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Tim Newman (that's Dr Tim to you) writes: >Could the D-II teams form two mini-leagues or conferences (are some >of the teams already in the Northeast-10 for hockey?), and have either >conference >championships and/or a Challenge Series between the winner of each >conference? Maybe Alabama-Huntsville could host it ... Well, the Northeast-10 schools do not have their own conference for hockey yet, as they do in other sports. Those schools are split amongst the ECAC small school divisions, such as the ECAC East and Central. Some of the other schools that are currently DivII also play in ECAC conferences - NH College, Sacred Heart, Mercyhurst, etc. It wouldn't surprise me to see those schools opt to remain in those conferences and not declare up for DivI. Most are not of that caliber and they do have a title they can compete for at the end of the season, even if it won't be an NC$$ title. That leaves us with schools like Alabama-Huntsville, which are full independents and won't have any title to compete for as things stand. Barring some type of organized attempt by the teams that will be DivI to form a new conference and qualify for the DivI tourney, I could see the following taking place. Several years ago when UAH was in DivI and UAA/UAF were still independents, those schools hosted what amounted to a rotating Independent championship at the end of the season. It was just a 4 team "tourney" that tended to involve the four top Independents from that season. UAH could declare up again and try to host such a tourney. However, unless there is an organized conference that could make this their championship, I believe any such games would need to be counted towards the teams' NC$$ limits (unlike, say, the CCHA tourney). That means teams would have to plan ahead for the possibility that they might appear in the tourney. >I think the D-II schools could continue to play hockey even if they have >no national championship. Some Division I hockey conferences were effectively >locked out of the national championship for a while, and yet most of >the schools continued to play hockey (e.g., CCHA in early 70s). Right, and that's why I could see a fifth conference following a similar path and eventually gaining acceptance. It would take a lot, including an increased commitment to DivI. But that's exactly the situation the CCHA faced in its infancy 20+ years ago. I don't want to start any rumors because there is absolutely no reason to believe what I'm about to say will happen. But since Merrimack has strong ties to 7 of the DivII teams who are facing a decision, I have wondered if someday, should Merrimack find the going too rough in HE, maybe the school would spearhead a move by the other NE-10 schools to join it in a new DivI conference of their own. However, there is a huge difference between the other NE-10 hockey playing schools and Merrimack right now. Merrimack's future in HE looks bright, especially if the new rink rumors come true. Joining the NE-10 schools in a new conference would be a step backwards right now. For the current Independents and DivII teams, I like the idea of an umbrella like conference that would enable many of those schools to remain in their current conferences while also competing for a DivI bid by having an organized schedule against other teams in their situation. This should also involve schools like UAH, Army, and maybe even USAFA or other Western schools. It's going to take a lot of work by the principals involved to make it happen, but it sounds like it is being at least considered. --- --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93 <<<<< Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors (station TBA for 94-95) >>>>>