Jim Ross,
 
While I do not disagree with you on the NE area having some very strong teams,
I do beg to differ on your views about the West teams.
 
1. I am an unabashed Badger fan, but the WCHA is by no means a Gopher/Badger
   event.  Of the Final Five in WCHA playoff this year, two teams are from
   the Upper Penninsula; namely Northern Michigan and Michigan Technological U.
   North Dakota might have had an off year, but they are a perennial power
   house.  Denver and St. Could are quite strong as well.  However, a couple
   of seasons do not a program make.  Things change from year to year.
 
2. To mention the West without reference to CCHA is a traversty of sorts.
   Look at the charts this year, and you can see that Michigan and Miami (OH)
   have routinely ranked at the very top nationally throughout the year.
   We have yet to mention storng programs such as Lake Superior State (last
   year's NC$$ champ), Bowling Green, and Michigan State.  Western Michigan is
   no sliuch either.
 
Most fans can see a 6-6 or 5-7 split between the two major regions, but until
an objective format can be set to pick programs by their strength in an
unambiguous and accurate manner, I am afraid the current format is about as
close to be reasonable as one could settle for here an now.
 
 
                                    # John Wong (608)263-3025
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