Alan Harder writes...
>Is there another state with as many highly regarded hockey
>programs as Michigan?
 
I won't speak to the highly regarded aspect, but no state
has more NCAA Division I programs than Michigan, with
seven.
 
  Ferris State Univ
  Lake Superior State Univ
  Univ of Michigan
  Michigan State Univ
  Michigan Tech Univ
  Northern Michigan Univ
  Western Michigan Univ
 
I believe we [Hockey-L] kicked around programs by state
a couple of years ago and actually produced a list.  New
York also has a large quantity, given the small number of
teams in total.  Of course, so does Massachusetts.
 
I don't wish to involve myself in the Minnesota in-state debate,
but all three teams in Minnesota [UM/UMD/SCSU] have an
advantage in the sense that fewer Div-I teams are competing
for players in a state that has a strong youth hockey program.
MA, MI and NY aren't afforded the luxury of only three D-I
teams when it comes to "local" recruiting.
 
But, Minnesota also has several Div-III schools, which Michigan
does not.  I don't know how many kids would choose to play
Div-III near home rather than be a part-timer at one of the seven
Div-I schools, but if the opportunity were there I imagine it would
happen occasionally.
 
 
John Haeussler
Univ of Michigan
[log in to unmask]
someone who'd like to see
some Div-III play near home