March 25, 2008

Farmington Hills, Mich.- For the second straight year Michigan, Michigan State, Miami and Notre Dame will be representing the CCHA in the NCAA Tournament.  Michigan, playing in the East Regional in Albany, N.Y., will face CHA playoff winner Niagara.  Miami will take on Air Force, winner of the Atlantic Hockey playoff championship, in the Northeast Regional in Worcester, Mass.  Defending national champion Michigan State will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take on Colorado College in the West Regional.  Also playing in Colorado will be Notre Dame, who will meet New Hampshire in the opening round.

Michigan vs. St. Cloud State or Clarkson (Saturday, 7:00 p.m.)

• Michigan and Niagara both earned automatic berths by winning their conference playoff championships.  Michigan is the top overall seed in the tournament.  Niagara is playing in the tournament for the first time since 2004.
• Michigan was eliminated in the first round the previous two years by North Dakota.  The Wolverines' last win was in 2005, a 4-1 decision in the first round over Wisconsin.  Niagara was defeated by Boston College, 5-2 in the opening round in 2004.  The Purple Eagles last won a tournament game in 2000, a 4-1 upset of New Hampshire.
• Michigan boasts two of the top five scorers in the nation in Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik.  Goaltender Billy Sauer leads the nation in winning percentage.  Niagara's Vince Rocco has averaged 1.25 points-per game this season.  Netminder Juliano Pagliero is in the top ten in the country in both save percentage and winning percentage.
• The Wolverine offense is second in the nation, averaging 3.98 goals-per game.  The Purple Eagles sit third, averaging 3.53.  Michigan's defense is fifth, averaging 2.08 goals against while Niagara's defense is 24^th, averaging 2.98 goals against.
• In 2002 Michigan topped St. Cloud State, 4-2, in the opening round.  The Wolverines lead the series 2-0-0.  Michigan owns a 2-1-0 record against Clarkson.

Notre Dame vs. New Hampshire (Friday, 4:30 p.m.)

Notre Dame vs. Michigan State or Colorado College (8:00 p.m.)

• Notre Dame and New Hampshire both earned at-large berths to the NCAA tournament.  Notre Dame is playing in the tournament for the second straight year and the third time overall.  The Wildcats are making their seventh consecutive appearance.
• As CCHA playoff champions last year, the Irish defeated Alabama-Huntsville in double overtime in the first-round before being knocked out by Michigan State in the regional final.  Last year, New Hampshire became one of two teams to lose to a fourth seed (Miami) in the first round. 
• New Hampshire has the fifth-ranked offense in the nation, averaging 3.49 goals-per game.  The Irish offense averages 2.79 goals-per game.  The Irish defense, fourth in the country, gives up 2.05 goals-per game, while the Wildcats have a team GAA of 2.35. 
• New Hampshire's Matt Fornataro and Mike Radja have a combined 89 points this season and goalie Kevin Reagan is third in the nation in both save percentage and winning percentage.  The Irish counter with Ryan Thang (27 points), Brock Sheahan (+20) and Jordan Pearce (1.94 GAA, .917 Spct).
• The Irish are 25-18-1 all-time against Colorado College.  In the regular season, Michigan State took a 3-1 decision from the Irish before the teams fought to a 1-1 tie the following night.

Michigan State vs. Colorado College (Saturday, 8:00 p.m.)

Michigan State vs. Notre Dame or New Hampshire (Sunday, 8:00 p.m.)

• Michigan State and Colorado College both earned at-large berths to the NCAA tournament. 
• Michigan State, seeded third last year, won the national championship for the first time since 1986.  Colorado College last played in 2006, losing in the first round to Cornell.  In 2005 the Tigers advanced to the Frozen Four, losing to eventual champion Denver.
• Michigan State goalie Jeff Lerg is in the top 10 in the nation in both save percentage and winning percentage.  There are four Spartans (Justin Abdelkader, Tim Kennedy, Tim Crowder and Bryan Lerg) with at least 35 points.  Tiger defenseman Jack Hillen leads all blueliners in points-per game with an average of 0.93.  Freshman goalie Richard Bachman is third in the nation in save percentage, winning percentage and goals-against average.
• The Tiger offense averages 3.38 goals-per game.  The Spartans are close behind with 3.27.  Colorado College's defense gives up 2.12 goals-per game, while Michigan State's team GAA is 2.49.
• Michigan State took three points from Notre Dame in the regular season with a win and a tie.  The Spartans are 4-6-0 all-time against New Hampshire and won the last meeting in 2006.

Miami vs. Air Force (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.)

Miami vs. Boston College or Minnesota (Sunday, 4:30 p.m.)

• Miami, the second overall seed in the tournament, earned an at-large berth.  Air Force earned an automatic berth by winning the Atlantic Hockey playoff title.  The RedHawks are in the tournament for the third straight year, while the Falcons are making their second straight appearance.
• Seeded fourth, Miami advanced to the second round after topping New Hampshire, 4-1.  Air Force, also seeded fourth, was defeated by Minnesota, 4-3.
• RedHawk senior captain Ryan Jones has scored a nation-leading 30 goals, with Justin Mercier chipping in 24 of his own.  Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff leads the country in goals-against average, and sits second in both winning percentage and save percentage.  The Falcons have seven players with at least 25 points, led by Brent Olson's 38.  Netminder Andrew Volkening has a .912 Spct and a 2.08 GAA.
• The Miami offense is the only one in the country to average four goals-per game.  The Falcons offense has scored 3.37 goals-per game.  The RedHawks have a team GAA of 1.80 while Air Force has given up 2.32 goals-per game.
• Under coach Enrico Blasi, Miami has never played Minnesota and is 0-3-0 against Boston College. 

View the Full Tournament Bracket