ECAC Responds To UVM Game Cancellation

The Eastern College Athletic Conference moved quickly to adjust its schedule and standings in the wake of the University of Vermont's decision to cancel the remainder of its hockey schedule. Vermont, through a January 14 announcement by President Judith A. Romaley, cancelled its final 17 games (15 of which were ECAC league games) as a result of an investigation into hazing allegations within the men's ice hockey program.

Accordingly, the ECAC announced on January 17 that the ECAC standings would be kept by way of winning percentage, instead of points earned. Vermont would finish as the 12th place team, due to an incomplete schedule, and the remaining 11 ECAC schools would compete for the ten playoff positions.

Also, the ECAC Individual Scoring Title would be determined on a points-per-game basis, rather than by total points. Further, Dartmouth College, Vermont's travel partner, would re-schedule its ECAC league games to minimize the effect of playing two games each weekend to one game played by each of its opponents. The seven remaining league weekends would find Dartmouth playing either Thursday-Saturday (once), Friday-Sunday, or Saturday-Monday (once).

On a related note, the NCAA Division I Hockey Committee confirmed that all games played against Vermont this season would count in the committee's post-season deliberations.

Army To Join MAAC for 2000-2001 Season

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and the United States Military Academy announced jointly on January 24 that Army would become the eleventh member of the MAAC Hockey League for the 2000-2001 season.

'We are pleased with the addition of Army as the eleventh member of the MAAC Hockey League,' said MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor. 'Their rich tradition, top-notch facilities, and great location are a perfect fit within the MAAC.'

Army is currently competing in the first-year College Hockey America (CHA) conference, after several years as an NCAA Division I Independent. The MAAC becomes the third Diviion I conference for the Cadets who participated in the ECAC Division I League from 1984-85 through 1990-91.

"We are very excited for our hockey program to have the opportunity to join the MAAC,' said Army athletic director Rick Greenspan. 'This will reduce the travel obligations for our squad considerably while providing our fans the ability to follow our team on the road. We also feel strongly that the MAAC champion will be afforded an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament in the near future and welcome the opportunity to compete for that spot.'

In other MAAC news, the conference announced in late December that the 2000 MAAC Championships from the University of Connecticut will be sponsored by Easton and that the title game will be broadcast live on MSG Network and Empire Sports Network at 12:00 noon on March 18.