There was an interesting article on college hockey in USA Today either
Thursday or Friday. The headline is "Number of teams see a future in
Division I" and the lead to the story goes like this:
     College hockey appears headed toward a much-anticipated growth spurt,
although the timetable remains hazy.
     Among the nuggets in the story:
     - CCHA commissioner Bill Beagan is quoted as saying he sees 10 Division
I programs coming.
     - 3 of the leading schools mentioned are Oakland University in
Michigan, Niagara in New York and Nebraska-Omaha.
     - The athletics director at Nebraska-Omaha, Dan Leahy, says ``It is not
a go yet, but we are encouraged. We aren't going to run it on a shoestring
budget. We are going to be fully capitalized or we aren't going to do it.''
The story says if $1 million is raised, they will apply to the WCHA (called
Western Conference Athletic Conference) and begin play in 1997-98.
     - There is a junior team in Omaha that averages more than 6,000 per
game in attendance.
     - Niagara is building a $6 million facility with twin rinks. Initial
plans are to compete in the ECAC West with a move to Division I possible. AD
Mike Jankowski says ``I'm told this is a can't-miss opportunity for us.''
     - The story says several college club teams are expected to upgrade
their programs and notes schools such as Connecticut, Holy Cross, Canisius
and Villanova are playing on the II and III level. It quotes ECAC hockey
commish Joe Bertagna: ``I think some of those schools are starting to get
ansy.''
 
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+                     Lynn Burke - Newport News, Va.                          +
+              Reorganization will solve all of our problems                  +
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