HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech's president Glenn Mroz, athletic director Suzanne Sanregret and hockey coach Mel Pearson all welcome Alabama-Huntsville to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

The WCHA's men's membership voted Thursday (Jan. 17) to admit UAH as a full-time men's conference member after it had submitted an application for membership and made a formal presentation to a WCHA group of member-team presidents and athletic directors at a meeting held in conjunction with the NCAA Convention in Dallas, Texas.

"UAH is a welcome addition to the WCHA," said Mroz. "As the presidents deliberated, I was impressed with the commitment from the university, their president, and the Huntsville community. UAH is similar to Michigan Tech in many ways; it is a research university of about 7,500 students with roughly half of their enrollment in engineering.

"The fact that Tech has around 240 alumni within a 90 minute drive, it will offer us some great opportunities for staying in touch with them."

The addition of UAH into college hockey's most historic and successful conference will bring future men's league membership to 10 teams. Their membership will be effective as soon as 2013-14.

WCHA men's membership in 2013-14 will consist of Alabama-Huntsville, Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks, Bemidji State, Bowling Green State, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State and Northern Michigan.

Sanregret currently serves as chair of the WCHA athletic directors group.

"The University of Alabama in Huntsville provided a comprehensive presentation regarding all aspects of their university, athletic program and specifically their hockey program," she said. "Their commitment to Division I men's ice hockey is evident. The WCHA can provide them with the stability they need to continue to grow their program. We have more work to do to get them integrated into the league, but I'm pleased to welcome UAH into the WCHA."

The men's Western Collegiate Hockey Association, home to a record 37 national championships teams since it's founding in 1951, has been operating as a 12-team conference for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

UAH has operated as an independent in college hockey for the last three seasons.

"I want to welcome Alabama-Huntsville and coach (Kurt) Kleinendorst into the WCHA," said Pearson. "The presidents and athletic directors should be commended in their efforts to save a hockey program such as UAH. The WCHA has a long history of growing and promoting the sport of college hockey with teams such as St. Cloud State, Minnesota Duluth and Wisconsin. I look forward to establishing a new and healthy rivalry with the Chargers."

Visit WCHA.com the league's full release on UAH.