December 19, 2002 — An historic meeting will be held tomorrow on the University of Utah campus to give birth to a new Division-I hockey league. The two- day meeting will begin Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at the University Guest House Hotel conference center on the University of Utah Campus.

For directions please go to http://www.guesthouse.utah.edu/location.html

The new alliance will be called the “Hockey West” league. It will be DI caliber, which is the highest level of play within the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). The new league is targeting 5 of the top Division-II schools and the only two independent Division-I teams in the West. Currently, the U of U Skatin’ Utes play at the DII level. The charter schools in the new league will be:

University of Utah Skatin’ Utes (currently DII – ranked #4 in the West)
Colorado State University Rams (currently DII – ranked #2 in the West)
Arizona State University Ice Devils (currently DI – ranked #18 nationally)
Weber State University Wildcats (currently DII – ranked #3 in the West)
University of Arizona Icecats (currently DI – ranked #6 nationally)

Three additional teams have been issued an invitation to join the league next year or the year after. These teams are:
University of Colorado Buffaloes (currently DII -ranked #1 in the West)
Utah State University Aggies (currently DII – ranked #6 in the West)
Brigham Young University (for the 2004/2005 season) – (currently DII -ranked #12 in the West)

Representatives from all eight universities are expected to attend tomorrow’s organizational founders meeting. University of Utah Skatin’ Utes coach Stan Weiss is one of the organizers of the new Hockey West league. “There will be nothing like it West of the Mississippi. Getting a Division I league established for Western Schools would be of great benefit for all of these teams and intercollegiate hockey.”

-Meeting agenda:

Friday, Dec. 20
6:00pm – Meal
7:00pm – Welcome and Introductory Remarks (University of Utah)
7:20pm – Team commitments: Join league for 2003-2004 season,
join league at future date.
7:45pm – League Governance and bylaws
9:30pm – Adjourn

Saturday, December 21
9:00am – Corporate Charter
9:45am – League Vision Statement
10:30am – Break
10:45am – Franchise Fees and League Dues
11:15am – Scheduling and Travel
11:45am – League Points Formula
12:00pm – Lunch
1:15pm – Media Guide
1:30pm – Logos and Letterhead
1:45pm – League Marketing
2:15pm – League Tournament
2:45pm – Officials
3:30pm – Adjourn