To answer Mark Daly's question, the WCHA playoffs are played on Sunday and
Monday because the Minnesota State High School League has the St. Paul Civic
Center reserved for the high school hockey tournament--in fact, they have it
reserved for the next couple of years.  Apparently an arena in Milwaukee is
trying to bid for the 1992 WCHA Final Four tournament, and they are counting
on the fact that they will be able to hold the tournament on Friday and
Saturday.  Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that the state high school hockey
tournament takes place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday--that's the reason
for the Sunday and Monday games.
 
I don't know about the rest of the leagues, but this WCHA Final Four format has
only been in effect since 1988.  Previously the playoffs were a two-game total
goals series set up.  #1 played #8, #2 played #7 etc. and record determined home
ice.  So the regular season champ could have home ice all the way through--
unless of course they lost along the way.
 
Dan Glumac
University of Minnesota
GO GOPHERS!!!