>College hockey seems to be a financial wash for
>most schools. The NCAA and league tourneys likely
>keep some of the programs afloat. So, all this
>indicates that college hockey can't really afford
>to take a huge chance and start all this national
>interleague scheduling...incurring heavy, heavy
>travel expenses for programs who are just keeping
>afloat. I think there is a strong need to keep
>college hockey a much more feasible endeavor so
>some of the Division 1 hopeful programs won't be
>discouraged. With that said ... on to the recent
>discussions of determining prominence amongst the
>leagues as well as the issue of three-game home
>ice series.
>
I'll just point outh that 5 of the 11 Big Ten schools play D1 hockey, along
with Notre Dame, which obviously has no money problems.  As far as I can
see, none of these teams ever come East during the season, despite the fact
that they have oodles of dough.  In contrast, Eastern state schools with
limited resources (UNH, UVM) and D1 schools which are primarily D3
(Clarkson, St. Lawrence, RPI), never seem to have a problem flying out
west.  I have always had the impression that the western leagues,
particularly the WCHA, are very insular.  Why else would people refer to a
regular season D1 league championship (the McNaughton Cup) as the second
most important hockey trophy in North America (they concede to Lord
Stanley)?
 
>In a separate issue, its doesn't seem that
>HockeyEast really has to implement the three game
>home ice series. Some logistics would have to be
>worked out when Maine is involved, but the other
>series could all play home-away-home. Maybe Maine
>would have to play home(thur)-home(fri)-away(sun)
>or away(thur)-home(sat)-home(sun). Obviously, none
>of the other leagues could likely swing this but
>HockeyEast certainly could. Why not give the away
>team at least one home game? Now, with attendance
>the way it always is at quarterfinals, this might
>stir up some extra interest. It doesn't seemm that
>the home team fans want to see a game three nights
>in a row ... which is a lot to ask for most fans
>(not me! :) I am in favor of the three-game home
>ice series for one reason, it does significantly
>reward the top four teams ... but its also rewards
>them all equally which doesn't suit me. For Lowell
>to have to play three at Northeastern when the two
>teams weren't that disparate doesn;t suit well
>with me either. I'd love to see less teams make
>the playoffs ... maybe allow #1 and #2 to get
>quarterfinal byes...3 plays 6 and 4 plays 5 in
>home and away series. This would also remove the
>possible quandry that BC now finds themselves in
>... one where they have to play a low-rated team
>that can only hurt their own RPI. Not that I don;t
>love what Merrimack is doing this year ... I
>absolutely adore it!! But, I'm for making the
>regular season much more important to the big
>picture.
 
Home ice in the playoffs is an award for being better over the long haul.
With only 4 league wins during the season, why should Merrimack get any
home games? Do they deserve it, no way.  They were probably better off
playing away from home, at least it was warmer.
 
Greg Ambrose
 
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