The NCAA is not going to change that rules to make a few smaller schools
feel better about their chances of making the Frozen Four? I don't think
some people are getting it. The NCAA is about money (just like the WCHA) and
the host school taking the risk of a loss if the home team doesn't make the
tourney. UofMN is a big school and one of the storied programs in the NCAA,
get over it if they don't want to watch big red play and the NCAA isn't
going to take the game to another campus in the east where crowds are
smaller. The WCHA plays in arenas that reguarly seat 10,000 plus when is the
last time and ECAC team drew that much. The NCAA is about the money an the
regional are going to stay in Grand Rapids, Mpls, Worchester, Munn, Ann
Harbor. Next season the fans will be complaining about the unfair advantage
UND has and how come the fan's dont' want to watch some team from out east
play.

Eric Burton
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(701)-610-9466

The Tree of Liberty Must be Refreshed From Time to Time with the Blood of
Patriots and Tyrants.

-----Original Message-----
From: - Hockey-L - The College Hockey Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2005 8:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: WCHA


Before todays games play out (so I do not get accused of sour grapes), I
have
a few thoughts.

1.  The WCHA is good.  CC and DU are two of the best college hockey has to
offer.  UND is playing very well now, and Minn is a good team.

2.  Almost every team in the tournament showed why they were invited.  What
great games we have seen.  No other sport can say that all #1 seeds were
streched to the limit in their first round games.  We do not need to have
conference
bashing at this time of year.  With a couple of bounces, the WCHA could be
looking at only one team still being alive at this point, and it would not
be
that surprising.

3.  We need to address the NCAA neutral ice problem if we ever hope to grow
college hockey's appeal.  We are like womens basketball was 10 years ago
when
the top seeds played at home, and always won, making an expanded tournament
a
farce for the lower seeds.  Yesterday afternoon showed that the Gophers have
great Minnesota fans, but not necessarily great college hockey fans.
Filling
the barn for the first semi, then leaving before the second is poor form.
This
underscored why the NCAA must give the western schools an unfair advantage
each year by having games at a home rink, rather than neutral ice as it is
in the
east.  As long as this situation exists, the final four will have a better
chance of western teams being there.  Everyone must admit that playing on
home
ice gives a team an edge toward advancing.  Of course this sets up a
circular
argument about how to run a national tournament when few places have the
apparent fan interest to sell out a random NCAA game.  Until the western
areas can
figure out how to get people to come and enjoy good hockey (even if the home
team is not playing) we seem to be stuck with this problem.

Lets hope for two more great games today.




William Sangrey
Cornell '87&'94
Let's Go RED!!!