Paul Gentile said: >I know that Hockey-East rewards its Playoff-Champion with one of the >leagues automatic bids to the NCAA's. I imagine that all of the other >leagues do the same. Therefore, I've been contemplating the possible >scenarios that may place a team who has a record below .500 into the >tourney. Actually, that's not the case. I can't speak for the two western leagues, but the ECAC rewards its *Regular Season* Champion with the automatic bid to the NCAAs. As St. Lawrence so rudely found out after defeating Cornell for the *tournament* championship in 1991, the tourney title is no guarantee of a bid. Jeffrey Anbinder Cornell University Development HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.