-- After being declared dead in October 2011 and then resuscitated two months later, the University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team faces a historical milestone next week.

The fate of the more-than 30-year-old program is at stake and could be decided in a vote by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association during the annual NCAA Convention in Grapevine, Texas, just outside Dallas.

"The WCHA is one of the finest leagues in the country," said Dr. E.J. Brophy, UAH's director of athletics. "It would open the door to Heaven."

UAH President Robert Altenkirch will join Brophy to make the school's presentation at the convention. League representatives are scheduled to meet Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

"Dr. Altenkirch is the 'lead dog' on this," Brophy said. "We'll make our presentation (Thursday)."

The Chargers have been playing as an independent since their former league - College Hockey America - folded after the 2009-10 season. The team has struggled in recruiting and attendance at home because of scheduling difficulties.

Being part of the WCHA is "very important for our program," said head coach Kurt Kleinendorst. "The WCHA is a great league. It would be awesome to be part of that league.

"It would make recruiting so much easier. It's difficult to recruit as the last independent in the country."

As members of a league, the athletes would have championships to play for, including a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament.

"It would allow us to take our program to another level," Kleinendorst said. "We can go to the kids' living room and tell their parents we're in the WCHA. That league carries a lot of weight."

For fans, the league would guarantee a certain number of home games, which is a prime revenue source for programs.

This year, the Chargers had a home series with Minnesota State, a member of the WCHA, in October and then were on the road for about six or seven weekends. This creates an unstable fan base and dampens enthusiasm and excitement that could have been created with a steady schedule.

"To have eight or nine weekends scheduled with big-name programs is vital," Brophy said.

"Just to put a schedule together and have the consistency of home games," Kleinendorst said. "It's important for the players to play in front of their own fans."

While joining the WCHA has its obvious advantages for UAH, Brophy said the Chargers would bring something to the WCHA - top-notch academics.

"We have a lot to offer," he said. "Our hockey players had a 3.13 GPA in the fall ... and that's with all the travel and playing."

Kleinendorst said, "That may not be important to the coaches as much as it is for the (university) presidents. They vote on admitting us."

Brophy also cited UAH's Tier I ranking by the Carnegie Foundation which would be the highest in the WCHA and a boost to its academic standing.

In a 2011 interview with The Times, WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod said a key issue for UAH is commitment.

"The issue is always institutional commitment, what the building is like and whether or not there is a commitment from the institution and the community," he said. "Right now, in our application process, we have a minimum of 4,000 seats in the facility."

That issue has been answered.

Brophy said the city's support and private fund-raising have been "phenomenal" and the improvements to the Von Braun Center arena would make it about the best facility in the league.

It would take approval of at least seven of the nine member schools to admit UAH. Brophy is cautiously optimistic because the Chargers were invited by the presidents.

He said the league representatives are keeping things "close to the vest" but he is confident in the school's presentation and the results of last October's visit here by WCHA representatives, including Commissioner Bruce McLeod.

"We have sold it has hard as we could sell it," he said. "This is really everything to us."