Alan Harder writes... >Is there another state with as many highly regarded hockey >programs as Michigan? I won't speak to the highly regarded aspect, but no state has more NCAA Division I programs than Michigan, with seven. Ferris State Univ Lake Superior State Univ Univ of Michigan Michigan State Univ Michigan Tech Univ Northern Michigan Univ Western Michigan Univ I believe we [Hockey-L] kicked around programs by state a couple of years ago and actually produced a list. New York also has a large quantity, given the small number of teams in total. Of course, so does Massachusetts. I don't wish to involve myself in the Minnesota in-state debate, but all three teams in Minnesota [UM/UMD/SCSU] have an advantage in the sense that fewer Div-I teams are competing for players in a state that has a strong youth hockey program. MA, MI and NY aren't afforded the luxury of only three D-I teams when it comes to "local" recruiting. But, Minnesota also has several Div-III schools, which Michigan does not. I don't know how many kids would choose to play Div-III near home rather than be a part-timer at one of the seven Div-I schools, but if the opportunity were there I imagine it would happen occasionally. John Haeussler Univ of Michigan [log in to unmask] someone who'd like to see some Div-III play near home