The College Hockey Championship Belt Part IV

[Fighting Sioux 23]

I think since LSSU already had the "old" CCHA belt have them start with it again in the 2021 season. But retire the WCHA belt. If you maintain and track it as a belt it might as well he the "West" belt since basically every western team would be eligible. It would be basically the western version of the New England Belt. But I think that one is a litle broad too, personally. I think the only belt that should have that many teams be eligible to get it is "The Belt" itself. The conference belts, the state belts, and the belt itself all make sense. I'm on the fence on the play-up belts but whatever. The New England and a potential WCHA/West belt seem a bit much.

But if you do the old WCHA, I say make it the West Belt. NCHC, BiG, and CCHA and any independent in the west (ASU and UAH and the Alaska schools if they survive) are eligible. HE, ECAC, ATLANTIC, LIU, all eligible for the East belt (former New England). I know with Air Force that is a little wonky but that is what comes with conference affiliation)

This makes sense. Have a "Western Belt" (for the NCHC/B1G/CCHA and any independents west of the Alleghanies (currently, ASU/UAH/UAA/UAF)) and an "Eastern Belt" (for Hockey East/ECAC/Atlantic and any independents east of the Alleghanies(currently, LIU)). Scrap the New England Belt.

[Ralph Baer]

This makes sense. Have a "Western Belt" (for the NCHC/B1G/CCHA and any independents west of the Alleghanies (currently, ASU/UAH/UAA/UAF)) and an "Eastern Belt" (for Hockey East/ECAC/Atlantic and any independents east of the Alleghanies(currently, LIU)). Scrap the New England Belt.

I can go for that if you include the six leagues completely as you have them. That is even though AF is in the west, it is eligible for the Eastern Belt. I would start them next year with the national championship team getting the appropriate Belt and the last team standing from the other region getting the other one. There is a question if UAH is really a western team if it is an independent.

[Ralph Baer]

Sunday update

                   Current Holder         Next Defense
The Belt           Cornell                2021-22
The Belt Alt 3x3   Minnesota State        St. Cloud State 04/08/2021
The Belt Alt SO    Massachusetts          Minnesota Duluth 04/08/2021
AHC Belt           American International 2021-22
B1G Belt           Minnesota              2021-22
ECAC Belt          Cornell                2021-22
ECAC Alt Belt      St. Lawrence           2021-22
HEA Belt           Massachusetts          2021-22
NCHC Belt          Minnesota Duluth       NCAA Tourney at earliest
WCHA Belt          Lake Superior State    2021-22
Ivy Belt           Cornell                2021-22
New England Belt   Massachusetts          2021-22
Connecticut Belt   Quinnipiac             2021-22
Massachusetts Belt Massachusetts          2021-22
Michigan Belt      Michigan Tech          2021-22
Minnesota Belt     Minnesota State        St. Cloud State 04/08/2021
New York Belt      Cornell                2021-22
D II Play up Belt  Lake Superior State    2021-22
D II P u Alt SO    American International 2021-22
D III Play up Belt Rensselaer             2021-22
Play up Belt       Rensselaer             2021-22

Corrections are always appreciated.
The winner of the NCAA tourney will get an alternate Belt because Cornell won't be defending. The existing alternates will be absorbed into it.

[Proud2baLaker]

I can go for that if you include the six leagues completely as you have them. That is even though AF is in the west, it is eligible for the Eastern Belt. I would start them next year with the national championship team getting the appropriate Belt and the last team standing from the other region getting the other one. There is a question if UAH is really a western team if it is an independent.

I think UAH counts as Western. And as FS23 noted, so does ASU and any Alaskan school that might still be playing. Then BiG, NCHC, and CCHA as they are can get the Western belt. Like you said, the last team standing from any of those conferences this year gets it. I think the WCHA belt then becomes the CCHA belt with LSSU retaining to start the season. The new CCHA is everyone from the most recent iteration of the WCHA plus St. Thomas and minus UAH (and Alaska) so to me it makes sense to have them start with. The New England belt becomes Eastern Belt with UMass starting 2021 season with it. Atlantic/HE/ECAC and LIU are all eligible for it. That would include Air Force due to conference affiliation (they would NOT be eligible for the Western belt). This would give every team in a conference at least 3 possible belts to win. The Belt, The regional belt, and a conference belt.

