Karl Schmidt posted the following queries about Army & Air Force:
 
 
        - If they get into the playoffs, it must be through the
          good graces of the selection committee alone, right?
 
        - Has either of these teams ever made the playoffs, or
          won a chapionship?
 
The NCAA had an automatic bid for independent teams for a couple
of seasons - Merrimack, not yet in Hockey East, wound up losing
to Lake Superior in the quarterfinals of 1988, after upsetting
Northeastern in the first round. St. Cloud, I believe, was the
independent rep in 1989 - and the bid was discontinued shortly
thereafter because Army & Air Force were the only independent
schools remaining in Division I.
 
The Cadets, however, do have a long history in the ECAC. They
were an inaugral member in 1961-62, finished fifth and lost
to Boston College in the first round of the league tournament.
Army also appeared in the ECAC tournament in 1963-64, losing to
St. Lawrence, 3-2. Army dropped to Division II status in 1973-74
and subsequently made appearences in the ECAC Division II
tournament in '74-'78, '80. Army moved back up to Division I
in 1984-85 and remained there until declaring independent
status again in 1991 (to be replaced in the ECAC by Union).
 
Since returning to the ranks of the independent, Army has not
been impressive against league-affiliated Division I teams.
The Cadets defeated Union in 1992, but did not win another
game against a league-affiliated team until this season when
they topped RPI early in the year. This was probably the best
team Army has iced since becoming an independent, going 20-13-1
against all competition.
 
Geoff Howell
The Trenton Times
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