I wouldn't call Minnesota a "distant 4th" - 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place were
all within points of each other.  What was CC's non-league schedule like?
Did they play (and beat) Michigan or Mich. State?  (I don't know if they
did or not, this is a clarifying question)
 
Yes, the league schedule was the same, but not the non-league schedule.
I think the playoff (WCHA) format is fair - how would you propose to
change it to keep the #1 team's RPI from falling, keeping the pairings
fair to all teams involved?
 
Katie
Go Gophers!