Over the summer on this mailing list we had a heated discussion about the quality of ACHA teams. I played four years for the University of Illinois (1995 ACHA Division I All-American goalie), and I feel the quality of competition among the top 15 ACHA teams is equivalent to that of most NCAA Division III teams. Already this season we have seen a number of instances in which ACHA teams have upset NCAA opponents. In my four years at Illinois, we played every single home game in front of standing-room-only crowds at the 2,100-seat UI Ice Arena (located right in the heart of campustown). We receive extensive local media coverage, while nearly full equipment and all travel expenses are paid for by the team. I would venture to say that our players are treated - at least in these respects - as well as most Division I players are treated. Most of our opponents in the circle of teams we generally play have similar stories to tell. Arizona, in fact, is near the top of the national attendance rankings - for all of college hockey! - year in and year out. (Last year I believe they averaged 6,000+.) Likewise, Ohio, Penn State, and Iowa State also average close to 2,000 fans per game, and many of these teams even provide scholarships to their players. The ACHA operates on two levels: Division I and Division II. The teams you are all familiar with (Penn St., Arizona, Illinois) as well as perhaps 30 others comprise Division I. ACHA Division I teams follow strict eligibility rules, similar to those enforced by the NCAA. ACHA Division II consists of teams generally deserving of the name "club hockey." There are many more ACHA Division II teams, perpetuating the stigma of "club hockey." But take a trip to the "Madhouse on Main Street" in Tuscon, or the Ice Pavillion at Penn St., or the "Big Pond" here in Champaign, and you would not be able to tell whether you were watching an ACHA game or an NCAA Division I game! http://students.uiuc.edu/~t-kasdan /) Visit my homepage! (\ Terry Kasdan / ) ( \ [log in to unmask] _( (_ _ _ _) )_ (((\ \> /_> <_\ </ /))) (\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////) \ / \ / \ _/ \_ / / / \ \ / / \ \ HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.