In case you missed it here's a preview of the
East Regional featuring Michigan, Yale, Vermont and Air Force that started Friday in Bridgeport, CT and the
West Regional featuring Denver, Minnesota-Duluth, Princeton and Miami that started Friday in Minneapolis, MN.
Next, let's look at the Midwest Regional that that starts Saturday in Grand Rapids, MI...
No.1 Notre Dame will play No.4 Bemidji State on ESPN Classic at 7:30pm ET.
Many people questioned whether the Irish had it in them to continue where they left off, surprising just about everyone but themselves by making it to the national championship game last April, but a trip out to Boston and a rematch of that championship game sparked a 20-game unbeaten streak that cemented them in the top tier of college hockey. They easily won the CCHA regular season title and capped it off by winning the CCHA tournament after overcoming a two-goal deficit and scoring five unanswered against Michigan. Without question they are led by senior netminder Jordan Pearce. Prepare yourself for his numbers....He's got a 1.61 GAA and .934 save percentage...oh, but it gets better...In the playoffs, he is 4-0-0 with a 0.75 GAA and .973 save percentage and two shutouts. During the last 10 games, Pearce is 10-0-0 with a 1.39 GAA and .929 SV%. Don't ask me how he's not a finalist for the Hobey Baker because I don't have a good answer for you. They are led offensively by senior captain Erik Condra (OTT) with 13g, 25a - 38pts, but get contributions from everyone as they have nine players with 20+ points. They are a very mobile team that moves the puck well and will play physical when asked to. They're known for their defense and boast the lowest goals against in the country and kill off 90 percent of their penalties.
Fun Fact - Notre Dame has been eliminated by the eventual National Champions the past two years - BC in 2008 in the National Championship game and Michigan State in 2007 in the regional final.
I won't lie...I know absolutely nothing about the Beavers from Bemidji State except that they are lead in points by sophomore Matt Read with 13g, 22a - 35pts, have one of the best power plays (statistically) in the country operating at 90% efficency and that freshman defenseman Brad Hunt has been kicking butt and taking names with 31 points on the season. Beyond that, we'll have to see what they bring against the Irish...
Fun Fact - In the Beavers’ previous two NCAA Division I tournament appearances, the team has been eliminated in the semifinal round by the eventual champion. In 2005, the Beavers took Denver to overtime before losing, 4-3, in the Northeast Regional. The Pioneers would go on to earn the 2005 championship. In 2006, the Beavers were defeated by Wisconsin in the Midwest Regional before the Badgers captured the 2006 title.
No.2 Cornell will play No.3 Northeastern on ESPNU at 4pm ET
The Big Red (isn't that a gum?) haven't lost in back to back games the entire season and they're looking to extend that streak after losing the ECAC Championship game to Yale in what is sure to be a defensive showdown with Northeastern. Cornell will look to their netminder to hold down the fort like he's done all season. Junior Ben Scrivens is one of the best in the country with a 1.77 GGA and .933 save percentage with seven shutouts. Cornell is known for their team defense as well as they're a very big team (15 players over six feet with ten of them over 200 pounds) who will limit your shots on goal and sacrifice their body in order to do so. They are led offensively by sophomore Riley Nash (EDM) with 13g, 21a - 34pts and junior Colin Greening (OTT) with 14g, 15a - 29pts. As you can see they're not the most offensive team, but that's why their defensive system is so important...
The Huskies are another defensive team led by Hockey East Player of the Year and Hobey Baker Finalist Brad Thiessen with his 2.09 GGA and .932 save percentage. Without question he is the main reason they've done so well this season, playing every minute of every game and facing the most shots in the country. Not to be outdone, senior Louis Liotti earned the HE Defensive Defenseman award with fellow senior and captain Joe Vitale (PIT) earning the HE Defensive Forward award. They are led offensively by sophomore Wade MacLeod with his 14g, 21a - 35pts and senior Ryan Ginand and his 20g, 12a - 32pts. Vitale is right behind them with 7g, 20s - 27pts followed by freshman Steve Quailer with 10g, 15a - 25pts.
These two teams match up so well and it shuldn't be hard for either team to scout the other because all they have to do is look in the mirror.
My predictions: Notre Dame and Northeastern in the
Regional Final on ESPNU at 8pm ET on Sunday.
Up next, the Northeast Regional: Boston University, North Dakota, New Hampshire and Ohio State.
Julie
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