New ECAC Playoff Format

jason · February 12, 2002, 09:43:15 AM

This is actually picking up from another thread ("goalies") that had briefly drifted off its original topic...

Ok, the new format will have two rounds of best-of-3 with the top 4 teams getting a bye for the first round. So what is the timing for all of this? Does this mean that the ECAC playoffs will require another week and that the bye teams will be idle for the first weekend (which I would think would not be that desirable to the bye teams) or are they cramming in the additional round midweek with the second round happening on the first weekend just as the "quints" do now? That latter plan is terrible for the student part of the student-athlete since with travel the away teams could be missing up to 4 days of classes (won't/didn't the Ivy powers-that-be balk at this?). I fear that this new playoff format could undermine the Ivies' chances of increasing the cap on regular season games.

jtwcornell91 · February 12, 2002, 10:07:23 AM

The extra best-of-three series will take place over the weekend, increasing the playoffs from two to three weekends. (Eliminating the week off between the NCAA Regionals and Frozen Four[TM] will create an extra week which was going to be used to give Harvard more Beanpot relief, but which will now accomodate the longer playoffs.)

zg88 · February 12, 2002, 04:34:50 PM

> ...Beanpot relief...

::laugh::

Give My Regards · February 13, 2002, 03:59:41 PM

So, in a way, the new format screws Harvard?

All of a sudden, I like this new format a lot more :-)

Neil Shapiro \'83 · February 13, 2002, 04:40:02 PM

Amen Bill.....

And does anybody else feel ill whenever someone mentions the Cleary(Sucks) Cup?

I think that we should continue to refer to the ECAC Championship, and ignore the hardware

zg88 · February 13, 2002, 04:47:14 PM

ABSOLUTELY!!! ::yark::

jtwcornell91 · February 13, 2002, 04:47:27 PM

We have to call it the Cleary Cup because the ECAC Championship is the one associated with the Whitelaw Trophy. (Besides, "Clea-ry Tro-phy" makes a better chant.)

Greg Berge · February 13, 2002, 04:58:24 PM

You'd think the ECAC tourny would have the "Ned Harkness Trophy."

jeh25 · February 13, 2002, 05:01:43 PM

That is the Everblades Holiday Tourney Trophy, yes?

Greg Berge · February 13, 2002, 05:02:37 PM

It wouldn't be the first time he covered his bet. ;-)

jason · February 13, 2002, 06:00:54 PM

So the bye teams are idle for a weekend. I'm inclined to think that the surviving non-bye teams would be better prepared for the second round. Barring injuries that would heal with an extra week's time, the bye week doesn't strike me as wholly positive for the bye team. Or am I attributing too much significance to the "rust" factor for a two week period?

Greg Berge · February 13, 2002, 06:26:08 PM

There may be rust, but since it's a best of three it'll be less of a factor than if it were single elimination.

I'm sure the bye teams will do something during the weekend to keep their rhythym. Maybe Cornell should schedule red-white open practices at Lynah and invite the fans -- it could be a pep rally.

Lowell '99 · February 13, 2002, 10:57:20 PM

This brings up one of my favorite annoying sports themes. Will the team have too much "rust," or will they be "well-rested"? Does a team coming off a few wins "have momentum" or are they "due for a loss"? Are they "hungry" or will they "overlook their opponent"? And most important, do they have "bad personal hygiene"?

GoBigRed \'03 · February 13, 2002, 11:17:00 PM

::laugh:: What was the name of that Chris Farley character, Lowell?

ugarte · February 13, 2002, 11:28:13 PM

Matt Foley, who lives in a van down by the river.

New ECAC Playoff Format

Neil Shapiro \'83

GoBigRed \'03