WHY WESTERN!
WMU BRONCO HOCKEY -‐-‐ A NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP THIS DECADE -‐-‐
TODAY’S REALITY
In the wake of the Big Ten’s decision to make hockey a conference sport and its potenDal impact on the CCHA and WCHA… It is Western Michigan University’s intent to align itself in a conference with peer insGtuGons who share our commitment to higher educaGon and NCAA Championship level hockey.
OUR STORY This document outlines all of the intangibles that will make Western Michigan University a valued member of any conference:
• • • •
Michigan’s hockey talent Kalamazoo / Southwest Michigan market Western Michigan University Our commitment to Bronco Hockey
THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
ONE OF THE TOP STATES IN THE COUNTRY FOR HOCKEY TALENT
A STRATEGIC FOOTPRINT FOR A HOCKEY CONFERENCE
A PASSION FOR HOCKEY
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
The Top Five States for USA Hockey Player ParDcipaDon (2009 – 2010): Minnesota: 53,450 MICHIGAN: 51,404 New York: 46,389 Massachuse`s: 43,445 Pennsylvania: 27,549
A HOCKEY RECRUITING BASE
NINE of the TOP 15 hockey teams in the country, in the 2010 – 2011 final rankings, had players from Michigan on their rosters. This year’s Hobey Baker Award winner Andy Miele – played his youth hockey in Michigan.
THREE OF THE LAST ELEVEN HOBEY BAKER AWARD WINNERS ARE FROM MICHIGAN
THE NHL DRAFTS MICHIGAN
States with the most AcDve Players in the NHL: 1. Minnesota: 42 2. MICHIGAN: 34 States with the most NHL Players of All-‐Time: 1. Minnesota: 206 2. Massachuse`s: 166 3. MICHIGAN: 122
KALAMAZOO & SOUTHWEST MI
A WORLD-‐CLASS COMMUNITY – COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE
A STRATEGIC MARKET FOR A HOCKEY CONFERENCE
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Western Michigan University is strategically located half-‐way between Chicago and Detroit.
ONE OF THE TOP TV MARKETS
The Grand Rapids / Kalamazoo DMA (Designated Market Area) is the 41st largest in the country with 740,230 television households.
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY HAS MORE THAN 43,000 ALUMNI LIVING IN THIS DMA
FOX SPORTS DETROIT
The CCHA has a TV package in place with Fox Sports Detroit. With Michigan and Michigan State leaving for the Big Ten Network – Fox Sports Detroit will be looking to WMU for college hockey programming and our fan base of:
114,311 ALUMNI IN MICHIGAN
THE KALAMAZOO PROMISE
The world-‐renowned KALAMAZOO PROMISE; a commitment by prominent families in this community to ensure a college scholarship for every Kalamazoo student.
ONE OF THE TOP PLACES TO LIVE
The Daily Beast just released its second annual survey of the 25 Best CiGes in America for recent college graduates – and Kalamazoo is on the list!
HOCKEYTOWN II
Southwest Michigan is the home of hockey at all levels. The ECHL, AHL, USHL and NAHL all have franchises located here – along with hundreds of youth and high school hockey teams.
However, there’s only one NCAA Division 1 Hockey Team – the WMU Broncos!
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
A CARNEGIE FOUNDATION DESIGNATED RESEARCH UNIVERSITY
A STRATEGIC UNIVERSITY FOR A HOCKEY CONFERENCE
A TOP 100 PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
Western Michigan University is annually ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the TOP 100 PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN AMERICA.
ONE OF FOUR SUCH UNIVERSITIES IN MICHIGAN RANKED AMONG THE TOP 100 (WESTERN MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE & MICHIGAN TECH)
PHI BETA KAPPA
Western Michigan University has been chosen by Phi Beta Kappa, the naDon’s most presDgious honor society, to have one if its chapters.
Fewer than 100 Public UniversiGes in America have been granted a Phi Beta Kappa chapter!
A HISTORIC MOMENT
Western Michigan University announced on March 22, 2011 a
$100,000,000 cash gic
the largest cash gij ever given to a Michigan college or university.
This gic is also among the Top Ten Cash Gics ever given to a Public University in the history of Higher EducaGon in America!
NCAA DIVISION 1
Western Michigan University successfully competes in sixteen NCAA Division 1 sports.
The Broncos won the Mid American Conference’s ALL SPORTS TROPHY for Women’s Sports and placed second in the Men’s Sports standings this year!
175,000 LIVING ALUMNI Western Michigan University’s alumni base is among the LARGEST 100 IN AMERICA.
Three WMU Alums are listed among Forbes 250 Wealthiest Americans
WMU BRONCO HOCKEY
A COMMITMENT TO A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP THIS DECADE
A STRATEGIC PARTICIPANT IN A HOCKEY CONFERENCE
A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Western Michigan University and its Board of Trustees has made the commitment to provide the financial resources to our Bronco Hockey program – necessary to win a NaDonal Championship this decade.
A COMMITMENT TO A TOP COACH
This commitment to a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP conDnued with the hiring of Andy Murray as the sixth head coach of our hockey program. Coach Murray is one of just 39 coaches in the 94-‐year history of the NaGonal Hockey League with 300 career wins! He’s also the only Canadian Coach in history to lead Team Canada to three IIHF World Championships!
NCAA HOCKEY TOURNEY QUALIFIER
Western Michigan University was seeded tenth overall among the sixteen teams selected to play in the 2011 NCAA Men’s Hockey NaDonal Championship. This capped off a season where the Broncos were: • Ranked among the TOP TWENTY teams in the country for twelve straight weeks! • Beat the University of Michigan in the Semi-‐Finals to advance to the CCHA Championship game at Joe Louis Arena
BRONCOS IN THE NHL
Mark Letestu Pi`sburgh Penguins
Joe Corvo Carolina Hurricanes
Pat Dwyer Carolina Hurricanes
Jamal Mayers Chicago Blackhawks
19 FORMER BRONCOS HAVE PLAYED IN THE NHL
BRONCOS IN THE SPORTS MEDIA
JOHN SAUNDERS ESPN / ABC
GLENN HEALY
HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
KEITH JONES NBC VERSUS
FORMER BRONCO HOCKEY PLAYERS WHO PROMOTE THE SPORT OF HOCKEY AND THEIR ALMA MATER
TOP STUDENT SECTION IN CCHA
THE “LAWSON LUNATICS”
MOST FANS AT CCHA CHAMPIONSHIP
THE BRONCO NATION TOOK OVER THE JOE
WHY WESTERN!
Western Michigan University will provide a hockey conference with a member insDtuDon commi`ed to a NaDonal Championship quality program – with all of the benefits associated with a top 100 university located in a top 50 TV market – in one of the top hockey talent producing states in this country.
WMU BRONCO HOCKEY -‐-‐ A NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP THIS DECADE – PLEASE CONTACT KATHY BEAUREGARD, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS OFFICE: 269-‐387-‐3120