Omaha takes look at conference affiliation

Trev Alberts, the new athletic director at Nebraska-Omaha, says the school is taking a comprehensive look at its men's hockey program.

As part of that evaluation, he said through a university spokesperson Friday that he will take a look at conference affiliation.

That is good news for Bemidji State, which would have a much better chance of getting in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association if another quality hockey school such as Omaha applies.

Omaha is in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

The WCHA has 12 teams. BSU would make it 11. Twelve is much better for scheduling purposes.

One would think the Mavericks would do better at the gate and be a better geographic fit with the WCHA.

Posted by: fee on 5/01/2009 at 4:55 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Area connection to Derby

Former Devils Lake resident Scott Bergsrud says he will be at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Bergsrud is a former co-owner of Musket Man, a colt in the 20-horse field.

Bergsrud, who buys and breaks and sells horses in Florida, sold the horse about a year ago.

For more on the story, see Saturday's Herald.

Posted by: fee on 5/01/2009 at 3:24 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Omaha, BSU?

It's no secret what the Western Collegiate Hockey Association would like to have happen by opening its doors to all comers.

The league would like to take Bemidji State, but it would make 11 teams. That would be a nightmare for scheduling purposes. So the league opened expasion up again, hoping a 12th team applies.

That 12th team, the league hopes, is Nebraska-Omaha. The program is a good geographical fit with the WCHA, and has strong support (about 6,200 fans per game). Maybe the Mavericks would move from the CCHA to a league that would offer more bus trips.

The new Omaha athletic director, Trev Alberts, likely will decide if the Mavericks want to leave the CCHA for the WCHA.

Minnesota State-Moorhead, which is talking about building a program, isn't on the WCHA radar. That doesn't surprise me. The Dragons, as they say, have a long way to go and a short time to get there.

Maybe Moorhead can resurrect the CHA, which will disband after next season.

Another possibility for the WCHA is Northern Michigan. I hear the Wildcats would love to get back in the league.

Posted by: fee on 4/28/2009 at 2:33 PM | Comments (3) | Permalink

Force advance to finals

Mike Lee was stellar in goal as the Fargo Force defeated Lincoln 2-0 to advance to the Clark Cup finals Saturday night in Fargo.

Lee, a former Roseau (Minn.) High School goalie, made 31 saves for the shutout.

The expansion Force, coached by former UND head coach Dean Blais, won the series 3-0.

Fargo is 6-0 in the playoffs.

It will play the winner of the Green Bay vs. Indiana series in the championship series.

Posted by: fee on 4/25/2009 at 9:13 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink