U.S. College Hockey Online has learned that a forthcoming proposal from Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference sources will suggest expanding the NCAA men’s Division I championship tournament from its current 12 teams to 16.
The NCAA Championship Cabinet is expected to take up the proposal in two weeks. If approved, a 16-team tournament featuring four regional sites could begin play in 2000-01.
Sources familiar with the proposal have told USCHO that they feel “very good” about its chances for approval.
The proposed expansion would likely have the side effect of improving the nascent MAAC hockey league’s chances of obtaining an automatic bid to the tournament, and could also lead to the women’s championships being played at the same sites as the men’s.
