WCHA releases 2013-14 schedule

Courtesy of the WCHA

MADISON, Wis. – The men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s today
(March 7) released a 140-game conference schedule for the upcoming 2013-14
season that will continue the league’s long-standing 28 games per team
slate and feature all league series being played on the traditional hockey
nights of Fridays and Saturdays.

Included in the schedule is the league’s newest full-time member in
University of Alabama Huntsville. Known as the ‘Hockey Capital of the
South’, Alabama Huntsville was granted full-time membership into the WCHA
family on January 17. The Chargers have been playing NCAA hockey since
1985, won two NCAA Div. II championships in the mid-1990s and have made
six national tournament appearances, were former members of College Hockey
America and have been competing as a Division 1 independent the past three
seasons.

The addition of Alabama Huntsville gives the WCHA a highly-competitive
10-team league beginning in 2013-14, with membership consisting of
University of Alabama Huntsville (Chargers), University of Alaska
Anchorage (Seawolves), University of Alaska Fairbanks (Nanooks), Bemidji
State University (Beavers), Bowling Green State University (Falcons),
Ferris State University (Bulldogs), Lake Superior State University
(Lakers), Michigan Technological University (Huskies), Minnesota State
University, Mankato (Mavericks) and Northern Michigan University
(Wildcats).

“We are truly looking forward to a tremendous season in 2013-14 and all
the excitement and interest that the new-look WCHA will generate,” said
Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod. “We are extremely pleased with the 28 games
per team schedule that will give our fans what they most want, and that’s
a majority of league games.

“The WCHA promises to be as intense and competitive as ever across the
board and with the addition of new and compelling rivalries to those we
maintain, our fans across the country are in for a real treat. We also
want to extend a warm welcome to all the fans, family, staff, friends and
communities of our six newest teams and know they will enjoy the spirit of
pride, passion and commitment that has always been a hallmark of the
WCHA.”

The 140-game conference slate for 2013-14 will have each of the 10 member
teams playing 28 WCHA games, 14 at home and 14 away, with the regular
season champion being awarded college hockey’s most renowned and valuable
trophy – the MacNaughton Cup. Each team will play five other league
members four times each and four others two times each. The WCHA has had a
28 games per team conference schedule in place since 1997-98.

Western Collegiate Hockey Association play gets underway the weekend of
Friday and Saturday, October 25-26 with a pair of two-game series as the
league’s newest member, Alabama Huntsville, hosts Bemidji State and a pair
of Upper Peninsula rivals face-off when Northern Michigan entertains
Michigan Tech.

On the weekend of November 1-2, five more WCHA teams engage in their first
conference series of 2013-14. Alaska plays host to Northern Michigan,
Alaska Anchorage travels to Bowling Green, Ferris State visits Alabama
Huntsville and Minnesota State heads to Bemidji State.

Then on November 8-9, Lake Superior skates in their 2013-14 WCHA openers
when the Lakers entertain Alaska.

The first-half of WCHA play concludes the weekend of December 13-14 with
second half conference action resuming just after New Year’s on January
3-4.

During the course of the 2013-14 regular season there will be a total of
four weekends featuring all 10 WCHA-member teams engaged in league play.
Those are November 22-23, December 6-7, February 14-15 and March 7-8 – the
final weekend of the regular season.

The first round of WCHA playoffs will be contested the weekend of March
14-16 with the WCHA Final Five playoff championship scheduled the weekend
of March 20-22.

The league will announce post-season tournament sites, dates and details
at a press conference at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul on Saturday,
March 23.
What We Play For
The MacNaughton Cup – WCHA Regular Season Champion

Dating back more than 97 years to its original purchase in 1913,
handcrafted of pure silver, standing three-feet high, and weighing more
than 40 pounds, the MacNaughton Cup is the shining symbol of the Western
Collegiate Hockey Association and of its long-time standing as one of
college hockey’s premier conferences since it’s founding in 1951.

The MacNaughton Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the regular
season championship, and as a traveling trophy, is on display throughout
the course of each season at the home of the previous year’s winner.
Beginning in 2005-06, the WCHA also began awarding a smaller silver
replica MacNaughton Cup to the regular season champion(s) each season.

The MacNaughton Cup has traveled a long and winding road since its initial
purchase in 1913 by the Calumet (Michigan) and Hecla Mining Company, but
officially settled into a home with the original WCHA (MCHL/WIHL) in 1951.

In 1913, James MacNaughton, then president of Calumet and Hecla, Inc., and
an avid supporter of amateur ice hockey, authorized the president of the
American Amateur Hockey Association to purchase a cup (he said the price
didn’t matter) and present it to the Association’s championship team at
the end of the season. The first winner was a team from the Cleveland
(Ohio) Athletic Club. The MacNaughton Cup remained with the AAHA until it
ceased operations in 1920.

From 1921 to 1950, the Cup was fought for by semi-pro and intermediate
hockey aggregations in Michigan’s Copper Country. In 1951, the cup was
donated by Calumet and Hecla, Inc., through the generosity of Mr. & Mrs.
Endicott R. Lovell, to the newly-founded Midwest Collegiate Hockey League,
forerunner of the WCHA. Lovell, president of the company at that time and
the son-in-law of James MacNaughton, was also a ardent supporter of
amateur hockey.

