What's going to happen this weekend?! I'm getting a little nervous thinking about how things might unfold (I know, I have a serious problem). In my head I'm imagining all the scenarios that would benefit Michigan, but all wishing aside, here's how I figure the brackets would turn out.
East Regional
Union vs. Michigan State- This is a tough game for me to break down, mainly because it contains two things that I despise. Sparty, and the ECAC. Dry heaves. Fingernails on a chalkboard. Any movie with Reese Witherspoon. That's the feeling I get when I think about these two teams. Normally I would want any team to beat the ECAC team...but now that it's State...I hope they tie. Oh wait, you can't tie in a NCAA tournament game? Well I hope they both concede to Miami and call it a day.
Prediction: 5-3 Union- Only because I've heard from people that they have some talented forwards. Like I said, I could care less. Picking the lesser of two evils.
UMASS-Lowell vs. Miami (OH)-Well looky here! This should actually be a pretty decent game! In a region where I wish Michigan would have ended up (Midwest isn't that bad FTR), I'm really liking Miami's chances to stumble into the NCAA tournament. Granted I don't honestly believe that they belong here, but they are just the most logical team to survive this (weak) bracket.
Prediction: 4-0 Miami-Look for Conner Knapp to play stellar, and for the rest of the Miami forwards to play inspired hockey this weekend. They haven't been stellar all year, but once you get to this point, it doesn't really matter anymore. Win and move on...that's enough motivation for the Redhawks.
Championship game: Miami 6-Union 1-I hope this game isn't close...no matter who is in it. This region isn't very interesting to me, and I don't want to do the whole "foot in mouth" routine, but I'm fairly confident you won't find a national champion in the East.
Lets Go West!
Minnesota vs. Boston University-I probably should have started in this region because this is where I'll be paying most of my attention (apart from UM, of course). Heavyweight programs squaring off in the first round. It doesn't get any better than this. BU-Minnesota...the 70's rivalry revisited. It seems like these two teams are always in the hunt for a national championship, and even when they're having down years, teams still circle them on their schedule. That's the cost of being a national powerhouse. The fact that this game is taking place in Minnesota makes me want to lean a little towards the maroon and gold, but after seeing the IMPLOSION last weekend, I have to take BU in this one. I have a feeling that more Sioux fans are going to these games anyway...after seeing the XCel energy center lit up with black and green last year for the Frozen Four, I know that that place will have at least 15,000 Sioux fans ready to cheer on BU (well, maybe they want to beat the Gophers to go to the Frozen Four, but whatever). Either way, UND fans will be out in full force to cheer on their beloved Sioux. BU had a strong regular season, much like Minnesota, but I have a feeling they might be able to eek out a win on the road. I'll say...
4-3 (OT)-BU
North Dakota vs. Western Michigan-Does it get any better than this!? Two teams peaking at the right time squaring off in the first round. Because I don't have much time to write as much as I'd like...I'll come straight out and say it...North Dakota wins this game. It may not be pretty, and it certainly won't be a clean game, but North Dakota will end up grinding down the Broncos. Aaron Dell can be an elite level goaltender if he has a focused team in front of him (as apparent in the 2nd and 3rd periods of the Minnesota Final Five game).
5-2-Sioux
Championship: North Dakota 4-BU 2
Ahhh NORDEAST
BC vs. Air Force-Look, I like this bracket a lot! It's obvious BC is the fan favorite, and a lot of people will be hopping on the BC bandwagon. But as Lee Corso always says..."NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND!!!!". As much as it still burns me to think about...Air Force pulled off a huge upset in 2009 against the boys in Blue, and anything can happen around this time of the year. Air Force has definitely been streaky all year, but they can play up to other team's levels.
Prediction: 3-2 BC-It'll be close, but you can't fight that #1 ranking. There's a reason why the Eagles come in as the top ranked team in the land.
Duluth vs. Maine-To me, this is going to be an AWESOME game. Both teams are playing great hockey, and both are hungry for a chance to get back to the Frozen Four. I'd really like it if Maine took this region, but sometimes you gotta bet with your brain, and not your heart.
Prediction: 5-3 Duluth-Gotta go with the defending national champions here.
Championship Game: 2-1 (OT) Duluth-After last year's overtime loss to Duluth...I want nothing more than to beat them in the 2012 Championship. Better believe I'm advancing them to the FF based solely on that reason.
So there we have it...if my predictions turn out correctly, we'll see...
Michigan
Miami
North Dakota
Minn-Duluth
...in the frozen four. Another All-WCHA/CCHA Frozen Four for the second year in a row. I'll check back early next week to review my picks, reflect on the tournament, and discuss the Frozen Four.
Happy hockey readers...
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