John Edwards writes...
 
>That said, there was an age limit on the CIAU team. No one could be older
>than 25. That is consistent with a player coming right out of Junior and
>playing his five years. (CIAU athletes in all sports get five years of
>eligibility.)
 
>Well, there was the age limit. Offhand I don't know how many players that
>would have affected overall.
 
Yes, this was stated by several sources, but does not appear
to have been adhered to.  The roster included players as old
as 26.  Does it really matter?  IMO, no...but I'd prefer the promoters
and media to at least be accurate.
 
Adam Wodon writes...
>Expanding to 16 teams is a necessity -- every coach wants it, and that's
the
>best way to achieve it.
 
This really seems to be the "in" topic this year...going to a 16-
team NCAA field.  IMNO (N for naive), this is not possible.  Follow
me here.
  (a) NCAA post-season competitions are restricted to a maximum
of 25% of the "eligible" teams.  (I believe the NCAA interpretation
on this is eligible for post-season play under the given rules for
the particular sport...probably ignoring teams on probation and
such.  In other words, I believe that hockey was considered to
have 43 teams in 1996-97...not the 50+ that would included Div I
schools not playing a Div I schedule.)
  (b) Ice Hockey is currently allowed more than 25% under the
standard "Grandfather" clause...i.e., the 25% rule was made
after hockey already had a 12-team field so the 12-team field
was allowed to continue.
 
Now, to me this means that there would have to be at least 64
teams playing a Division I hockey schedule for hockey to move
to a 16-team NCAA tournament.  I doubt that the NCAA would
allow hockey to circumvent the current rules in an expansion
move.  And, even with the influx of teams playing a Division I
schedule, I still don't see 64 of them.
 
Hopefully someone closer to the scene (ala Adam) can point
out where my understanding of the rules is incorrect or can
clarify why we should have reason to believe the NCAA would
allow for a 16-team field.  Until someone tells me otherwise, I
see the entire 16-team field discussion as moot.
 
 
John Haeussler ([log in to unmask])
 
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