NCAA Conference Semis & Finals

[Oilers Chick]

Below is the list of each conference tournament semi-final and championship games and their respective TV schedules. Unless otherwise indicated, all start times are EST. Please check your local satellite/cable provider to see if any of these games are available in your area.

The WCHA will also have a two one-game quarterfinal games which kick things off on Thursday. All conference semi-final games begin on Friday with the championship games occurring on Saturday. The only exception is the CCHA which will have their semi-final games on Saturday and championship game on Sunday.

The brackets (and teams) for the NCAA Tournament will be announced following the conclusion of the CCHA Championship on Sunday night and will be televised live on ESPNU.



Atlantic Hockey [Location: Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY. TV - NONE]

Semi-Finals: Friday, Mar. 22

Game #1: #7 Canisius vs. #1 Niagara @ 4:00pm
Game #2: #6 Mercyhurst vs. #4 UConn @ 7:30pm

Championship: Saturday, Mar. 23

Game #1 winner vs. Game #2 winner @ TBA


CCHA [Location: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI. TV - FOX Sports Detroit & FOX Sports Detroit Plus]

Semi-Finals: Saturday, Mar. 23

Game #1: #4 Ohio State vs. #2 Notre Dame @ 1:00pm
Game #2: #7 Michigan vs. #1 Miami @ 4:30pm

Championship: Sunday, Mar. 24

Game #1 winner vs. Game #2 winner @ 2:00pm


ECAC [Location: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ. TV - FOX College Sports, except Third Place game]

Semi-Finals: Friday, Mar. 22

Game #1: #7 Brown vs. #1 Quinnipiac @ 4:00pm
Game #2: #4 Union College vs. #3 Yale @ 7:30pm

Third Place game and Championship: Saturday, Mar. 23

Third place: Game #1 loser vs. Game #2 loser @ 4:00pm
Championship: Game #1 winner vs. Game #2 winner @ 7:00pm


Hockey East [Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA. TV - NBC Sports Network & NESN/NESN Plus]

Semi-Finals: Friday, Mar. 22

Game #1: #4 Providence College vs. #1 UMass-Lowell @ 5:00pm
Game #2: #3 Boston University vs. #2 Boston College @ 8:00pm

Championship: Saturday, Mar. 23

Game #1 winner vs. Game #2 winner @ 7:00pm


WCHA [Location: Excel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN. TV - FOX Sports North]

Quarterfinals: Thursday, Mar. 21

Game #1: #6 Minnesota State-Mankato vs. #4 Wisconsin @ 2:00pm CST
Game #2: #8 Colorado College vs. #3 North Dakota @ 7:00pm CST

Semi-Finals: Friday, Mar. 22

Game #1: Game #1 Quarterfinal winner vs. #1 St. Cloud State @ 2:00pm CST
Game #2: Game #2 Quarterfinal winner vs. #2 Minnesota @ 7:00pm CST

Championship: Saturday, Mar. 23

Game #1 semi-final winner vs. Game #2 semi-final winner @ 7:00pm CST

Click to read more...

 

[Oilers Chick]

Results from Thursday:

WCHA Quartefinal Game #1: Wisconsin 7, Minnesota State-Mankato 2

WCHA Quartefinal Game #2: North Dakota 3, Colorado College 4 (OT)


Although Mankato and UND have been eliminated from the WCHA tournament, they are almost guaranteed an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament due to their current Pairwise ranking (PWR).

Wisconsin currently sits 16th in the PWR, which means that they hold the final spot for the NCAA Tournament....for now. If the Badgers lose to St. Cloud State later today or lose in the WCHA Championship game (should they get by SCSU), they may need some help in guaranteeing themselves an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. If Wisconsin wins the WCHA Tournament, they're in with the auto-bid.

Colorado College's win over North Dakota last night shook up the PWR. But the Tigers MUST win the WCHA tournament in order to get into the NCAA Tournament due to their PWR being so low (they're currently tied for 24th). A loss tonight vs. Minnesota and their season is done.

 

[JVR21]

Yikes, BC has gotten absolutely boned by the refs this game. One 100% offside goal to get BU into the game and now a 5 minute major for a little shove.

 

[Oilers Chick]

Friday's results:

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. If your team was a #1 or #2 seed in their conference tournament, chances are you were probably disappointed after tonight's finishes. There was only one team that was either a #1 or #2 seed heading into tonight's conference semis that won tonight. And the outcomes have had a huge impact on the current Pairwise Rankings (PWR). Please note that the CCHA's semi-final games take place tomorrow and their tournament championship is on Sunday.