[Ralph Baer]

Thursday update

                   Current Holder         Next Defense
The Belt           Cornell                2021-22
The Belt Alt 3x3   St. Cloud State        Massachusetts 04/10/2021
The Belt Alt SO    Massachusetts          St. Cloud State 04/10/2021
AHC Belt           American International 2021-22
B1G Belt           Minnesota              2021-22
CCHA Belt          Lake Superior State    2021-22
ECAC Belt          Cornell                2021-22
ECAC Alt Belt      St. Lawrence           2021-22
HEA Belt           Massachusetts          2021-22
NCHC Belt          Minnesota Duluth       NCAA Tourney at earliest
Ivy Belt           Cornell                2021-22
Eastern Belt       Massachusetts          2021-22
Western Belt       St. Cloud State        2021-22
Connecticut Belt   Quinnipiac             2021-22
Massachusetts Belt Massachusetts          2021-22
Michigan Belt      Michigan Tech          2021-22
Minnesota Belt     St. Cloud State        2021-22
New York Belt      Cornell                2021-22
D II Play up Belt  Lake Superior State    2021-22
D II P u Alt SO    American International 2021-22
D III Play up Belt Rensselaer             2021-22
Play up Belt       Rensselaer             2021-22

Corrections are always appreciated.
The winner of the NCAA tourney will get an alternate Belt because Cornell won't be defending. The existing alternates will be absorbed into it.

I have started Eastern and Western Belts as discussed. The Eastern Belt replaces the New England Belt. I have also renamed the WCHA as the CCHA Belt. It absorbs the old CCHA Belt which LSSU also had.

[Ralph Baer]

Saturday update

                   Current Holder         Next Defense
The Belt           Cornell                2021-22
The Alt Belt       Massachusetts          2021-22
AHC Belt           American International 2021-22
B1G Belt           Minnesota              2021-22
CCHA Belt          Lake Superior State    2021-22
ECAC Belt          Cornell                2021-22
ECAC Alt Belt      St. Lawrence           2021-22
HEA Belt           Massachusetts          2021-22
NCHC Belt          Minnesota Duluth       2021-22
Ivy Belt           Cornell                2021-22
Eastern Belt       Massachusetts          2021-22
Western Belt       St. Cloud              2021-22
Connecticut Belt   Quinnipiac             2021-22
Massachusetts Belt Massachusetts          2021-22
Michigan Belt      Michigan Tech          2021-22
Minnesota Belt     St. Cloud              2021-22
New York Belt      Cornell                2021-22
D II Play up Belt  Lake Superior State    2021-22
D II P u Alt SO    American International 2021-22
D III Play up Belt Rensselaer             2021-22
Play up Belt       Rensselaer             2021-22

Corrections are always appreciated.

The two Alternate Belts have become one.
I have started Eastern and Western Belts as discussed. The Eastern Belt replaces the New England Belt. I have also renamed the WCHA as the CCHA Belt. It absorbed the old CCHA Belt which LSSU also had.

[Ralph Baer]

I have filled in the next opponent, when known, from the schedule spread sheet. Any corrections?

