Commissioners from the nation’s six Division I ice hockey conferences have announced a 33-game series to be played among the conferences throughout the 2006-2007 season. The third annual Commissioners’ Cup Series faces off with the Denver visiting Miami on Friday, Oct. 6, in the opening round of the Ice Breaker Tournament. Miami will open its new arena that night, naming the facility after former head coach Steve Cady. The ECAC Hockey League has won both of the Commissioners’ Cup series played to date.
The total number of games designated for this year’s competition remains at 33 and involves 49 different Division I programs. Each conference participates in 11 designated contests, each league playing five home games, five away, and one at a neutral site.
Commissioners’ Cup standings will be maintained with two points awarded for each victory and a point for a tie. The conference which amasses the most points through its eleven games will be presented with the Commissioners’ Cup at its conference championship weekend.
“This is a repeat opportunity to create a little added excitement to regular season games for the fans,” said Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna. “We again have sought games that collectively give every league a fair shot at this particular title.”
Eight schools appear on the schedule more than once as 49 of the nation’s 59 Division I ice hockey institutions will participate this year. Every program in the country has appeared at least once in the three years since the Cup was launched.
“It was important to us that we spread participation beyond perennial national powers,” said Bertagna. “We have done that while also including some of our nationally-ranked programs as well.”
2006-07 Commissioner’s Cup Schedule
October
Friday, Oct. 6
Denver (WCHA) at Miami (CCHA)
Saturday, Oct. 7
Robert Morris (CHA) at Canisius (AHA)
Sunday, Oct. 8
Alabama-Huntsville (CHA) at Air Force (AHA)
Saturday, Oct. 14
Boston University (HEA) at Rensselaer (ECACHL)
Friday, Oct. 20
Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA) at Alaska-Fairbanks (CCHA)
Minnesota (WCHA) at Ohio State (CCHA)
Bowling Green (CCHA) at Providence (HEA)
New Hampshire (HEA) at Colorado College (WCHA)
Saturday, Oct. 21
Notre Dame (CCHA) at Providence (HEA)
Union (ECACHL) at Northeastern (HEA)
Lake Superior (CCHA) at Clarkson (ECACHL)
Michigan Tech (WCHA) at Vermont (HEA)
Friday, Oct. 27
Sacred Heart (AHA) at Wayne State (CHA)
Alabama-Huntsville (CHA) vs. Air Force (AHA) in Tampa, Fla.
Saturday, Oct. 28
Northeastern (HEA) at Michigan (CCHA)
Boston College (HEA) at Wisconsin (WCHA)
November
Friday, Nov. 3
Bemidji State (CHA) at MN State Mankato (WCHA)
Saturday, Nov. 18
Connecticut (AHA) at Massachusetts (HEA)
Tuesday, Nov. 21
Yale (ECACHL) at Mercyhurst (AHA)
Saturday, Nov. 25
Michigan (CCHA) at Minnesota (WCHA)
AIC (AHA) at Brown (ECACHL)
Sunday, Nov. 26
Robert Morris (CHA) at Air Force (AHA)
December
Friday, Dec. 1
Princeton (ECACHL) at Alabama-Huntsville (CHA)
Friday, Dec. 8
Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA) at Bemidji State (CHA)
Saturday, Dec. 9
Colgate (ECACHL) at St. Cloud State (WCHA)
Sunday, Dec. 10
Bentley (AHA) at Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA)
Friday, Dec. 29
Merrimack (HEA) at Robert Morris (CHA)
Cornell (ECACHL) vs. New Hampshire (HEA) at Estero, Fla.
Michigan Tech (WCHA) vs. Michigan (CCHA) at Detroit, Mich.
Saturday, Dec. 30
Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) at Yale (ECACHL)
January
Saturday, Jan. 6
Niagara (CHA) at RIT (AHA)
Tuesday, Jan. 16
Holy Cross (AHA) at Dartmouth (ECACHL)
Saturday, Jan. 20
Quinnipiac (ECACHL) at Niagara (CHA)
