4/27/2009 3:42:46 PM
After 11 seasons of existence, the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association finally has what it has wanted for years – the winner of the Harris Cup will now officially advance to the NCAA Tournament field and compete for the national championship.
The NCAA notified MCHA Commissioner Terry Brand Tuesday that what the league has been long-hoping for is now official. The NCAA has indeed granted the MCHA an AQ for the winner of the league tournament starting next season, with Brand receiving the official notice in the mail today.
“This is a huge day for the MCHA,” Brand said. “We are finally on an even playing field with all the other NCAA Division III teams that are members of conferences with AQ's. We are now in control of our own destiny.”
The MCHA has never had an at-large team qualify for the NCAA Tournament field in its existence, despite the much-publicized runs by Adrian College each of the past two seasons (going 53-4-1 in that time) and another recent attempt by MSOE in 2006 when it went 21-5-1.
“This completes a multi-year effort to achieve this,” Brand said. “It now allows us to move forward with other plans for the future and do the things we can to get more than one team in the NCAA tournament. Our coaches are elated with the fact that they can tell a recruit he is guaranteed a chance to compete in the NCAA Championship.”