So below is how everything played out earlier today/tonight:



Atlantic Hockey

(#7) Canisius 5 (#1) Niagara 3
(#6) Mercyhurst 4 (#4) UConn 1

Despite losing their semi-final game to Canisius, Niagara's chance at an at-large bid is still very much in play. In fact, their updated PWR has actually been boosted due to the results of other conference games. The Purple Eagles are now in a three-way tie for 12th in the PWR. So Atlantic Hockey could potentially get two teams into the NCAA Tournament when all conference tournaments conclude by Sunday evening.

With their loss to Mercyhurst, UConn's season is over.

The winner between Canisius and Mercyhurst tomorrow night will get Atlantic Hockey's auto-bid. The other will see their season come to an end.

ECAC

(#7) Brown 4 (#1) Quinnipiac 0
(#4) Union College 5 (#3) Yale 0

Brown pulled off arguably the biggest upset of the day. After ousting RPI last weekend, the Bears thoroughly dominated the Bobcats today. Despite the loss, Quinnipiac's top ranking in the PWR remains intact and they've likely solidified a #1 seed in one of the regionals of the NCAA Tournament.

Union College soundly defeated Yale in the night cap. The victory was huge for the Dutchmen because it elevated their PWR to 14th. However, a bid into the NCAA Tournament isn't quite guaranteed just yet. If Union College loses to Brown tomorrow night, they might need some help to get one of the at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament. If Brown loses tomorrow night, their season is done.

The ECAC will also be the only conference that will play a consolation game tomorrow afternoon and the outcome have a big impact on both Quinnipiac and Yale. While the two are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament, Quinnipiac will be playing for the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament while Yale will try to hold on to a possible #2 seeding in one of the regionals in the NCAA Tournament.

Hockey East

(#4) Providence College 1 (#1) UMass-Lowell 2
(#3) Boston University 6 (#2) Boston College 3

UMass-Lowell was the only #1 or #2 seed in the conference tournament to win earlier today. The River Hawks are guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament and they could potentially earn a #1 seed in one of the regionals of the NCAA Tournament. With the loss, Providence College's season is over.

Despite losing to Boston University, Boston College have likely held on to a #2 seeding in the regionals of the NCAA Tournament. For the Terriers, the win keeps their season alive. And if they are to make it into the NCAA Tournament, they'll likely need to defeat UMass-Lowell for Hockey East's auto bid. Boston University is one of the team currently on the bubble (tied for 17th) and depending on what happens in the other conference tournaments tomorrow and Sunday, the Terriers could see their season come to an end with a loss tomorrow night in the conference championship game vs. UMass-Lowell.

WCHA

(#4) Wisconsin 4 (#1) St. Cloud State 1
(#8) Colorado College 2 (#2) Minnesota 0

Despite their losses, both St. Cloud State and Minnesota are in the NCAA Tournament. The losses also had little or no impact on their PWRs. But the Huskies loss' have likely solidified them as a #4 seed in one of the regionals, while the Golden Gophers have all but locked a #1 seeding in the regionals of the NCAA Tournament.

With their wins yesterday and earlier today, Wisconsin and Colorado College have successfully taken down the top four teams in the WCHA. Winning tomorrow's Final Five championship is crucial to both teams, especially the Tigers. If Colorado College loses to Wisconsin, their season will be over. If Wisconsin loses, they'll need help to clinch an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament because they are one of the teams that are on the bubble (tied for 17th). And if that doesn't happen, the Badgers could see their season come to an end.

 

[Oilers Chick]

Saturday's results

We now know five of the six teams that have won automatic bids into the NCAA Tournament as a result of winning their respective conferences earlier this evening. The lone automatic bid to be decided is the CCHA's, which will happen tomorrow afternoon.

So here's a look at how things went around college hockey and who's going on, who's going home and who's still sweating it out on the bubble.

Atlantic Hockey

(#7) Canisius 7 (#6) Mercyhurst 2

Canisius claims their first ever conference tournament title as a member of Atlantic Hockey and of the former MAAC (the MAAC became Atlantic Hockey in 2003). The Golden Griffins wins also means that Atlantic Hockey will have two conference teams in the NCAA Tournament (Niagara is the other). Canisius' win also pushed some of the "bubble" teams nearly/just about out of the NCAA Tournament picture (more on that later in the post).

With the loss, Mercyhurst's season is done.

CCHA

Game #1: (#4) Ohio State 1 (#2) Notre Dame 3

With their win today, Notre Dame got a huge boost up the Pairwise Rankings (PWR), currently in a three-way tie for 4th. So the Fighting Irish has assured themselves of a spot in the NCAA Tournament, regardless of whether they win or lose in tomorrow's tournament championship game. Notre Dame will hope to solidify a #2 seeding in one of the regionals of the NCAA Tournament with a win tomorrow.

With the loss, Ohio State's season is done.

