NCAA Hockey Tournament Quasi-Bracketology, March 4
By Joe Micik
Quasi-Bracket
Northeast Regional (Worcester)
(1) Boston College Eagles (Hockey East)*
(4) Cornell Big Red (ECAC)
(2) Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks (Hockey East)
(3) Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten)
East Regional (Bridgeport)
(1) Union Dutchmen (ECAC)*
(4) Northeastern Huskies (Hockey East)
(2) Quinnipiac Bobcats (ECAC)
(3) Providence Friars (Hockey East)
Midwest Regional (Cincinnati)
(1) St. Cloud State Huskies (NCHC)
(4) Vermont Catamounts (Hockey East)
(2) Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten)
(3) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Hockey East)
West Regional (St. Paul)
(1) Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten)*
(4) Mercyhurst Lakers (Atlantic)*
(2) Ferris State Bulldogs (WCHA)*
(3) North Dakota [Blank]s (NCHC)*
This bracket has some decent matchups over all, and with Hockey East being the most present team on the board (six times to be exact), there are some potential regional finals that might look like conference tournament playoffs.
There’s nowhere to put Mercyhurst, a team that is likely to win Atlantic Hockey but is otherwise miles outside the PWR Top 16, so we stuff them in with the number one overall seed. In the other half of that region, Ferris State and North Dakota could be a good one.
In Boston College’s region, Cornell isn’t a bad test in the opening round, but Michigan and UMass-Lowell is a big-time game. The Eagles would have their hands full with either one.
The East features only teams from the east. Quinnipiac-Providence is intriguing, as is Union-Northeastern, but the regional finals that could result are more so. Another Quinnipiac-Union final could be in the cards, and another possibility is an all-Hockey East final with Providence and Northeastern.
Finally, the Midwest has an interesting matchup in Wisconsin-Notre Dame; either of whom would have their hands full with St. Cloud State.