From an article in the Star Tribune this morning by John Gilbert.
 
 SEEDING IS NEXT PROBLEM FOR 'U' HOCKEY TEAM
 
 The Gophers next logical objective would seem to be the WCHA playoffs, however
 coach Woog says that this week's home-and-home series this weekend with St
 CloudCloud and the final regular-season set at North Dakota are important
 preliminaries to get the top seed for the playoffs.
 
 The Gophers have finished either first or second in all seven seasons under
 Woog, but his teams never have won the WCHA playoff title. Changes in the NC$$
 tournament format have reduced two weekends of best-of-three competition to
 one weekend of single elimination to reach the final four, increasing the
 importance of seeding for the 12-team NC$$ tournament.
 
 "I think the intention of the NC$$ change was to take away the home site
 advantage," Woog said. "It's certainly easier to win one game at a neutral
 site than two of three on the road at somebody's home rink. The other side of
 that is that it's easier for a better team to get upset in one game. You can't
 afford to make a mistake in this setting, and there are a lot more intangibles
 in the seeding because you don't know how they're going to rate you."
 
 This week's ratings reflect that uncertainty. Despite a split with Denver last
 weekend, the Gophers have lost only twice in their last 18 games -- the best
 record in college hockey in that span -- but they dropped from first to third
 in the NC$$ Poll behind Michigan, and Maine.
 
 Obviously, teams seeded 1 or 2 need only one victory to reach the final four,
 and that against a team that will have just played a tough opponent. The winner
  of each league's tournament is guaranteed a berth among the 12 teams, but not
 necessarily a favorable seeding. If a team wins both its league and its league
 playoff title, it would be assured the 1 or 2 berth and a bye.
 (end of article)
 
 I'm not so sure that the last paragraph is right, but it is what is believed
 by Mr. Gilbert.
 
 Carol
 U of M
 GO Gophers!!!         1991-1992  WCHA CHAMPIONS!!!!