Hey Gang, Well, it is about that time of season when about 50% of the fans start to think about "next year." Certainly, barring an incredible and improbably win streak, RPI is in that situation. I assumed this year has been a "rebuilding" year and all I can hope for is that it is and not just a losing year with nothing to show for it next year. Now ... to the thrust of this post. I am not sure how many other schools are in thnis pickle, but RPI certainly is... I am referring to the lack (zero) of scholarships in one class, for RPI this is their juniors, there are none. So what do you do next year, graduating say five or six seniors? If you go after, and fill, all the scholarship spots with frosh, then the next couple of years shoudl be good ones (assuming the players are good :-) ... but then you are into the same cycle, a year with no scholarships and down again .... so what do you do? In the long run, I think you are better off with an approx equal number per year.... but how does one get out of the current situation? Do you bite the bullet next year and only give out half, then half the next year so as not to have zero? I suppose if you have six blue chippers ready to come next year, you just give em all out, but that is rarely the case at RPI. I would argue that the team should try to find one or two or three quality players next year and NOT use up all scholarships vacated by the seniors. Then repeat that the next year and fill in the zero year and try to level out eventually to four or five every year. I have heard little or no discussion onthe way to go here, probably because there are no other teams in this dismal (IMHO situation. Comments are welcome to me or the list. It might make for an interesting thread. Jayson, Kurt???? In the meantime, I'll hope RPI makes it to 10 wins this year and root for my second favorite team in the NCAAs :-) Tony Buffa RPI '64 HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.