                   Current Holder         Next Defense
The Belt           Cornell                Alaska 10/29/2021
The Alt Belt       Massachusetts          Minnesota State 10/02/2021
AHC Belt           American International Army 10/21/2021
B1G Belt           Minnesota              2021-22
CCHA Belt          Lake Superior State    St. Thomas 10/15/2021
ECAC Belt          Cornell                Harvard 11/05/2021
ECAC Alt Belt      St. Lawrence           2021-22
HEA Belt           Massachusetts          Merrimack 10/29/2021
NCHC Belt          Minnesota Duluth       2021-22
Ivy Belt           Cornell                Harvard 11/05/2021
Eastern Belt       Massachusetts          American International 10/15/2021
Western Belt       St. Cloud              St. Thomas 10/02/2021
Connecticut Belt   Quinnipiac             2021-22
Massachusetts Belt Massachusetts          Merrimack 10/29/2021
Michigan Belt      Michigan Tech          2021-22
Minnesota Belt     St. Cloud              St. Thomas 10/02/2021
New York Belt      Cornell                Union 11/12/2021
D II Play up Belt  Lake Superior State    Michigan Tech 11/05/2021
D II P u Alt SO    American International Bentley 11/19/2021
D III Play up Belt Rensselaer             Union 10/29/2021
Play up Belt       Rensselaer             Union 10/29/2021

[AMC]

I am very bored. I think the earliest the belts could be consolidated is Friday, Nov. 19 when Omaha goes to Alaska.

UMass->Minnesota State->St. Cloud->Omaha
Cornell->Alaska

[Ralph Baer]

I think that i have everything except for Minnesota's next league game. I certainly appreciate any corrections.

                   Current Holder         Next Defense
The Belt           Cornell                Alaska 10/29/2021
The Alt Belt       Massachusetts          Minnesota State 10/02/2021
AHC Belt           American International Army 10/21/2021
B1G Belt           Minnesota              2021-22
CCHA Belt          Lake Superior State    St. Thomas 10/15/2021
ECAC Belt          Cornell                Harvard 11/05/2021
ECAC Alt Belt      St. Lawrence           Rensselaer 11/05/2021
HEA Belt           Massachusetts          Merrimack 10/29/2021
NCHC Belt          Minnesota Duluth       Western Michigan 11/05/2021
Ivy Belt           Cornell                Harvard 11/05/2021
Eastern Belt       Massachusetts          American International 10/15/2021
Western Belt       St. Cloud              St. Thomas 10/02/2021
Connecticut Belt   Quinnipiac             Yale 11/05/2021
Massachusetts Belt Massachusetts          Merrimack 10/29/2021
Michigan Belt      Michigan Tech          Lake Superior State 11/05/2021
Minnesota Belt     St. Cloud              St. Thomas 10/02/2021
New York Belt      Cornell                Union 11/12/2021
D II Play up Belt  Lake Superior State    Michigan Tech 11/05/2021
D II P u Alt SO    American International Bentley 11/19/2021
D III Play up Belt Rensselaer             Union 10/29/2021
Play up Belt       Rensselaer             Union 10/29/2021

[potternmu]

I have filled in the next opponent, when known, from the schedule spread sheet. Any corrections?

 Current Holder Next Defense
The Belt Cornell Alaska 10/29/2021
The Alt Belt Massachusetts Minnesota State 10/02/2021
AHC Belt American International Army 10/21/2021
B1G Belt Minnesota 2021-22
CCHA Belt Lake Superior State St. Thomas 10/15/2021
ECAC Belt Cornell Harvard 11/05/2021
ECAC Alt Belt St. Lawrence 2021-22
HEA Belt Massachusetts Merrimack 10/29/2021
NCHC Belt Minnesota Duluth 2021-22
Ivy Belt Cornell Harvard 11/05/2021
Eastern Belt Massachusetts American International 10/15/2021
Western Belt St. Cloud St. Thomas 10/02/2021
Connecticut Belt Quinnipiac 2021-22
Massachusetts Belt Massachusetts Merrimack 10/29/2021
Michigan Belt Michigan Tech 2021-22
Minnesota Belt St. Cloud St. Thomas 10/02/2021
New York Belt Cornell Union 11/12/2021
D II Play up Belt Lake Superior State Michigan Tech 11/05/2021
D II P u Alt SO American International Bentley 11/19/2021
D III Play up Belt Rensselaer Union 10/29/2021
Play up Belt Rensselaer Union 10/29/2021

I would argue that since
1. the CCHA is a "new" league, or
2. the CCHA is restarting with Mason Cup champion Notre Dame no longer in the league and therefore vacating the title,
the title would be vacant and the teams that play each other first would decide who starts with the belt. St. Thomas and NMU play the weekend of October 8-9, and that is the only conference matchup of the week.

