As has already been posted here, the ECAC has invited Union College to join the ECAC Division I hockey league. AD Dick Sakala and Head Coach Bruce Delventhal have said that they expect to give the ECAC and answer by the end of January. Classes do not begin here at Union until January 7, so it is difficult to get a feeling for what the students and faculty think of the potential move. This place is very much deserted right now. I don't even think the hockey players are back from break yet, at least I haven't seen any of them. In reports in the Schenectady Gazette, AD Dick Sakala and Coach Delventhal have both come out in favor of the move. Phil Janack dedicated his entire "Skate of Mind" column in the December 19 issue of the Amsterdam Recorder to argue in favor of the move. (Amsterdam is no hockey town. This column is pretty much the extent of hockey in Amsterdam. This is the first time I've ever seen Union hockey mentioned in the Recorder, and Union is only 16 miles from Amsterdam.) The Schenectady Gazette's Tom Boggie, who usually covers Union hockey, used more than half of his "College Closeups" column on Christmas Day to present an argument for the move. I am all for the move. I am convinced that the program can be kept honest and under control at the Division I level. One thing I'd miss are the long standing rivalries that would probably have to end with some of the ECAC West schools, like Elmira, Hamilton, and RIT. There have been some great games against these teams in the last few years. But new rivalries would develop, and the Union-RPI rivalry would only become more intense. I am hoping that the decision will come back to move up to Division I next season. I think that this is a great opportunity for the Union hockey program, and all of Union College. I'll have more as I hear more... Jim Teresco [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] Go Dutchmen!