Sean Arbaut Minot State’s Reid Arnold celebrates a goal earlier this season.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Beginning next season, Minot State University will have a conference home. The Beavers will join the Midwest College Hockey (MCH) conference beginning with the 2024-25 season.

“While being an independent team has had its advantages, there is nothing like having the opportunity to also compete for a conference championship,” MSU director of athletics Keven Forde said. “This move will give our student-athletes another championship experience that previously only happened at the national championships. This will also allow our outstanding fan base to develop deeper rivals with other teams in the MCH.”

MCH coaches unanimously approved the addition of Minot State as an MCH member institution. Minot State will be joining nine MCH member teams in 2024-25 who include the University of Illinois (Champaign, Ill.), Illinois State University (Normal, Ill.), Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa) Jamestown University (Jamestown), University of Mary (Bismarck), McKendree University (Lebanon, Ill.), Midland University (Fremont, Neb.), Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, Ill.), and Waldorf University (Forest City, Iowa).

Minot State men’s hockey coach Wyatt Waselenchuk said, “We are proud to be joining a top-notch conference within the ACHA. With the overall quality of the MCH and having the chance to compete for a conference championship, we felt it was a great time for us to join.”

With the addition of Minot State, MCH teams will be split into two five-team divisions for scheduling purposes. Illinois, Illinois State, Iowa State, McKendree, and Northern Illinois will comprise one division while Jamestown, Mary, Midland, Minot State, and Waldorf will be in the other division.

“Joining the MCH puts an emphasis on every single game, and the ability to now strengthen our schedule to an even greater level -is a huge bonus for us,” said Waselenchuck. “We are thankful for all the teams that supported our move to the MCH.”

All MCH teams are expected to play a 20-game regular season conference schedule. Each MCH team will play a home-and-home series against the teams in its division and will also have one home series and one road series against teams from the other division. The MCH regular season champion will be determined on a points basis.

The MCH playoff tournament is held at the conclusion of the MCH regular season in late February or early March. The winner of the MCH Playoff Tournament will be awarded the MCH’s automatic bid to the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships.