Mike Machnik wrote: >I don't know that I'd go this far. Two years ago, DivIII champion >Plattsburgh got absolutely slaughtered by a below average Colgate >team (would finish 9th in the ECAC), 14-3, in a game that was not even >that close. Plattsburgh had lost only 4-5 players from its 1992 team >that went 32-2-2. They would go 25-6-2 and return to the DivIII Final >Four three months after getting smoked by Colgate. >Sometimes DivIII teams do fare well against average or better DivI >teams, as when Colby tied Princeton last season. But the numbers show >that the results and scores are heavily skewed in favor of DivI. I am reminded of the "years of greatness" for Point (Div III UW-Stevens Point) under Mazz. We were very good and I felt actually had the talent to take on some division I teams. And we scheduled some Div I teams each year, even tying UAA and playing UAA and UAF close in Alaska one year (or was it UAF we tied or beat? Alzeheimer's a 'bitch', aint it?). But, IMHO, things have changed. We aren't as dominant as we once were, but we are still competitive. More to the point, I believe the overall ratio of talent has shifted so that there is a wider gap between Div I and Div III than there used to be. Sad to say, but the Div I vs III matchups make even less sense today than they used to for Div I teams, and the discrepancy in talent is enough that Div III teams really don't 'learn' much from such a trouncing as they are likely to get. But for all you Division I fans out there: Go see a Div III game. Its cheaper and still fun and, with the smaller rinks, you might even get a better seat. If we can't 'play with' the big boys, neither could even a Maine of 2 years ago play with the San Jose Sharks, but we know college hockey is even more fun to watch than pro. Tom Rowe Internet: [log in to unmask] Department of Psychology *********************************** U. of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Home of Division III National Go Point! Champions '89, '90, '91, & '93