I had forgotten that HE plays 3 games vs. each opponent, so they are
going up to 27 from 24. That will make the ECACHL problem even more
difficult.... and it sounds like, unless the ECACHL is really vigilant,
that more AHA and CHA teams will become the ECACHL nonconf foes. Now
while this is good for the long haul, the sport in general, and the AHA
and CHA in particular .... it seems to me the other leagues should be
doing the same thing.

I have said it before and truly believe it, based onmy local team's
baseball schedule (one word: Brutal), that if you want a program to
improve, there is no better way then to take afew lumps early on, play
some really good teams and learn what you have to do ....

Tony Buffa
RPI '64

================

Craig Powers wrote:

>Both the WCHA and the CCHA play a 28-game league schedule, which leaves 6
>non-conference games for some teams and 8 for others, depending on both the
>once-in-four-years exemption and the travel-to-Alaska exemption.  To take an
>example, Notre Dame played 36 regular season games this season, getting an
>extra two because their pair at UAF were exempt.  Personally, I'd rather
>they had a couple more, but then, with Vermont coming in Hockey East will be
>up to 27 games and be no better, on average (because HEA doesn't have
>Alaskan teams to generate exemptions).
>
>