Welcome to the USCHO.com staff’s annual picks competition, in which we display our knowledge — or lack thereof — of the NCAA tournament for the entertainment of the Internet-browsing public.
This year’s competition is open to all USCHO.com staffers, 10 of whom have elected to participate. The rules are simple: pick all 12 games this weekend at the four regionals.
A correct pick is worth one point; for quarterfinal games, only the winner, not both participants, must be correct.
Total goals scored for all 12 games will be the tiebreaker, and the top three finishers advance to pick the Frozen Four under the same rules.
Scott Brown, Editor-in-Chief
NORTHEAST
New Hampshire 4, St. Cloud State 3: Check the schedule — the Huskies are better than you think. But they’re not that good.
Boston University 3, Harvard 0: Three-peat!
New Hampshire 1, Boston University 0: That score looks kinda familiar.
WEST
Minnesota 6, Mercyhurst 2: Talent advantage: check. Playoff experience: check. Home ice: check. The defending national champion hitting its stride for the postseason: check …
North Dakota 4, Ferris State 3: It’s Mike Brown vs. the UND forwards. The week off helps, and Zach Parise and Brandon Bochenski come alive.
Minnesota 4, North Dakota 2: The Sioux are familiar with the Gophers, but those weren’t these Gophers.
EAST
Cornell 2, Minnesota State 0: The Big Red take out their big frustrations on the Mavericks. Dave LeNeveu gets the record-breaker.
Boston College 3, Ohio State 2: Neither team has the momentum coming in, but BC looks like the safer pick.
Cornell 2, Boston College 1: Low-scoring games go the way of Cornell.
MIDWEST
Colorado College 7, Wayne State 3: Defense isn’t necessarily the Tigers’ specialty — though they’re solid in back — but scoring sure is.
Michigan 4, Maine 3: Home ice wins out again for the Wolverines, who defend it as well as anyone.
Colorado College 5, Michigan 4: CC overcomes a frantic crowd at Yost. Peter Sejna gets the game winner.
Todd D. Milewski, WCHA Correspondent
NORTHEAST
New Hampshire 2, St. Cloud State 0: Even with their full lineup, the Huskies have had a season of disarray, and I don’t see them getting their first NCAA win.
Boston University 3, Harvard 1: No reason to go against the 2-0 record the Terriers have gained against the Crimson so far this season.
Boston University 2, New Hampshire 1: With the way the Hockey East final turned out, this game could go either way, but I’ll take the Terriers to get revenge.
WEST
Ferris State 4, North Dakota 3: The Sioux have been hanging on for the second half of the season while not looking great, but just hanging on won’t be enough against a 30-game winner.
Minnesota 5, Mercyhurst 2: No one’s forgetting the Lakers’ first NCAA appearance two years ago, but at Mariucci, it would be foolish to pick against the Gophers.
Minnesota 4, Ferris State 2: See above about it being foolish to pick against the Gophers at Mariucci.
EAST
Cornell 4, Minnesota State-Mankato 2: Realistically, the Mavericks will have to be at their best to get two goals against Dave LeNeveu, and Cornell should get by.
Boston College 5, Ohio State 2: No one’s sure what the week off is going to do to the Hockey East teams, but the Eagles are a consistently strong NCAA squad.
Boston College 4, Cornell 3: Will the Big Red come this close to the Frozen Four and not make it again? It may be another late goal that sinks Cornell.
MIDWEST
Colorado College 6, Wayne State 2: The Tigers appear too strong to be challenged significantly by the Warriors.
Michigan 2, Maine 1: The nightcap should be considerably closer than the first game, and I’ll take the hosts because they’re the hosts.
Colorado College 3, Michigan 2: It could be North Dakota circa 1998 all over again, but I’ll say the Tigers break the cycle of WCHA regular-season champions falling at Yost.
Jim Connelly, MAAC Correspondent
NORTHEAST
BU vs. Harvard — BU, 3-2
New Hampshire vs. St. Cloud State — New Hampshire, 5-3
BU vs. UNH — BU, 4-3
WEST
Ferris State vs. North Dakota — North Dakota, 4-3
Minnesota vs. Mercyhurst — Minnesota, 4-2
North Dakota vs. Minnesota — Minnesota, 5-2
EAST
Cornell vs. MSU-Mankato — Cornell, 3-1
BC vs. Ohio State — BC, 6-3
BC vs. Cornell — BC, 3-2
MIDWEST
Maine vs. Michigan — Michigan, 5-4
Colorado College vs. Wayne State — Colorado College, 5-2
Colorado College vs. Michigan — Michigan, 4-3 (OT)
Paula C. Weston, CCHA Correspondent
Hey, I’ll be the first to admit that my dream Frozen Four this year is Ferris State, Michigan, Ohio State … and somebody else.
