The Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey program takes its place as a member of the esteemed Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) today, July 1. The league transition is the program’s first official move a 2010-11 campaign packed full of new and exciting changes set to loft one of the most tradition-rich programs in all of collegiate sports to new levels.

In addition to the University’s men’s program joining its women’s as a member one of the elite leagues in college hockey, BSU’s ice hockey teams are making preparations to inhabit their new $65 million state-of-the-art home–the Bemidji Regional Event Center.

Since Bruce M. McLeod, commissioner of the WCHA, announced that the association had voted to approve the membership of Bemidji State along with University of Nebraska Omaha into its men’s ice hockey conference for the 2010-11 campaign, June 26, 2009, BSU has been making preparations and today years of discussions and panning have become reality. The addition of the Beavers and Mavericks grow the league from 10 to 12 teams for the coming season.

Bemidji State is set to open its inaugural season of WCHA play Oct. 15-16 when it host University of North Dakota. The two-game series will also serve as the grand opening of the BREC and Robert H. Peters Rink.