ECAC Playoff Changes

[Iceberg]

2022: none
2021: no QFs
2020: 11-6 upset
2019: none
2018: 9-8 upset
2017: none
2016: none
2015: 9-8, 10-7 upsets
2014: 10-7
2013: 9-8 upset
2012: 9-8, 10-7 upsets

And the one "upset" in 2013 was the last time Cornell actually had to start off on the road in the first round. I remember that sweep at Princeton and I don't think too many people thought the home team was going to win that series

[marty]

is this really a good thing and why the change?

• Fewer costs: only one night in a hotel
• Less time away from campus (or faster start on spring break if you lose)
• First-round survivors less worn for the quarterfinals
• Less chance of injury
• Better odds the QF hosts (the 1-4 teams) will meet a 9-12 ("anything can happen in a single game" ) not 5-8. Good if we're a 1-4 more often than 5-12.

In the last 5 years, I wonder how often a 9-12 has advanced to the QFs in a best-of-3?

2022: none
2021: no QFs
2020: 11-6 upset
2019: none
2018: 9-8 upset
2017: none
2016: none
2015: 9-8, 10-7 upsets
2014: 10-7
2013: 9-8 upset
2012: 9-8, 10-7 upsets

How many of these would have flipped (including the 8 upsets and the 32 instances of the lower seed winning) if the new rule had been in effect?

[French Rage]

is this really a good thing and why the change?

• Fewer costs: only one night in a hotel
• Less time away from campus (or faster start on spring break if you lose)
• First-round survivors less worn for the quarterfinals
• Less chance of injury
• Better odds the QF hosts (the 1-4 teams) will meet a 9-12 ("anything can happen in a single game" ) not 5-8. Good if we're a 1-4 more often than 5-12.

In the last 5 years, I wonder how often a 9-12 has advanced to the QFs in a best-of-3?

2022: none
2021: no QFs
2020: 11-6 upset
2019: none
2018: 9-8 upset
2017: none
2016: none
2015: 9-8, 10-7 upsets
2014: 10-7
2013: 9-8 upset
2012: 9-8, 10-7 upsets

How many of these would have flipped (including the 8 upsets and the 32 instances of the lower seed winning) if the new rule had been in effect?

2022: 11-6
2021: no QF
2020: 11-6, 10-7
2019: none
2018: 9-8
2017: 10-7
2016: none
2015: 10-7
2014: 12-5
2013: 12-5
2012: 12-5, 10-7, 9-8

[billhoward]

"Tournaments don't determine the best team. They determine the champion."

Gives the losing side more to bitch about until the start of the next season.

Gad, there are so many sports cliches. I personally like "You can't coach height."

[abmarks]

And we now have the reasoning:

From https://www.uscho.com/2022/11/16/this-week-in-ecac-hockey-length-review-discussion-period-leads-conference-to-revamp-postseason-format-for-2023-games/

I think it's fair to say that the men's coaches wanted to retain the format that's been in existence for the previous 20 years," Hagwell said. "There's no question about that.

"I think the realities are that [cost savings] are the case," he later explained. "If a North Country team is going to Princeton, for example, for three games and then they come home and win and have to go somewhere else – Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, wherever – versus a one game scenario, I won't say it's simple math, but it's simple math."

[upprdeck]

Its simple math for sure.. Its a couple more possible days in a hotel and food for 30+ people x4.  Travel cost is the same.  You also have to look at the revenue generated since the league gets the playoff money more than the local school does.

just spitball some random numbers, 2K of tickets at say $25 is $5k of income.  30 people is $100 a night for 15 rooms is $1500, food is 30x$100 a day is $3000?  so you spent 5k and made 5K..

could be off by thousands I suppose

[billhoward]

Maybe deep down the ECAC figures whoever is 5-12 is an also-ran and it doesn't matter which of them the 1-4 teams face. If a 9-12 team makes it through to play a 1-4 in the QFs, that makes it a little easier for the 1-4s to advance. This year, Quinnipiac and Harvard are almost certain to be in Lake Placid the weekend of March 17-18. Probably Cornell. No matter what the first round format.

Still with single-elimination first round games: slightly less chance of injuries that weekend ... how excited are the fans at the 5-8 schools that host round 1? ...

About your numbers: I still don't get how men's ice hockey makes money at all but a few schools. I don't know if women's ice hockey makes money at any school. When we went to Princeton for the women's game and sat at center ice in the Princeton section (with a lot of player parents, relatives -- correction, Cornell parents, Cornell relatives), I wonder if anybody but us paid to attend? Princeton sudents get in free.

[Trotsky]

But those sweet TV rights.

[David Harding]

Its simple math for sure.. Its a couple more possible days in a hotel and food for 30+ people x4.  Travel cost is the same.  You also have to look at the revenue generated since the league gets the playoff money more than the local school does.

just spitball some random numbers, 2K of tickets at say $25 is $5k of income.  30 people is $100 a night for 15 rooms is $1500, food is 30x$100 a day is $3000?  so you spent 5k and made 5K..

could be off by thousands I suppose

You're assuming each school gets 10% of the gate and ECACH takes 80%?

[upprdeck]

your assuming that i dont know.

[jtwcornell91]

Its simple math for sure.. Its a couple more possible days in a hotel and food for 30+ people x4.  Travel cost is the same.  You also have to look at the revenue generated since the league gets the playoff money more than the local school does.

just spitball some random numbers, 2K of tickets at say $25 is $5k of income.  30 people is $100 a night for 15 rooms is $1500, food is 30x$100 a day is $3000?  so you spent 5k and made 5K..

could be off by thousands I suppose

You're assuming each school gets 10% of the gate and ECACH takes 80%?

The assumption of 2000 fans at a typical ECAC playoff game is probably off by a factor of a few as well. :-/