The league meeting was today. What new teams joined the league? Who is in gold and silver? who won the awards?

There are 6 new teams for the upcoming year: Kansas, St. Louis, Purdue, Loyola, ISU-JV, and RMC-Peoria.

Gold:
Eastern Illinois
Kansas
ISU Redbirds
University of Iowa
University of Missouri
SIUE - Gold
MSU - Maroon
St. Louis University
RMC - Springfield
NIU

Silver:

Northwestern
Marquette
McKendree
Wheaton
Purdue
SIUE - Silver
Loyola
WIU
Bradley
MSU - White
RMC - Peoria
ISU - Icebirds

Silver will be split up into a north and south conference.

I'm not too sure about all the awards, so I will let somebody else answer that

OK so I am a bit confused.

SLU, Purdue, Loyola, ISU JV, Kansas, RMC Peoria all get in to the gold or silver division. Are all full members? Are all eligable for Playoffs?

Also the silver division is going to be divided North and South do they have to play a certain number of cross over games? Like say the obvious SIUE silver is in the south are they required to play the south teams then play like 3 of the north teams????? How does this work?

Thanks for any insight

Gold remains a 10 team league, while Silver is now a 2 conference league

Gold
Mo State
Mizzou
SIUe
Iowa
ISU
Eastern
NIU
RMC-S
Kansas - Full Member of MACHA
SLU - Probationary team - games count but are not eligible for post-season play

Silver North
Northwestern
Wheaton
Loyola *Probationary

Marquette
Purdue *Probationary
ISU JV * Full-time MACHA Silver

Silver South
Bradley
RMC-Peoria *Probationary
Western

SIUe Silver
Mo State Silver
McKendree


For Silver, teams will play each team in their conference twice, but will also play 3 teams from the other conference twice. For scheduling purposes, each conference was further broken down into mini-divisions to make scheduling easier. For instance, Purdue will play the other 5 Northern teams and may play the "Owens Division" - Bradley, RMC-P, and Western - in the South conference this year, then next year will be required to play SIUe Silver, Mo State Silver, and McK. So in total, a team will have 16 games that will have points count toward a conference title, with the top 3 from the North and South going to the playoffs.

I forgot to bring my sheet home from the meeting, but I believe that's what it ended up breaking down to. For whatever reason, the league website doesn't show this revamped format yet.

I hope that cleared things up.

Thanks for the explination but how is Kansas and ISU JV full members when the other teams who are established as well are probationary? That sounds a little suspect to me. I understnad ISU JV grandfathered like I think MSU JV was last year.

RMC peoria is a new program so I can understand that but for Loyola, SLU, Purdue it seems as though a double standard is in place? If you let one in (kansas) without probation you need to let the rest in as well. If I remember correctly didnt Western Illinois get voted in without a probationary year? I think that is what I had heard.

Kansas should be lucky they even got in the league becasue I know for teams from the Chciago area to have to go to Kansas City and Springfield, MO is a death wish for programs that have no school backing. At current fuel prices that is probably a $3,000 plus bus trip with out the 2 nights hotel, missing classes all day Friday, etc. I know by reputation KU has come a long way but sometime somewhere you have to set limits as to how far you will go. At this pace you might as well invite schools from arkansas, tennessee, kentucky, indiana and ohio to join.

Just my thoughts and I do not meen for this to be inflamatory to anyone it is just my thoughts.

ISU JV was granfathered in just like MSU JV was. I think that it's set a precedent so that if an established organization in MACHA brings in a second team then they would also get the full membership rights.

Kansas was let in without probation because they have already served a probation year with MACHA. Loyola and Purdue have as well at some point but the main difference being that Kansas was asked to NOT return to the league. Purdue and Loyola had left on different terms and did not join after their probation period. As far as SLU goes, there are some events in the past that were suspect and basically waiving of them not being on probation was voted down.

CKich was right about the silver division.

The Kansas issue has been worked out; NIU, for example, will only make that long trip once a year...if they play Mo State at the JVIP, chances are that same year Kansas will travel up to Chi-town to play NIU. It's understood by most scheduling members in the league to keep travel cost effective for everyone in the league, and a good call at that. Kansas has taken great strides with their organization, and their inclusion makes MACHA that much stronger of a league.

As far as probationary/full membership is concerned, each team who was a one point a probationary team in the past had jumped to a different league by choice before returning to MACHA. It wasn't that way with KU, and ISU-Silver is in via the SIUe/Mo State model.

