Bill Schneller writes: >I don't care to start a new rumor mill spinning, but has anyone heard >anything linking the lack of word on RPI going to Hockey East and the >possibility of Providence possible downgrading their program (and >presumably leaving HE.) I have not, and I do not believe the two are related. HE and RPI expressed an interest in each other a long time ago, way before I ever heard the first rumblings that PC might decide to downgrade its program. And HE has said before that their ideal number of teams would be 12 and they hope to reach that within several years. Intentionally accepting one team in place of another would not help that cause. It is certainly possible that RPI will enter HE and PC will exit. But I think there is no relation between these two situations. Regardless of whatever RPI decides to do, PC is apparently grappling with some financial questions in its athletic department. Lamoriello is rumored to have some influence at PC still and so I would expect him to lobby against any downgrading, but anything is possible. I hope it does not happen. --- --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93