The Division III Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Committees reaffirmed that men have the priority for hosting the championship finals in 2005, as the women had in 2004.

The committees, which met June 8-11 in San Francisco, have agreed that the same
site should not host both championships. Addressing the issue in advance provides a fair way to decide which team would host if one school had both its men's and women's teams as the top seeds.

A summary of actions taken during the committees' separate meetings follows.

Men's committee actions

The men's committee is recommending changes that if implemented could help support the Olympic ice hockey program. The group is requesting that the Division III Management Council Practice and Playing Seasons Subcommittee support a proposal that would allow an annual exemption for games played against the USA Hockey national team development program.

The change would involve amending NCAA Bylaw 17.14.5.3-(f), which allows for an annual exemption in the number of ice hockey contests/dates of competition for a foreign team in the United States. Currently, one contest each year with a foreign opponent in the United States is allowed.

The exemption not only would provide support for the Olympic program, but it also would help in the development of Division III student-athletes.

Such an exemption already is allowed in Division I ice hockey.

Other exemptions currently allowed are: The conference championship, conference playoff, season-ending tournaments, NCAA championship play-in competition, alumni games, foreign teams in the U.S., fund-raising activities and celebrity-sports activities. Also, teams may make a foreign tour once every three years, and a tour to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico once every four years.

The committee also discussed the results of an online survey of coaches on the selection criteria. No changes are being recommended at this time, but the discussion is expected to continue.

Women's committee actions

The women's ice hockey committee voted to change its composition to ensure that all conferences are represented. The group had been asked by the Division III Nominating Committee to review the size of its committee. The committee voted to reduce the number of members from six to five but also is recommending that each playing conference be represented. The committee also said it prefers to have one coach and one administrator from each of the two regions (East and West) on the committee.

The proposal now goes to the Division III Management Council for consideration. If approved, it would become effective immediately.

In championship-related news, the committee decided it will fly two referees from the region not hosting the finals to the championship site.

The committee also reviewed two items at the request of the Management Council's Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee. The committee determined that the length of scrimmages should be one and one-half times the length of a regular game, or about 90 minutes. The group also determined that the appropriate minimum number of games required for sport sponsorship should remain at 12.

The women's committee also selected Frank O'Brien, athletics director at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, as chair beginning in September. He replaces Albert D. Bean Jr., athletics director at the University of Southern Maine, whose term expires in September.