Mizzou will field a 2nd team this year, with hopes of bringing it to MACHA in a season or two.

who won the awards?

Good questions and accurate answers here. My question is this. The webmaster is getting paid $500, yet more than two days after one of the biggest days of the year for MACHA annually, there is not one word about the developments. All this info should be out there in official form and positive buzz created. Instead, here we are piecing it together. Thanks to those who were there for sharing their notes.

I am sure if you would like to volunteer to do it for free that money could be used by something else in the league?

Your critcism does not come without merit but when there are no possible solutions to go along with it it just comes along as bitching.

Uhhhh what? There is a very simple solution. Find a new webmaster who will be more responsible.

I'd do it

better yet, quit wasting all your time on here whining about travel expenses and a quality team like Kansas in the league and get out in your communities and do some fundraising. its not that hard. i know the schools give us nothing, so get out there and take it. youre all college students, life isnt going to be handed to you after school, might as well learn now.

A very good post!!!

Congratulations, welcome to the great world of volunterism. College students are so appreciative. The only ones more appreciative are their parents... yeah right. The fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree.

ACHA seems like it's getting more and more like a glorified high school league. The only difference is the colleges don't let parents get too involved, or do they. Good question. How much parental influence or help do college teams in the ACHA or MACHA get and what problems come along with that help?

When did this go from the inability of the MACHA to update it's website to fundraising? The good teams fundraise, the good leagues update their website daily.

Id do it...I just need rights to the ftp to change/ update it.

Wow, a lot of yapping on here. So here are a few points.

1. The MACHA has had stability because of good ADULT volunteers. Not a bunch of college students who think they know it all but most really don't. Just comparing to other leagues or even teams in our own league, the MACHA website is updated about as often as most. So updating it more often would be impressive and a large task. I am sure that Craig would like a VOLUNTEER to help him keep it updated. Or at least Craig and the rest of the board would be open to suggestions. Kich, if you want to help I am sure your offer would be appreciated.

2. In most problem solving situations that involve complaining the usuall approach is first give your complaint then give three possible solutions. Just getting rid of someone and getting someone else is not that simple. When you fill a position such as webmaster with a student volunteer there is a HUGE problem. What happens when they graduate and move on to bigger and better things or just don't want the hassle anymore? That is what normally happens in situations like this. Any disagreement is welcomed, as long as it is not a student disagreeing. I am sure you know it all, but you don't.

3. Fundraising is a good way to support a team. Many teams did some form of fundraising before Kansas was added. Kansas is a good fit for the St. Louis teams. I think the key point is that at some point in time the geographic expansion has to stop. Now you could say, "hey, lets add some Minnesota teams, that isn't too far for Marquette or some Chicago teams considering they go so far to get to Kansas City and Springfield, Mo. or let's consider Iowa St. since it isn't so bad for Kansas and Iowa." Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough. If you look at the old IHL in the minors, what is it that did them in? TRAVEL That was the key factor, they kept expanding and expanding and the teams just couldn't do it anymore. There were other factors like inflateded salaries, but the TRAVEL is what killed them.

Everyone must remember that the ADULT VOLUNTEERS who run this league have been involved for a long time. There are always new ones involved but for the most part the guys that have done it have done a GREAT job and will continue to do so. If they did a horrible job then why did 3 out of the 4 opening for the board of directors get filled by previous board members. The student athletes think they always have the answers. They always want it all. When in fact, they think they want it all unless it requires work. Not many are willing to put the work in that would be needed to do what they all say should be done.

I am rambling now. Any replies to this are welcomed.

The website's purpose is to disseminate information to those that are interested in league activities. A reasonable expectation is that the news/decisions made at the annual meeting would be disseminated as soon as possible. I think it is not unreasonable or selfish to expect that such an update would occur within a day or two of the meeting's close.

I don't think I've ever read anyone complain about the freshness of the content on the website all year. I think the comments on this thread speak to the interest in what was decided at the league meeting and I don't think that is a bad thing. Apathy would be a bad thing.

If it is not reasonable to expect a quick update on the outcomes from the meeting then I think it would be appropriate for someone from the league to comment on what should be a reasonable expectation and when we might see the update.

"The student athletes think they always have the answers. They always want it all. When in fact, they think they want it all unless it requires work. Not many are willing to put the work in that would be needed to do what they all say should be done."

Amen brother, well put.

