Notre Dame leaving the CCHA for Hockey East

Except that Hockey East and the Big East have nothing in common. The only other school that is a member of both conferences is Providence.

The real news here is that ND is NOT joining the B1G Hockey Conference, which formed this year.

yeah that's why i posted the link.

it's gotta be ACC or bust for Notre Dame. Makes all too sense.

ND was just tired of loosing to Michigan each time...That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I wasnt aware ND has an invitation to join B1G hockey without joining conference.

They had to move. Their old conference (CCHA) essentially folded and they were the only team left. Going independent isn't a viable option in college hockey.

I actually am one of the hockey beat writers for the school paper at ND, so I've been covering this story quite a while. I don't think it has anything to do with potential football moves. Swarbrick said as such, but of course that could be a lie. But I think the main reason why Hockey East was chosen over the new NCHC was because:

1) It provides extra exposure out east for recruiting. Hockey East also has committed to a conference schedule with less games, which will allow ND to schedule more non-conference games with Big Ten and NCHC (midwest) teams. So they'll play just about as many games against east coast teams as midwest teams. This couldn't be done in the NCHC. This helps out greatly with recruiting and ND's national appeal.

2) The TV deal. It's rumored all ND hockey home games will be shown on National TV on Versus (or soon to be renamed NBC Sports Network or whatever they're calling it). Swarbrick didn't reveal the details yet at the press conference, but he did say that it will result in ND having better coverage than any team in college hockey. It seems like Hockey East was fine with that, while the NCHC teams weren't. This is obviously again great for ND's recruiting/appeal and of course another factor (cha-ching).

3) ND has huge support in the northeast/Boston area. This is great for alumni and fans out there.

I don't see this having anything to do with going east because the Irish could go to the ACC in football and so they want to try out Hockey East. I mean, the Irish are already in the Big East, so it's not like they haven't tested/tried the travel thing before, and there's only one Hockey East school in the ACC (BC) so it's not like they're building relationships or anything. It's just coincidental because ND had to move now that the CCHA disbanded, and out of the three options (independence, NCHC, and Hockey East) Hockey East was the best choice for the reasons I mentioned.

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I actually am one of the hockey beat writers for the school paper at ND, so I've been covering this story quite a while. I don't think it has anything to do with potential football moves. Swarbrick said as such, but of course that could be a lie. But I think the main reason why Hockey East was chosen over the new NCHC was because:

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I'm too lazy to google right now. Do you know what Alaska-Fairbanks is going to do?

Joining Alaska-Anchorange in the new, watered-down WCHA.

They will, as soon as all this gets sorted out. The WCHA might have an odd number, Atlantic Hockey could be losing UConn to Hockey East to make 12 (women's program is already a member) so that would open a slot.

The Chargers will find a home.

Goes to show just how committed ND is to independence, as long as there is a conference (Big East, Hockey East) that they can bend over and keep all the money without having to worry about scheduling or competition for their Olympic Sports.

Texas and Notre Dame will still be independent when everyone else is in a 16-team super-conference, and will play each other every year in the Cotton Bowl.