In the CCHA, the league members first get together and
agree on a conference format (like play everyone 3 times)
and general things like that. For the current 3-game schedule,
the league assigns who plays at which site twice one year and
once the next.
 
Then, each school notifies the league office of when
school sessions start and about already-scheduled non-
conference games. In a few cases, teams work out their
conference games in advance (such as when MSU & UofM play
at the Joe). The schools indicate their preferences
for home dates and away dates. Also, they indicate when
they MUST be away, such as when their arena is being used
for other things (the UIC Pavillion hosts wrestling and other
high-brow events pretty often).
 
Next, the league office comes up with several possible
schedules. The CCHA uses a database program to help them
create workable schedules. The members then vote and the winner
is the one they go with.
 
But the coaches always go back and tweak the schedule some
more, perhaps moving a series around here and there, swapping
home sites, and the like.
 
The CCHA office will be beginning work on the 1995-6 schedule
(UAF's first as a full member) soon.
 
Don't know nuthin about the other leagues.
 
Keith