July 16, 2006

CAPE COD, Mass. (June 16, 2006) - Interim Commissioner Stephen R. Bamford announced today the athletic directors of the ECAC Men's West Ice Hockey League have approved a new playoff structure.

In a unanimous decision via conference call on Thursday, June 15, the athletic directors adopted a new five team playoff format which will take affect immediately and will be in place for the 2006-07 season.  The playoffs will open up on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 with the number five seed traveling to the number four seed (Game 1).  The semifinals will be played on Saturday, February 24, with the winner of Game 1 traveling to the number one seed (Game 2) and the number three seed will travel to the number two seed (Game 3).  The Game 2 and 3 winners will face off for the championship game on Saturday, March 3 at the highest remaining seeds rink.

"I applaud the athletic directors and coaches for approving this new five team playoff format." said Bamford.  "The new format will benefit the student-athletes and coaching staffs of a fifth team by giving them a playoff experience.  Host institutions and the league will also benefit with the new format because there is a longer period of time in between games allowing for more marketing and promotion of the playoff games. Our hope is that a greater atmosphere, in terms of more fans and coverage, will be developed under this new format."

The ECAC Men's West League is one of five division III ice hockey league the ECAC sponsors.  The league is comprised of Elmira College, Hobart College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Neumann College and Utica College.