When student athletes and the colleges that they play for expect the student athletes to run their organizations it's a recipe for disaster. There has to be a guiding force and generally that's the Adult Represnetative as you refer to them. The realities of colleges and their administrations is that there is a "no reponsibility" attitude and it comes from the students and the administration. Students pay tuition for education and dues to play in this case hockey. The university administration is paid their salary through the tuitions paid to the institution, so they let the students do what they want, within some slight reasonable boundries. If no one has responsibilty for these organizations then how do they effectively run? The answer, Adult Representatives that volunteer time and have committed passion. Contray to popular belief leading these teams as a volunteer is not an honor in fact it's an effort that a person does because they enjoy, sometimes love the sport and want to do something positive for growth of the sport for the participants or the institution.

So to take this minute to read this is a small way to recognize these volunteers and maybe understand exactly what you have. Teams need more of these type of volunteers and should go out of their way to keep them involved in their organizations and recognize their efforts.

"The student athletes think they always have the answers. They always want it all. When in fact, they think they want it all unless it requires work. Not many are willing to put the work in that would be needed to do what they all say should be done."

"Amen brother, well put."

This thread is starting to get comical. Do you really think this is specific to student athletes?
I've done volunteer work for years, hockey, subdivision trustee, scouting, etc. This issue is always the same, the few do for the many and that is life. Standing on this soapbox suggesting someone take something away from this chatter is merely dreaming. Reminds me of the quote, "Reggie Jackson would give you the shirt off of his back and then call a press conference to tell you about the event."

Those of us that volunteer do it because we want to and why we want to is driven by many individual reasons. We accept the fact that the majority who do nothing but perhaps write a check will complain. I'm a big believer in that you learn more from those that dissatisfied than those that are singing your praises. Now would someone please update the damn website or give Kich the password because I know he will do it and not call a press conference to tell us he did.

yes, volunteer work is the same on all levels, BUT THIS MESSAGE BOARD IS JUST ABOUT HOCKEY AND THE STUDENT ATHELETES.

There was not ONE complaint brought up at the MACHA meeting about the website and it's timeliness in updates... ZERO, NONE, ZILCH, NAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAA, NOTHING. There was an email sent out to EVERY TEAM asking for agenda items at the meeting. Every team had a chance to discuss this matter. I guess the league members are ok with it. So, until next season I guess a formal change isn't happening.

Here's a little process improvement training for you. The fact that no one brought the timeliness of information being posted on the website up as an issue prior to the meeting and as previously mentioned on this thread no one has complained about it prior to this thread on this bulletin board it is known as a "special cause variation." That means that you don't have to wait until next year and formally change the process. You implement a approach that is specific to this situation. That would be for someone to "please" update the website with the outcomes from the annual meeting and all will be well. Yes the few will still do for the many but alas that is still a fact of life.

I wrote the 9:36 post.

I agree with you completely, very well stated. The only thing that frustates me about the whole thing is there is a whole lot of complaining and not much doing. But, I agree, and hopefully someone like Kich will offer to lend Craig a hand. That would be great for everyone involved. Thanks.

I'll help you Kich. The key is getting the information from the member teams in a timely manner. Yes, you can update scores quickly, but stats may be tricky if score sheets are not sent in on time.

OK....let me see. Is WSR helping Kitch who is helping Craig? Can I help WSR and then someone please help me.

Thank you,

The helper

Can I help you become a bigger smartass?

I thought it was funny...

All star team anyone?

can you people just answer who is on the all star teams instead of complaining about absolutely everything?

Where will conference be at this year, or is it undecided still?

They were looking at a central location to have it at... The places mentioned were Springfield, IL at the Nelson Center, and in Fairview Heights, IL at the US Ice Sports Complex. The Coral Ridge Ice Rink at the Mall in Iowa was also mentioned, because they may be able to get ice cheaper than most. The big draw for both Springfield and Fairview is that they each have 2 rinks...now its dependent upon who can get the ice cheapest. Maybe the McK University can pay for the ice...

I sent an email today to Craig Buntenbach about a list for the awards and as soon as I get the list I'll post it on here...unless he updates the site.

kich your my idol

Why would you think McKendree would pay for the ice?

yeah, they won't be able afford it because they have to increase the coaching staff's salary for next year.

There was no complaint this year, because someone did complain last year and got crucified, just like those who spoke up here. What is the big deal? Get er done and get out of the way. We do not need stats on the MACHA website. Really just league news, standings and league game results. The ACHA website covers everything else. Oh, and it would be nice if the teams all had working links back to their websites and maybe some history and past year's results.