Sean Arbaut Minot State's Reid Arnold celebrates a goal earlier this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Starting next season, Minot State University will have a conference home. The Beavers will join the Midwest College Hockey (MCH) Conference beginning in the 2024-25 season.
“While being an independent team has had its advantages, there's nothing like having a chance to compete for a conference championship.” MSU athletics director Keven Forde said. “This move will give our student-athletes another championship experience that previously only happened at national championships. This will also allow our great fans to develop deeper rivalries with other teams in the MCH.”
The MCH coaches unanimously approved the addition of Minot State as an MCH member institution. Minot State will join nine MCH member teams in 2024-25, which include the University of Illinois (Champaign, Ill.), Illinois State University (Normal, Ill.), Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa) Jamestown University (Jamestown), University of Mary (Bismarck), McKendree University (Lebanon, Ill.), Midland University (Fremont, Neb.), Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, Ill.) and Waldorf University (Forest City, Iowa).
Minot State men's hockey coach Wyatt Waselenchuk said; “We are proud to participate in a premier conference within the ACHA. With the overall quality of MCH and having the opportunity to compete for a conference championship, we felt it was a great time to join.”
With the addition of Minot State, MCH teams will be split into two five-team divisions for scheduling purposes. Illinois, Illinois State, Iowa State, McKendree and Northern Illinois will make up one division while Jamestown, Mary, Midland, Minot State and Waldorf will be in the other division.
“Participating in the MCH puts an emphasis on every game and being able to now step up our program to an even greater level – it's a huge bonus for us.” Waselenchuck said. “We are grateful to all the teams that have supported our transition to MCH.”
All MCH teams are expected to play a 20-game regular season conference schedule. Each MCH team will play one home series against teams in its division and will also have one home series and one road series against teams from the other division. The MCH regular season champion will be determined by points.
The MCH playoff tournament is held at the end of the MCH regular season in late February or early March. The winner of the MCH Playoff Tournament will receive MCH's automatic bid to the ACHA Division I Men's National Championship.
