Mike Machnik wrote:
 
> Something I found interesting in perusing the Wisconsin schedule is
> that for the second straight year, UW will have Alaska-Anchorage as
> one of the two teams it plays only 2x.  And, also for the second
> straight year, those two games will take place in Alaska, allowing UW
> to exempt them from the 34 game limit.
>
> It's probably no coincidence that the Badgers are involved in two
> in-season tournaments (College Hockey Showcase and Badger Showdown)
> for a total of four NC games.  After all, if the two UW-UAA games were
> to take place in Madison, then UW would not be able to play in both of
> those tournaments.
>
> My question to observers is, is it right that Wisconsin (and possibly
> also Minnesota, which plays in the Showcase and the Mariucci Classic)
> gets to always play UAA in Alaska even when facing them only twice
> just because they wish to appear in these other tourneys?  And is it
> right that the desires of one or two member teams to play more NC
> games than other league members should always be upheld?
 
Well, I haven't checked the schedule, but I suspect that you'll
find Wisconsin's WCHA schedule consists of just 14 home games and 18
away games, as Minnesota's did last year.  Minnesota chose to play both
of its 2-game series on the road.  Apparently Wisconsin made
the same choice Minnesota did:  to move what are basically THEIR 2 home
games against UAA to Alaska so that they could play in both tournaments.
I'm sure that the exemption for games in Alaska was a prime factor in
letting UAA into the league in the first place.  I don't think anyone
ought to get too worked up about Minnesota and Wisconsin getting any
favoritism from the league in this situation.
-Pam
Go Gophers!!!
1995 NC$$ Phinal Phour!!!
Ski-U-Mah!!!