I sent this earlier but only to Mike Manchik instead of the list (oops!)
 
 
Two things that bode well for women's hockey being added as an NCAA championship
sport are:
 
1) It is an Olympic sport and the USOC has been pushing the NCAA, and helping to
fund, championships in Olympic sports.  The men's NCAA II hockey and men's
gymnastics (the latter having less than 40 schools) were on the championship
chopping block until the USOC stepped in.
 
2) Mr. Machnik is correct (and very well versed I might add, I'd just ask our
compliance people for that info) in that the 40-school limit expires in 1998-99
for women's sports.  However, since hockey has now reached that level, it would
probably be grandfathered (mothered...whatever) in under the current rule.
 
 
Mike also brought up the fact that USA Hockey has committed to sponsor the
women's national championship for the present time.  I think that the schools
would rather see the NCAA sponsor the event ASAP for a number of reasons (which
I won't go into).
 
My guess is that women's ice hockey will have an NCAA championship in 2000.
However, that's only a guess.
 
 
--------------------------------------
Craig Roberts, University of Minnesota
Women's Sports Information Assistant
Check out the Gophers on the Web at http://www.gophersports.com
Or call the Diet Coke Gopher Sports Hotline at (612) 626-STAT
GO GOPHERS!
 
Women's National Collegiate Ice Hockey Stats are at:
 www.gophersports.com/sportsNews/press_release.asp?news_id=273
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
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