This weekend and next weekend, college hockey teams from all over the NCAA map will be vying for conference championships and NCAA tournament births. While conferences such as the CCHA has already started (their first round was last weekend), the other tournaments will begin first round/quarterfinal action tonight.
College Hockey America
Well, this is the last hurrah for the CHA. With only four teams in the conference, the teams will go their separate ways after this season. Niagara and Robert Morris will head to Atlantic Hockey next season. Bemidji State will join the Nebraska-Omaha (who is leaving the CCHA) to make the WCHA a 12-team conference. Alabama-Huntsville applied for admission to the CCHA but was denied. UAH will compete as an independent for 2010-11.
The first semi-final features Robert Morris vs. Alabama-Huntsville. The Colonials are already celebrating in Pittsburgh as it’s men’s basketball team earned a NCAA tournament birth. Could the hockey team accomplish the same feat? I think so.
The second semi-final puts Bemidji State vs. Niagara. Niagara as the no. 4 seed would shake up the entire tournament if they win. But the Beavers are just too good. If the Beavers just get to the championship and perhaps lose to the Colonials, they could still make the tournament at the expense of bumping out a power conference team.
Championship Pick: Bemidji State over Robert Morris
CCHA
Michigan State, Miami, Ferris State and Northern Michigan all had the weekend off last week as the other eight teams played in the first round. The first round went chalk as each team recorded sweeps. While the Redhawks is the only team guaranteed a NCAA tournament birth. The Spartans and Bulldogs are currently “in” but can be “out” if each team loses this weekend. The Spartans play host to the Michigan Wolverines. Good thing the series is in East Lansing because something isn’t right with the water in Ann Arbor. The football team stinks, the men’s basketball team stinks, and the hockey team has had it’s worse season in nearly two decades. Can the 19-year NCAA streak come to an end? The only way Michigan makes the tournament is if they run the table.
Having their best season since the 2003 regular-season championship year, the Bulldogs play host to Nebraska-Omaha. The teams are meeting for the second consecutive season in the playoffs as the Mavericks swept the Bulldogs in Omaha. UNO is 7-6-3 all-time in Big Rapids, and I anticipate two or three close games this weekend. If the Bulldogs win this series, they are in the NCAA tournament provided they don’t get blown out in the semi’s at Joe Louis Arena. The question of thought is if UNO win’s the Mason Cup, do they keep it and take it to the WCHA with them? Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Miami is playing host to Ohio State. When ever these two teams square off, it’s either Miami blowing Ohio State or the teams play a close game. Miami is the no. 1 team in the country. They still have the final minute of the national championship in the back of their minds and they are on a mission this season. Expect two blowout games this weekend as Miami expects to make two trips to Detroit this postseason.
In Marquette, we will see two teams that are on a hot streak. The Wildcats haven’t lost at home in the 2010 calendar year, while the Nanook’s are 8-0-2 in their last 10 games. Alaska has already taken out one Michigan directional school as they swept Western Michigan. Can they make it two-for-two?
Advancing to next weekend’s semi-finals: Miami, Michigan, Ferris State, Northern Michigan
WCHA
The Final Five in St. Paul is always one of the best conference tournaments. The 10 teams will all compete this weekend in hope is advancing to the Xcel Energy Center.
Denver plays host to Michigan Tech. The Pioneers took both matchups this season and don’t expect anything different to happen. Expect the Huskies to compete and give it their all, but MTU has won only four games in-conference this season. Don’t expect them to capture two this weekend.
I had the pleasure of seeing Wisconsin play this season. They have been playing well and steady all season. This is a NCAA tournament team for sure, and it will be great seeing them play again at Ford Field in the Frozen Four. Their opponent this weekend is Alaska-Anchorage, and the Seawolves will have their hands full in Madison is they want to cause an upset.
Other matchups in the WCHA include St. Cloud State vs. Minnesota State, North Dakota vs. Minnesota, and Minnesota-Duluth vs. Colorado College.
Advancing to St. Paul next weekend: Denver, North Dakota, Colorado College, St. Cloud State, and Wisconsin.
Other Conference Tournament Picks:
Hockey East: New Hampshire, Boston College, Boston University, Maine
ECAC: Yale, Cornell, Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence
Atlantic Hockey: RIT, Sacred Heart, Air force, Mercyhurst
Next weekend will feature previews of the semi-finals as well as picks for all conference championships.
