I wish someone could explain to me how the NC$$ picks the sites for the semis and finals. Are there actually criteria? Do political connections carry any weight? And who are the guys who actually pick the sites anyway? Various posters have commented that some officials at the various sites knew well in advance what the picks would be. Being an Easterner I have great difficulty understanding why there only seems to be three sites available in the West: Joe Louis, St. Paul and sometimes Bradley. Isn't there another possible venue which has a couple of BIG arenas-- Chicago? Or are the selections the result of these three sites being the only ones which ever bid for hockey. (Any insights Mark?) And in light of the apparent vigorous competition for the Phinal Phour, how did Cincinatti ever land the 1996 tournament? Has there ever been a college hockey game at Riverfront, or whatever name it is? The only hockey I can remember at Cincinatti was the old Cincinatti Stingers of the WHA, and I think they only lasted one season. Please, I'm not flaming Ohio. Just another NC$$ puzzle-- at least to me anyway. Oh well. I'm probably suffering from sour grapes--at this rate Albany might host the finals in 2001--somehow that seems fitting. _ "NYS // Hockey" Go 'Gate // Brian Morris Go RPI // Albany, NY ______// [log in to unmask] (______/