Dave Morgenstern asks: >I have been reading all the talk about all the schools that want to move up >to D1 while playing in the ECAC West and East. I think this is great, but I >have a question. What makes one team, such as Niagara a Div 1 team, while >one of its ECAC counterparts, such as Salem State, is Div 3? Is it >something to do with scholarships? Or non league games against other Div 1 >teams? Also, if they are not eligible to play in the D1 tourney, can they >play in the 2 or 3? Generally, NCAA schools must have all of their sponsored sports playing at the same level. There are some exceptions pertaining to Div. II or III schools sponsoring certain sports at a higher level (which is why there are a number of Div. III schools fielding Div. I hockey programs). However, Div. I schools cannot sponsor teams at the Div. II or III level. Niagara U. is a Div. I school; therefore its new hockey program must be classified as Div. I. In order to be eligible for the Div. I hockey championship, though, a school must play a minimum number of games (20?) against Div. I opponents. So, ECAC/West schools -- like Canisius -- which play a mixed scheduled of I, II and III opponents are not eligible for the tournament. And, because they are classified as Div. I programs, they also are not eligible for the Div. II or III tournaments. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dr. Stephen E. Roth [log in to unmask] Dean of Student Services Canisius College (716) 888-2522 Buffalo, New York 14226 FAX (716) 888-3190 ------------------------------------------------------------------------