If the Canadian and American National Teams continue to draw players out of college hockey, however, European recruiting will continue to be the easiest way to a national title.

U.S. Nationa Team players, including Harvard sophomore Angela Ruggerio, were absent from college hockey this year and will be gone again next year for the Olympics. Team Canada allowed its college players, most notably Botterill and Shewchuk, to play this year but they will also be away for the Olympics all next season.

It's not the same for Swedish or Finnish players. Niether of those countries have a standing national team, and players from those countries will be allowed to compete in the Olympics and play college hockey next year.

"We've been negotiating with the Swedish and Finnish National Teams and those players will only be gone five weeks all next year," Miller said. "The WCHA's been accomodating in its scheduling and we only play on three of those five weekends."

In preparing to win Olympic gold again, the U.S. National Team may have inadvertently opened the gateway for Europeans to dominate U.S. college hockey.

With elite American college players missing two out of every four years and Canadians missing one out of four, both to national team commitments, the value of European-born players has sky-rocketed .

A similar change happened in the NHL a decade ago, although for different reasons. The speed with which the change has happened at the college level is the most amazing feat.

Duluth was already the best team in college hockey this season. On paper, they will be even better next year. It's a scary thought for everyone else--and a sign of things to come.