I want to thank all of you for your thoughts since my posting yesterday - I'm sorry about the upper case and thanks for "educating" me on my error. I've been coaching college hockey for 15 years but I'm a novice on the computer - from now on I will only yell at my players - ....and the refs. Mr. Lerch <<<< wrote me about future WEST/SUNY scheduling. What's in the works for next season for the first time in history - a combined WEST/SUNY master schedule. WEST would play each other twice - ("home n' home") and then would play each SUNY once - at either home or away. This is being worked on by two A.D.s - Lou Spiotti at RIT and John Spring - Geneseo. We are all hoping that it gets worked out - it could be the structure that has been long needed out here WEST of Syracuse but East of Detroit. <<<<Mr. Machnik - I am also locked on to hockey3 but I need to get help on how to send on it - again, excuse my novice skills. <<<< You asked about SUNY automatic bid to NC$$ III championship and the importance for SUNY schools in playing a "pure SUNY game" vs interconference game. Well - this is one coaches opinion: The automatic bid is a result of many factors - but probably the most important is there power and influence nationally across ALL SPORTS - not just hockey. SUNY has attained tremendous influence in basketball, soccer, swimming,etc. Using this influence (and YES) the fact that they all are NC$$ III schools that seem to follow the same rules - they obtained the automatic before any MASS. or MINN. schools could lobby hard against it. Once they had their foot in the door - they worked very hard to stay there. They also do a great job of weekly updates and standings, player of the week, etc. There's no question in my mind that a SUNY vs SUNY game holds much more meaning vs interconference. There are some exceptions - the rivalry's - Plattsburgh vs Elmira is one that sticks out. RIT vs Oswego is another - those of us that have been around remember the "orange" vs "limes" throwing games between those two. Some of these contests played at very nice rinks are played at a pretty high level and draw some 2000 or more fans to watch - depends on the hype at the time. One final note - this weekend Geneseo at Plattsburgh This is a classic - SUNY battle - theres a lot of fan love for Coach Duffy (Geneseo) in Plattsburgh - NOT !!! Thanks again - See Ya. Brian Cavanaugh Canisius College P.S. Oh Yea - We play Bona - that's a "LITTLE 3" rival - our two schools have been competing against each other in all sports for over 150 years - The Little 3 (Canisius, St. Bonaventure, Niagara) were the biggest sport event in Buffalo in the 40's, 50's and 60's !!!