Paul Gentiles criteria for comparison seems rather selective. Granted the Hockey East is currently stronger nationally than the ECAC, but before anyone crows too loudly lets not forget that success is cyclical, i.e. ecac success mid eighties through early nineties(RPI, Harvard, St. Lawrence, Colgate etc). Union matched up well in their five HE matchups this year losing close games to Maine, UNH and Providence( I to am being selective discounting Maine's emotional shutout hours following the announcement of Walshgate), and handling fellow lower echlon member Merrimack handily. On the subject of benches and penalty boxes, how is it no-one has mentioned RPI's wonderful setup. A home bench large and long enough to park a bus on with the penaly boxes(home and visitor) right next to it. While the visitors bench is cross ice, off center, unbelievably small and cramped, with shaved corners. Mike was really seeking an advantage when they redesigned the rink with that setup, with the room in that building(and that fact it was the result of a renovation) there can really be no other explanation. Houston still has the best broadcast seats(well...perches) anywhere HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.