The division format which has been suggested for the WCCHA super league, or Imperial Collegiate Hockey Association, is, in theory, an neat idea for handling the sheer number of established teams, and new Div. 1 entries as well. However, the teams which make up each division will be the most important and most difficult to establish. The team format being passed around on this list seems to make more sense than the team format originally suggested in the daily papers. Keeping Minnesota and Wisconsin in the "Johnson" :) division would be a must, as well as Michigan and Michigan State in the same division, and easy too, due to their relative close proximity. But the problem that develops is when traditional rivals get "cutoff" by division, as Eric mentioned with regards to ND and MINN. Rivalry's are good for the game, and must be maintained in some manner. That is one of the wonderful aspects of our game. When Penn St. joined up, the BIG11TEM offered its football teams an option: By having an unbalanced schedule, and having to not play 2-3 conference teams each season, traditional rivalries would not always continue. (MICH/OSU) So each Big(11)Ten school got to choose two teams it considered rivals and whom they wanted to play every year, no matter what. The remainder of the schools would rotate. Wisconsin choose Minnesota (naturally) and IOWA, IOWA choose MINN and WIS, Minn the same. Perhaps some system such as this could be used to allow the division format, while allowing traditional rivals the opportunity to not miss any games against each other. How this would work, I have no idea! DISCLAIMER: I, in no way, suggest that BIG11TEN football, or any football, is as cool of a game as college hockey. The comparisons have been used for discussion purpose only. Take care! Yours, Terry E. Tuschen Jr. ****************************************************************************** University of Wisconsin-Madison WISCONSIN BADGERS Space Science and Engineering NCAA DIV. 1 Mens Ice Hockey Champions McIDAS Archive 1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 1997? (608) 265-5577 ON WISCONSIN! [log in to unmask] "A great day for hockey!" ****************************************************************************** HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.