I suspect Coach Comley thinks the CHA is now too small to justify its autobid. 
  If you accept that proposition, a play-in game with the Atlantic hockey 
champion (or, perhaps, the #16 seed) could make sense.  There is precedent:  in 
1979 and 1980, the CCHA champion faced the WCHA second place team in a play-in 
game.  Comley's Northern Michigan team reached the Phinal Phour that way in 
1980 with a win over Minnesota in Williams Arena.

- Erik

>>From a recent USCHO article, quote from Michigan State coach Rick
> Comley:
> 
> "What I would like to see is a play-in game [between the CHA and
> Atlantic Hockey]. The CHA should not have an automatic bid under any
> circumstance whatsoever. They should have a play-in opportunity."