David from Wisconsin writes: > Coach Sauer checked with Rick Comley (NMU Coach and member > of the NCAA Ice Hockey committee) thursday night, before > the WCHA Semi-finals. He was assured that Wisconsin was in the > NCAA tournament. He (Sauer) then let Derksen decide if he was > ready to play or not. Derksen felt that he wasn't sharp, since he > hadn't played in several weeks, and had only practiced that week, > and said he thought Michellizzi should play. Jon didn't play that > well, and Wisconsin lost (not just because of Michellizzi, but it > was a factor). > > *THE NEXT DAY* Sauer was told that if they lost to CC (remember, this > was before NMU beat Minnesota for the WCHA Tournament Championship), > that they wouldn't be in the NCAA (and Providence would be). > Sauer was very upset by this news. Derksen played, and the Badger's won. > > That evening, NMU beat Minnesota for the WCHA Tournament > Cahmpionship, and NMU Coach and NCAA Committee Member Comley > openly lobbied for Wisconsin to be 5W and the Wildcats 6W. (That > sounds harsh -- I am not saying Comley did anything wrong -- it > was the circumstances that were wrong. Seedings shouldn't be > subject to political pressure). > David, I'm pretty uncomfortable with seeing something like this on a nationally distributed list without more background. Even though you say you feel Rick Comley did nothing wrong, what you relate certainly looks bad, in a couple of respects, to others, I think.(It does to me and you know who I root for!). Would you please tell us your source for such detailed and intimate information? Thanks. Incidentally, I agree with your and Mike's comments about the effect of the seedings, and it does seem pretty ironic that you're better off to get seeded lower--and even potentially dangerous, as Mike notes. As to John from U Mich and the power plays in the NMU-UMich game: I'd prefer this: let them play *even* for a period--or three! (I'm sure a lot of us noticed that it was Michigan 5, Northern 1 when the Wolverines had an advantage, NMU 2, Michigan 0 when the Wildcats were on the power play; and NMU 3, Michigan 2 when they were at even strength.) *********************************** * Steve Christopher, NMU * * "Go 'Cats!''Going for two in '93!" * * [log in to unmask] * ***********************************