Glen writes:
> 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.
Not that I was actually looking for this info, but I more or less stumbled
across it while compiling records on how teams have done in their respective
post-season tournaments...
Anyway, the last time all four leagues had the same teams for two consecutive
seasons was 1987-88 and 1988-89. Actually, they all had the same teams for
three seasons in a row, starting in 1986-87. And the only change from 1985-86
to 1986-87 was in the ECAC, where Army, which had been more or less an affil-
iate member since 80-81 (playing only one game against the other members,
rather than two), became a full-fledged member of the league.
The CCHA and WCHA managed to continue without any changes through the 1989-90
season, to answer Glen's "easier" question.
If you're keeping score at home, here are the evolutions among the four leagues
since the 1988-89 season (all changes occurring during the off-season before
the one listed, i.e. Merrimack joined Hockey East for the 1989-90 season, Army
left the ECAC prior to the 1991-92 season, etc.):
1989-90 Hockey East: Merrimack joined the league
1990-91 WCHA: St. Cloud joined the league
1991-92 ECAC: Army left the league (announced during the 1990-91 season),
and Union joined the league
1992-93 CCHA: Kent and Notre Dame joined the league, and Alaska-Fairbanks
joined the league as an affiliate
WCHA: Alaska-Anchorage joined the league as an affiliate
1993-94 WCHA: Alaska-Anchorage became a full member
1994-95 Hockey East: Mass Amherst (or UMass) joined the league
CCHA: Kent left the league
1995-96 CCHA: Alaska-Fairbanks became a full member
And, for next year...
1996-97 CCHA: Illinois-Chicago left the league
--
Disclaimer -- Unless otherwise noted, all opinions expressed above are
strictly those of:
Bill Fenwick
Cornell '86 and '95
LET'S GO RED!! DJF 5/27/94
"If that was a foul, I hope the Lord strikes me down right here on the spot...
See, I told you."
-- Babe McCarthy, basketball coach, objecting to an official's call
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