MICHIGAN HOCKEY
ted to Michigan currently will all be
offered the chance to forego a U.S.
college career and compete in the
CHL. Solidly committed for now,
each player will have to make a per‑
sonal decision choosing either the
U.S. college route or the CHL with
regard to development for a potential
pro hockey career.
BIG TEN HOCKEY
CONFERENCE ENJOYS
MEMORABLE FIRST YEAR
From the initial announcement of
the formation of the Big Ten Hockey
Conference in March 2011 right up to
the start of actual play in the 2013‑14
season, the anticipation of the new
conference was matched by ques‑
tions about how it was really going
to play out.
Certainly, the announcement of
the new conference threw the col‑
lege hockey world a twist that
would play out in the formation of
two new conferences (Big Ten and
National Collegiate), serious change
to one (Western Collegiate Hockey
Association) and the demise of an‑
other (Central Collegiate Hockey
Association).
With a year 's history to draw on
now, it should have been no surprise
that the effects of the Big Ten Hockey
Conference's inaugural campaign
were a major topic of discussion at
Junior forward Andrew Copp is among six current Wolverines that took part in USA
Hockey's National Team Development Program.
PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL