Bowling Green (Ohio) State announced Tuesday it has accepted an invitation to join the revamped Western Collegiate Hockey Association beginning in 2013-14.
The Falcons, Central Collegiate Hockey Association members, become the ninth member of the WCHA joining holdovers Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech and Minnesota State-Mankato, and other newcomers Alaska Fairbanks, Ferris State, Lake Superior State and Northern Michigan.
"The WCHA is a great fit for BGSU," Bowling Green athletic director Greg Christopher said in a statement. "WCHA teams are committed to the highest level of college hockey and competing for championships, just as we are at Bowling Green.
"We are committed to two more years in the CCHA. As one of the founding institutions of the league, Bowling Green hockey and the CCHA have been synonymous with each other. We will continue to build this program over the next two years to reach our goals when we begin play in the WCHA."
Bowling Green has one NCAA Division I men's hockey title, beating Minnesota Duluth 5-4 in four overtimes in 1984.
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Also Tuesday, Notre Dame announced it would have a 1:30 p.m. press conference today to announce intentions of joining Hockey East for 2013-14. The Fighting Irish, members of the CCHA, had been invited to join the National Collegiate Hockey Conference for 2013-14, but that league announced Sunday that it would open with the eight teams who have already made commitments, including UMD.
According to a Notre Dame release, attending today's press conference will be Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna, and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick. Boston University athletic director Mike Lynch and Irish head coach Jeff Jackson will also participate.
Top-ranked Notre Dame opens the 2011-12 season Friday and Saturday against No. 8 UMD at Amsoil Arena.
