I agree with David Parter that the best idea, to begin with, might be
to realign college hockey.  Our head coach, Rick Comley, threw   this
idea out earlier this season to mixed response.  But Rick believes
that college hockey can only survive by growing.
 
Personally, I would like to see the "west" aligned as follows:
 
NORTH DIVISION
Northern Michigan
Michigan Tech
Lake Superior State
Minnesota-Duluth
Ferris State
 
EAST DIVISION
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Bowling Green
Kent State
Miami
 
CENTRAL DIVISION
Notre Dame
Western Michigan
Illinois-at-Chicago
Wisconsin
Minnesota
St. Cloud State
 
WEST DIVISION
North Dakota
Colorado College
Denver
Alaska-Anchorage
Alaska-Fairbanks
 
I guess what I like about this alignment is the regional rivalries
that could be developed if given time to develop.  No, Minnesota and
Minn.-Duluth wouldn't be happy about not being in the same division.
And there are others, as well.  Western Michigan loses its chance to
host Michigan State and Michigan twice every year.
 
But I like the idea of regional identities.  This alignment would, I
think, be great for the Upper Peninsula and would generate tremendous
interest.  Couldn't a NHL-like schedule be worked out where, for
example, teams would play a certain number of games outside of their
division (thus bringing in, to a certain extent, Keith's cooperative
scheduling thought)?
 
Anyway, just playing with ideas...
 
Justin Doherty, Northern Michigan