It wasn't done that way in the first place because not many of those teams
existed in the first place (that is, the WCHA with MN Mich Denver MSU
etc.). Wis, the Alaskas and most of the rest@ of the CCHA are much
later additions to College Hockey, some later than others. Many
things have changed over the years. Funny how people seem to think that
the way things are now is the way they have always been.
I haven't done (and won't do) the research to answer the question
-when was the last time that the 4 current College Hockey Division I
conferences operated with exactly the same teams two years in a row.
It hasn't been in recent years - it is an evolutionary process and
will presumably stay that way.
An easier question - maybe - is when did the WCHA and CCHA last
consist of the same teams for two years in a row. (I'm not going
to do that research either, but again, not too recently.
-glen-
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