Mid-Summer College Hockey Update

All -

Since our hand-wringing postseason Gopher hockey wrap-up, we've generally neglected college hockey around here other than to note and follow Bemidji State's wild run in the tourney.

Anyway, now would be a good time to distract from the other general sports crappiness going on in the Minnesotan's life (Twins sputtering, Buehrle perfect game, Favre drama) by getting back up to date. Three big stories this summer pertaining to Gopher hockey:

1. As predicted right here on this very blog by somebody or other, the WCHA has voted to expand, allowing Bemidji in. Not predicted right here on this blog was that (a) it would happen this quickly, (b) it will be effective next season ('10-'11) instead of '11-'12, and (c) a second team was added to get the league to an even to 12 - Nebraska-Omaha, who leaves the CCHA (where, frankly, they weren't as natural a fit, anyway). This leaves the WCHA at 12 teams, so serious disbalance in schedules is sure to ensue. No idea how that'll get worked out. I could see a 6 and 6 divisional setup, but the CCHA was at 12 and they didn't do it that way. From a Gopher fan perspective, we've got so many great rivalries in the league that to lessen half of them by creating "East" and "West" or whatever would be a shame. This adoption of Bemidji will, of course, only hasten the already inevitable collapse of the CHA, leaving a few other programs without a home and in serious jeopardy of contracting.

2. Closely related, I'm sure, is that UN-O has hired Dean Blais as its new head coach. This is the sort of splash a school like that needs to make to look legitimate to its new conference mates. For those of you too young to remember, Blais won two titles at NoDak. He's no joke.

3. Grant Potulny has completed his turn from the Dark Side. He may have grown up in Fargo, but he became a Gopher, scored a national title winning sudden death goal for the Gophers, and is now a permanent member of the Gopher coaching staff. He replaces a guy who's leaving to become Blais' No. 2 in Omaha.