Through the confusion lies the answer. That is perhaps the best way to explain the complex seeding and tournament system that is utilized by the American Collegiate Hockey Association for its Div. II program.
The ACHA divides all the teams in Div. II hockey into four smaller divisions -- the Northeast, Southeast, Central and West -- which the ACHA uses to rank the teams for the national tournament. However, only the top four teams from each division move on to Anaheim, Calif., for the ACHA National Tournament.
On Friday, the ACHA released its fourth and final ranking before the final tournament seedings are released on Feb. 3. Penn State moved up to No. 2, behind No. 1 Siena College, in the Northeast division, the highest rank the Ice Lions have attained all year.
Although a No. 1 ranking was the goal, Penn State goalie Brian Gratz is content.
"Well obviously, being as highly ranked as possible so we can get the best seed out of our region is the key motivation factor," Gratz said.
The Ice Lions started the year at No. 4 in the Northeast, and then spent the last two rankings stuck at No. 3.
The only meeting between the Ice Lions and No. 1 Siena resulted in a defeat for Penn State, 3-2.
Many aspects go into deciding the rankings, such as wins, losses and overall strength of schedule.
Penn State Ice Lions coach Mo Stroemel said his team has had the toughest schedule in the Northeast division, so the No. 2 ranking is nothing to overlook.
"By the end of the season [we] will play 21 of 29 games against ranked opponents," Stroemel said.
By the coach's count, 68 percent of Penn State's opponents have been ranked, as opposed to No. 1 Siena, which has played ranked opponents 59 percent of the time.
Penn State and Siena do not play each other again during this regular season.
The Northeast division also includes No. 3 Stony Brook University and No. 4 Westfield State. However, due to Westfield State's probationary status, it would not be allowed to advance into the national tournament if it still qualified when the year-end rankings come out on Monday.
In the other divisions around the ACHA, Div. II:
--The Southeast division is being led by the No. 1 Miami University of Ohio, followed by No. 2 Indiana University, No. 3 Indiana University of Pennsylvania and No. 4 Liberty University.
--In the Central division, Oakland University of Michigan has the No. 1 seed, trailed by No. 2 University of Michigan, No. 3 Central Michigan and No. 4 University of Illinois.
--In the West division (as of 12/8/02), No. 1 is Colorado University, followed by No. 2 Colorado State University, No. 3 Weber State and No. 4 University of Utah.
--In the National Tournament, the rankings play a large role in the team matchups.
--The top four from each division are selected for a total of sixteen invited teams for the tournament. It then breaks down into four pools: A-D.
Through all the confusion, the answer should become abundantly clear for all to see in late February, when the ACHA Div. II champion is declared in the Golden State.