But I concede that LSSU should keep the WCHA title in perpetuity

[Ralph Baer]

I would argue that since
1. the CCHA is a "new" league, or
2. the CCHA is restarting with Mason Cup champion Notre Dame no longer in the league and therefore vacating the title,
the title would be vacant and the teams that play each other first would decide who starts with the belt. St. Thomas and NMU play the weekend of October 8-9, and that is the only conference matchup of the week.

But I concede that LSSU should keep the WCHA title in perpetuity

This was discussed earlier in the thread. You are certainly correct that they way things have been is that if a league is new then one looks at who plays on the first day, and if there is more than one game on that day than all victors get Belts which are eventually unified.

The fact that LSSU had both the WCHA Belt and the continuation of the old CCHA Belt which was contested by the teams who were in the CCHA when it folded resulted in the suggestion to give them the new CCHA Belt. You are correct that Notre Dame held the old CCHA Belt when the league folded.

What I didn't want to do is have a new CCHA Belt and also a WCHA Belt contested by the still-existing teams that were in that league last season. What I did removed that.

If others want to chime in on this some more, we can change things until the new season starts.

[Proud2baLaker]

I say leave it how it is. The explanation you posted of LSSU having the WCHA and the old CCHA belt is sufficient to justify it.

[Ralph Baer]

With the B1G conference schedule released, all the next games are known. Any corrections?

                   Current Holder         Next Defense
The Belt           Cornell                Alaska 10/29/2021
The Alt Belt       Massachusetts          Minnesota State 10/02/2021
AHC Belt           American International Army 10/21/2021
B1G Belt           Minnesota              Notre Dame 10/29/2021
CCHA Belt          Lake Superior State    St. Thomas 10/15/2021
ECAC Belt          Cornell                Harvard 11/05/2021
ECAC Alt Belt      St. Lawrence           Rensselaer 11/05/2021
HEA Belt           Massachusetts          Merrimack 10/29/2021
NCHC Belt          Minnesota Duluth       Western Michigan 11/05/2021
Ivy Belt           Cornell                Harvard 11/05/2021
Eastern Belt       Massachusetts          American International 10/15/2021
Western Belt       St. Cloud              St. Thomas 10/02/2021
Connecticut Belt   Quinnipiac             Yale 11/05/2021
Massachusetts Belt Massachusetts          Merrimack 10/29/2021
Michigan Belt      Michigan Tech          Lake Superior State 11/05/2021
Minnesota Belt     St. Cloud              St. Thomas 10/02/2021
New York Belt      Cornell                Union 11/12/2021
D II Play up Belt  Lake Superior State    Michigan Tech 11/05/2021
D II P u Alt SO    American International Bentley 11/19/2021
D III Play up Belt Rensselaer             Union 10/29/2021
Play up Belt       Rensselaer             Union 10/29/2021

[John J. MacInnes]

This may require some research, but do you know offhand what school has the record of holding the most belts at one time and how many they held? Cornell and UMass with four right now is pretty impressive, especially at the same time as the other.

[Proud2baLaker]

This may require some research, but do you know offhand what school has the record of holding the most belts at one time and how many they held? Cornell and UMass with four right now is pretty impressive, especially at the same time as the other.

4 is impressive. 7 would be the max one would could get I think. The Belt, Conference Belt, East/West Belt, State Belt, DII or DIII play up, Play Up, and the 7th would be the Ivy belt. That Ivy Belt would limit that max of 7 only to teams in the Ivy of course so the max is 6 for other DII and DIII teams and 4 for teams that are truly D-I across the board. Ralph would have to confirm but I would be the 4 is the max number any one team has held at least for a while. So if I am not mistaken UMass currently having their 4 maxes them out which is also impressive.