OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Minot State Director of Athletics, Kevin Forde, and men's hockey coach Wyatt Waselenchuk are excited to announce a new chapter in the storied Minot State men's hockey program's history as the Beavers will join the Midwest College Hockey (MCH) conference beginning with the 2024-25 season.

One of the premier men's Division I programs in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and the current defending National Champions, Minot State has won the ACHA Men's Division I National Championship in the 2012-13 season, in the 2018-19 season, and again this past spring playing as an independent team without a conference affiliation.

"While being an independent team has had its advantages, there is nothing like having the opportunity to also compete for a conference championship," 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 the other teams in the MCH."

Coach Waselenchuk added: "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.

"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," Minot State's coach added. "We are thankful for all the teams that supported our move to 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, N.D.), University of Mary (Bismarck, N.D.), McKendree University (Lebanon, Ill.), Midland University (Fremont, Neb.), Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, Ill.), and Waldorf University (Forest City, Iowa).

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.

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 presented by FloHockey.

Follow the MCH online at www.twitter.com/MidwestCHockey. Press release provided by the MCH.