So, Nonni, considering your comments, and the BU-Maine and
MassAmherst-UNH matchups, if you were Joe B., which would you pick for
the early and late games?


nonni daly wrote:

> From: "Spiros Polemis" <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>>It's likely not necessary to wait for an official announcement since
>>Maine is now the number one seed in the HE tournament.
>>
>>In any tournament, the number one seed would play in the "showcase" time
>>slot. In this case that would be the 8 pm game. Mass vs UNH would play
>>in the matinée time slot (5 pm).
>
>
> That is not always the case.  I can remember many occasions when the
> decisions on who would play when were made strictly on the number of fans a
> competing team can bring and the need to make it easiest for them to get
> there.  If Maine draws a lot of fans -- and they do -- they could get the
> second game only because it would give the fans time to work part of the day
> and still get to Boston for the second game on Friday night.
>
> Please keep in mind that Hockey East doesn't charge member fees and tries to
> make its operating budget on merchandising, contracts and the tournament
> gate.  They will play the teams that bring the butts through the doors and
> into the seats -- it is strictly an economic decision ... and understandably
> so.
>