Greg Berge writes:
 
>Prior to the formation of Hockey East, the 17-team ECAC was divided
>into 3 groups.  Was it EVER true that the best team from each group
>(or perhaps from the Ivy group alone) was guaranteed a top-4 seed?
 
>I seem to recall that in the early 80's Harvard had about a .500
>conference record and yet was seeded #4 in the ECACs, ahead of squads
>with much better records.
 
>(I was just thinking of how useful this would have been this year,
>with Cornell having a very good chance to finish with the best ECAC
>record among the Ivies but having a real dogfight for finishing even
>in the top 5, let alone top-4.)
 
Greg's memory didn't fail him - the 81-82 Crimson were 11-8-2
(.571), first in the Ivy Region but 8th overall. Harvard was the
fourth seed in the ECAC tournament and hosted Boston College (13-8,
.619). The Crimson went on to the ECAC finals, losing to Northeastern.
Harvard was the fourth seed in 1983-84 as well, when its record was
10-9-2 in the conference. The Crimson fell to 5th seed Clarkson in
that year.
 
The ECAC had a three division format (East Region, West Region and
Ivy Region) from 1979-80 to 1983-84. The Ivy winner always received
a no. 4 seed (or better, if it was earned). The formation of Hockey
East left the ECAC with 12 schools that reformed into one division.
 
Geoff Howell
Drop the Puck Magazine
 
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