> As scintillating as Jason's analysis is, I tend to point to a more basic > cause for the ECAC's "superiority" over HE this year: simple cyclical > variation. HE has had a run in attracting the top talent for the past > five years, now it's the ECAC's turn. In fact, this isn't as jingoistic > as it sounds. In the early years of HE, the ECAC enjoyed a significant > advantage over HE. Granted, they didn't play that often, but ECAC teams > generally came out on top. This is completely incorrect. Until this year, the ECAC had NEVER had a winning record vs. HEA. In fact, it was usually never close. The closest the ECAC has ever come before was 1994-95 --- In that season, it was 21-21-1 going into the Beanpot -- Harvard needed one of two for the first-ever .500 season vs. HEA -- but Harvard got swept. In fact, according to the HEA media guide, between 1990-96, the Hockey East's record vs. the other three major conferences is better than .600 in each case .. .607 vs. CCHA -- .615 vs. WCHA -- and .623 vs. ECAC Not only has the ECAC never had a "significant" advantage -- it's never had ANY advantage (until this year). > HE seems to have made its rise when two of its > teams, BU and Maine, became perennial powerhouses. Both have fallen back > a bit--BU because of graduation and NHL losses, Maine because...you know > why. Let's not forget Boston College's run of greatness. No titles, but awesome teams. > The ECAC in turn finds its fortunes improved since it > can compete against the Lowell and Providences, it just can't against the > Maine's and BU's. Actually, BU's record vs. HEA isn't all that great either. Win over RPI, losses to SLU, Clarkson, tie vs. Yale. AW HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.