NCAA Hockey Tournament

For many people that live in the Midwest or New England area NCAA Hockey is a big time thing. It's too bad the other 35 or so states can't enjoy NCAA Hockey as much as we do. The pairings were announced and five Hockey East Conference teams made it to the tournament, FIVE. Now I don't exactly understand it because the Hockey East is not the superior conference in NCAA Hockey, it's the WCHA, which has courted the past 5 National Champions in the past 5 years: Minnesota (2), Denver (2), and last year Wisconsin. Now, I respect the Hockey East, they play that low-scoring, grind em out type of hockey, packed in with great goaltending. However, the WCHA is the power in NCAA Hockey. The fast action, and high-scoring is enjoyable, as well as the stellar goaltending. If NCAA Hockey was to ever get big, it would turn to what the WCHA is right now, exciting.

Friday marks the beginning of the NCAA Hockey Tournament. The West Region is stacked, with the Gophers as the #1 seed (Who was arguably the best team in the Nation) pairing up against #4 seed Air Force. Then, you have another WCHA powerhouse North Dakota who is the 2 seed squaring off against the CCHA's Michigan Wolverines. One question to me is, why is the West Region so stacked when the Gophers are supposedly labeled as the #1 team in the Tournament?

In the Northeast region it's #1 seed from the Hockey East New Hampshire against #4 seed Miami, Ohio from the CCHA. #2 seed Boston College also from the Hockey East takes on #3 seed St.Lawrence from the ECAC.

On the other end, in the East region, St.Cloud State from the WCHA has a so-called easy road, but I disagree, how come they have to play out East? Why isn't there an Hockey East team in the Gophers bracket or at least the Midwest Bracket? Preferrably Maine...who St.Cloud State coincidentally has to take on in the 1st round. St.Cloud State has never won an NCAA Tournament game, and I don't see it happening this year, either. Anyway the #1 seed of the bracket is Clarkson as they battle #4 seed from the ECAC Massachussetts.

In the Midwest Bracket Notre Dame was honored after an outstanding CCHA Tournament, winning it for the first time take on #4 seed Chargers from Alabama-Huntsville. Most see this game as a possible Minnesota-Holy Cross replay. The 1st round game of the Tournament is honored to these two #2 Boston University from the Hockey East against #3 seed Michigan State from the CCHA.

My predictions go as followed:

Minnesota manhandles Air Force 7-1 as they don't have a hangover from last year's letdown against #4 seed Holy Cross.
North Dakota holds off Michigan 4-2
In the West Region Final Minnesota has to take care of I believe is the 2nd best team in the nation North Dakota 5-4 in OT. I still don't understand this bracket and the Eastern bias saga continues. Anyway, Minnesota advances to the Frozen Four once again.

In the Northeast
New Hampshire rolls over Miami, Ohio 5-2
Boston College staggers to beat St.Lawrence 2-1 in Overtime
In the Northeast Region Final two Hockey East powers battle each other, Boston College defeats New Hampshire in what will be a nitty-gritty kind of game. BC wins 1-0.

In the East
Massachussetts "shocks" Clarkson 3-2, it'll be a yawn-fest either way and I wouldn't even consider this being an upset. Clarkson? A #1? What?! St.Lawrence finished better than them in the regular season. Nice non-conference schedule too, way to get swept by the 3rd best team in the WCHA.East bias conspiracy continues.
Anyway Maine beats St.Cloud State 4-3 in overtime. Please prove me wrong SCSU for if they win they'll walk into the Frozen Four.
In the East Region Final Maine defeats UMass 3-1 to head off to the Frozen Four

In the Midwest
Notre Dame narrowly defeats Alabama-Huntsville 6-5 in a wild one.
Boston University skate past Michigan 4-1
In the Midwest Region Final Boston University graciously knocks off Notre Dame 3-1 to advance to the Frozen Four

Frozen Four at the Saavis Center in St.Louis, MO
Minnesota sleepwalks through New Hampshire 5-2 in a rematch of the 2002-2003 NCAA Title Game
Boston University defeats Maine 3-2

National Championship
Minnesota, for all the punishment they took from Boston U. in the 90's they gain revenge on the Boston Terriers as Kellen Briggs is solid in net and posts a shutout, Minnesota wins 5-0.