Remember that travel partners are responsible for scheduling the games between each other; the league does not assign that. The league will take various events into action, such as the huge rivalry between Harvard and Cornell that was mentioned. As for RPI/Union, that's more of for the non-league trophy matchup in January in the same building as the ECAC offices usually drawing about 7000 (especially after the coach fight), so they give those two teams the entire week off. Obviously they don't do the same for Harvard with the Beanpot, although there's a gentleman's agreement between most institutions, save Brown (who insisted the game be on the Saturday prior). Every member has different wants and needs, and it's tough to facilitate them all, so sometimes you have to give and take. I'm sure if your coach and/or AD were to present such a case to Hagwell and the powers that be, there might be something that could be done.