That having been said …
NORTHEAST
Boston University vs. Harvard: It’s hard for me to put my finger on this BU team, and as much as I’d like to give the nod to my old friend Mark Mazzoleni, I’ll go with the Terriers’ experience. BU 5-3.
St. Cloud vs. New Hampshire: I like New Hampshire, very much. UNH 4-2.
BU vs. UNH: I like New Hampshire, very much. UNH 5-4.
WEST
Ferris State vs. North Dakota: This is the Bulldogs’ first-ever NCAA appearance, and while they may have jitters, I think they’ll get by the Sioux. FSU 4-3.
Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota: Wouldn’t this just be the way? The only teams from the CHA and the MAAC for whom I have soft spots have made it to the big dance, and I see each losing in the first game. Minnesota 5-2.
FSU vs. Minnesota: The Bulldogs are accustomed to playing on a regular sheet, a rink size that allows them to be physical. In spite of their speed, I don’t think they’ll be able to play their game. Minnesota 5-3.
EAST
Cornell vs. MSU-Mankato: Cornell is big and physical, and with Dave LeNeveu in net, I don’t think Mankato stands a chance. Cornell 3-1.
Ohio State vs. Boston College: I’ve picked OSU to beat BC before. I won’t be fooled again. BC 4-2.
BC vs. Cornell: Again, I think LeNeveu is too big a riddle to solve for most teams. Cornell 4-2.
MIDWEST
Wayne State vs. Colorado College: Don’t expect the Warriors to simply lie down for the Tigers, but do expect CC to win. CC 4-1.
Michigan vs. Maine: I don’t care that the Wolverines have never beaten the Black Bears in NCAA tournament play. Michigan 4-2.
Michigan vs. CC: I think it’s business as usual for the Wolverines, in Yost, en route to yet another Frozen Four. Michigan 4-2.
Jayson Moy and Becky Blaeser, ECAC Correspondents
The Iron Columnists proved our worth last weekend by picking all four games of the ECAC tournament correctly. And, oh yes, by picking all four scores exactly. That’s right, right on the nose. We’re just back from Vegas with a bunch of our loyal readers and now everyone should fear us, because we’re on a roll. So here goes.
NORTHEAST
New Hampshire 5, St. Cloud State 3 — The Wildcats roll on.
Boston University 2, Harvard 1 — The Crimson still can’t solve the out-of-conference woes
New Hampshire 4, Boston University 3 — Twice in three weeks for the Wildcats.
WEST
Minnesota 5, Mercyhurst 1 — The Lakers try, but the Gophers at home?
North Dakota 3, Ferris State 2 — The Sioux advance in a familiar rink.
Minnesota 4, North Dakota 2 — The Gophers have been there and are playing their best.
EAST
Cornell 4, Minnesota State 1 — The Big Red take it to the Mavericks. Boston College 3, Ohio State 2 — The Eagles advance
Cornell 4, Boston College 2 — The Big Red get past this round this year and to the Frozen Four
MIDWEST
Colorado College 6, Wayne State 1 — The Tigers are too much for the Warriors
Michigan 4, Maine 2 — The Wolverines gain too much of an advantage at home and the Black Bears are still not too confident in themselves
Colorado College 4, Michigan 2 — The Tigers won’t fall to the Yost curse.
Dave Hendrickson, Hockey East Correspondent
NORTHEAST
New Hampshire 4, St. Cloud State 1
Boston University 3, Harvard 2
UNH 4, BU 3
WEST
Minnesota 6, Mercyhurst 1
Ferris State 5, North Dakota 4
Minnesota 4, Ferris State 3
EAST
Cornell 2, MSU-Mankato 1
Boston College 4, Ohio State 2
BC 3, Cornell 2
MIDWEST
Colorado College 7, Wayne State 0
Michigan 4, Maine 3
CC 5, Michigan 3
Mike Volonnino, Staff Writer
NORTHEAST
New Hampshire 6, St. Cloud State 2
Harvard 5, Boston University 3
New Hampshire 5, Harvard 3
WEST
Minnesota 8, Mercyhurst 2
North Dakota 4, Ferris State 3
Minnesota 4, North Dakota 2
EAST
Cornell 2, Minnesota State 1
Boston College 4, Ohio State 2
Cornell 3, Boston College 2
MIDWEST
Colorado College 7, Wayne State 1
Michigan 4, Maine 2
Colorado College 5, Michigan 4
Geof F. Morris, CHA Correspondent
NORTHEAST
UNH 4-1 over St. Cloud State
BU 3-2 over Harvard
UNH 2-0 over BU
WEST
Minnesota 5-0 over Mercyhurst. And that may not be a big enough margin.
North Dakota 4-2 over Ferris State
Minnesota 5-3 over UND
EAST
Cornell 4-1 over MSU-Mankato
BC 4-2 over OSU
Cornell 3-1 over BC
MIDWEST
Wayne State 4-3 over CC. Yes, I have lost my mind.
Michigan 3-1 over Maine
Michigan 4-1 over WSU
