I tend to agree with Greenie. An 8 team field seems too small - too many teams on the bubble who actually might have a chance at the title - but 12 teams causes some problems. While 16 is quite a few, and the bottom 4-6 probably have no chance at the final, they do have a shot at glory by knocking off a highly regarded team that takes them lightly. And that, my friends, is exciting stuff. > Quite frankly, I'd say every team deserves a shot at the national > championship. > > While it may be difficult to choose the best 12 (soon possibly 16), the > NCAA has a very strict, clear and public method of determining those 12 > teams. If you make it in to the tournament, you get to play for the > trophy. > <snip> Now, having settled that (<g>), what about the number of games? In order to avoid the problems of a team just getting lucky and/or a hot/cold goalie for one night, how about making the first two rounds (down to the final, er, "frozen" four) two-game series with a minigame in case of a split? Or even best two of three? Tom Rowe [log in to unmask] ==================================== Home of Division 3 National Champion Pointers 89, 90, 91 & 93 and National Runners Up 92 & 98 ==================================== HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.