The league's Final Five tournament will add a team and the format will change. The four lowest seeded teams will pair off and play each other, giving the top two teams a bye. The winners of the first round will go on to play the 1st and 2nd seeded teams, and those winners will play in the championship game.
The Bemidji State Beavers gained recognition last year when they made it to the NCAA Division 1 Frozen Four. The Beavers lost in the semifinals to Miami of Ohio, 4-1, but made it clear that they were a new force to be reckoned with; perhaps yet another Minnesota hockey powerhouse. Their former conference, the CHA, is in the process of dissolving.
Nebraska-Omaha formerly played in the Michigan based CCHA, and former University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux coach Dean Blais has taken over. Blais won two national titles with UND during his time there from 1994-2004. Blais also served as an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets after he left the Fighting Sioux. When the WCHA lifted their moratorium on expansion this April and began seeking a 12th team to accompany Bemidji, Nebraska-Omaha jumped at the chance.
"Our effort is to help build this program to an elite level," explained UNO athletic director Trev Alberts. "We think an association with a conference like the WCHA will help do that."
Look forward to the Gophers having two more rivals for next year's season. It'll be interesting to see the Final Five +1.
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