Ben Flickinger wrote:  "the CCHA typically has three or four of the top
5 and five or six of the top 10 teams in the NCAA in penalty minutes. I
don't
think they're that much rougher than ECAC teams, they just have refs that
call
a lot more ticky-tack junk."

Being a WCHA fan, I have observed a definite distinction in the style of
play between the WCHA and the CCHA.  Of course there are exceptions in both
leagues, but I think the WCHA plays more of a free-wheeling, wide-open,
olympic-sized-ice style, while the CCHA tends to be much more defensive
oriented, physical, clutch and grab style.

 I think more than anything, style of play would influence the number of
penalties called.