In response to Tony's query... The NC$$ limit is 34 for DivI teams. It was reduced from 38 a few years ago because of the push to cut down on contests played in many different sports. There are a number of exemptions that are allowed and which can result in teams playing in more than 34. I won't run down all of the exemptions, but you can get a complete list by sending to [log in to unmask] the command: GET NCAAMAN EXCERPTS Only the ECAC has placed a limit on teams which is stricter than that allowed by the NC$$. However, the ECAC has suddenly come more in line with the other conferences, such that the disparity in games played will not be much of a factor anymore IMO. ECAC teams will now have a limit of 32 games (up from 30), with Ivies having a limit of 29 (up from 26 a couple of years ago). But when the ECAC/Ivies had their old limits and the NC$$ had a limit of 38, and many Western teams were playing 2 or more in Alaska, it is easy to see why there used to be such a huge difference in games played between the average Western team and the average Eastern team. Right now, the only reason that most Western teams play more games than most Eastern teams is that Western teams take more advantage of the exemptions available than Eastern schools do. For example, most Western schools will play a Canadian team early in the season and count it in their overall record. Some Eastern teams will open with a Canadian team but call it an exhibition. Whether you count this game in your overall record or not, it does not count toward the 34-game limit. BU could have counted its season opening win over New Brunswick in its overall record to give them one more win, but it chose not to. Also, it seems that more and more Western schools are hosting a foreign team each year. This game must go in the books as an exhibition, but it is still an extra game that provides experience. The WCHA in particular seems to organize these sets of games each season. And again, the game is exempt from the 34-game limit. As well, Alaska schools are hosting more Western teams than Eastern teams. All games played in Alaska are exempt from the limit of 34. The only issue that still exists is that with UAF and UAA both to be fulltime members of conferences next season, it gives an unfair advantage to the Western schools that will be traveling to Alaska to play those teams for conference games. 8 of the 9 other WCHA schools will play two (exempted) games at UAA each year and thus be allowed two extra games to schedule other opponents. And, each year, 5 of the 10 CCHA schools will play 3 (exempted) games at UAF, which will give them 3 extra games to play other teams. The Eastern schools will not have this option open to them anymore, nor will the odd man out Western schools each year, because UAF & UAA's conference affiliations leave them with almost no extra games available. As a result, we will see almost no Eastern teams traveling to Alaska beginning next year. I am tempted to suggest that the exemption rule should be removed now that these teams are in conferences. Previously, the rule made sense because it was difficult to find opponents who would agree to go to Alaska and play them. It seems outdated now. However, if one of the prime reasons these teams attained membership in conferences was precisely because the other teams wanted to have the two extra games a year, then I could see keeping the rule despite its unfairness. I just cannot recall whether this was supposed to be a key reason why the WCHA & CCHA invited the Alaska schools in. I would be interested to hear whether people think the other CCHA and WCHA teams would have a serious problem with removing this exemption for UAA and UAF. Obviously they would raise a fuss since they'd be losing two games, but would it be serious enough that they might kick UAA/UAF out? If not, it seems to be time to get rid of the Alaska exemption - it would be only fair. What happens with other Alaska sports teams who are in conferences, if there are any? (I am admittedly not up on the happenings with UAA & UAF's other teams.) --- --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93