J. Michael Jackson wrote:
 
>I'd like to think that I'm not provincial, but I think that there is =
such a
>thing as conferences getting too large, and a worry about imbalance in =
the
>levels of play within a conference.  I think the latter can be seen =
within
>the CCHA; there are about four teams that never seem to be able to get =
it
>together and be competitive.  That's too many for an exciting league.  =
My
>fear is that if a number of schools all try to make the jump to =
Division I
>at the same time and join the major conferences, we're going to be left
>with more of the same problem.  I don't think that the talent is going =
to
>spread very well into a bunch of new programs.
>  My preferred solution is to start up new conferences, with the
>acknowledged idea that not all of the conferences are going to be of =
equal
>strength ...
 
As newcomers to the CCHA this year in Fairbanks, I both agree and =
disagree.  I think the CCHA top to bottom is more competitive than it =
has been.  If I remember correctly, Ohio State hammered Bowling Green =
last weekend and Notre Dame beat LSSU earlier in the season (ND was =
substantially better when they played here this season than they ever =
were before).  We even took the Lakers to the last minute or two down =
there before losing.  And Miami would probably be the first team to =
admit that the fall from near the top to the bottom can happen very =
quickly (they'll probably be back closer before the end of the season).  =
There will probably always be a couple dominant teams--or at least teams =
that are consistently at or near the top year after year--in each league =
and a couple at the bottom, but if they can play competitively and pull =
a surprise off now and then, we're not going to lack for excitement in =
college hockey.  And look at Massachusetts-Amherst!
 
I agree however that there is a problem with conferences getting too =
large.  With the CCHA up at 11 teams and with us way up here, it is more =
than a little difficult to come up with any kind of balanced schedule.  =
Three games is kind of a strange number to work with in our conference, =
but I'm sorry we can't see more WCHA teams playing interconference games =
when they play each other 4 times and are locked into 32 game conference =
schedules.  We probably do need another Division I conference, but how =
are we going to divide everybody up and do we want to?  Realignment of =
some sort may have to occur before we can expand very much.  I know when =
you're in an established conference that's going to be difficult.  Maybe =
it's new teams like UAA and UAF that need to take the lead on making a =
move toward starting another conference.  The problem is we tried to do =
that before and it just didn't work out and we were left by ourselves.  =
Other established teams would have to come with us and by that time =
we'll have strong rivalries going with the rest of the existing =
conference.
 
Now as to the dilution of talent, that's something I obviously don't =
know anything about.  Would anyone who's been watching college hockey =
for 10+ years care to comment on whether that is true or not.  I was =
shocked to see how many, and I mean a huge number, of kids are playing =
hockey here in Fairbanks.  Judging by that, and if it is true anywhere =
else, we are going to see an influx of hockey talent in the coming years =
that may well allow expansion of Division I hockey at the same level.  =
When I was a kid growing up here 25-30 years ago, almost no one played =
hockey at all.  We didn't even have a high school team until my senior =
year in high school in 1974 and that was a club team.  I mean this was =
in Alaska!
 
Mark Sonnier is right.  I for one am thankful that Alabama-Huntsville =
and so many Division I programs helped us out.  We owe a debt of =
gratitude to all of you.  If you come up here and watch hockey, you can =
see it's helping kids here realize that they can do more than just dream =
about playing sports at that level like I had to.  Now they know they =
really have a shot at that and anything else they want whether it's =
"outside" or here at home.
 
Eric Carlson
U of A '78
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