ryan@fremen.DEC (DTN 264-8280 MK01-2/E25) (01/18/86)
w/o permission from Boston Globe, 1/17/86
The ambitious concept that brought together teams from Hockey East and the
Western Collegiate Hockey Association will be tempered next season, setting
up a schedule that will have each of the seven Hockey East teams meeting
each other four times and WCHA teams just once.
"We both have conceded a problem," said Boston University coach Jack Parker
at a gathering of coaches yesterday. "Our problem is that we have a hard
time drawing the second night. We drew 3,300 for a 4-4 game against Denver
last year, and just 1,800 to see a 5-4 overtime win the next night. Out fans
don't want to give up a whole weekend."
Next season, instead, Hockey East teams will engage in home-and-home weekend
series. "This way," said Parker, "we'll each get our home crowds."
The marriage of the two leagues has been sometimes marred by the
officiating. "We put forth an effort to put 4,000 people in a rink and we
have an official call a penalty anytime someone shows emotion... You can't
bang a stick on the ice," said Northern Michigan coach Rick Comley.
Parker, however, offered that the officiating has improved: "I haven't been
thrown out of a game this year."
Mike Ryan
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