Sorry, just had to comment on the NCAA seeding comments
 
> From:    John Whelan <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: NCAA seeding comments in USCHO CCHA column
 
> To tell the full story of each team's won-lost-tied record, Michigan
> was 26-9-4 for a winning percentage of .718, Michigan State 26-10-4
> (one of their 27 wins was against Division II Alabama-Huntsville,
> games against whom are not considered for NCAA selection) or .700,
 
Just a minor clarification here.  Alabama-Huntsville is (or at
least has repeatedly claimed to be) Division I in hockey this year,
although ineligible for the NCAA post-season.  And yes, games against UAH
do not count toward the NCAA selection formula, although I believe I read
that games against UAH _did_ count toward the minimum number of D-I games
necessary to be tourney-eligible.   This is the second and final year
of the probationary period for UAH following departure from Division II.
BTW,  Alabama-Huntsville IS eligible for the D-I tourney in 2001, I
understand.
 
It's my understanding the Bemidji State is in the same position.  Findlay
and Mercyhurst may also be.
 
If someone has better data, please feel free to correct.
 
> > Niagara, you may recall, cleaned up in a league with such powerhouses
> > as Army and Bemidji State, in a league with just six teams, in a
>
> suspect.  For example, Niagara's last 16 games included only two
> against teams who ended the season with non-losing records, one of
> whom was Canisius, while half of Mankato's last 16 games were against
> .500 or better teams.  Similarly, Niagara's Ratings Percentage Index
> is inflated by five games against Air Force, while Mankato played a
 
This is correct, but not correct.  :-)  The writer is refering to the
Niagara games against Air Force in the CHA playoffs and Canisius near the
end of the regular season.  But, Niagara also played Alabama-Huntsville in
the CHA playoffs, and Alabama-Huntsville did have a winning record.  The
game against Hunstville was, in fact, Niagara's last game before the
NCAAs.  The writer might mean Niagara's last 16 games against
tourney-eligible teams....
 
Sorry to nit-pick, but I think people have been overly harsh about Niagara
and too willing to disregard their performance against Bemidji and
Huntsville.
 
Niagara was a good team this year, and they richly deserved an NCAA berth.
 
Tim Newman
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.