Mankato now and UNO later may put the WCHA in the same position as the
CCHA a few years ago when Kent, UA Fairbanks (and Notre Dame?) were
added and then Kent dropped out. Before teams were "official" members of
the CCHA, but allowed to be in their playoffs, (1) the new teams were
seeded in the league standings (2) the first place team had the choice
of playing the last place team or someone higher, (2) the second place
team then had the choice of the lowest-place team remaining or someone
higher, (3) etc. If I remember right, the first place team (Michigan or
LSSU) DID NOT take the last place team (an established CCHA foe) and
moved up the list to take on Fairbanks.
 
Whatever happens, Final Five or otherwise, I cannot stand the idea of
every team making the playoffs. I'm sad to see the ECHA has followed the
WCHA in this all-inclusive playoff format. It's a pure revenue generator
so I understand why it is done, but taking the top eight and leaving the
rest home seems like the only fair definition of a "playoff".
 
Nathan
 
 
Brett C. Harvey wrote:
>
> >Could someone answer what happens to the odd team in the WCHA playoff
> >format this year?
>
> I don't believe there is an odd team.   Mankato was asked to be the 10th
> team for playoff purposes.  They will be seeded 10th, unless "someone"
> determines they deserve to be higher.
>
> Brett
>
> HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
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