The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) announced this week that the University of St. Thomas men’s hockey program would join seven members that are planning to leave the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and restart the CCHA starting in 2021-22.

Upon receiving approval to move from Division III to Division I, the Tommies’ women’s hockey program joined the WCHA, but its men’s program joined a group of teams from the Midwest that has agreed to leave that conference after this season. The conference affiliation, says Phil Esten, vice president and director of athletics at St. Thomas, allows the Tommies to create strong regional rivalries and play against some storied hockey programs.

“Since the first conversation I had with (CCHA Commissioner) Don Lucia, I believed this a great fit and am grateful we’ll be included in the inaugural year of the new CCHA,” he says.

Lucia echoed the excitement.

“The entire membership of the CCHA is excited to welcome the University of St. Thomas as a member for the 2021-22 inaugural season,” says the former University of Minnesota head coach who was recently named commissioner of the revived league. “St. Thomas has an outstanding academic and athletic tradition with experienced and proven leadership as they transition to Division I. St. Thomas fits nicely within the CCHA footprint and impressed us all with the level of commitment they have for their hockey program.”

St. Thomas, which was evicted from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for competitive balance reasons in May 2019, joins Bemidji State University, Bowling Green State University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, Minnesota State University and Northern Michigan University.