I'm going to try to stay active in this debate as long as we keep it high
minded and thoughtful, as ZRH has here.
And I think he's provided the first idea for the Comishes to think about:
interleague play that impacts on the standings and, therefore, games that
are more meaningful and might attract BIG MEDIA attention (and bucks).
Now, I can hear some of you saying all games are meaningful in the power
ratings, but who really knows how meaningful when they're being played?
Michigan State has had non-league, first-round Great Lakes Invitational
games in December that have actually been the difference between making and
not making the NCAA tournament! But who really knew it at the time? Fans
need to know what a game means when it's being played.
Why not put the power ratings on the table and let the fans -- and teams --
know what every game means.
As to travel costs, if college hockey came up with MEANINGFUL matchups that
attracted some attention from the TV folks (Bill Beagan, the CCHA comish, is
the master of TV), and there was TV money and big arena money (the negative:
fewer games on the home pond for the ticketed class), such games could pay
for themselves and some of the "dogs" on the schedule.
Just more food for thought here.
Steve Klein
 ----------
One of my hopes for the future of college hockey is more meaningful
inter-league play.
What's my definition of "meaningful"?  Of course, all games are
meaningful and important, but what I'd like to see is inter-league play
that affects a team's league standings.  I don't like the notion of a
"Non-conference game."  Often times these games are looked upon as not
meaningful.  I would love to do away with all four independent
conferences and see four interdependent conferences.
I'd like to see the amount of a teams league games cut in half and
schedule games with teams from other conferences in the other half.
BUT I'd like to see every game count towards the  teams league standing.
This would elimate the "perception" of a meaningless "Non-conference game."
Make every game count in the league standings not just in a teams power
ranking.
Travel costs are an issue, I'm sure, as are other issues I'm sure I
haven't thought about in this hastily constructed message.
ZRH
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.