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Super league for university may be in near futureMONTREAL (CP) - Thecreation of a Canadian university hockey “super league”* has been in the planning stages for almost 10 years, but 1980 may be the year the formation becomes reality.Forty university teams representing five regions do battle each year for the coveted Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union championship.But there are four or five teams who regularly dominate their respective divisions and, just as frequently, are the eventual finalists in the CIAU showdown.Teams such as University of Toronto Blues, Alberta Golden Bears of Edmonton and the Halifax-based St. Mary’s Huskies are three such perennial powerhouses.At a CIAU coaches’ meeting scheduled in March at Regina, the imbalance could well be corrected and the NationalDrug Ltd.en:o 11 p.m. i a weekMagrath Drive 328-5509annum)University Hockey League bom.The league could consist of from 10 to 12 teams, or possibly as many as 16. It would be divided into two divisions — the East, comprising teams from Quebec and the Mari-times, and West, with clubs representing Ontario, the Prairies and British Columbia.A tier system, similar to that of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States, would see the weaker Canadian squads grouped into two or three other divisions.With the re-emergence of Canada on the international hockey scene, Arsenault says the new league would serve as an ideal launching pad for players to join the national team.Lou Lefaive, who this week became president of Hockey Canada, said one of his priorities is development of the university league to act as a feeder for Canada's national squad.Lefaive’s appointment delighted Arsenault, he said. “With Hockey Canada lending moral support and Lou at the helm, I’m convinced the league will become a reality by next fall.”Universities now allot about $30,000 toward their hockey programs and, to enter the proposed league, an additional $25,000 would have to be raised by each team.It would be up to each university to devise a means of raising the additonal funds, but Arsenault says one method would be to sell 500 season tickets at $50 a head.Since 1963, when national university championships started, there have been no significant changes made to the university hockey program, and Arsenault said he feels the “super league” is the ideal way to break the “stagnancy.”Arsenault said many university athletic directors have too many other programs,
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Fri, Jan 25, 1980
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason P.
USA 02 Dec 2018
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