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solution to ECAC-West problem?

D

DH003325

Registered User
With the likely departure of M'ville to the ECAC-East and the ECAC-West likely dwindling to 4 teams, I thought of a possible solution to the autobid problem.
Why not combine the ECAC-East and West teams for playoff purposes only. They wouldn't have to have an interlock for the regular season, but have a 10-12 team playoff combined tournament(depending on how many East teams jump to the MASCAC). Include every team like the East already does so no-one gets screwed.
As all of the teams wouldn't be playing each other, a committee would have to seed the teams for the tourney, but this is the way it used to be. Back before 1992, when ECAC-West teams and SUNYAC were combined, and the ECAC-East and NESCAC were combined, committees used to seed the conference tourneys every year.
This way everybody has an autobid in 2012, there will be 8 conference tourneys, and still 3 Pool C bids.
Thoughts?
 
Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

DH003325 said:
With the likely departure of M'ville to the ECAC-East and the ECAC-West likely dwindling to 4 teams, I thought of a possible solution to the autobid problem.
Why not combine the ECAC-East and West teams for playoff purposes only. They wouldn't have to have an interlock for the regular season, but have a 10-12 team playoff combined tournament(depending on how many East teams jump to the MASCAC). Include every team like the East already does so no-one gets screwed.
As all of the teams wouldn't be playing each other, a committee would have to seed the teams for the tourney, but this is the way it used to be. Back before 1992, when ECAC-West teams and SUNYAC were combined, and the ECAC-East and NESCAC were combined, committees used to seed the conference tourneys every year.
This way everybody has an autobid in 2012, there will be 8 conference tourneys, and still 3 Pool C bids.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

My first and only thought is really can they still do this?

Actually, second thought too...Why would the ECAC East want to compete against more teams for the AQ when they don't have to. What incentive do they have?

I see that vote going 8-4....
 
Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

PrezdeJohnson09 said:
Actually, second thought too...Why would the ECAC East want to compete against more teams for the AQ when they don't have to. What incentive do they have?

I see that vote going 8-4....
Click to expand...

Exactly. Give the ECAC East one, just one, any one, good reason why in the world they should do this?

BTW, Thank God we have another thread on the ECAC West problem. I could not survive a week without one...
 
Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

I didn't realize that ECAC-East had been begging Manhattanville to join them and Manhattanville said, "no thanks, we are just fine where we are as it is easier to get into the NCAA's out of the ECAC-West." :confused:
 
Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

UCBadger said:
I didn't realize that ECAC-East had been begging Manhattanville to join them and Manhattanville said, "no thanks, we are just fine where we are as it is easier to get into the NCAA's out of the ECAC-West." :confused:
Click to expand...

Whoever said the ECAC East is doing the begging?

I believe it is Manhattanville who has been knocking on the ECAC East door.
 
Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

Another season like this one in 2012 could find the ECAC-W SOL in the NCAA department. They need to do something.
 
Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

joecct said:
Another season like this one in 2012 could find the ECAC-W SOL in the NCAA department. They need to do something.
Click to expand...

I agree but what can they do?

The ECAC East has no incentive to combine with them. The ECAC doesn't have the power to re-align the conferences.

The ECAC dropped the ball in trying to get Adrian last year. Imagine how much different things would be if that had happened?

The only solution is more programs. But, in this economy, who is going to be starting new programs or elevating their programs to varsity D-III status?
 
Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

PrezdeJohnson09 said:
I agree but what can they do?

The ECAC East has no incentive to combine with them. The ECAC doesn't have the power to re-align the conferences.
Click to expand...
And that is the question....just what is the ECAC if they have no control over "their" conferences? A federation of organizations (or whatever they have on Prairie Home Companion)?

Of course this is all Adrian's fault. ;)
 
Re: solution to ECAC-West problem?

UCBadger said:
And they opened that door right up, right?????
Click to expand...

The door is ajar until two things are decided. First is the interlock vote. That has an impact on what the ECAC-East might want to do as far as picking up another member. THe other factor is the two D-II schools, and their status.
(I might point out that if the interlock IS broken, and the door to the East is opened, Utica is a shorter drive than the one currently made to Hamilton. Food for thought....)

With the MASCAC due to get a Pool A slot soon, and the elimination of the pool B at that point, the competition for those remaining pool C's will be increased. Were that to be the case this year, what effect would that have had on the ECAC-West?
 
Is there a solution??

Is there a solution??

I (for one) frankly don't believe that the ECAC/W will survive.

a) The CHA did not survive with eerily similar circumstances (ie schools in no one's primary catchment area)
b) The economy is so bad that hockey contraction is the only foreseeable movement in the next few years
c) Non-ECAC/W Schools have already made 'noises' over traveling to West-BeJesus
d) The ECAC is powerless to enforce re-alignment
e) The marketable schools, whichever they may be, will be begging to move to viable conferences.
f) Once the Pool B is gone, the ECAC/W will be Adrianized by the other Eastern conferences.

Once one more school does move / dissolve ... pull the plug.
 
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Re: Is there a solution??

Re: Is there a solution??

elbojpb said:
I (for one) frankly don't believe that the ECAC/W will survive.

a) The CHA did not survive with eerily similar circumstances (ie schools in no one's primary catchment area)
b) The economy is so bad that hockey contraction is the only foreseeable movement in the next few years
c) Non-ECAC/W Schools have already made 'noises' over traveling to West-BeJesus
d) The ECAC is powerless to enforce re-alignment
e) The marketable schools, whichever they may be, will be begging to move to viable conferences.

Once one more school does move / dissolve ... pull the plug.
Click to expand...

mmm, yes I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately. Seems to me;

A 5 team league + no pool B = an irrelevant ECACW.:(
 
Re: Is there a solution??

Re: Is there a solution??

jim32 said:
mmm, yes I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately. Seems to me;

A 5 team league + no pool B = an irrelevant ECACW.:(
Click to expand...

Five or six teams...didn't matter once the MASCAC got its AQ.

Our only hope was to add another teams but since that doesn't seem like it has a chance at happening, we were screwed long before LVC dropped.

They dropped the ball when they had the chance to add Adrian last year and now the ECAC West is dwindling towards irrelevant status.
 
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