There is no doubt that the cap was put in place to prevent UNB from stockpiling top tier players. Time will tell if it has an adverse effect on the AUS in National competition. ( I'm assuming you were speaking of the AUS and not just UNB when you said 'at their expense' ).
As a hockey fan, I would like to see more parity in the league, to make the games more fun to watch. It's no fun for me to go to a Dal game and see them get pounded by UNB when UNB has a 40 goal scorer sitting out because of the numbers game. That player could have gone to Dal with a roster cap in place and perhaps make them a bit better.
I'm using this as an example, so don't jump all over this as being un-realistic.
If you like double digit wins, then enjoy the games. I go to games to be entertained, not to see "my" team demolish an under-staffed, less skilled team.
Before someone chimes in with the counter that Dal can get these players too, you have to realize that Dal has higher academic standards than other schools, making it more difficult for some players to get in. I'm not accusing any one of wrongdoing, just stating a fact.
So really, what has the roster rule done, it has not prevented top level players sitting in the stands, it has not forced a player that may have gone to one school to choose another because there was no room! Duffy could have easily went to Acadia after finding out that he would need to sit this year, but chose to sit out.
This rule is going to do nothing to help the bottom half of the league, the top level player is going to want to play on the best team that he can. Blaming another school for your recruiting or lack of is making excuses, for all of the troubles that STU has gone through, they are turning it around, and it is not because of them landing recruits that were turned away from UNB. You know what they did, they have busted their backsides and have landed some quality recruits, and guess what, they will land even more next year.
You mentioned that DAL has higher academic entry standards, well STU has a smaller selection of degree programs, so it also limits the potential student/athlete. And through all their struggles recently, they are slowly rebuilding and getting better, and think that you will see them making the playoffs either next year or the following.
As for the parity, I am pretty sure that on any given night, UPEI, SMU, STF, UdeM, and now STU can knock off UNB or Acadia. Maybe it's time for DAL to take a look at their program and it's short comings and try to remedy, handcuffing other programs is not a solution.
And yes I am very biased, this rule was put in place because of ONE team's success, you honestly think that this rule would be in place if it was SMU or DAL with the 40 goal scorers in the stands? Not a chance! I have nothing against DAL, would love to see them field a quality team, same as STU (which I will say, they are on the right road), it makes local rivalries that much more enjoyable to watch.
And my last point, although in the last response you don't accuse UNB of wrong doing's, it has been implied in other posts of yours, don't you think that we would have heard of such things, or at least grumblings of investigations or wrong doings? I am pretty sure that ANY team that is having continued success will be under a microscope from the AUS and CIS, yet I have not heard of anything.
