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Fall201335InOctobertheNorthernMichiganUniversityhockeyteambeganitssecondstintasaWesternCollegiateHockeyAssociationmemberhavingbeenaWCHAprogramrom1984-97.Since1997NMUwasamemberotheCentralCollegiateHockeyAssociation.IthinkorustherearemanyexcitingthingsaboutgoingbackintotheWCHAsaysCoachWaltKyle81BSwhoisinhis12thseasonbehindtheWildcatsbench.IntheWCHAwevehadtremendoussuccessandhistory.ItsalsoaleaguethatgivesusgreatopportunitytobuildnewclosegeographicrivalriesaswellasenhancetraditionalrivalrieswiththeothertwoUpperPeninsulaschools.TodaysWCHAhoweverdoesntresembletheleagueNMUplayedinwhenitwonits1991NCAAtitle.TheannouncementotheBig10hockeyconerenceinMarch2011begananationalreshufingoteamsthatultimatelyeliminatedtheCCHA.ThenewWCHAincludesormerCCHAmembersAlaska-FairbanksBowlingGreenStateFerrisStateLakeSuperiorStateandNMU.ReturningromlastyearsWCHAareAlaskaAnchorageBemidjiStateMinnesotaStateandMichiganTechowhichonlyUAAandMTUwereleaguememberswhenNMUlastplayedintheWCHA.Alabama-HuntsvilleaormerNCAADivisionIindependentisalsonowamember.TheleaguecertainlyhasadierentmakeupromtheoldWCHAbuttheleagueshouldhavemuchmoreparity.EveryschoolwillentereveryseasonwiththeabilitytowinchampionshipsandthatwasnotalwaysthecaseinboththeoldWCHAandtheCCHAKylesays.NMUAthleticDirectorForrestKarrpointsoutthatnumerouslogisticsneedtobeaddressedinormingwhatisbasicallyanewleaguebuthesencouragedwiththeprogresssoar.ManyotheschoolsinthenewWCHAhavesuccessulhockeytraditionsandmostarelocatedincommunitiesthatareverypassionateaboutthesportsaysKarr.Thereisacan-dospiritthatreverberatesthroughoutthegroup.AtleaguemeetingsIhavenoticedarenewedemphasisonconerence-wideinitiativesthathelpmakeeachmemberschoolstronger.KarrhasbeenapartotheWCHAsTournamentandSchedulingCommittee.Ourcommitteeocusedondevelopingananciallyviableplayostructureandsecuringqualityvenuesortheleaguechampionships.TheWCHApresidentsultimatelydecidedonaneight-teamplayo.Therstroundwillconsistobest-o-threeserieshostedatcampussitesNo.1seededteamhostsNo.8No.2hostsNo.7etc..WinningteamswilladvancetotheWCHATournamentwhichwillbeheldinGrandRapidsMich.in2014and2016andSaintPaulMinn.in2015and2017.LastseasonNorthernnishedwitha15-19-4overallrecordanda9-15-4-1markintheCentralCollegiateHockeyAssociation.NineteenletterwinnersreturnortheCatsincluding12orwardssixdeensemenandonegoaltender.NMUwasselectedsixthinbothWCHApre-seasoncoachesandmediapolls.SportsNewsTheBuckNystromFootballScholarshiphasbeencreatedbyormerWildcatplayersandcolleaguesothelegend-aryNorthernMichiganUniversityWildcatootballcoach.ItwillbeawardedannuallytoanupperclassmanontheNMUootballteamwhohasdemonstratedpracticedandexecutedtothehighestdegreethefvequalitiesoNystromsourth-quarteredgephilosophydisciplinecommitmenteortenthusiasmandpride.NystromaMarquettenativewithamastersdegreeromNMUenjoyedamorethan40-yearcollegecoach-ingcareer.HewasapartofveteamstowinNationalChampionshipsattheNCAADivisionIorIIlevelasei-theraplayerorcoachwhichincludesNMUs1975titleteam.AsaplayerheearnedAll-BigTenAll-AmericaandAcadem-icAll-Americahonorsandwasatwo-timeRoseBowlplayeronceasmostvaluableplayer.Hewasdratedin1956bytheWashingtonRedskins.TodonatetothescholarshipcontacttheNMUFoundation.BacktotheFutureSecondWCHAEraBeginsorHockeyWildcatsScholarshiptoHonorCoachNystrom