Gopher Hockey Gets No. 2 Seed To NCAA Tournament
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Despite losing to Colorado College in the WCHA Final Five, the University of Minnesota men's hockey team earned a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament.
The Gophers (26-8-5) will travel to Grand Rapids, Mich., for the West Regional. Minnesota will face Yale (18-12-3) at 1 p.m. Friday, with the winner advancing to play the North Dakota/Niagara winner with a trip to the Frozen Four at stake.
It will mark the first time Minnesota has ever faced Yale in the postseason in hockey. The two teams last met in 2002, a game the Gophers won 7-2. The Gophers reached the Frozen Four last year before losing to eventual national champion Boston College in the semifinals. Minnesota is looking for its first national title since 2003.
The Gophers have been at or near the top of the national rankings all season and shared the McNaughton Cup, which goes to the WCHA regular season champion, with St. Cloud State. The Gophers make the switch next season to play in the Big 10.
