After spending only five years in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the Ohio State women’s ice hockey team has decided it is time for a change.

In order to cut down on travel, the Buckeyes accepted an invitation to begin play in the College Hockey America league for the 2004-05 season. The competition in the CHA resides fairly closer than that of the WCHA. This season OSU has to bus to Minnesota and Wisconsin for the women to play, and with the addition of the University of North Dakota to the WCHA next season, the Buckeyes would be spending even more time on the road.

When OSU leaves the WCHA, behind it will be leaving the teams of Minnesota, Minnesota State, Minnesota-Deluth, St. Cloud State and Bemijdi State, all of which are located within the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The new affiliation with the CHA will provide shorter distances to compete because the other teams in the league are Findlay, Ohio; Mercyhurst, Pennsylvania; Niagara, New York, and Wayne State, Michigan. Quinnipiac, which is located in Connecticut, will also be joining the CHA with the Buckeyes having accepted the invitation in July.

“The proximity of the teams in this league make it especially attractive from a travel standpoint for Ohio State,” OSU Director of Athletics Andy Geiger said in a statement. “We have certainly enjoyed our stay in the WCHA. At the same time, we look forward to our new affiliation with the CHA and the opportunities this league presents.”

OSU has skated against most of the teams in the CHA over the past four years and will continue getting familiar with the league this season in non-conference competition.

“We are very excited about joining College Hockey America, which is committed to women’s hockey and the growth of collegiate hockey,” OSU coach Jackie Barto said. “We look forward to beginning this new association next season and feel it will be a positive for our program.”

In its final season with the WCHA, OSU is ranked third right now with a 7-3-0 conference record.

“We have had a positive experience competing in the WCHA the past five years,” Barto said.