I apologize to the person who is getting this for the second time; I'm a
chowderhead who can't remember to change the address of my replies to
'hockey-l'.
  The NCAA doesn't bend over backwards to put teams on their home ice in
the Regionals in order to make more money; it's done to minimize the amount
of money that's lost.  If they didn't assure the schools that their team
would be there if at all possible, no one in their right mind would agree
to host one of these tournaments.  This is also why you won't see a
regional hosted by a team that isn't a major power that has a very good
chance to be invited to the NCAAs in the first place.  College hockey
doesn't make money, folks.  Our favorite sport exists at the sufference of
those who provide us with subsidies.  We best not forget that, or we'll
find ourselves in trouble some day.
  On another subject, the announcers that Lee Sveinson is thinking of are
Frank Mazzocco and Tom Reid.  I will proceed to disagree with him about
their bias.  They are undoubtedly Gophers announcers first and foremost,
despite the fact that they are broadcast on a regional channel.  (I've
listened to plenty of gripes about MSC's claims to regional representation
from friends in Duluth.)  They do a good job of calling the games, though.
I wouldn't even lump Frank & Tom together, given the number of times they
can't agree with each other on whether a given call was good.  They are
more than willing to express the opinion that the Gophers have gotten away
with one; they are hardly unstinting in their praise of opposing players.
I think the real feelings being expressed here is a general dislike of the
way that Minnesota gets a disproportionate share of the coverage and
success within the WCHA.  I can sympathize with this feeling, since I feel
the same way about the traditional football powers within the Big 10 (going
back home and listening to Ann Arborites complain that they are watching
'the worst football team ever' is an appalling display of chauvanism).
Taking this frustration out on Frank Mazzocco and Tom Reid, however, is
unfair.
 
J. Michael Jackson
 
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