In response to the flinging of dead animals in North Dakota. . .
 
> Also friday night, for the first time in a number of years, the first
> North Dakota goal resulted in a dead (and bloody) badger being tossed
> on the ice. Besides the fact that I am a badger fan, I think that is
> disgusting. It was reported that the fan was arrested, and his friends
> couldn't make bail, so he spent the night in jail. The game was delayed
> a while for cleanup. At the time I thought North Dakota should have
> gotten a penalty for delay of game, but I think that was because I was
> just mad. Far better that the idiot is arrested... (I know they do the
> same thing with gophers when Minnesota plays in Grand Forks, and I
> don't think that is any better).
>
Yuck!  Actually, while this is disgusting on aesthetic grounds along,
it's much more objectionable (as I'm sure our Wisconsin friend is
indiating. :)  ) on the grounds of killing an animal for this purpose!
 
> From:         Mike Varney <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject:      TCHCR in Times Union....
>
> Times Union Article, January 8th, 1992, Pg D-3, bottom left corner.
>
>
> COMPUTER RANKINGS RANK LOW WITH RPI'S PLAYERS
 
> Can someone post the address for the Times Union and perhaps the phone number,
> too?  I think I'll be sending Mr Croce a letter.  I'm sure Keith will be in
> touch with him, too - but I bet the Times Union readers never get to hear the
> other side of the story.  That wouldn't make for good reading, nor would it
> sell papers.  Hopefully I'll be proved wrong.
>
> I also plan to put the details of this on the air Friday night.
>
>
Good for you, Mike!  How interesting to see TCHCR discussed rationally
and noncontroversially each week here on HOCKEY-L and then to get this
kind of reaction from elsewhere!  (Interesting but perhaps not supris-
ing?)   ;)
 
> >I don't believe the reason for Maine's drastic drop in the TCHCR poll
> >was a result of them beating two weaker teams, but rather its loss to a
> >supposedly weaker Wisconsin team.
>
> Keith will answer all our questions, I'm sure :-), but playing a weak
> team is often worse than being beaten by a good team.  To my way of
> thinking, Maine may be the best team in college hockey this year, but
> should be ranked where they are by TCHCR (or any computed ranking)
> because of a very weak schedule.
>
> (I look forward to the next 20 or so Maine games that won't be so easy!)
>
> A potential serious flaw to TCHCR (or any computed ranking) this year is
> the overall decline in inter-league play.  The "connection" between
> teams of the various leagues will rest on too few games.
>
> Wayne
>
Amen, Wayne!  I sent a private message to Keith about this and other
things recently.  More interleague play would be great for the fans
as well as for the ratings!
 
> I also read in one of the Tribune's Sports sections this week, that the NC$$
> committee was having their January meeting.  In the article, it was stated,
> (and I'm depending on my memory here) that it was hoped that the WCHA would
> "take in" Alaska-Anchorage and that the CCHA would "take in" Alaska-Fairbanks.
>  In light of what Keith posted yesterday, that Alaska-Fairbanks has formed an
> "alliance" with the CCHA, I thought I'd add what I read even if it wasn't the
> exact wording.  Woog also feels strongly about helping the Alaska schools out,
> but also making sure that the league doesn't suffer any ill effects for doing
> them a favor.
>
I hope UAA gets into a league, and would welcome them to the WCHA--
although I suppose the extra travel is bound to be a bit of a strain.
Little doubt that Rick Comley and the NMU hockey program would support
WCHA membership for UAA, I bet.  :)
 
                      ***********************************
                     *      Steve Christopher, NMU       *
                    *  "Go 'Cats!''Going for two in '92!" *
                     *        [log in to unmask]         *
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