I have read Adam Wooden's article posted on USCHOL and found it extremely
enlightening.  As a father of a Michigan player, I have hesitated
participating in this discussion, for obvious reasons.  I personally agree
with those of you that have expressed the view that it really doen't matter
who you have to play in any particular round, since in order to win the
national title, you will have to beat all of the teams that you face,
regardless of which round you face that opponent in.
 
Having said that I am amused by the following statements of Joe Marsh, in
Adam's article:
>That philosophy (avoiding intra conference matchups) was instituted after
>coaches came to the conclusion that it was unfair to bye teams. For example,
>why should No. 2 North Dakota, a team that just defeated Minnesota in St.
Paul >to earn the bye, have to play a conference rival again to make the
Final Four? >The same philosophy holds true no matter which teams are
involved.
Joe Marsh further stated:
>The idea behind avoiding intra-conference matchups is a protection to the
bye >team. Why should North Dakota, the argument goes, have to play Minnesota
>again, a team it just beat out in the regular season, and defeated
practically on the >road, in overtime, to take the conference tournament?
 
Obviously Joe Marsh and the committee went to great lengths to avoid a
Minnesota - North Dakota matchup in the regionals since those two teams met
in the WCHA Championship game. They should be commended for that. However,
perhaps I am missing something, but didn't Michigan and Michigan State meet
in the CCHA  Championship game?  Why wasn't that potential match-up also
avoided?
 
From my perspective, as a parent, it makes no difference who Michigan has to
play on Sunday in Grand Rapids.  If they are going to repeat as national
champions, they have to win the next three games and it makes no difference
whether they meet Minnesota or MSU in the regionals, or in the final four in
Milwaukee (assuming that a different seeding had been used).
 
My congratulations to Adam on a well written article.
 
BTW Adam's article can be found at:
http://uscollegehockey.com/tournament/032097.html
 
Jack Berenzweig
 
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