Jeremy Hall writes:
 
>Just one question:  does the MAAC you mention refer to the
>Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference?  Unless I'm mistaken, wouldn't
>it take quite a while for those teams to even develop hockey programs?
>(unless I've got my basketball conferences confused...)
 
The MAAC for hockey would have a different group of teams.
From what I  understand, the proposed hockey MAAC would be
composed of some D-I teams currently playing at the D-II/III level, like
Canisius, St. Bonaventure,  and Villanova, plus some club teams from
schools that are D-I in other sports (like Navy)
 
Being a follower of D-III and the ECAC West in particular, this would
lead to an interesting situation. The ECAC West, which already lost
half its members last year due to the SUNYAC defection, would now
also lose Canisius and St. Bonaventure, leaving just 5 teams (Elmira,
Hobart, Mercyhurst, RIT, Scranton)
 
I know Brian Cavanaugh (coach at Canisius) is on this list, perhaps he
can shed more light on the situation. I can't speak for him, but I
don't think he wouldn't be too upset about leaving the ECAC, which
doesn't manage its "minor" confererences (ECAC East, West,
North, Central, South) very well, especially considering that these
conferences are comprised of over 40 D-I/II/III schools.
 
Chris Lerch
Xerox