not be the last.