I believe the original comments made about the ACHA were not intended to
imply that ACHA teams are as good as D-1 or even D-3. In my opinion there
is some very good talent at that level.  For example, Delaware had three
graduates recieve invitations to ECHL main camps and one invite to an AHL
main camp. The major difference between NCAA (D-1 and D-3) and ACHA is
depth and coaching. Those players that I mentioned above were all D-1
caliber players. I've seen them all play with players like Brady Kramer and
Ryan Mulhern and to be honest there is not as much  difference as I
expected.
   I also say that with some good coaching the top 12 ACHA Div 1 teams could
 play above .500 at D-3. There are probaly alot of D-3 schools that would
love to have the support some of the ACHA teams  have. We, like other top
teams play in front of capacity crowds (in our case 1200-1500). Penn
State average about 2000 per game and Arizona is in the +5000 area. Penn
State and Delaware get radio coverage. And Delaware like Illinois also
has television coverage. Delawre's hockey team is Delaware's winter
sport, (as opposed to basketball). So to just say that ACHA is jsut good for
what it is, is unfair, because the only thing the top teams  lack is depth.
ACHA hockey is alot better than you think it is. It does not deserve to
be dismissed as just club hockey.
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.