Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME son because of conference realignment. Pletsch joined Blue & Gold Illustrated this week to discuss the end of an era in college hockey and his hopes to send it out on a high note. something on campus or at one of their homes games to try to celebrate their history and tradi- tion in the league. We're also really focusing on some plans to have a grand farewell at Joe Louis Arena as part of our 2013 Championship March 24 at the Joe." commemorate the final year of the CCHA? Pletsch: "We're hoping every CCHA team can do Blue & Gold Illustrated: Is this as deep as the league has been talent-wise since you've been a part of it? Pletsch: "Ultimately, I would have to say yes. You Blue & Gold Illustrated: What plans are there to Central Collegiate Hockey Association, home to Notre Dame and 10 other college programs, in May 2011. His job this season is to usher the 41-year-old league gracefully into the graveyard. The CCHA plans to disband at the end of this sea- Fred Pletsch took over as commissioner of the Five Questions With … CCHA COMMISSIONER FRED PLETSCH Pletsch has worked with the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in some capacity since 2001. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME SPORTS INFORMATION still look like this five or 10 years from now or is this just the start of it?" "That's what people are wondering now. Will it cided to create a hockey conference was the end of the CCHA inevitable or could something have been done to save it? Pletsch: "That's a good question, and one I still Blue & Gold Illustrated: When the Big Ten de- look at the teams even that aren't ranked and I could make a case that really nobody would want to meet those teams in the playoffs. … I think the strongest that I've seen the league would've been back in 2003 or 2004. "It's looking to be just as deep this year and that ways been a very regional sport in its conferences. Is it fair to say this is kind of an end of that era? Pletsch: "That's kind of a sign of the times. If you would be a great swansong for the CCHA." Blue & Gold Illustrated: College hockey has al- look at the massive conference transformation in football and to a lesser degree basketball we're seeing the aftershocks hit the hockey world. mull over when I'm lying in bed at night. Some- times I do think that there were some, I'm not going to say hasty, decisions — but everyone is still wondering how things ultimately will play out two or three years down the road." college hockey can try to capitalize on the NHL lockout and introduce the game to other fans? Pletsch: "If there's a great deal of interest in the Blue & Gold Illustrated: Are there ways that NHL it's good for all levels of the sport including college hockey. If fans' enthusiasm for the sport is dampened by what's happening in the NHL, it won't necessarily dampen enthusiasm for college hockey — but it won't raise the boat as some might think." — Dan Murphy