National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

August 3, 1998

Division I -- Ice hockey selection criteria to focus on final 16 games

Selection criteria and eligibility for championships were the primary topics of discussion at the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee meeting July 7-10 in Monterey, California.

At its annual meeting, the committee revised championship selection criterion No. 4 to state that a team's results during the last 16 games of the season would be considered during the selection process. Previously, results of the last 20 games of the season were considered.

In addition to revising one of its selection criteria, the committee noted that it reserves the right to evaluate each team based on the relative strength of their respective conference using the overall conference ratings percentage index (RPI) in determining competitive equity.

In other actions at its July 7-10 meeting in Monterey, California, the committee:

  • Met with Jeff Fanter, Eastern College Athletic Conference ice hockey commissioner; Bruce McLeod, Western College Hockey Association commissioner; and Tom Anastos, Central Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner.

  • Reviewed the requests of the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and Niagara University on the status of their eligibility and countable games for the RPI.