AFA coach wants to redo hockey conferences

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 15, 2004 | by TODD JACOBSON THE GAZETTE

If Air Force coach Frank Serratore has his way, several Division I men's hockey conferences might look a little different in the next few years, including the league the Falcons play in.

Serratore, Air Force's seven-year coach, proposed a two-phased restructuring plan that would revamp College Hockey America and the Atlantic Hockey Conference to the commissioners of Division I's six hockey conferences Tuesday.

Air Force would jump from the CHA to the AHC under Serratore's plan, and at least two schools would move from the AHC to the CHA in a move aimed at revitalizing the recently depleted conferences.

The CHA is in danger of losing its automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament after Findlay, one of six CHA members for men's hockey, announced last week it was dropping to club status.

The NCAA mandates that conferences have at least six members to receive an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The AHC lost Iona and Fairfield last year, and recently lost Vermont when it joined Hockey East.

"It's time that college hockey looked at this and did some community planning correctly," said Serratore, also a member of the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

"If they don't, you will have what you are seeing with the Big East or the ACC (in football and basketball). You will see some cannibalism. Is that the best thing for the sport?"

Brad DeAustin, Air Force's acting athletic director, said the school is behind Serratore's restructuring efforts.

As part of Serratore's plan, Robert Morris University would assume Findlay's spot in the weakened CHA next season, assuring the conference its automatic qualifying bid to the tournament.

The following year, Serratore has proposed that Air Force leave the CHA for the Atlantic Hockey Conference, to be replaced by Canisius and Mercyhurst from the AHC.

The switch would allow an inter-service academy rivalry between Army and Air Force, and leave both conferences above the minimum automatic qualifying level.

The CHA would have seven teams, and the AHC would have eight.

Travel could become an issue for Air Force. West Point is the westernmost-located school in Serratore's proposal.

Serratore played a key part in the forming of the CHA in 1999, and Air Force was among the founding members.

The plan is far from a done deal.

CHA commissioner Bob Peters said the commissioners of the six hockey conferences were considering restructuring and would talk about the issue at their weekly teleconference Tuesday.

The athletic directors of each school involved would have to agree to the move.

"Something's got to happen," Serratore said. "I challenge anyone to come up with a better plan."

In some form or another, restructuring is likely, Peters said.

"We are trying to do the most prudent thing," Peters said. "It's just going to take a little time because we have to visit with people and explain it in detail, and the objective is to do what is most beneficial to hockey in general and specifically for the CHA and the AHC."

The first priority, Peters said, was finding a team to replace Findlay. Peters said he has had preliminary talks with Robert Morris athletic director Susan K. Hofacre, and plans on visiting the Pittsburgh campus in coming weeks.

Robert Morris' women's hockey team has already applied to be part of the CHA, Peters said.

Its men's hockey team will be coached by former Air Force assistant Derek Schooley.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0256 or tjacobson@gazette.com