Given the existing criteria, I think the committee got the right 12 teams for the NCAA tourney. But the ECAC didn't miss getting a third team in by very much. I leave it to somebody else to crunch the numbers, but I wonder if... (a) Princeton had won the consolation game OR (b) The ECAC consolation game hadn't even been played OR (c) Willie Mitchell's "miracle shot" from the red line became a routine save OR (d) Ohio State had played a consolation vs. Michigan State OR (e) etc. etc. Things were very tight at the "bubble" with Notre Dame, Rensselaer, and Princeton each just a bounce away from making it, while Northern Michigan, Michigan, and Ohio State each get enough bounces to get in (did OSU really hit 8 posts against Michigan?). The lack of transitivity allows a case to be made for lots of scenarios (for example, Clarkson, SLU, Princeton, and Rensselaer all beat OSU in head-to-head PWR - so four ECAC teams should be in before getting to OSU). Putting together all such cases would argue for at least 16 teams making it - without even getting to the Quinnipiac situation. It would have been nice to see a balanced field with three teams from each of the established leagues making it, but that didn't quite work out this year. A final comment on the seedings for the West regional (my apologies if this has already been covered). I was puzzled at first why St. Lawrence was put at the 6th seed, when PWR, RPI, and even CHODR would not put them as the last team. Similarly, Colorado College would seem a bit out of place as the three seed, once BC has been shipped out West. Is it possible that CC-SLU is really the 4 vs. 5 game, while BC-NMU is 3 vs. 6, but the seedings are switched to avoid the possibilities for CC-N. Dakota and NMU-Mich. St. in the second round? If that is the case, I would sympathize with some of the folks who believe that BC got a tough draw. Also, the chance for a Mich. St. - SLU match-up would give the possibility for an extended 0-0 game (CHODR's clear #1 defense vs. Hobey hopeful Heffler). Robin Lock St. Lawrence University [log in to unmask] HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.