NCAA Hockey Tournament - The Other March Madness

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 23, 2008

Hi all, 
The pairings have just been announced for the 2008 NCAA Division I hockey tournament. 
The tournament consists of 16 teams. Six of the teams are determined by winning their conference tournament, the other 10 teams are at large teams. 
The conference tournament winners were: 
Boston College - Hockey East 
Princeton - ECAC 
Michigan - CCHA 
Denver - WCHA 
Air Force Academy - Atlantic Hockey Association 
Niagara University - College Hockey America 
The at large teams are: 
Miami of Ohio 
North Dakota 
New Hampshire 
Colorado College 
St. Cloud State University 
Michigan State 
Clarkson University 
Minnesota 
Wisconsin 
Notre Dame 
The tournament starts with 4 regionals with 4 teams in each regional. The regional sites are: 
East Regional: Albany, NY 
West Regional: Colorado Springs, CO 
Northeast Regional: Worcester, MA 
Midwest Regional: Madison, WI 
And the pairings are: EAST REGIONAL - ALBANY, NY 
#1 Michigan vs. #4 Niagara 
#2 St. Cloud State vs. #3 Clarkson WEST REGIONAL - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 
#1 New Hampshire vs. #4 Notre Dame 
#2 Colorado College vs. #3 Michigan State MIDWEST REGIONAL - MADISON, WI 
#1 North Dakota vs. #4 Princeton 
#2 Denver vs. #3 Wisconsin NORTHEAST REGIONAL - WORCESTER, MA 
#1 Miami vs. #4 Air Force 
#2 Boston College vs #3 Minnesota 
The winners of each game in the regionals will meet for the regional title. The four regional winners will meet for the Frozen Four in Denver, Colorado. 
Some great hockey folks. If you get a chance, watch some of it. You won't be disappointed.

Hanging Jury · Mar 23, 2008

I'm predicting the winner of the midwest will win it all (either Denver or NDak)....

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 23, 2008

Not a bad pick Hanging Jury. 
Watch out for Michigan though. They've been #1 most of the year, and they are very good. Good team speed. 
Since the winner of the East Regional will play the winner of the West Regional and the winer of the Midwest Regional will play the winner of the Northeast Regional in the Frozen Four, I'm thinking the Frozen Four will be: 
Michigan vs. Colorado College (home ice will mean a lot to CC, especially when you consider Colorado Springs is about one mile up, and the three other teams are flatlanders). 
and 
North Dakota vs. Minnesota. 
I know, those last two picks are a bit unconventional, but North Dakota was very hot coming into the WCHA tournament. As for Minnesota, it's very hard to pick against them at playoff time. 
For me, a sentimental pick will be Princeton. I know, they stand NO chance of advancing, but I'll be pulling for them. See, their head coach Guy Gadowsky, was the head coach for my grad school (Alaska-Fairbanks) for several years back in the early part of this decade. One year he had them as the first team that missed the national tournament (that was when the tournament was only 12 teams). So I'll be pulling for Coach Gadowsky's boys even though I suspect they are well overmatched.

wherestheportojohn · Mar 23, 2008

Fvck 'Em, Bucky! 
They need a kick in their collective protective cups to give 'em some GIDDYUP for this regional. 
*sigh* 
I am not sure if I'll be purchasing tix for the Mad City events due to schedule conflicts. OY! 
btw, 
our wimmin lost their bid for an NCAA Three-peat yesterday. <img alt="sad2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad2.gif"> 
4-0 at the hands of minny duluth--->home of illegal russian hockey players <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 23, 2008

It's funny WTPJ. 
There was some talk on the selection show about how Wisconsin made the tournament DESPITE having a losing record. It's been done before I guess, but that was because a team won their conference tournament. In this case though, Wisconsin was an at large team. 
Interesting discussion really, and seems to play into the fact that Wisconsin played a VERY tough schedule this year. It ranks as the 4th toughest in college hockey this year behind North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, and Michigan Tech. Each of the teams in front of Wisconsin in strength of schedule is a WCHA team. You could make the case that Minnesota State should have been there instead of Notre Dame. If that were the case then 7 teams from the WCHA would be in the tournament. It is clear that the WCHA was the class of college hockey this year, at least as a whole (league vs. league). 
As it is, 6 WCHA teams (out of 10) are in the tournament. There are 4 from the CCHA, 2 from the ECAC, 2 from the Hockey East, 1 from the Atlantic Hockey Association, and 1 from the College Hockey America. It is clear from that (at least to me) the strength of college hockey this year was out West.

