Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State will join newbie Penn State in forming a hockey conference in 2013-2014.

Taken from the Minneapolis Star Tribune…

“We are excited about the possibility of a Big Ten hockey conference beginning with the 2013-14 season,” Gophers coach Don Lucia said. “Our rivalry with Wisconsin is well documented and it will be nice to play Michigan and Michigan State more than once a year.”

“It will also be exciting to create new rivalries with Ohio State and Penn State. Right now we enjoy playing in the WCHA and will work with the league and WCHA schools to maintain established and traditional rivalries to ensure a competitive and entertaining non-conference schedule.”

WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said the the 12-team conference, which will shrink to 10 teams, already has a tentative framework for an interlocking schedule with the Big Ten. He said on Saturday that the Gophers and Wisconsin both will need a lot of games to fill out their schedules.

While I feel the WCHA is in a better position to “recover” from the aftermath of a decision like this, I fear for what may happen to the smaller programs in Michigan that rely on Michigan coming to their building each year.

I also fear for Huntsville.