The MCHL chose – in the original spirit – to award the trophy to its
regular season champion. The MacNaughton Cup remained a part of the
MCHL/WIHL until the league disbanded in March of 1958 for one year. In
1959-60, the seven original teams resumed formal competition under the
name Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

The MacNaughton Cup has gone to the regular season winner on all but seven
occasions since 1951. From 1962-65, the MacNaughton Cup was presented to
the league playoff winner. In 1981-82, 1982-83 and 1983-84, the trophy
left the league with Cup custodian Michigan Tech and was presented to the
champion of the CCHA.
The Broadmoor Trophy – WCHA Playoff Champion

The second of the WCHA’s two major championship trophies for men’s
competition is the Broadmoor Trophy, which has been awarded annually since
1985 to the winner of the conference’s post-season championship
tournament.

The history of the Broadmoor Trophy dates to 1981, when it was first
presented to the conference by the world-renowned Broadmoor Hotel and
Resort Complex of Colorado Springs, Colo. For the first three seasons of
its partnership with the WCHA (1981-1984) – and due to the departure of
league member and MacNaughton Cup (regular season championship trophy)
custodian Michigan Tech to the CCHA – the Broadmoor Trophy was presented
to the Association’s regular season champion. But when the Huskies
returned to the WCHA in 1984 – with the MacNaughton Cup in hand – the
Broadmoor Trophy became, and has remained since, the symbol of the
league’s post-season tournament championship.

In March of 2010, in conjunction with the annual WCHA Final Five, the
Association unveiled a striking new Broadmoor Trophy. The new bronze cast
trophy, created by Blue Ribbon Trophies & Awards of Colorado Springs,
Colo., is a recreation of the famous Broadmoor Hotel. Long an ardent
supporter of college hockey, the Broadmoor Hotel included the former
Broadmoor World Arena, which hosted the NCAA Ice Hockey Championship a
total of 11 times between 1948 and 1969.

There are a total of three Broadmoor trophies. The largest is currently on
display at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul in conjunction with the WCHA
Final Five, one is a traveling trophy, and one is awarded to the winning
team each year as a permanent addition to their display case.
2013-14 WCHA Men’s Conference Schedule

(note: game times will be released as soon as possible, with 7:07 pm and
7:37 pm face-offs remaining the WCHA norm.)
October

Friday, October 25
Bemidji State @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)

Saturday, October 26
Bemidji State @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
November

Friday, November 1
Ferris State @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Alaska Anchorage @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Alaska (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Bemidji State (WCHA)

Saturday, November 2
Ferris State @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Alaska Anchorage @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Alaska (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Bemidji State (WCHA)

Friday, November 8
Alabama Huntsville @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Minnesota State (WCHA)

Saturday, November 9
Alabama Huntsville @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Minnesota State (WCHA)

Friday, November 15
Alaska Anchorage @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Saturday, November 16
Alaska Anchorage @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Friday, November 22
Alabama Huntsville @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Bowling Green (WCHA)

Saturday, November 23
Alabama Huntsville @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Bowling Green (WCHA)

Friday, November 29
Alaska Anchorage @ Minnesota State (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Alaska (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)

Saturday, November 30
Alaska Anchorage @ Minnesota State (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Alaska (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
December

Friday, December 6
Alabama Huntsville @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Alaska @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Minnesota State (WCHA)

Saturday, December 7
Alabama Huntsville @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Alaska @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Minnesota State (WCHA)

Friday, December 13
Minnesota State @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Saturday, December 14
Minnesota State @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)
January

Friday, January 3
Bowling Green @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Alaska (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Lake Superior (WCHA)

Saturday, January 4
Bowling Green @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Alaska (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Lake Superior (WCHA)

Friday, January 10
Minnesota State @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Ferris State (WCHA)

Saturday, January 11
Minnesota State @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Ferris State (WCHA)

Friday, January 17
Alaska Anchorage @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Alaska @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Minnesota State (WCHA)

Saturday, January 18
Alaska Anchorage @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Alaska @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Minnesota State (WCHA)

Friday, January 24
Northern Michigan @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Alaska (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Saturday, January 25
Northern Michigan @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Alaska (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Friday, January 31
Alabama-Huntsville @ Alaska (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
February

Saturday, February 1
Alabama Huntsville @ Alaska (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)

Friday, February 7
Alabama Huntsville @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)
Alaska Anchorage @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Minnesota State (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Ferris State (WCHA)

Saturday, February 8
Alabama Huntsville @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)
Alaska Anchorage @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Minnesota State (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Ferris State (WCHA)

Friday, February 14
Alabama Huntsville @ Minnesota State (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)

Saturday, February 15
Alabama Huntsville @ Minnesota State (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)
Alaska @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)

Friday, February 21
Lake Superior @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Alaska Anchorage @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Saturday, February 22
Lake Superior @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Alaska Anchorage @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Northern Michigan @ Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Friday, February 28
Alabama Huntsville @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Alaska (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Lake Superior (WCHA)
March

Saturday, March 1
Alabama Huntsville @ Bemidji State (WCHA)
Ferris State @ Alaska (WCHA)
Bowling Green @ Northern Michigan (WCHA)
Minnesota State @ Lake Superior (WCHA)

Friday, March 7
Northern Michigan @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Alaska Anchorage @ Alaska (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Minnesota State (WCHA)

Saturday, March 8
Northern Michigan @ Alabama Huntsville (WCHA)
Alaska Anchorage @ Alaska (WCHA)
Bemidji State @ Bowling Green (WCHA)
Lake Superior @ Ferris State (WCHA)
Michigan Tech @ Minnesota State (WCHA)

March 14-16 • WCHA First Round Playoffs
March 20-22 • WCHA Final Five Playoff Championship