And, in addition, since the teams have to end at the same time, the
Ivies usually don't start their season until the end of October.  By
the time the Ivies play their first exhibition game, the western
schools already have 4 or 5 games under their belt and are already
into their WCHA season.


On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 14:24:05 -0800, Anthony Buffa <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Not to mention the 28 league games the WCHA plays, thus limiting them to
> 6 non -league games. I believe the CCHA does something similar, which
> has always been the problem with western team schedules. If you want to
> play nonconference eastern teams, you should somehow work to free up
> some games. I bet this will never happen.
>
> I believe the ECACHL plays 22 league games and thus the non-ivies in the
> league, schools like RPI, have 12 games to play against non conference
> foes... but each year RPI really only plays about 2-3 against western
> teams. Thus they opt for HEA games (good from the RPI view) and CHA and
> AHA teams also. Good for those leagues too.
>
> I, for one, would like to see the ECAC play more western teams, but as
> Ed points out, the Ivies have a game limit problem, and I see western
> schedules dominated heavily by league games. Put the two together and
> you can see the problem.
>
> Tony Buffa
> RPI '64
>
> ================
>
>
> Moller Edward N wrote:
>
> >The answer is to Eric's query is none of the above.  Cornell's
> >membership in the Ivy League limits their number of games per year.  The
> >Ivies start play weeks after everyone else, including non-Ivy members of
> >the ECAC.  This rule was the catalyst for the breaking away of the
> >Hockey East schools back in the 1980's.  I'm sure Cornell would have no
> >trouble attracting big name programs to Lynah if they chose to add a
> >certain number of games to its schedule, nor would they be adverse to
> >traveling to the Mariuccis and Yosts of the world.  They certainly have
> >the money to do so.  It's simply the university's decision to limit
> >their games so that their student-athletes can concentrate on academics
> >(insert your own snide remark here).
> >
> >This is also why I largely dismiss silly comments regarding the ECAC
> >when people ask of the Ivies, "who have they played?"  The answer is
> >they've played each other.  It isn't that they choose not to play anyone
> >else; it's that they choose not to play any more.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>