FRANKLIN – Scott Paine is aware of it could add much more onto his plate because the MIAA statewide hockey event director.
He additionally desires to make sure that as many individuals as doable benefit from the postseason expertise.
At Tuesday’s MIAA Tournament Management Committee assembly, the group voted unanimously that event video games starting with the quarterfinals (Round of 8) can be performed at impartial amenities. For this spherical solely, the upper seed can be allowed to pick what was beforehand accredited by the TMC with the understanding Paine would have last say.
“I remember last year’s Reading-Braintree game in the Round of Eight where Braintree got the home game (at Zapustas Rink in Randolph) and we wound up turning away nearly 2,000 people,” Paine mentioned. “We have great venues like Gallo, Loring, Stoneham, Chelmsford, Olympia, Woburn and Tsongas with more seating and they have proven that they want to host games.”
Hockey is exclusive from most different MIAA sports activities in that few colleges have their very own ice hockey amenities. Even with a mandated minimal of 1,000 seats required to host a quarterfinal contest, some colleges have grow to be artistic of their makes an attempt to achieve a magical quantity. Members identified that some colleges used transportable bleachers and folding chairs in hopes of reaching the magical quantity.
“To me, this is not providing the student-athletes with a quality experience,” mentioned TMC chairman Shaun Hart of Burlington. “We’re trying to provide everyone with a great tournament experience.”
Another matter which has generated statewide curiosity are the facility rankings, specifically the best way it’s presently arrange. Many colleges have clamored for a wins proponent so as to add into the formulation. One of those that have introduced up a want to see one thing alongside these strains is Wellesley athletic director John Brown.
“I remember one year where Brookline, Natick and Wellesley were the top three girls teams in the Bay State Conference,” Brown mentioned. “Brookline beat both Natick and Wellesley twice and Natick and Wellesley split. You would think Brookline would have been the higher seed, but they actually wound up third because they played a defensive style and won a lot of games by 1-0 score, whereas us and Natick would win games by two and three goals.”
Hart understands the angst, however is hesitant to tamper with a system which is producing at greater than 80 % correct fee on the present time. That being mentioned, Hart and MIAA assistant director Jim Clark (who created the facility rankings) have mentioned the potential for tinkering with the formulation in an effort to please with constituents. Clark mentioned a pattern can be produced on the subsequent TMC assembly in November.
In different information, the TMC voted unanimously to approve the codecs for every of the winter sports activities. At the suggestion of MIAA volleyball liaison Sherry Bryant, the committee agreed to maneuver up the discharge of the volleyball brackets from Tuesday, Oct. 31 to Monday, Oct. 30. The committee additionally agreed to behave upon a suggestion by monitor liaison Keith Brouillard to alter the order of waves on the divisional cross-country meets from C, A, B to A, B, C.
Source: www.bostonherald.com