With Notre Dame set to depart Hockey East after this season, odds are that Hockey East is in the market for a 12th team, with the two most heavily rumored potential additions being Quinnipiac or Holy Cross. But in the event HEA sticks with 11 teams for the 2017-18 season, they've begun mulling potential season format changes.
According to the Bangor Daily News, at last months coaches convention, the league discussed a few potential changes that could be made for the '17-'18 season should the league not replace Notre Dame.
Regular Season Schedule
One significant change would be potentially going to 24 conference games, instead of 20 as they did the last time the league had 11 teams.