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This is the 2016-17 Western Collegiate Hockey Association men's season.  This is the league's 65th season.

Uncertain Future of Alaska programs[]

The two Alaska schools are both facing uncertain futures with the state being in what is described as "a budget crisis".  Several proposals have been put forward that could lead to either (or both) of the schools stopping their programs; the schools combining their hockey programs with reduced scholarships at both schools, or the schools themselves coming up with additional funds raised by outside sources to help the schools pay the subsidy that is paid to visiting teams to help with travel expenses, that is a good size portion of the program's budget.  In November it was announced that the programs were both spared from elimination when the two schools eliminated other sports from their athletic programs.

Membership Changes[]

  • None but, on July 13, 2016 the Minnesota State University, Mankato president Richard Davenport announced the school had filed an application to join the National Collegiate Hockey Conference in July of 2016 as the school was exploring all options available for the good of the school and the hockey program.  The WCHA acknowledged the school's intentions and respected the fact that the school kept the WCHA in the loop on the process.  The team is believed to be joining the NCHC for the 2018-19 season along with the Arizona State Sun Devils Men's Ice Hockey program.

Rules changes[]

  • The conference added 5 minute 3-on-3 overtime and a shootout
  • The conference will award 3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for an overtime/shootout win, points for an overtime/shootout loss, and no points for a regulation loss (for NCAA purposes overtime and shootout games are considered ties for record keeping purposes)
  • The conference decided to change to the NHL style nets, which are only 40 inches deep as opposed to the previous style which was 44 inches deep.

Membership[]

Institution Location Nickname Arena
University of Alabama, Huntsville Huntsville, Alabama Chargers Von Braun Center
University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska Seawolves Sullivan Arena
University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska Nanooks Carlson Center
Bemidji State University Bemidji, Minnesota Beavers Sanford Center
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio Falcons BGSU Ice Arena
Ferris State University Big Rapids, Michigan Bulldogs Ewigleben Arena
Lake Superior State University Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Lakers Taffy Abel Arena
Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan Huskies MacInnes Student Ice Arena
Minnesota State University, Mankato Mankato, Minnesota Mavericks Verizon Wireless Center
Northern Michigan University Marquette, Michigan Wildcats Berry Events Center
Conference Tournament Grand Rapids, Michigan WCHA Final Five Van Andel Arena

Standings[]

Western Collegiate Hockey Association Overall Record
Team GP W L T GF GA Pts GP W L T GF GA
Bemidji State Beavers 28 20 6 2 71 44 64 41 22 16 3 94 79
Michigan Tech Huskies 28 15 7 3 80 59 54 45 23 15 7 131 100
Minnesota State Mavericks 28 15 9 2 89 68 51 39 22 13 4 119 95
Bowling Green Falcons 28 14 13 1 79 65 44 41 21 18 2 120 102
Ferris State Bulldogs 28 12 12 2 78 74 42 37 13 19 5 95 101
Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks 28 11 13 3 67 84 40 36 12 20 4 79 113
Lake Superior Lakers 28 8 13 4 78 87 35 36 11 18 7 103 119
Northern Michigan Black Bears 28 10 15 1 69 75 34 39 13 22 4 93 108
Alabama-Huntsville Chargers 28 9 16 0 68 95 30 34 9 22 3 74 120
Alaska Anchorage Seawolves 28 6 16 2 52 80 26 34 7 21 6 59 102

Conference Tournament[]

2017 WCHA playoffs

Format[]

The top 8 teams qualify for the conference tournament.  The quarterfinal and semifinal rounds are a best-of-three series held at the rink of the higher seeded team.  Teams are reseeded after each round. The final round is a single "sudden death" game held at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The winner of the conference tournament earns the conference's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

Quarterfinals[]

Semifinals[]

Final[]

2017 WCHA Men's champs Michigan Tech Huskies

2017 WCHA men's champs Michigan Tech Huskies

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