It was written that the ECAC was uncharacteristicaly competitive this year as
the teams that were supposed to emerge as forces haven't played up to their
potential while the perrenial cellar dwellers are gaining some remarkable
victories.  As the TIger Hockey beat writer for the Colorado College Catalyst
(newspapaer) I have noticed a tremendous amount of parity within the WCHA over
the past four seasons, this season being no exception.  The ECAC writer claimed
that the WCHA along with the CCHA and Hockey East were all top heavy (meaning
two or three contenders or legitmate powers).  I beg to disagree, in regards to
the WCHA.
        Eight points (two for a win, one for a tie system) separate the 2nd
through eighth place teams in the league while Colorado College LEads the
league by Five.  Their magic number is 6, yet just last week they suffered an
OT loss to last place Alaska Anchorage.  The weekend split was not
dissapointing as Coach Lucia expressed the sentiment that the team played well.
Contrariwise, he commended the Anchorage effort in the comeback victory
Saturday night in front of a SRO Crowd of over 6400.
        A road sweep is hard to come by in this league (Each weekend consisits
of a two game series with the same team because of the tremendous travel
distances involved.  I believe that any team can beat any other team on any
given night.
        As far as the national scene is concerned I believe that playing at the
top of their games, Colorado College, Denver, Wisconsin and Minnesota could
defeat anyone in the country.
        On a different note.  Do you think that there are innate differences in
the style of hockey that is found in teh east as opposed to the west?  I'd be
interested to hear what you have to think!
 
Mike Rabinovitch CC '95  GO TIGERS!!!  ONCE, I MEAN TWICE EVERY 37 YEARS!!