Mankato, Minn. -- Members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for 12 years, Minnesota State has announced that it is committed to the long-term future of the league.

"While the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is going through this period of transition, we remain committed to this league that has long held a place amongst the elite in NCAA Division I ice hockey." said Kevin Buisman, MSU Director of Athletics.

MSU’s announcement comes following the recent formation of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, a new league scheduled for start-up in 2013-14 that includes current WCHA members Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota and Nebraska-Omaha, along with Miami (Ohio) of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

The University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin had announced earlier that they would be joining the Big Ten Hockey Conference, also beginning in 2013-14, leaving Minnesota State, Alaska Anchorage, Bemidji State, Michigan Tech and St. Cloud State as the remaining WCHA programs. In response to these changes, these remaining members of the WCHA announced support for Northern Michigan's recent application and indicated that formal approval for membership in the league (for 2013-14) will occur next week.

"Undoubtedly, as we move forward, one of the unknowns is the final make-up of the league's eventual membership portfolio," said Buisman. "Immediate expansion to a minimum of six teams was critical, as it stabilizes the situation, especially relative to NCAA postseason participation. As we continue to progress, it is very likely the league will work to identify additional programs that fit the profile as prospective members."

The WCHA, home to a record 37 national championships teams since it’s founding in 1951, will continue to operate as a 12-team conference for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

"One of the keys for us as a program will be the ability to consistently schedule many of the traditional rivals that we have enjoyed competing against the past 12 years as members of the WCHA," said Buisman. "We fully understand the importance of providing quality competition for our student-athletes, our fans, our alumni and the rest of our stakeholders. And to that end, we are proactively reaching out to to pursue future scheduling relationships with a number of very familiar opponents. We are extremely optimistic that these changes will bring about a number of exciting scheduling opportunities."

Minnesota State has had varsity hockey since 1969-70 and prior to reaffiliating to NCAA Division I in 1992-93, spent 27 years as members of Division II and Division II. The Mavericks own an all-time record of 724-547-132 (.563).

MSU is scheduled to open the 2011-12 season with an exhibition game on Oct. 3 in Mankato vs. the University of British Columbia. The first regular-season games of the year are slated for Oct. 7-8 in Troy, N.Y., with a pair of nonconference games at Renssalaer.