On the subject of the tourney:
 
WHY did they set it up so that an independent must get a bid?  If you ask
me (and you didn't, but hey, it's a public newsgroup), this makes all the
independents into a conference, of sorts!  Isn't that the whole point of
being independent?  So an independent team must try to outplay all the
other independents to get the bid (although didn't both of the Alaska
teams get a bid one  year?).  Doesn't really make much sense.
 
Also, about the Hockey East: FOUR teams?  At the expense of whom?  The ECAC
again?!!!
 
Jeremy Hall
Clarkson University
"LET'S GO TECH!!"