Arguments regarding a Third-Place game in the conference tournaments might
have taken a more interesting turn if CC had lost.  By my simplistic look
before that game, it appeared that only St. Cloud had anything to gain by it.
It appeared they could overtake CC while CC could not improve their lot.  If
CC had lost then they probably would have dropped below St. Cloud and then not
gone.  I can't say positively since I can't "run the numbers."  At that point,
CC would have felt better off in a conference that did not have a third-place
game.
 
And then on the other hand, if the WCHA did not have a third-place game then
St. Cloud would have felt screwed for not being a conference that did play it
in order to have the opportunity to overtake CC.  In other words, you could
lose or gain by having or not having the opportunity to play that third-place
game.  Is some cross-conference consistency (say that three times fast) in
order?
 
Doug P.
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