Classification: Prologue: Dan Olsen IBM Global Services Client Services Representative East Fishkill, NY / Building 504 2J5-21 Ph: 8-532-5259 / (914) 892-5259 FAX: 8-532-7588 / (914 )892-7588 Mail: IBMUSM00(DOLSEN) or [log in to unmask] Epilogue: Dan Olsen Again we will assume that we can't predict the conference tournament winners and will grant the league titles to their present holders. The participants: Michigan New Hampshire Vermont North Dakota Clarkson Minnesota Miami Boston U. Cornell Colorado College Michigan St. St. Cloud St. Initial seedings: EAST WEST 1. New Hampshire 1. Michigan 2. Vermont 2. North Dakota 3. Clarkson 3. Minnesota 4. Boston U. 4. Miami 5. Cornell 5. Colorado College 6. Michigan St. 6. St Cloud St. If you follow past practice and ship the bottom two teams in each bracket to the other division, you get: EAST WEST E1. New Hampshire W1. Michigan E2. Vermont W2. North Dakota E3. Clarkson W3. Minnesota E4. Boston U. W4. Miami E5. Colorado College W5. Cornell E6. St. Cloud St. W6. Michigan St. This matchup works out well for several reasons: 1) No same league matchups in the first round, 2) Michigan St. goes to the West Regional $$$$$. However, this plan has some problems as well: 1) Possibility of 2 same league matchups in East 2nd Round (Clarkson/UVM & BU/UNH), 2) Possibility of 2 same league matchups in West 2nd Round (Michigan/Miami & Minnesota/UND). In the east, we can switch Clarkson and BU, which would not only solve any same league matchups, but also make for some second round rematches (UVM/BU & UNH/Clarkson). The west is a little more difficult as there are 3 CCHA teams in the west bracket. An additional move of Miami to the East and CC to the west would solve this problem, while not hurting attendance much. CC and Cornell would flip flop due to their power ratings. So, my final suggestion for this week is, with their PWR Rankings: EAST WEST 1E. UNH 2 1W. Michigan 1 2E. UVM 3 2W. UND 4 3E. BU 8 3W. Minnesota 6 4E. Clarkson 5 4W. Cornell 9 5E. Miami 7 5W. Colorado College 10 6E. St. Cloud 12 6W. Michigan St. 11 There is now only 1 possible 2nd round same league game (UND/Minnesota). Also, all teams within the brackets are grouped properly by PWR except BU. Michigan also receives the advantage as the #1 seed of playing either #9 or #10 in the PWR, a significant advantage usually afforded to the #1 seed. UNH is not so lucky, with the prospect of #5 Clarkson in the second round. UVM actually gets the easier road as #3, but you can't get it all right. Note: these are only opinions, and in no way come close to how the seeding is really done, but it was fun none the less. HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.