College hockey is in the midst of realignment. The Big Ten has announced that it will begin play in the fall of 2013. That will include current CCHA teams Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. A new conference that begins play in 2013 was announced last week, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference will have six teams for now, including current CCHA member Miami of Ohio. Meanwhile Northern Michigan has said it plans to leave the CCHA for the WCHA.

Western Michigan University says it has had numerous discussions with athletic directors across the country about possible conference realignment. A new website has been launched highlighting the Broncos' potential benefits to a new conference.

U.S. College Hockey Online senior writer Jim Connelly has covered realignment and spoke with WMUK's Gordon Evans Monday morning. Connelly says schools want to find a conference home for 2013 by this fall. He says that would help with scheduling as well as recruiting. Connelly says the best case scenario for Western Michigan is to end up in the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The conference has said it plan to add more teams and Connelly says the Broncos and Notre Dame are strong candidates.

U.S. College Hockey Online has a section of its website dedicated to realignment of college hockey conferences.