At 05:40 PM 3/29/2001 -0700, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>> I think everyone is looking past the big picture. CHA and MAAC are the best
>> things to happen to D1 hockey in years. They have spread the game from
>> Alabama & intensified hockey in New England and Iona is the closest D1 team
>> to the Big Apple.If skipping two marginal "big teams" to make sure the
MAAC &
>> CHA are in so much the better. The goal should be to spread the game & hope
>> we can find the hockey equivalent of Gonzaga (like Niagara last year or
>> Mercyhurst - the only D1 team in Pa). I still maintain the gap between the
>> MAAC and the ECAC is narrowing each year.
>
>That's true, the ECAC gets more uncompetitive each year.

I disagree with this statement, but I understand what you mean (I think)
in the context of this discussion. I think you meant that the ECAC and
MAAC are growing closer as far as who more consistently gives the HE,
CCHA, & WCHA teams a better game. Correct? If so, I agree.

I think the ECAC is probably one of the more competitive conferences of
all 6 playing right now. Top to bottom, any team can beat any other. I think
this is clear when we see that Vermont beat Clarkson in two out of three
(excruciating) games in the ECAC quarters this year, a solid team (Colgate)
didn't even make the playoffs, and I can think of many instances where two
schools split their season series - some where both teams won on the road.
Not to mention, almost all of the playoff spots weren't determined until the
final weekend.

-Andy