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The NCAA News -- July 5, 1999

Hockey selection process adjusted

Keeping with selection principle guidelines adopted by the Division III membership at the 1999 NCAA Convention, the Division III Men's Ice Hockey Committee has recommended changes in the selection process of teams for the Division III championship.

At its June 7-10 meeting in Indianapolis, the committee recommended to the Division III Championships Committee that the current championship-selection process be replaced by a process that emphasizes regional competition and increases the number of automatic-qualifying slots.

Specifically, the committee recommended that automatic-qualifying privileges be granted to five conference champions effective with the 1999-00 season. Those conferences include the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East and Northeast, Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA), and the State University of New York Athletic (SUNYAC) and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences (MIAC). The remaining three slots in the eight-team bracket would be selected at large.

Currently, the tournament champions of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association and the State University of New York Athletic and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences are awarded automatic-qualifying status. The remaining five teams are selected at large.

In submitting the recommendation, the committee noted that the championship would take on a greater regional flavor and reduce travel for teams participating in the championship. In addition, teams would -- with one exception -- remain in their geographical region.

Under the format, if five East-based teams are selected for the championship, the top four seeds would remain in the East bracket, with the No. 5 seeded East team completing the West bracket.

Further, if six East teams qualify for the championship, the six seeds would remain in the East region, with the Nos. 1 and 2 West seeded teams competing to advance to the championship finals.

In other actions, the committee:

  • Denoted that selection of teams for the 2000 championship would be March 5, that the championship quarterfinals would be March 10-11, and that the championship finals would be March 17-18.

  • Proposed to the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) that it conduct a weekly national poll, which would replace the current regional poll conducted by the Division III ice hockey committee.