The WCHA sent out a release today saying that Northern Michigan will be formally announced as a new member of the conference next week.
At the very least, that move will ensure that the WCHA will have six teams--the minimum number needed to retain an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament--once they lose seven of their programs to other conferences in 2013-2014. It does make the future that much more difficult for the CCHA as they try to add teams to ensure their own league's survival.