Discussions between the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and four members of the Atlantic Hockey
Association will continue.
The two sides met Tuesday to explore the possibility of Canisius, Mercyhurst, Niagara and Robert Morris
joining the CCHA, and they agreed to continue the dialogue.
The CCHA has lost five members in the last four months during its sport’s realignment and at least three
other league schools could be headed elsewhere.
All of the realignment becomes effective after 2012-13 season. The CCHA currently has six members for the
2013-14 season, the minimum needed for the league to retain its automatic berth in the NCAA playoffs.

Bowling Green is one of the remaining CCHA schools and it is continuing to explore its options for league
membership. The Falcons could remain in a revamped CCHA where they could be joined by the four Atlantic
Hockey schools.
BG also had discussions of the newly formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference and the Western
Collegiate Hockey Association, although it is believed the WCHA isn’t interested in adding any of the
remaining CCHA schools. The only exception to that might be Alaska (Fairbanks).
BG likely won’t make a decision until Notre Dame decides its future. The Fighting Irish are expected to
leave the CCHA as they’re considering a move to the NCHC or Hockey East, or becoming an independent.
If ND doesn’t join the NCHC, BG may be invited to join that league which also is considering Western
Michigan of the CCHA and St. Cloud of the WCHA. The NCHC has six teams and is expected to have eight.

ND hasn’t announced a timetable for when it will make its decision.
The CCHA’s annual summer meetings are scheduled for mid-August in Dearborn, Mich. Some sources believe
all of the realignment could be completed before the upcoming season starts in October.
"Once the dust settles, we’re going to be in a strong league and we’re going to have a strong
program," BG coach Chris Bergeron said of the realignment in general.
But Bergeron declined specific comment on the options BG is considering.
"We’re controlling the things we can control," Bergeron said. "We’re working hard with the
team we have now, and we’re committed to the future of our program and improving our facilities. We’re
executing our plan to improve our program."
CCHA representatives at Tuesday’s meeting with the AHA were commissioner Fred Pletsch, BG associate
athletics director Jim Elsasser and Ferris State athletics director Perk Weisenburger.
BG athletics director Greg Christopher did not attend the meeting. He was attending the Mid-American
Conference athletics directors meetings in Detroit.
The athletic directors from all four AHA schools were at the meeting.
The meeting was held in Erie, Pa., where Mercyhurst is located.
"We had very open and honest discussions with representatives of the four schools from the
AHA," Pletsch said in a statement. "We are committed to having further dialogue in the future
to potentially accommodate those schools, while representing the interests of our member schools that
are committed to staying in the CCHA for the 2013-14 season and beyond."
"We had a very frank and open discussion with commissioner Pletsch and members of his executive
committee about joining the CCHA," the AHA schools said in a joint statement. "The CCHA offers
several exciting opportunities for our institutions, however, each of us feels the need to bring the
information we discussed back to campus and discuss it with our school president and our hockey
staff."
The CCHA is thought to be more attractive than the AHA because the league allows its members to offer the
NCAA maximum of 18 scholarships. The AHA allows a maximum of 12 scholarships.
"In addition, we will need to have discussions with Atlantic Hockey commissioner Bob DeGregorio and
his executive committee," the AHA’s joint statement continued. "Once we have completed our due
diligence, we have agreed to meet at a future date to continue to explore our opportunities. At this
point in time, no decisions have been made about leaving Atlantic Hockey or joining the CCHA."
Canisius and Niagara are located in Buffalo, while Robert Morris is in Pittsburgh.
Canisius and Mercyhurst are charter members of the AHA, which was formed in 2003. Niagara and Robert
Morris joined the league for the 2010-11 season. The league has 12 schools.
One stumbling block to the four AHA schools joining the CCHA could be if Alaska (Fairbanks) remains in
the league. The four AHA reportedly are concerned with the cost of traveling to Alaska. Alaska could
join in-state rival Alaska-Anchorage in the WCHA.