With the rush of teams into D1 in the past few months, I've got to wondering what is the optimal size of a conference? Right now, the ECAC is the largest with 12 members the CCHA will get there next season when UNO joins the fold. The WCHA has 10, HE - 9, and the MAAC will have 8. Now sitting out there are some independents eyeing conference affiliations, namely Huntsville, Niagara, and Bemidji State. If UA-H and Niagara join the CCHA, then the CCHA gets REAL big at 14 and if BSU joins the WCHA that will give the WCHA an odd member which fouls up weekends. So, what is optimal? 12, 14, 10, 8 or somwhere inbetween? What I'm afraid of is regional realignment into conferences. Heck, right now, Michigan and Minnesota could each have their own hockey conferences with the # of D1 schools in each state. How about a New England Large School Athletic Conference? Thoughts during a World Cup semi. Joe _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.