Paul Gentile said:
>I know that Hockey-East rewards its Playoff-Champion with one of the
>leagues automatic bids to the NCAA's. I imagine that all of the other
>leagues do the same. Therefore, I've been contemplating the possible
>scenarios that may place a team who has a record below .500 into the
>tourney.
 
Actually, that's not the case.  I can't speak for the two western leagues,
but the ECAC rewards its *Regular Season* Champion with the automatic bid
to the NCAAs.  As St. Lawrence so rudely found out after defeating Cornell
for the *tournament* championship in 1991, the tourney title is no
guarantee of a bid.
 
Jeffrey Anbinder
Cornell University Development
 
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