Game #2: (#7) Michigan 6 (#1) Miami 2

Michigan's win, like Canisius', had a huge impact on the PWR for the bubble teams. And for the Wolverines it's simple - win tomorrow and they're in the NCAA Tournament; lose and their season is over.

Despite the loss, Miami will be in NCAA Tournament. However, the Red Hawks dropped slightly in the PWR and are now in a three-way tie for 4th with Notre Dame and Boston College.

ECAC

Consolation: (#3) Yale 0 (#1) Quinnipiac 3

With the win, Quinnipiac has secured the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The losses to both Union College and Quinnipiac in the conference tournament proved to be very costly to Yale. The Bulldogs saw their PWR tumble to a tie for 14th - making them a bubble team that could potentially miss the big dance altogether.


Championship: (#7) Brown 1 (#4) Union College 3

Union College successfully defends their ECAC Tournament crown and are back in the NCAA Tournament. Their win also helped boost their PWR as well, currently tied for 11th.

After an unbelievable run in the post-season that culminated with the loss to Union College, Brown sees its season come to an end.

Hockey East

(#3) Boston University 0 (#1) UMass-Lowell 1

UMass-Lowell claimed it's first-ever Hockey East tournament title. The win also moved the River Hawks up to 3rd in the PWR, meaning that they are assured of a #1 seeding in one of the regionals in the NCAA Tournament.

Having already been on the bubble and coupled with their loss, Boston University's season has come to an end and so has the illustrious coaching career of head coach Jack Parker, who earlier had announced his retirement.

WCHA

(#8) Colorado College 2 (#4) Wisconsin 3

Wisconsin claimed their first WCHA Tournament title since 1998. The win also boosted the Badgers' PWR to a tie for 14th, which means they'll be a #4 seed in one of the regionals in the NCAA Tournament barring any change in their position with the outcome of tomorrow's CCHA Championship game.

With the loss, Colorado College's terrific post-season run and 2012-13 season comes to an end.


And now about those "bubble" teams....

Canisius' automatic bid as the Atlantic Hockey champions means some bubble teams are likely out at this point because the Golden Griffins has the lowest PWR of any of the teams remaining. That means that Western Michigan COULD likely be done for the year (which will certainly heightened the Danny DeKeyser sweepstakes discussions) since they currently sit right at 16th.

As mentioned previously, Yale is now on the bubble too being tied at 14th with Wisconsin. Next is St. Cloud State at 13th. If Michigan wins the CCHA's automatic bid tomorrow, Yale could likely be the odd team out of the NCAA Tournament. Although it may impact the Huskies as well. This is because Michigan currently sits 26th in the PWR and depending on how much it impacts them, St. Cloud State will either just get into the NCAA Tournament or they will just miss doing so.

We shall see how it all plays out tomorrow when the 16-team field for the NCAA Tournament is announced tomorrow evening.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

UMASS-Lowell will likely be the #1 in Manchester. Still expecting UNH to get in. Even tho I think they are one and done. Season has been pretty average for them since the return from the holiday break.
Good for UML. Anyone but Boston College.

 

[GKJ]

Appears that the selection show is on ESPNU at 9pm tonight. Wish NBC would just buy the rights from ESPN.

 

[Oilers Chick]

UMASS-Lowell will likely be the #1 in Manchester. Still expecting UNH to get in. Even tho I think they are one and done. Season has been pretty average for them since the return from the holiday break.
Good for UML. Anyone but Boston College.

UNH is already in and they will play in the Northeast Regional, since they are the hosts. The only questions now are who will be their opening opponent and who are the other two teams in their regional bracket?

That will be revealed later this evening.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

UNH is already in and they will play in the Northeast Regional, since they are the hosts. The only questions now are who will be their opening opponent and who are the other two teams in their regional bracket?

That will be revealed later this evening.

yeah i know.
I am expecting UML to be there as the 1. Really hope Notre Dame doesnt get sent here. They ripped my heart out 2 years ago.

EDIT: I think UML,Union and UNH will be 3 of the teams. Just a guess tho. Who knows about that 4th team.

 

[GKJ]

Notre Dame wins. Yale is in. Michigan is out. First time in 23 years Michigan is out.

 

[Oilers Chick]

Notre Dame wins. Yale is in. Michigan is out. First time in 23 years Michigan is out.

Yep. And will add that Western Michigan is also out and Notre Dame's win helped Yale squeak into the NCAA Tournament.

 

[GKJ]

Denver gets a 2 seed and gets to go across the country to play New Hampshire in their rink.

 

[Dakota Sioux]

6 WCHA teams and the NCAA puts them in 3 regions. WTH. They do not want another all WCHA Frozen Four again and I don't see whats wrong with that if it did happen again.