Like I said in my previous note, my opinion is not based so much on logic and reason, than emotion. Difference between a few minor leaguers(sp?) who are considered pros and NHL stars: I have no objections to a couple of minor leaguers such as Mike Eurizone (only one I could think of this morning). Nothing against Mike and the other minor leaguers we've seen on Team USA over the years, but I don't think anyone would consider them on the same level as the Kevin Stevens, Jeremy Roenick, and Pat Lafontaine's of the NHL. I see their contribution to the team as being more a leadership and maturity role for the collegians. They are there to help mold the team into a cohesive group. I also see a TeamUSA filled with collegians as a reward/ultimate goal for the amateur side of American hockey. A showcase of the talent and the program that helped develop that talent. (Ha, just remembered Ray LeBlanc, just not with it today). I know that we would not see the problem (as I see it) with hockey should all pros be allowed and the NHL accomodate the schedule as we see with basketball. As Mike pointed out, it would be more like the Canada Cup series with less of a disparity between the teams than with today's olympic basketball. But, I personally am not interested in another Canada Cup. It's not that I don't want the US to put together the best team they can, it's that I want them to put together the best amateur team they can.(and I consider minor leaguers not to violate that to a great degree). Look at the players we've seen come out of the olympic program: Kevin, Jeremy, Pat, Neil Broten, etc... Their careers have no doubtedly been improved by the olympic experience. And with this group(email group) being college hockey fans, I don't think that I'm the only one that would prefer to see our favorite college hockey players on the ice. Hey, were else can you find Carol, Justin, and Keith cheering for those ECAC and HE stars and Wayne and Mike cheering on the CCHA and WCHA. ___________________________________________________________________________ Paul Marchant | The CCHA and the | (513) 865 - 1637 Mead Data Central | Lake Superior State Lakers | Data Technology P.O. Box 933 | | [log in to unmask] Dayton, OH 45401 | The BEST in NCAA Hockey | ...!uunet!meaddata!paulm