After two days of hockey, the RIT Tigers have shocked the tournament by advancing to the Frozen Four. They’ll face off against Wisconsin next weekend in Detroit. Two regional finals will be played on Sunday to determine which teams will join them in the Motor City. Let’s quickly take a glance at all of Saturday’s action.
NCAA Hockey Tournament, Saturday Wrap And Updated Bracket: RIT, Wisconsin Head To Detroit
Northeast Regional, First Round -- Worcester, Mass.
1:30 PM ET: #1 Boston College Eagles 3, #4 Alaska Nanooks 1
Alaska hung tough, but in the end, the top-seeded Eagles were able to pull out a victory with the ‘hometown’ crowd behind them in Worcester. Deadlocked through two periods, BC took over in the third with a quick strike less than four minutes in. Alaska pressed hard but BC sealed the deal with an empty netter late.
BC Interruption has full coverage.
5 PM ET: #3 Yale Bulldogs 3, #2 North Dakota Fighting Sioux 2
Yale quietly went about their business in the ECAC this season without much of a look from the national press, despite being ranked in the top ten at times. Because of that, not many expected Yale to beat North Dakota on Saturday, but that’s exactly what happened. The Bulldogs scored three unanswered out of the gate, which was just enough to stave off a Fighting Sioux... um, fight, in the third period.
BC faces Yale on Sunday at 5:30 PM ET for the right to go to the Frozen Four.
Midwest Regional, First Round -- Fort Wayne, IN
4 PM ET: #1 Miami University Redhawks 2, #4 Alabama-Huntsville Chargers 1
Despite many people thinking it was a joke that UAH made the NCAA tournament, they proved their mettle in Saturday’s match up with first-overall seed Miami. They gave Miami nine power play opportunities in the game, which killed any chances of gaining momentum in this game. It was 2-0 throughout until UAH scored with about 40 seconds left in the third. Too little, too late.
7:30 PM ET: #3 Michigan Wolverines 5, #2 Bemidji State Beavers1
Bemidji State made a magical run to the Frozen Four a year ago, but there will be no repeating that in 2010. Michigan rolled over the Beavers 5-1 in impressive fashion to advance to Sunday’s regional final versus Miami.
Maize n Brew has full coverage.
East Regional, Final -- Albany, NY
6:30 PM ET: #4 RIT Tigers 6, #3 New Hampshire 2
Atlantic Hockey champion RIT used a flurry of 3 goals in a span of a few minutes in the second period to upset #3 New Hampshire 6-2. Another year, another New Hampshire post-season meltdown? A day after blasting Cornell 6-2, the Wildcats had no answer for Tiger goaltender Jared DeMichiel. UNH went 0-for-5 on the man-advantage. With the win, the Tigers punched their first-ever ticket to the Frozen Four.
West Regional, Final -- St. Paul, MN
9 PM ET: #1 Wisconsin Badgers 5, #2 St. Cloud State Huskies 3
St. Cloud beat Northern Michigan on Friday night in double-overtime, but there would be no more excitement for the Huskies on Saturday. In front of a virtual home crowd just an hour away from campus, SCSU fell to the Badgers 5-3. Wisconsin will play the Cinderella RIT Tigers in the national semifinal next weekend.
Here’s a look at the bracket after today’s action. Click to enlarge.
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