Air Force To Face Minnesota In NCAA's
From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers
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Air Force's underappreciated hockey team officially joined the big leagues Sunday by inheriting the University of Denver's NCAA Tournament spot in the West Regional this weekend at the Pepsi Center.
The Falcons (19-15-5), who clinched their first NCAA Tournament appearance by beating Army 6-1 to win the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs, received a No. 4 seed and will play No. 1 Minnesota (30-9-3) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The second West Regional semifinal matches No. 2 seed Michigan (26-13-1) against No. 3 North Dakota (22-13-5) at 5:30 p.m. The winners will meet at 4 p.m. Sunday for a berth in the Frozen Four in St. Louis.
DU (21-15-4) failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The Pioneers, who fell out of contention by going 2-6-2 in their final 10 games, are West Regional hosts and would have played at the Pepsi Center if they had qualified for the 16-team NCAA field.
The NCAA selection committee made up for DU's absence by sending Air Force and three of the country's premier programs to Denver. Michigan has captured a record nine NCAA championships. North Dakota has won seven and Minnesota five.
"They took care of this regional," Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. "All of those programs travel well and have great alumni programs. You couldn't ask for a better field if Denver or (Colorado College) wasn't in it. You've got three studs and hometown Cinderella."
Serratore, a Minnesota native, said his team is excited for the chance to become the second consecutive AHA champion to upset the Gophers in the first round. Holy Cross stunned Minnesota a year ago in Grand Forks, N.D.
"It would be an understatement to say that they would underestimate us," Serratore said. "After last year, you kidding me? They'll be locked and loaded for us, and we'll give them everything we've got."
Minnesota captured the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season and playoff crowns. The Gophers defeated North Dakota 3-2 in overtime Saturday at the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn.
"We know what they've got. They're the Gophers," Serratore said. "They're full of (NHL) draft choices and have great talent and team speed and everything else."
Michigan finished second to Notre Dame in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's regular season and playoff tournament. The Wolverines lost 2-1 to the Fighting Irish in Saturday's CCHA championship game.
North Dakota is 15-3-4 since Christmas behind the country's premier line of Jonathan Toews, T.J. Oshie and WCHA player of the year Ryan Duncan.
Air Force has won six straight, after a five-game losing streak.
"We had injuries, got guys back," Serratore said. "We're getting some blue-collar goals and playing better defensively. We got 11 goals against the AHA's two best goalies last weekend, so yeah, there's no question we're playing our best right now."
NCAAs in Denver
WEST REGIONAL at the Pepsi Center
Semifinals | Saturday
* Minnesota vs. Air Force, 1:30 p.m.
* Michigan vs. North Dakota, 5:30 p.m.
Championship | Sunday
* Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
2 comments:
Ex coach at your own regionals and your not there. Way to go losers.
I'll keep our current coach...
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