2015 Frozen Four: Bracket Announced
On Sunday afternoon the 2015 NCAA hockey playoff bracket was announced for the road to the Frozen Four in Boston. The three one seeds for the regionals are North Dakota, Boston University, Miami of Ohio, and Minnesota State.
Midwest Regional – South Bend, Ind.
1. Minnesota State vs. Rochester Institute of Technology, March 28, 4 p.m.
Nebraska Omaha vs. Harvard, March 28, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota State will have a challenge in the RIT Tigers as they try to prove why they deserved the top seed. Meanwhile, Harvard advances after a key ECAC championship win and will face Nebraska Omaha.
East Regional – Providence, RI
University of Denver vs. Boston College, March 28, 3 p.m.
4. Miami University vs. Providence College, March 28, 6:30 p.m.
This looks like the most dangerous bracket. Boston College didn’t get into the Hockey East tournament due to a surprise Vermont team, but they have a chance to compete for a title, albeit against a very tough group in the Denver Pioneers. Meanwhile, Providence was one of the last teams to make it, but being on home ice makes them a challenge for the fourth ranked Miami Redhawks. The Friars have an NHL prospect goaltender on their side with Jon Gillies and they won’t be a pushover at all.
Northeast Regional – Manchester, NH
3. Boston University vs. Yale, March 27, 2 p.m.
Minnesota Duluth vs. Minnesota, March 27, 5:30 p.m.
Boston University, led by 66 point prospect Jack Eichel (the first 66 points since 1992) will face Yale, the last seed to get into the tournament. Meanwhile, Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth are familiar rivals. The Gophers were one of the last teams to get in as well and anytime there are interstate rivals involved, anything can happen.
West Regional – Fargo, ND
Michigan Tech vs. St. Cloud State, March 27, 4:30 p.m. ET
2. North Dakota vs. Quinnipiac, March 27, 8 p.m.
If North Dakota and St. Cloud State both win they’ll have a rematch of the NCHC championship game where the Huskies took the upset. However, that would be tough to do for St. Cloud State as they face one of the more dangerous and underrated teams in the country in Michigan Tech. Meanwhile, despite being a top seed, North Dakota does not have a gimme against the Quinnipiac Bobcats who fight their way through any tough situation.
This tournament is as exciting as it could get. Any of the teams could advance, especially in some of the tough brackets in the east and west where the lower seeds have had success.