I, for one, am glad to see the shootouts working.  I admittedly haven't
seen any but if you can't trust Mike, you can't trust anyone on this list.
Just to get the selfish point out of the way...When we had a rather lengthy
discussion about the impending SO rule last spring, I was about the only person
on this list openly standing up for them and one of few who at least wanted to
give them a chance.  I must admit, I do feel vindicated, at least for now.  We
will have to see how things are at the end of the year...
    Someone, (forgot who) made the comment that they hope the CCHA doesn't get
their hockey opinions online (or something like that) because you didn't want
to have shootouts there.  Actually, for once, Hockey-L is not going to
represent the bulk of hockey fans.  I think that, deep down inside, many on
this list still oppose the shootout on principle. This stems from the fact that
there are more purists here than elsewhere.  So if the CCHA were to get their
opinions here, they wouldn't institute the shootout.  Fortunately, most fans
who are NOT on this list apparently like the new format.  We'll see if other
leagues and/or the NC$$ adopt it next.
                                       --Steve Moerland
                                         MSU '92, UK '95