McTortle · Mar 23, 2008

<img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> 
It's been tons of fun to have all the ladies in town!!!!

flopnfolds · Mar 23, 2008

My pick is on Michigan to win it all! I haven't seen them play much but from what I have read they seem to be a very strong team. I went to the U of MN so I want them to win but watching them play this year has been an interesting experience. They have a lack of scoring talent, no consistent superstar to put the puck in the net. This team is the opposite of what they usually are, big, fast, and prone to score. 
Unfortunately I live in Grand Forks, so I have season tickets to see the Sioux play at the Ralph (which is by far the nicest arena in college hockey). I would pick them to win but for a couple reasons. One, being a Gopher fan I don't want them to win, work will be intolerable if they do <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> Two, they are also in a scoring drought-excluding yesterday. There last 10 games or so they have had problems scoring. Although it could be do to the excellent goaltending the WCHA has had this year. But on the other hand they are big, strong, fast, physical and not afraid to show it. I do think they will make the finals, they have too many good players not to make it.

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 23, 2008

flopnfolds - 
I would not be at all surprised to see North Dakota come out of the Midwest Regional. They should be able to handle Princeton. Should Denver beat Wisconsin in the other game in that regional, Denver might give the Sioux a tough game. Still wouldn't at all be surprised to see the Sioux win that regional. 
As for the Golden Gophers, they played quite well in the WCHA tournament. Given the strength of the WCHA this year and the relative weakness of Hockey East, I could easy see the Gophers playing Miami of Ohio for that regional's championship. 
You might see a Sioux-Gophers matchup in the first round of the Frozen Four. 
By the way, you're right about the Ralph. I've seen pictures. What an amazing facility. As a fan of Merrimack, who has been promising a new facility since they went division 1 in 1989, I wish we could get a barn half as nice as the Ralph. 
Should be some great hockey. 
For those looking for a <a href="http://www.uscho.com/pdf/general/2008bracket.pdf" target="_blank">printable bracket</a> there is one.

Xavier Dan Q · Mar 23, 2008

There's another March Madness? <img alt="confused.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/confused.gif"> 
Go Redhawks!!!!

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

Hi folks, 
Well the first result from the NCAA Hockey Tournament is in. It's from the Albany Regional. Clarkson University Golden Knights 2 
St. Cloud State University Huskies 1 Final 
They are under way in Colorado Springs, CO where early in the 1st period 
New Hampshire 1 
Notre Dame 1 
Later today, Michigan will play Niagara in Albany, and Michigan State will play Colorado College in Colorado Springs.

wherestheportojohn · Mar 29, 2008

we face off tomorrow at 5:30 central against Denver 
we are at HOME in the Kohl Center for this lovely event 
however, the Pioneers have as good a record HERE lately as we do <img alt="sad2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad2.gif"> DROP THE PUCK!

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

Good luck WTPJ. Home ice could mean a lot for the Badgers. 
Update from Colorado Springs. 
With 5 minutes left in the 1st period, New Hampshire 2, Notre Dame 1.

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

For those of you who get ESPNU (channel 609 on DirecTV), the Niagara vs. Michigan game will be on live at about 7:30. They are showing some bonus coverage occasionally from the UNH vs. Notre Dame game. 
Specifically for Xavier Dan Q - The Miami of Ohio game will be on live on ESPNU tomorrow. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

Update from Colorado Springs 
University of New Hampshire Wildcats 2 
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2 End of 1

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

Updates: 
In Colorado Springs 
Notre Dame 4 
New Hampshire 3 2nd period 
In Albany 
Niagara 0 
Michigan 0 1st period

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

In Albany: 
Niagara University 0 
University of Michigan 0 End 1st

thirtyin04 · Mar 29, 2008

Cheer Cheer for old Notre Dame 
Wake up the echoes cheering her name <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

There's nothing sexier than a beautiful woman with a great looking dog who is a college hockey fan! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> LOL

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

In Colorado Springs: 
Notre Dame 4 
New Hampshire 3 End 2nd

equinox marathon 43 · Mar 29, 2008

In Albany: 
1 minute into the 2nd period: Michigan 1 
Niagara 0

NCAA Hockey Tournament - The Other March Madness

Top Contributors this Month