HOCKEY: CCHA Meets With Atlantic Hockey Teams

Ferris State and the CCHA are still negotiating to bring new members to the conference with the future departure of a number of teams hanging over the league.

One of the big stories circulating in the college hockey world is the meeting that took place this week (Tuesday) in Erie, Pa. involving representatives from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and representatives of teams from Atlantic Hockey.

As has been reported in numerous places, Robert Morris, Canisius, Niagara and Mercyhurst are said to have some interest in moving to the CCHA. Among other reasons, the aforementioned teams

would be allowed to offer the full 18 scholarships as opposed to the cap of 12 they're bound by currently.

The CCHA has been criticized in some circles for not being more aggressive in pursing new members for the league, but now it has its sights set, it would appear, on new membership. CCHA commissioner Fred Pletsch and Ferris athletics director Perk Weisenburger were among individuals who are reported to have attended the meeting on behalf of the CCHA, according to U.S. College Hockey Online.

"We had very open and honest discussions with representatives of the four schools from the AHA," Pletsch said. "And we are committed to having further dialogue in the future to potentially accommodate those schools, while representing the interests of our member schools that are committed to staying in the CCHA for the 2013–14 season and beyond."

No decision has been made as of yet with regard to the CCHA adding new members. Discussions, it would appear, will be ongoing for at least a little while longer.

Here is a statement released by the Atlantic Hockey schools involved:

"We had a very frank and open discussion with commissioner Pletsch and members of his executive committee about joining the CCHA. The CCHA offers several exciting opportunities for our institutions, however each of us feels the need to bring the information we discussed back to campus and discuss it with our school president and our hockey staff. In addition, we will need to have discussions with Atlantic Hockey commissioner Bob DeGregorio and his executive committee. Once we have completed our due diligence, we have agreed to meet at a future date to continue to explore our opportunities. At this point in time, no decisions have been made about leaving Atlantic Hockey or joining the CCHA."

One of the rumors is a supposed reluctance on the part of the Atlantic Hockey schools to play Alaska, still a member of the CCHA. Pletsch has vowed to remain an advocate of schools currently in the league. So, stay tuned.