Catching Up

After getting bounced in rather ugly fashion from the Hockey East Tournament by Lowell two weekends ago, BU was idle last weekend. Luckily, that didn't kill their chances of getting into the NCAA tournament. However, it did have an impact on where BU was seeded in the field. A single win over the River Hawks, a Lowell loss to Providence in the HE semis, or one more win against anyone on the schedule would have kept BU in the East. It was not to be. 

My Seats from BU's game with Minnesota in the 2012
West Regional in St. Paul.

The Terriers and River Hawks tied in the final PWR, but Lowell had the RPI tiebreaker by .003 points. That's why BU was sent out West and will play Denver in St. Paul on Saturday at 6:00ET. 

BU and Denver played back on Halloween, with the Terriers winning 5-4 in overtime off an Ahti Oksanen goal. I will have a preview of that game and the rest of the regional on Thursday or Friday. St. Cloud, the NCHC league champion takes on Ferris State, who made a magical run to the WCHA title in the early game on Saturday. Game time, 1pm. 

I will be making the trip out to St. Paul to cover the games. I went out in 2012 when BU played Minnesota in the West Regional and I can't wait to go back. The Xcel Center is one of the nicest arenas I've ever been to.

Around Hockey East
Friday, League Semifinals: Lowell needed triple overtime and an outstanding goaltending performance by Kevin Boyle to take down Providence 2-1. The game winner did not come without some controversy. CJ Smith directed the puck into the net with his skate. The play was originally called no goal and then after a lengthy review, was overturned… Northeastern topped BC with a 5-4 win to advance to just their second championship game in program history. 

Saturday: Northeastern held off Lowell in the Hockey East Championship Game, winning their first title since 1988 with a 3-2 win. 

The Rest Off The NCAA
- For the second straight year, RIT beat Robert Morris in the Atlantic Hockey Conference Championship game, 7-4. 

- Michigan dropped Minnesota in the Big10 title game by a score of 5-3.

- Quinnipiac won their first ever ECAC league title after falling last year's champion Harvard, 4-1. 

- In the NCHC, St. Cloud State won just their second league championship in program history and their first in the National Conference with a 3-1 win over Minnesota Duluth. The Cloud won the 2001 WCHA crown.   

- Finally, Ferris State claimed their programs first ever league title with a  2-1 win over Minnesota State. The Bulldogs scored the eventual game winner on a penalty shot goal in the second period. 

Notre Dame To Leave Hockey East
According to multiple reports that came out this afternoon, Notre Dame is expected to leave Hockey East in 2018 and join the Big10. The Irish came to Hockey East two years ago when the (now defunct) CCHA dissolved. According to Mike McMahon of College Hockey News, Notre Dame will owe Hockey East a $250,000 exit fee. There has been plenty of speculation already as to whether Hockey East will add another team to get back to an even 12 teams. 

The one scenario that makes the most sense would be for Quinnipiac to join HE from the ECAC. In addition to that, Holy Cross/RIT could join the ECAC. That would leave Hockey East and the ECAC with 12 teams and AHC with 10.

Apparently, Arizona State is also close to choosing a league. With ND going to the Big10, ASU would give them an 8 team league.