Anthony Buffa wrote:
>
> Not to mention the 28 league games the WCHA plays, thus limiting them
> to 6 non -league games. I believe the CCHA does something similar,
> which has always been the problem with western team schedules. If you
> want to play nonconference eastern teams, you should somehow work to
> free up some games. I bet this will never happen.

Both the WCHA and the CCHA play a 28-game league schedule, which leaves 6
non-conference games for some teams and 8 for others, depending on both the
once-in-four-years exemption and the travel-to-Alaska exemption.  To take an
example, Notre Dame played 36 regular season games this season, getting an
extra two because their pair at UAF were exempt.  Personally, I'd rather
they had a couple more, but then, with Vermont coming in Hockey East will be
up to 27 games and be no better, on average (because HEA doesn't have
Alaskan teams to generate exemptions).