The nonsensical nature of these rules becomes a topic of conversation at the start of every season. The regulations baffle me year in and year out, but realistically, they shouldn’t. After all, this is the Ivy League—a league unlike any other.

While every league loves to claim that they value academics over athletics, only the Ivy League has turned the mantra into mandate.

From limits on how many players can travel to road games to the lack of games held on weekdays, the Ivy League has crafted all sorts of rules and regulations aimed at minimizing disturbances to academic life for its athletes.

These regulations work when the Ivy League is in control. When everyone plays by the same rules. But when members of the Ivy League go off to play in different conferences like the ECAC, that logic goes out the window. The esteemed Ivy Manual is only hurting its hockey teams, and the legislators of the Ancient Eight need to loosen their grip.

Now, do I expect the rules to ever change? No. After all, the Yale men’s hockey team’s national championship in 2013 likely provided the league with all the evidence it needed to close its ears on the debate for the rest of eternity.

But let’s be honest. Their ears were never open.

—Staff writer Jake Meagher can be reached jake.meagher@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @MeagherTHC.