Michael Blanchard wrote:
 
> The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting today that Jack Parker objected
> to the plan that the games in the inaugural Ice Breaker tournament would
> count in the teams won-loss record but not count against the maximum 34
> games allowed by the NCAA. Earlier the NCAA had granted the Ice Breaker
> tournament exempt status.
>
> Parker reportedly said that when the contract for the tournamnet was signed
> it was under the understanding that this was an exhibition tournament. The
> Journal Sentinel says that Parker said his Terriers, who practiced for just
> 5 days before the tournament, did not prepare for the idea that the games
> would count (How do you do that?).
 
The major difference is in your practice schedule and preperation.  For a lot
of NCAA sports, you can only start practicing a certain number of days before
your first regular season game.  I'm not sure if hockey follows this rule
(football does, basketball doesn't), but  it might mean that BU practiced a lot
less than they would have if the Icebreaker were regular season games.
 
Also, you practice some different things, usually more experimental, or only
part of your game plan before an exhibition.  The Gophers, for instance, didn't
seem to do a lot of work on their forecheck before last night's game.  (At
least I hope that's the explanation for its complete absence).
 
J. Michael Neal
 
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