The MCHA has accepted Concordia University, Wisconsin as the newest member of the conference, beginning with the 2007-08 season. The school also announced the hiring of Tony Hrkac as head coach.
Hrkac’s career includes a 1987 NCAA National Championship while competing at North Dakota and the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top Division I player that same season. His 18-year professional career includes stints with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Chicago Black Hawks, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Quebec Nordiques, San Jose Sharks, and St. Louis Blues, plus winning a Stanley Cup ring with the Stars in 1999. Hrkac’s final professional stop was with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals from 2003-2005; he helped lead that team win the Calder Cup in 2004.
“We are looking forward with great anticipation to dropping the puck with the MCHA,” said Concordia athletic director Rob Barnhill. “Adding hockey was an ambitious step for our athletic department and we are excited to have hired Tony Hrkac to coach our first year team as we begin play in this excellent conference.”
Concordia will join Finlandia, Lawrence, Marian College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Minnesota-Crookston, and Northland College as league members. This is the second expansion of the league in three years, last adding Finlandia University in November of 2003. Concordia, located in Mequon, Wis., announced Sept. 19 that the school was adding hockey to its sports line-up for the 2007-08 school year.
“The development of hockey at Concordia is a great opportunity for the MCHA to expand and grow,” said MCHA commissioner Terry Brand. “I hope that it will stimulate even more growth in Division III hockey. This will offer even more student athletes from the Midwest the chance to compete at this level.”
