This year's installment of the ACHA's Div. I season-ending championship tournament held March 2-6 in Newark, Del., featured two "play-in" games for teams ranked 7-10. These teams played on March 2 before pool play began the following day. Winners advanced to one of two pools and competed in the round-robin format.

The No. 8 Fighting Illini were bounced by No. 9 Eastern Michigan, 3-1, in their "play-in" contest.

"Personally, I voted against the 10-team format," Illinois coach Chad Cassel said. "I am for the involvement of as many teams as we can possibly get. (But) if we were one of the 7-10 teams next year we wouldn't go to the national tournament."

Last year Iowa State hosted nationals, when only eight teams were invited. Had it not been for the expanded format, Eastern Michigan would have never had the opportunity to skate in the round-robin games this year.

Not that it mattered.

The Eagles went 0-3 in their games against No. 1 Iowa State, No. 4 Ohio and No. 5 Delaware. They were outscored by a combined total of 21-10. Towson, the other "play-in" game victor, fared much worse. The No. 7 Tigers were drubbed 18-1 during pool play.

"The top four teams have really separated themselves from the rest of the 10," Iowa State coach Al Murdoch said. "The quality of play and the size of players, and the strength, we're pushing it now by having four games in four days."

Forget about Cinderella stories. For any of the "play-in" teams to steal the ACHA title, it would have to win five games in as many days.

By playing the extra game, Towson and Eastern Michigan showed symptoms of tired teams. Plus the higher-seeded clubs are typically deeper, making the hill to climb even steeper.

"I have never been a fan of the 10-team tournament," Delaware coach Josh Brandwene said. "I don't think it's fair to any of the teams who play in the 'play-in' games."

Towson advanced to pool play with an emotional 4-3 win over No. 10 Western Michigan. What was its prize? The Tigers played an eager No. 2 Penn State team the next day. Eastern Michigan faced top-seeded Iowa State in its pool opener.

With the stage set for a letdown, both Towson and Eastern Michigan took the cue with 5-1 and 7-2 losses, respectively.

Nothing has been decided for next year. Tournament site and format will be determined at the ACHA national meeting in May.

A return to the eight-team tournament seems like the logical solution. But West Virginia coach Ty Newberry offered a creative alternative.

"I'd like to see some sort of regional tournament that leads to the national tournament," Newberry said. "Have the top 10 ranked teams from each region go head to head and maybe take the top two or three teams from each bracket."

Currently, ACHA Div. I is composed of 27 teams. St. Louis will make the jump from Div. II to I for next season, and with an expanding league the likelihood of a regional tournament would increase.

But one thing is certain, a 10-team format was not well received by ACHA coaches. And the demands placed upon the "play-in" teams were unreasonable.

"There's no athletic department in the country that would encourage any team at this level to play five games in five days," Cassel said. "Physically, it's just not good for them."